Thursday, October 10, 2019

SANDHILLCRANES

Alabama almost lost its sandhill cranes. Now, hunters again will target the 'sirloin of the sky.'

made me to think of the Sandhill Crane families we regularly watch in our neighborhood in Florida.

These beautiful big cranes with always a young one or two are wonderful sight to anyone. The whole family walks together and all of the family feed together in the area. Whenever you pass by them they act gently and the father watches if there is any threat to the young one(s) and finds if it is not they enjoy their food again.

Such a harmless quiet big birds. It is always fun to watch them even if you are not keen bird watcher because the enormous size of the birds.

Some photos of Sandhill Crane families in our backyard

Beautiful Sandhill crane family with a very little young one -

Dad - keeping an eye on the family's safety

Family with grown kids -

Near Big Sandlake Lake, Orlando, Florida

About Sandhill Cranes:

Wiki

Cornell Lab of Ornithology - ID Sanhill Cranes

Audobon

We love to watch to these Sandhill Cranes and other birds in our backyard - wonderful families and really as a bird watcher worried about them being hunted.

Birds - Protect them

Eco-justice for Birds - Praying for Sandhill Cranes.

Quotes:

"I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven." - Emily Dickinson

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” - Mahatma Gandhiji

Recent Update on loss of Bird Population:
Birds are indicators of environmental health and this scientific study shows alarming results:

3 Billion Birds Gone - More Information

Scientific Paper - Decline of the North American avifauna - Kenneth V. Rosenberg et al.,
Science 04 Oct 2019:
Vol. 366, Issue 6461, pp. 120-124
DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw1313

Bradenton Herald Article:

Threatened sandhill cranes are dying on Florida roads. Here’s how the public can help save them

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

LIVING WITH SANDHILL CRANES

Monday, September 23, 2019

Climate Change

SCIENTIST'S WARNING:
World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency

Kids are voicing their opinion strongly about climate changeas they are ones going to really face the future.

Climate Change - NASA - Climate - Research and Data

NOAA - Climate - Research and Data

It is really sad to see them protest and some of them getting arrested. They must focus on their future too. They need to think and how they can really counteract the environmental problem.

Another potent Green House Gas: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a very potent greenhouse gas than other ghgs and countries are using it at unprecedented rate.

A method of counteracting Climate Change - Use renewable resources, techniques and show the world that this can be done.
Some more counteracting methods:

-p,

-Innovative ideas such as algal lamp,

-inventing new devices such as Carbon dioxide absorption device,

-developing regenerative agriculture practices

I am sure the motivated people will find more solutions when we move forward.

As we move scientifically forward, there is no way for zero pollution any more. Instead we should work how to reduce pollution, emission and rack up solutions to the problem. Moving forward they should become environmental research scientists, data scientists (Information Technology - IoT, AI - MILA Quebec is currently involved - can aide in solving Climate issues and provide solutions), policy makers, create positive projects, politicians, and whatever professions that will help the environment. While pursuing these careers, they can simultaneously practice environmentally friendly actions even if it is as simple as planting trees, creating gardens, banning plastics, using less water and many other small deeds. If it multiplies more and more and grows exponentially it will be good for the Environment and Earth Inhabitants. When these kids become scientists and policy makers, they can contribute to the betterment of environment. Even if they shine up in different fields, they can contribute to environment betterment by

Five Rs - Refuse -> Reduce -> Reuse -> Recycle -> Recover.

In my case, I have long journey of environmental background starting a Biology undergrad degree, studying two masters in Environmental Science and pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. During these degrees I focused on low cost effluent treatments, bio -remediation and Environmental Toxicology.

