What Does a Water Clean Up Involve?

A water clean up may be necessary if there has been flooding or other water contamination. It will involve cleaning up contaminated areas and removing contaminated items. Pressed wood products are also at risk for contamination. Therefore, paper and cardboard boxes should be disposed of.

Organizing a water clean up

If you’re planning a water clean-up in your community, planning well ahead of time is essential. Significant events will require more time than you think, so it’s best to plan your cleanup. It’s also best to plan the event on a Saturday when most people are off work.

Once you’ve decided on a date, you’ll need to organize volunteers and supplies. It may help to purchase or borrow supplies to make things easier—for example, gloves, aprons, extra protective face masks, and hand sanitizer. Beach clean-ups can be challenging work, but they are highly beneficial. Cleanups help prevent nutrient loading, which occurs when organic materials decompose in water and release excess nutrients.

Once you’ve gathered a few volunteers, you’ll need to publicize the event. Consider partnering with a local group, posting on social media, or handing out flyers. This will help you have a bigger group and more impact.

Planning a waterway cleanup

Planning a waterway cleanup project requires careful planning to avoid damaging the environment. For instance, you must decide who is responsible for what part of the cleanup and who will collect trash and oversized items. Also, you must ensure that you have the proper equipment for the cleanup, including trash bags and containers for sharp objects. It is also important to notify local watershed groups about the cleanup project.

In case of an extensive cleanup, you may need several first aid kits. In addition, you will need plenty of water and snacks for volunteers. You will also need to find the lead and sweep for the cleanup, who should be more experienced boaters armed with first aid kits.

Identifying contaminated areas

Identifying contaminated areas can reduce remediation costs and minimize the amount of hazardous waste produced and disposed of. However, polluted regions can be challenging to identify.

The first step is to determine the type of contamination in an area. Next, you check with the Register of Deeds and the state health department. You can also talk to neighbors or past property owners. You may also collect samples of soil or groundwater.

Toxic materials often have a long-term impact on the environment. They can migrate to nearby areas and become entangled in soil. This makes it difficult to remove the contamination, and it can also adversely affect the local ecosystem. Exposure to contaminated sites can also harm human health. As a result, it is vital to identify areas where vulnerability can be minimized.

Finding the owner of a water clean up

There are several ways to find the owner of a water cleanup site. One option is the tracker database maintained by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The database is searchable by location and includes information …

Choosing and Using a Grill Griddle Accessory

Choosing and Using a Grill Griddle Accessory

Grilling is a versatile cooking method. Not only can you grill hundreds of different foods and thousands of different recipes from meat and fish to grilled fresh vegetables, but you can use various grilling methods. You can choose from a gas grill or a charcoal grill too.

You can also get all kinds of grill accessories, such as baskets which are useful when making a grilled vegetables recipe, to stop the vegetable chunks slipping through the grate. Another very handy grill accessory is a griddle. You can cook pretty much anything in a grill griddle that you can cook on the stove in a skillet, which means if you are outside grilling and you need a fried egg you do not have to rush into the kitchen to make one!

Barbecue Griddle Options

A grill griddle turns part or all of your barbecue into a stovetop to give you even more grilling possibilities. If you have a big grill, you might want to get a griddle that covers half of it. They come in various sizes. You can get round griddles, square ones and rectangular ones.

A charcoal grill griddle needs to allow for air flow else the fire will go out and your grilled vegetables recipe will not cook. If you want to have a hot part of the griddle and a warm one, you can bank more charcoal under one side. Cooking on a griddle means you can move food around as it cooks. You will need to grease the griddle unless it is nonstick. Obviously take care when using cooking spray near an open flame.

Safety Tips for Griddles

Griddles can move around a bit, so an oven mitt is a good idea for pushing it back into place. You will also need a spatula and some kind of drainage if you are going to be cooking greasy food like bacon.

Grease dripping on to open flames is not a good idea so if your griddle does not have good drainage you might want to stick to non-greasy recipes like a grilled vegetables recipe for a while, especially if you are new to grilling or new to using a griddle on your barbecue.

Recipe for Griddled Flatbread with Mushrooms

This amazing recipe combines homemade flatbread with juicy grilled mushrooms for an amazing side dish or snack. This recipe serves four people.

