The USDA reports that many areas are now half a zone warmer than on previous maps, “mostly a result of using temperature data from a longer and more recent time period.” (An interactive map is available at http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/). While many debate whether this reflects a global climate change or just a more accurate assessment of the data, gardeners want to know one thing: what does this mean for my 2012 garden?

Here’s what I’ll be doing differently as I move from zone 5b to zone 6a.

I’m starting seeds a few days early: While the change in zone won’t make a dramatic difference in my final frost day, I’m starting my seeds a few days early so I can harden the plants off a few days earlier in the spring.

I’ll be prepared to set plants out earlier than usual: This will be trial-and-error for a few years, I’m sure, but this year I plan to have my plants ready to set out about two weeks before I usually do. Then, I’ll monitor weather forecasts and soil temperature to decide when I can actually plant my most tender plants.

I’m growing more heat-tolerant varieties: Especially in the Midwest, it has always been a good insurance policy to select one cold-tolerant variety and one heat-tolerant variety of such temperature-sensitive plants as tomatoes and zucchini. This year, I’ve put a couple of extra heat-tolerant varieties in the mix to compensate for a potentially warmer summer.

I’m better prepared for unexpected cold snaps: A move to zone 6a certainly won’t stop a freak cold snap from coming in and harming my tender plants if it takes a mind to. I’ll be better prepared this year to respond to unexpected chill with row covers and cold frames for garden plants and sunny indoor spaces for my container garden.

I’ll be thinking of ways to extend my season on the fall end: The new zone map announcement came just as most of us are thinking of planning our gardens, but the few extra frost-free days on the spring end should be matched by a few extra on the fall end. I’ll be planning some cold-tolerant plantings for the main garden that can go in after the main crop ends to take advantage of what I hope is a long and mild fall.

The gases alone don’t form acid rain. Rather, the combination turns into nitric acid and sulfuric acid after being released into the atmosphere and coming into contact with gaseous water vapor, which forms clouds. The pH level of normal clouds is moderately acidic, but contamination with the acids results in a pH level that is less than 5.6, which is strongly acidic.

Rain from these acidic clouds is harmful to the environment, where the acids contaminate the soil, and can kill aquatic creatures. Since it is acidic, the rain damages metal over the long-term, and can cause surface deterioration as well as structural defects.

In humans, acid rain is linked to an increased susceptibility to respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, colds, and coughs. It is also believed to play a role in the development of allergies and Alzheimer’s disease. The latter is believed to occur when acid rain deposits aluminum and mercury into the soil, which make their way up the food chain and accumulate in the end consumers, i.e. humans.

The steps we can take to reduce acid rain creation are the same as those taken to reduce carbon emissions. As vehicle emissions play a large part in its generation, driving less often or using low-sulfur fuel is the easiest place to start. Those who prefer driving themselves should consider driving in a manner that uses fuel more efficiently, such as not mashing the gas pedal down when the traffic light turns green.

The upshot is that we can reduce the creation of acid rain and carbon emissions by reducing the use and/or dependence on fossil fuels. This means switching to alternative power sources and/or using electricity conservatively, as most power plants rely on fossil fuel to generate electricity. Thus, switching the lights off when you leave a room will net you a 2-in-1 effect of reducing the amount of carbon and acids generated.

There are many pros and cons to any decision made by Congress or the president; however, there are several myths about the Keystone XL pipeline that should be addressed, including the following two:

1. The pipeline will create 20,000 or more jobs for US workers.

If permitted to be built in the United states, there will be workers needed; however a recent review by Cornell University found that pipeline construction would create roughly 2500 to 4600 American jobs. Keep in mind that these jobs will be temporary, providing employment for a only few months until the pipeline is built.

2. Tar sands oil is nearly the same as any other oil.

The reality is that tar sands oil is a different type of oil than standard crude oil. The process to extract this oil from tar sands requires more energy and chemicals than crude oil, making it more corrosive. There has been very little research to confirm how hazardous this oil could be for the environment, but recent spills from other Trans-Canada pipelines have confirmed that this oil sinks in water and cannot be removed from the surface.

This reason alone is why the majority of Nebraskans have been protesting the pipeline in their state. The potential damage to the Ogallala Aquifer (Nebraska’s economic livelihood) is far more serious with tar sand oil than with crude oil.

It’s true that the economic situation in the United States is tough right now. And oil is still a major player in the economy and our modern lives; however, are 4500 temporary jobs worth the possible environmental risks of this pipeline? Is oil more important than clean water and a thriving environment?

This group of activists in northern Ireland have their schedule packed with events, workshops, and outreach projects. Their most recent victory was successfully planting 420 native trees in an effort to restore an area of town that had lost many trees to disease and fires over the years. Species like blackthorn and hazel were carefully chosen so the trees could also be used as a low-impact food source in the community.

The group now plans a much larger feat: planting 60,000 trees in one day to reforest one of the least wooded community woodland areas in Europe. To accomplish the task, Transition Town Whitehead has teamed up with the Carrickfergus Borough Council and the Woodland Trust to invite community members to the event. They have crafts, arts, music performances, face painting, and story telling planned as an addition to entice more volunteers.

The big day will be held February 25th and last from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. Although this is the dead of winter, event organizers aren’t deterred. The last tree planting turned out successfully even though it was held in the cold month of November. Volunteers, however, are urged to wear appropriate clothing including snow or rain boots. They are also urged to bring enthusiasm so a day that is both productive and fun can be achieved.

