Living Waters (pt.2)

  

   When I started thinking about the topic of water for life, I never realized what a big subject it was. We have all heard about droughts in Africa and how we are helping people dig wells for clean water; but there is also so much going on here in the U.S.A. I recently read about the problems in there states: Georgia, Alabama, and florida. These three states are involved in a legal battle over water from two big river basins. The details are complicated but part of the problem is the rapid growth in the population of Atlanta. Since the 70's the population has increased by 66%. This puts a big strain on the reservoirs that supply water to the city at the expense of the other states of Alabama and Florida.

   We cannot solve this problem but we, as gardeners, have an important role to play. The simple act of planting a tree helps to conserve water. Trees add water vapor to the air through stranspiration. THey also transform carbon dioxide into oxygen that we need to breathe. Urban sprawl in big cities has destroyed forests and caused erosion, which takes away good soil. The roots of Trees hold the soil in place and prevent erosion that can lead to floods.

   Trees make our towns look better. We can enjoy them for their beauty and the shade they provide in the summer in our parks and gardens.

   So, in summing up, I want you to conserve water in your daily routine. Plant trees, help protect our water supplies, the Great Lakes and this Earth.

   We owe it to future generations.

"A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible."

                                                                             -Welsh Proverb

Living Waters

-from our president, Avril Blair

Gardeners have green thumbs and know how important the right amount of water is to growing healthy plants. Water shapes and nourishes life on Earth. Our existence on this planet depends on clean secure sources of fresh water. With the growth of human population, demand for fresh water is outstripping supply in many parts of the world. It is estimated that 70% of all fresh water is used for agricultural purposes; so we can understand how vital water is for our survival.

Here in the Great Lakes the freshwater systems also have aesthetic and recreational values. We have boating, fishing and tourism which are all vital parts of the economy of our state. To preserve and protect these waters we must use water wisely, because this will be our legacy for our children and grandchildren.

We have a challenge to conserve water. There are many good reasons why we should. Conserving water lessens the damaging effects of droughts that affect our southern states. Drought can decrease our food supply and thus raise prices, increase fire hazards, and cause soil erosion. We, in the U.S.A., use more water per person than in any other country. It is believed that our southwestern states will suffer severe water shortages as early as 2025.

We should aim to conserve water to help the environment. Remembering to conserve throughout your daily routine will soon become a habit you will not even think about.

For every month on this website we have a tip on how to conserve water If you only remember some of these, you are helping to protect our water supplies, the Great Lakes, and this planet.