What you will need:

3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup ice water

3 tablespoons shortening

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking soda

4 portobello mushrooms, caps removed

3 teaspoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, crushed

How to make it:

Oil your griddle, set it in place and preheat the grill to moderately hot. Combine the olive oil and garlic and rub this all over the mushrooms. Mix the flour, salt, ice water, shortening, baking soda and baking powder together to form a dough. Cut it into four pieces of equal size.

Roll each piece …

Fruits and Vegetables High in Fiber

Fruits and Vegetables High in Fiber

Fiber helps our bodies keep bowel movement regular because our bodies cannot digest this plant-based food and is thus healthy for us. That’s why it’s so important to intake fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber. It is recommended that we intake a minimum of 20-35 grams of fiber, per day, for an adult having a daily calorie intake of 2000. But where do we find this fiber? I have outlined some of the fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber below so that you may be aware of their dietary benefits.

There are two types of fiber that are found in fruits and vegetables: soluble and insoluble.

The soluble fiber is quickly turned into gases and other byproducts by our colon. And the insoluble fiber absorbs water in the digestive system and helps to ease bowel movement.

Fiber also helps to move fat out of our systems which makes less of it get absorbed by our bodies which helps us to maintain a slimmer figure.

Soluble Fiber

Peas, soybeans, and other beans are a source of fiber. Other fruits and vegetables that are high in soluble fiber include: rye, oats, barley, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, and onions (found in the skins). Some fruit juices and fruits also contain soluble fiber, including: prune juice, plums, the insides of apples and pears, berries and bananas.

Insoluble Fiber

Sources of insoluble fiber include whole grain foods which can contain: wheat, oat, and barley, maize, brown rice, rye, spelt, quinoa, and sprouted grains. Corn bran, nuts and seeds, potato skins, flax seeds, the skins of some fruits like tomatoes are also high insoluble fiber. Vegetables such as zucchini, celery, cauliflower, green beans, and fruits like avocado and bananas are also a source of insoluble fiber.

Fiber Supplements

Soluble fiber supplements are also available on the market and can help alleviate diarrhea, constipation and abdominal discomfort. These supplements can also help lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of colon cancer, and also contribute to losing weight.

Fiber adds bulk to what we eat and thus can make us feel full faster helping to reduce our appetites which can help with losing weight. Soluble fiber lowers our cholesterol levels which helps reduce the risk of heart disease. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels which reduces the chances of having diabetes. Fiber also doesn’t bind to vitamins and minerals found in foods and doesn’t prevent them from being absorbed by the body.

For these reasons, and many others, it is important to eat fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber to maintain a healthy diet and ensure longevity. “We are what we eat” is a phrase that carries much importance because what we eat is what our bodies use as fuel, and, much like fuel for cars, the “grade” of foods we intake determines the performance of the machine (in our case our bodies).…

Qualities to Look For In An Ice Refrigerated Seafood Merchandisers

Commercial refrigerated merchandising units, also known as merchandisers, can be found in almost any food service operation. They are intended to openly display prepackaged seafood or beverages through a glass door or an open front, allowing customers to reach in and take what they desire without bothering the wait staff or cashier. When shopping for an ice-refrigerated seafood merchandiser, you want to find a durable and attractive unit. Look for features like a removable stainless steel interior wall and water defrost system. This will help ensure your product stays fresh for longer.

Product Integrity

The integrity of ice refrigerated seafood merchandiser is crucial to ensure the safety of your seafood product. However, there are some food safety issues when handling fresh seafood, including cross-contamination. This is why it is important to thoroughly wash your hands after touching seafood products.

Integrity isn’t just about product safety, though. It involves the integrity of the entire operation. To meet customer expectations and win business, seafood retailers must maintain a high level of integrity across the board.

Water Defrost System

Water defrost systems are a key part of display cabinets. They allow the refrigeration to be switched off for a short period, preventing seafood from spoiling. These systems also allow for a high level of stackability, with seafood stacked as high as 200mm above the display tray.

Water defrost systems can either be manual or automatic. The former requires additional valves and directs melted frost to the ground, while the latter has a built-in heating element. Water defrost systems are best used in industrial refrigerators. First, they use hot water to melt the accumulated ice. Then, the water, plus the melted ice, flows into a drain pan.