I had a chance to study and research Pocomoke River, a Cheapeake Bay tributary, which indicated the river was polluted before the massive fishkills occurred. Later after some years I am really glad and happy that because of precautions taken in Chesapeake water shed area, the great Chesapeake Bay has revived environmentally but also still facing threats.
Building Air Pollution Chambers to study the effects during University days

This is what I mean to the kids, use your capabilities, do positive research, analyze data and tell the World that these are the facts and give the solutions. That way you will have more support, because everyone want to breathe good air, drink uncontaminated water, eat artificial chemical free food and live a quality healthy life in unpolluted land. Some times in life, you don’t get opportunity in the field you love the most. But never give up. I wanted to end up in a University to teach my beloved subject Environmental Science and conduct research and guide students and serve to betterment of Environment. Somehow I could not achieve that. But never gave up. Using the data analyses, modeling and predictive statistics skills I completed another masters in Computer Science and built a career in that field focusing on data. Using it I created my own Environmental projects such as EAFARMS - a sustainable natural organic agriculture development that works together with nature (planting more trees and enriching soil naturally).

I still learn about current environmental topics, work with environmental scientists and co-ordinate them to do projects that benefit environment, create environmental awareness to children by volunteering, writing blog, twitter, answering in Quora (social media). I work with like minded friends to follow environmentally friendly agriculture, plant more trees and mimic and create small forests wherever I can. Also with my experience I wrote a book called Modern Realistic Environmentalism

and wanted it to be available freely, to share my environmental experience. In our backyard, we created bird friendly environmental areas and watching them gives us immense joy.

With all these information, if I can make at least one more person to at least follow one environmental friendly activity, I really feel I have achieved something. I think together we can protect the environment and prolong its positives to future generations to come. Thank you.

Makesh Karuppiah, PhD

Environmental Scientist and Information Technologist

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture - Regenerative Farming

Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture

Regenerative Farming

EAFARMS

Artificial Chemical Free Natural Farming:

At EAFarms, we practice artificial chemical free farming. We use farm manure, natural defenses in our agriculture practices. Our aim is to produce artificial chemical free produce. Also we avoid Genetically Modified Organisms.

We strictly use farm manure instead of chemical fertilizers. We are Tamil Nadu Organic Certified farm:

We also laboratory tested our produce and found no traces of artificial chemicals.

Since food is one of the most important part of human life it is better to produce it in natural way. In Hindi language SONA (Sustainable Organic Natural Agriculture) means Gold. We at EAFarms, consider our produce as GOLD (Green Organic Land Development).

Creating habitat and protecting Wildlife:
At EAFarms we have created forests with lots of trees. Trees are important part of our EAFarms ecosystem. Lots of birds and animals have come back to this area. One of borders at EAFarms is with a huge banyan tree with lots of living organisms and we call it as

"Natural Tree of Life".

The canopy of this big tree is clearly visible in Google maps. When we see these beautiful birds at EAFarms we feel happy and feel satisfied that we have created a habitat for Wildlife.

Water conservation methods:

At EAFarms we really know the importance of water conservation. We have created a Swale

and Ground Water Recharging Pits to recharge our ground water.

These methods have improved the ground water level to a better level even when there is low rainfall in a season. We also use drip irrigation and water pits in center of four trees to increase the utilization of the water more efficiently by the trees.

Permaculture - Contours for water conservation

At EAFarms, we practice all these efficiently and want to spread our information to the World. Anywhere in the World, if we work with the tune of Nature without disturbing the Nature, you really feel the satisfaction it brings and it can't just be expressed by words. Earlier I have written about spiritual farming too. Along with the other organic natural methods you include spiritual farming it takes the farming to another level.

Live stock is main part of EAFarms. Cattle grace our farms and we grow fodder in the farm. Cows are important part of our farm system.

Goats also graze the fodder and do their part for the farm.

Chickens follow them and do their job at EAfarms.

Because of all these livestock the soil gets richer and this can be visualized clearly by the presence of moisture and earthworms.

We also see bees buzzing around.

Wild birds are also frequent visitors to the farm,

making the farm a regenerative farm.

Some of our Organic Produce free of synthetic chemicals:

Utilizing Renewable Resources for Farming

Solar

BioGas

சுழன்றும்ஏர்ப் பின்னது உலகம் அதனால்உழந்தும் உழவே தலை.

Meaning of this Thirukural by the Great Tamil Poet Thiruvalluvar -

After searching and trying various employments in this revolving EARTH, humans finally resort to Agriculture and understands that it is the excellent form of labor even though it is really hard.