Some Transition Town devotees note that planting so many trees will not only have positive effects on the local ecosystem, but it should bring many people together, building a sense of community that will be essential in future years when climate change is more apparent.

One item that is easily made at home through upcycling is a wind chime. Wind chimes can be bought easily, but making them with what many deem as trash is a fun exercise, especially for kids. There are many ways to go about this, depending on what upcycling supplies you have at your disposal.

If you have an empty, used tin can, you have an easy wind chime project at your finger tips. Just clean the tin along with its lid. Paint designs over the can, add decorations such as glitter or beads, and let dry.

Using a nail and hammer, poke a hole through the can’s bottom and the can’s lid. Take some string and thread it through the holes, keeping the tin on top and the lid dangling below and barely touching it. Make a knot at both ends and hang up your creation outside.

Another wind chime craft can be created using a wide array of tin can lids in many different sizes. First clean the lids thoroughly and paint them however you like. Next, poke holes in the center of all the lids with a nail and hammer.

Take string and thread it through the holes, making strings of tin lids spaces a few inches apart. Make several of these strings, then tie them together at the top, and you have a simple but attractive wind chime to hang at your home.

Another easy wind chime project can be accomplished with empty soda cans. Rinse and dry the cans, then paint the outside. Attach strings to the tabs of each can and secure the other ends of the strings to a coat hanger. The cans should overlap just a little so they produce a nice wind chime sound when the wind blows.

Editor’s Note: While using tin lids is a good way to upcycle, caution is needed when working with them.  Tin lids may have sharp edges.  Children should not complete this project without adult supervision.

Reducing food waste is not just about reducing the amount of money wasted on uneaten food, or about reducing the amount of food that is wasted. Much of the food discarded from households makes its way to landfills, where it rots and makes a significant contribution to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; however, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution would be to substantially reduce the amount of food that is discarded.

Obviously, food waste such as vegetable peels, tea bags, and banana skins must be thrown out. Rather than simply tossing them out though, these biodegradable materials can be composted. If you don’t garden, give the resulting compost to someone who does. Composting can be carried out with a bokashi composter, or simply in a covered plastic container into which holes have been drilled.

You can also reduce or eliminate food wastage entirely by controlling how much food winds up in your kitchen. To do so, you must always go food shopping with a list and a budget. The list ensures that you buy only what is needed, while the budget ensures that you don’t succumb to impulse food purchases.

If drawing up a food-shopping list is difficult because you don’t know what you will need, record what food item is running low or plan a menu for family meals each week. Not only will you be able to create a shopping list, you won’t be at a loss for dinner ideas during the week. By extension, either buy less food or get into the habit of not throwing out extra portions of prepared food. Over time, this results in you spending less on food while reducing food waste.

As demonstrated at the show, the ecoATM offers what selling on eBay or using mail-in electronic recycling programs do, but with instant gratification. Simply locate one of these eCycling kiosks, drop in your used mobile phone or mp3 player, and wait a moment to see how much the machine will pay you for your device. If you agree with the price, simply take your cash and go. Your old device is then collected to be refurbished and resold or melted down and recycled.

As simple as it may sound, cutting edge technology goes into a process like this when humans are absent to check out the device’s condition or to insure thieves are not trading in their latest loot.

First, consumers must place their electronic product into the inspection station. From here, the ecoATM uses its machine vision and artificial intelligence to identify the device and its condition. From there, the device must be plugged into the machine so that it can check that everything is working properly.

A quote of the product’s fair market value, based upon the prices that other companies are paying for the same device, is offered. If the consumer agrees to the price, a driver’s license must be scanned as a measure to prevent theft or fraud. A choice of donating the money to charity or getting cash on the spot is then offered.

Although selling some more high end phones and mp3 players on eBay or other means may provide better returns, the ecoATM has a place for those who need a quicker method to dispose of their old electronics. Currently, there are only a few of these machines in California, but the company has plans to expand with 500 new machines in 2012.

Most of the waste water a household generates is known as “gray water.” Gray water is generated from regular water usage such as hand-washing, rinsing vegetables before cooking, and the like. Your shower or bath water is also considered gray water. In contrast, the waste water generated when you flush the toilet is known as “black water,” and it should not be reused.

Gray water can be recycled for other uses virtually everywhere around the home – except in food preparation. This means you can use it to water the plants (water the soil, and not the leaves), as a first rinse when you’re washing the car, or to flush the toilet. The immediate benefit from recycling water is that you will reduce fresh water usage greatly. This reduces household water consumption substantially, saving you money in the process.

In addition to using less water, recycling gray water helps to prevent water wastage. Water usage in the United States outpaces that of other countries greatly; most Americans use 80-100 gallons daily. By contrast, people in countries such as India, China, and other developing countries often make do with less than the daily minimum of 13 gallons per day per person. Taking steps to implement or increase water recycling creates greater awareness of the need to conserve dwindling resources.

Aside from reducing usage and preventing wastage, recycling water around the house means that less of it will be obtained from sources that cannot be replenished. Using water that is meant to be consumed to irrigate a garden or to fill the toilet reduces the available pool of water that can be used as drinking water. In light of the importance of having a sustainable water supply, Singapore pioneered NEWater, which converts a small amount of  “reclaimed” water into potable water, while the rest is used for industrial purposes.

Likewise, using water more than once ensures that less waste water, whether treated or untreated, is released into the environment, where it may pollute and disrupt the aquatic environment.