Removable Stainless Steel Interior Walls

Removable stainless steel interior walls in ice-refrigerated seafood merchandiser models are an attractive option for merchandising seafood. They provide easy access to products, can be cleaned easily, and help to keep products at the proper temperature.

Stainless Steel Drip Trays

If you run a seafood restaurant or seafood bar, you probably need stainless steel drip trays. This simple accessory will help you avoid water spills and mess. There are many different designs available to suit every need. The most basic drip pan is made from stainless steel and is easy to use. However, if you want a more elaborate setup, you can order a custom drip tray from various companies.

These display cases preserve seafood products by maintaining optimum humidity and temperature levels. They also provide an attractive product showcase area. Stainless steel is a durable material that resists heavy traffic. In addition, most models feature gravity coils to keep products from drying out. 

Creativity In Merchandising

Creativity can help retailers meet customer expectations when it comes to ice-refrigerated seafood. Proper positioning and in-store promotions can help keep the product in high demand and drive higher sales. However, many factors can affect the effectiveness of merchandising, so creative and strategic thinking is essential for any retailer to succeed.

For example, store owners …

4 Scrumptious And Easy Beef Dinners

4 Scrumptious And Easy Beef Dinners

The key to a healthy diet lies in striking the perfect balance between animal proteins and nutrient rich fruits and vegetables. Although red meat may have received a bad rap in recent years, nutritionists and experts agree that beef is an invaluable source of protein for the human body and is essential for the growth and development of muscles, connective tissue and a resilient immune system. When supplemented with a healthy serving of vegetables and other side dishes, a scrumptious beef dinner can satiate most of your nutritional requirements, whilst gratifying your taste buds. Mentioned below are 4 easy to prepare beef dinners that are both delectable and nutritious.

Meat Loaf – Heat the oven to 450 F. Meanwhile whisk 2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce, A� tsp of salt, a large egg and 1/3 cup of ketchup together in a large bowl and blend to reach a uniform creamy consistency. Now add a pound of lean ground beef along with A� a cup of dried bread crumbs and 1/3 cup of sliced scallions to the batter and mix thoroughly. Using your hands, form the mixture into four loaves measuring 4 x 2-inch. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the loaves on the sheet. Dress the top of the loaves with 2 tsp of ketchup and bake for about half an hour. Serve hot with French fries or an accompaniment of your choice.

Cornbread and Beef Skillet Pie – Heat the oven to 400 F. Meanwhile cook a pound of ground beef in a skillet until brown over a medium-high heat. Pour into the skillet 15.25 oz of drained corn niblets and 21 oz of Ranchero beans. Stir the ingredients well and allow it to simmer for about 2 minutes. Now introduce a pack of cornbread mix on top of the beef gravy and top it off with a sprinkling of A� cup pepper jack cheese. Bake the mix in the oven for about 15 minutes and remove when a wooden pick inserted into the pie comes out clean.

Stroganoff – Pour 2 tsp of canola oil into a large nonstick skillet and heat. When the oil is hot and ready, add a pound of slice mushrooms and a small roughly chopped onion into the skillet and stir for about 5 minutes till golden brown. Add a pound of ground beef into the mix and cook for about 3 minutes till the meat is well browned. Now stir in 2 tbsp of sherry and a 12 oz jar of beef gravy into the mix and allow it to simmer for about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and garnish the dish with a quarter cup of freshly chopped dill and half a cup of low fat sour cream. Serve hot over a bed of rice or noodles.

Picadillo On Buns – Add a pound of lean ground beef to a heated large non-stick skillet and cook for a few minutes over medium-high heat …

Declining Nutrition in Our Foods – Its All Energy

Declining Nutrition in Our Foods – Its All Energy

We have been hearing that the soils are depleted and the food grown today is not as nutritious as it used to be. Why is our food supply “suddenly” less nutritious? We have been farming for thousands of years. Some areas in Europe have had the same plots plowed up for hundreds or even thousands of years. The US has only been extensively farming for the last 200 years. Why is it now that our crops have suddenly lost nutritional value? For the last hundred years we have even developed new sustainable agriculture techniques that are supposed to help preserve the soil, what is going on?

I think we are looking in the wrong area. I would like to see a nutritional study between crops grown on large US corporate farms and served in fast-food restaurant and crops grown on small personal family plots where the food is prepared at home and served to the Family. The one ingredient that is missing in our mass produced, hurry up and eat food is love.

