The Acorn March 8, 2024 Before another atmospheric river flows through, it’s important to remember that mulch and compost can help prevent erosion from heavy rain. Mulch on the soil surface works immediately after being applied correctly, reducing the impact of rain and slowing the flow of runoff. Compost, incorporated into soil, works long after…
VC Star March 2, 2024 Ship captains are reducing the speed of large vessels passing through the channel off our coast, providing three environmental benefits. They cut fuel consumption, reduce air pollution and greatly decrease the likelihood of striking whales. This program expanded last year, despite the end of financial incentives for participation. From 2014…
VC Star February 24, 2024 Last week, volunteers installed smoke alarms provided to residents of Oxnard by the American Red Cross and the Oxnard Fire Department. Calling the program “Sound the Alarm,” the new devices came with fire prevention education and were meant to address a common problem. Many people do not replace smoke detector…
VC Star February 17, 2024 Not just to avoid waste and conserve resources, but also out of respect for a keystone of our civilization, book reuse, rather than book recycling, should be our first resort for discarded books. Books free of mold, mildew or water stains may be donated to thrift stores; sold on sites…
February 10, 2024 VC Star Among other benefits, mulch and compost can help prevent erosion from heavy rain. Mulch on soil surface works immediately after being applied correctly, reducing the impact of rain and slowing the flow of runoff. Compost, incorporated into soil, works long after being applied by promoting the growth of soil-holding roots.…
VC Star February 3, 2024 By David Goldstein No one I know would intentionally dump plastics into the ocean, but we are all doing it unintentionally. Steve Sprinkel, an Ojai Valley farmer, returned last month from the 44th Annual EcoFarm Conference at Asilomar, in Pacific Grove, where he learned about the extent of ocean pollution…
VC Star January 27, 2024 By David Goldstein The electronic gifts you gave in December may have drained batteries by now. Some electronics come with low-quality, single-use batteries, ensuring a toy or device works long enough to make it unreturnable to a store. Perfectly good toys end up in thrift stores or garbage carts because…
December 25, 2023 VC Star ‘Twas the week after Christmas and all through the County, treecycling was popular; some got back a mulch bounty. Cut trees were placed in curbside carts with great care, in hopes the recycling truck soon would be there. Even though Christmas tree recycling is an annual ritual, differing rules, dates…
December 16, 2023 VC Star The 28th United Nations Conference of Parties — COP28 — bringing together the 197 countries that signed a 1992 agreement on climate change wrapped up in Dubai last week. They came to unanimous consensus on a tentative world agreement related to transition away from fossil fuels. However, the Alliance of…
Ventura County Public Works Agency Awarded Project of the Year Honorable Mention (VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.) – December 7, 2023 – The Santa Barbara-Ventura Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) announced on December 7, 2023, that Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has received an honorable mention for the 2022-2023 Project of the Year.…