| Stores ban polluting patio heaters
A major retail garden chain has stopped selling 'climate-unfriendly' patio heaters in a move prompted by growing consumer awareness of global warming issues.
Wyevale Garden Centres made the announcement ahead of the Easter weekend, traditionally a peak selling time for gardening retailers because the holiday marks the start of the gardening season.
Wyevale's news was welcomed by environmental campaigning group Friends of the Earth who said that out of five major retailers Wyevale was the only one who committed to not selling the heaters criticized for their negative impact on climate change.
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Craig Bennett said:"We're delighted that Wyevale has decided to stop selling patio heaters, and urge other retailers to follow suit.
Gardening Column - Tomatoes
Growing your own vegetables or fruit is an amazing experience, the process is almost magical. In the course of a few months, or sometimes even a few short weeks, seeds from a packet or young plants from a garden centre, are transformed into food for your plate. After sowing the seeds indoors in seed and cutting compost and pricking them out when they are big enough to handle, they can be planted into their permanent home. This can be either be a large pot, a grow bag or planted into the soil in the greenhouse. The tomato is strictly a warm weather plant, so, if you are planting it outside, remember to watch for late frosts as this may cause the flower buds to drop. As the tomato begins to grow, it is important to stake it with a five foot bamboo and tie in regularly every 15-20 cms (6-8ins).
Green revolution to reshape landscape
The green revolution is moving away from turbines on hillsides and traffic reduction on city streets, and is set to change Scotland's homes, shops and workplaces fundamentally. Those who work in modern offices can expect to see an end to air conditioning, and more innovative methods for controlling temperature, according to leading Glasgow architect Alan Dunlop. Office blocks will use less glass in construction, allowing easier temperature control by using other "solid" facings such as stone, concrete and wood, he said. .
Area briefs for March 22
The Human Papillomavirus, known as HPV, vaccine is now available through the Colorado Vaccines for Children program for VFC eligible females 9 to 18 years of age. The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association provides vaccinations for children under age 19 years on a sliding scale of $0 to $14.50 per shot. No child will be refused a vaccine due to an inability to pay. Additionally, VNA can provide the vaccine to eligible low-income women 19 to 26 who have no insurance under Merck's Patient Assistance Program. The vaccine protects against four major types of HPV. These include types of HPV that cause approximately 70 percent of cervical cancer and 90 percent of genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States.
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