Everything carries a vibration or a natural frequency: all foods, all emotions. Vibrations mix and can be beneficial to each other or detrimental. Crops grown in a family plot are grown with love and tender care, knowing that the fruit will be feed to family and friends. When the food is prepared in the home environment, it is prepared with love and maybe excitement. What do you get when you go to “Fast and Quick Bar-B-Q” down the street. You get meat that was butchered by a person that may have no concern for the animal, it is just a job. You get coleslaw and beans made with vegetables grown on large corporate farms where hired hands drive large machines through the fields in air-conditioned comfort with music and sometimes a TV blaring, distancing them from the crops below. You get cooks at the restaurant who have to make the same recipe day after day with no creativity and no direct contact with the eaters. Many of the people working at the restaurant are making minimum wages and are often not in the best emotional state (stressed, bored, angry, annoyed, bitter, discontented, frustrated, worried etc) and the vibration from these emotions goes directly into your food!

The vibrations of love, peace and joy also just makes food taste better. That is why the homegrown tomatoes taste so much better than the ones bought from the grocery store that were strip-mined in Texas. So the next time you eat at “Fast and Quick Bar-B-Q” down the street, replenish your food by sending it some love before you eat. Maybe that is what saying grace is all about.…

Children and Parties – How to Avoid Upsets And Have Fun!

Children and Parties – How to Avoid Upsets And Have Fun!

One of the main problems with parties – especially children’s parties – is that the increased consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates (white flour products, etc) can turn children into literal monsters.

Have you ever wondered why that is?

Well, one of the reasons is that they have not had enough protein and real food before starting on the “binging”. In addition to that sugar and refined carbohydrates deplete their stores of calcium and magnesium and this frazzles the nerves and turns on the frenzy that is so hard to control.

Their blood sugar levels go on a crazy, overdrive roller-coaster ride and, of course, they consume more of the offending sugars and carbs because their bodies are demanding that the blood sugar gets under control.

They are having a hard time of it too. You have probably experienced that buzzy feeling when you cannot sit still or relax. It is so easy to lose it too and it is definitely not a comfortable feeling.

All that has happened is that the reserves of calcium and magnesium have reduced to zero, if there was even enough to start with and the body is desperately trying to correct but does not have the proper substances necessary for that correction. It can be compared to trying to run your car on empty. You cannot.

The human body starts to eat away at the muscles (starting with the butt and leg muscles) in its desperate attempt to get energy. In the long term this can be the start of diabetes.

The solution is simple.

Before embarking on any trip away from home, ensure that everyone has had a good protein meal with sufficient vegetables – preferably salads – a good quality calcium and magnesium supplement and that everyone is well rested. In other words, had enough sleep.

Now everyone can enjoy themselves without the negative effects.…

Growing Your Own Vegetables – Save Money On Food

Growing Your Own Vegetables – Save Money On Food

Do you want to save money on your food bill this year? Have you thought about growing your own vegetables? If not you should do, as not only do they taste so much better than shop bought ones, you can save yourself a fortune as well.

No matter how small a space you have, be it a large garden, a small patio or even just a windowsill, then there is plenty of salads and vegetables that you can grow easily.

You can grow salads or baby tomato plants on a windowsill. And if you like chili or pepper plants then they also do well on a windowsill.

If you just have a small patio then container gardening is probably the thing for you. If you have a patio you can get a grow bag and put three tomato plants in it. Place them in a sunny location up against a wall and they will thrive.

As well as tomatoes you could look online or in your local garden centre and buy “Container ready” plants such as carrots and leeks. Container ready plants are varieties that have been specially developed for growing in large containers or plant pots rather than planting them in the ground.

It is well worth seeking out these types of plants as whilst you could sow normal carrot seeds in a large plant pot, the container varieties will grow and crop much better.

If you have a big patio you may be lucky enough to squeeze in a small raised bed, you buy them very cheaply on the internet, although I would advise buying the plastic board ones that clip together as they require no maintenance at all. A raised bed, even a small one will give you a lot more options when it comes to growing vegetables. I would suggest that you try runner beans as they only have a small footprint in your vegetable patch, and they love being in raised beds.

If you are lucky enough to have a large garden then your options are limitless, you could have salads planted in one area and root vegetables in another. With a large vegetable patch then with a little effort you can grow everything you need for the season and save several hundred pounds on food.

Gardening also keeps you fit and is great for getting kids involved in. So why not find out more about growing vegetables today?…

Edible Landscaping: Is It Right for You?

Edible Landscaping: Is It Right for You?

If you’ve never considered edible landscaping, now’s the time to start! But how do you know if edible landscaping is right for you? Here are some ways to tell:

You love to garden. If you compare gardening using edible plants and gardening using non-edible plants there’s no real difference — you still dig and plant, water and weed. If you cut flowers for your table, there’s no difference at all! In fact, many of the flowers you might not think of as edible, such as daylilies, nasturtium, and pansies, are actually quite good!

You love to eat. If you love to eat, edible landscaping is perfect for you. When you imagine all your favorite fruits and vegetables, just waiting outside for you to walk outside and eat… well, to me it sounds like heaven!

You love good food. Fresh is best, and you can’t get any fresher than home-grown. You can pick your fruit and vegetables at their peak of ripeness and flavor when they’re in your own yard. When you have edible landscaping, you have complete control over what goes into and on your food. No mystery chemicals there!

You love the convenience of picking food right outside your door. With edible landscaping, you spend less time in supermarket lines, less money on transportation, and have more time, energy and money to spend on your family. You can simply step outside and get your favorite fruits and vegetables, any time you like.

You love trying new foods. There are so many different edible plants out there that you will never run out of fruits and vegetables to try. If you don’t like the taste and the plant is pretty, no problem — just give the extra away. If you like it, you’ve got it made!

You love to cook. The best chefs swear by their kitchen gardens, and if you’re looking to go the next step in your cooking abilities, an edible landscape is just what you need. With the very freshest, most perfectly ripe fruit and vegetables in the exact varieties you love, your cooking can’t help but be great!

You love having a beautiful lot. Edible landscaping isn’t only about sticking food plants in the front yard — it’s about creating a landscape you can feel proud of. It’s about making your home exterior not only beautiful but edible as well.…

Reasons to Grow Plants Hydroponically

Reasons to Grow Plants Hydroponically

Firstly what is hydroponics? Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in a nutrient water solution whereby the roots are supported by a substance other than soil.

If you’re a gardener you will appreciate the hard work that goes into cultivating plants. Not only does this involve ensuring the right soil type but there can be a lot of raking, hoeing, tilling and other hard work that goes into maintaining the soil. Then there is the weeding and the effort that goes into keeping pests at bay.

Hydroponically grown plants solve these problems as there is no soil. The Plants are grown in an aggregate that can be anything from small rounded stones, broken tiles, perlite or vermiculite. Therefore there are no moles or cutworms to worry about, no poisonous pesticides and no weeding. You only have to worry about keeping the plants watered on a regular bases – but even this worry can be taken care of with a hydroponic pump system set to a timer. You can keep your plants watered at regular intervals and even go on holiday for a few weeks without worrying about coming home to shrivelled up dead plants.

Hydroponically grown plants thrive both inside and outside of the home. The nutrient rich water combined with less destruction by pests means you have more bountiful yields with less waste. They grow well both in natural sunlight and artificial light. A hydroponic unit can be portable making it easy to bring the plants indoors during the harsh winters. In fact because a hydroponic unit distributes nutrients evenly to each plant and the porous growing aggregate lets air circulate freely you can ensure everything grows quicker and ripens more quickly, producing many times the yield of soil-grown plants over the same time.

If you have tasted tomatoes from the supermarket you may have noticed that they have tough skins and lack the taste of home grown tomatoes. Farmers choose seeds that produce vegetables with tough skins to facilitate machine harvesting, sorting and shipping. Also they are often harvested before they are ripe to ensure a longer shelf life. Quality is sacrificed for quantity. Home grown plants, particularly those that are hydroponically grown have superior nutritional content and a fuller flavour.

Plants grown in the supermarket are often transported over a long distance reducing their freshness and adding to their cost. With the rise in oil prices and expanding cities gobbling up agricultural land the cost of food is likely to skyrocket in the future. Is it any wonder that more and more people are using hydroponics to grow their own? Hydroponically grown fruit and veg are not only healthier, tastier and more bountiful, they can save you lots of money in the long term while giving you the satisfaction of growing something yourself.…