Our Great Outdoors are Greater with Outdoor Manners
Prior to the COVID pandemic of 2020, thought leaders were focused on the concepts of responsible tourism and sustainability. How could communities take care of their people, economy, and landscapes while planning for tourism based economies?
When the world shut down, the “outdoors” became the “destination” for safe travel and social distancing. Many small communities were inundated with new visitors and unprepared for the deluge of visitors. All of sudden, the use of campsites, trails, and waterways exploded leaving residents wary of visitors who might be carrying the COVID virus; a demand on common household supplies that were already difficult to find; and significant overuse of trails without regard to weather conditions.
June is National Outdoor Month. Here in the Tennessee River Valley, our outdoors is a vast playground of lakes, rivers, forests, grasslands, and events held outdoors in small towns and large cities. Our southern hospitality welcome visitors, but our southern roots have an expectation for good manners and polite behaviors. So here are some tips for outdoor manners and polite behaviors to know before you go:
- Trails- If the parking lot is full, find another trailhead. You will enjoy your hike or bike more.
- Trails-Go through the muddy sections of the trail not around. Your boots or bike can handle it.
- River Access: Park and launch in designated areas only.
- Pack out what you pack in: This is the 911 for good behavior.
- Buy Local campfire wood- Invasive beetles do damage to native trees.
- Dog waste- Your furry friends are welcome, but their waste is not. Bag it!
Staying Safe on the Water
Memorial Weekend is traditionally the first big weekend of the summer for many boaters. As you prepare yourself and your vessel for that fun day on the water don’t neglect water safety for you and for your guests.
Water safety is all about knowing your risks and taking appropriate actions. One of the easiest ways you can protect yourself is by wearing a personal flotation device when you take to the water to boat or paddle.
Here in the Tennessee River Valley, our waterways have seasonal fluctuations and varying levels of boat traffic. Each year, there are drownings that may have been preventable if the boater or paddler had been wearing a life jacket.
May 22 to May 28 is National Boating Safety Week. Safety begins with risk assessment. If you are planning to paddle a river or new waterway that you have not paddled before, know before you go. Are there hazards such as low head dams or strong current conditions to be aware of? For boaters, make sure you check for hazards that might be submerged and always adhere to boating rules for passing another boater. Stay alert to other boat traffic around you.
Finally, be the “designated driver” to make sure everyone makes it back to land safely. When the boat is in motion, ask your guests to wear their life jackets. Paddlers, be the expert for what to anticipate on your paddling adventure.
Stay safe and enjoy your day on the water.
Earth Day 2021- A Model CSA in Huntsville, AL
Earth Day is a day to raise the environmental consciousness of the nation. Traditional service activities include litter pick-ups, tree plantings, and recycling days. In Huntsville, Al, recycling can now get to a granular level. You can get involved with recycling your food scraps with Duncan Farms, a small family-owned farm with a philosophy of “taking food waste and turning it into beautiful clean food while preserving our environment and lessening our impact.”
Donavan Duncan shares their newest project with us:
Food scraps account for nearly 30% of the waste put out by most homes. Currently, this goes into landfills and causes issues ranging from increasing global warming, to poisoned groundwater.
Each week we’ll come to pick up the lining from your bucket, our fully compostable plastic bag, we’ll also swap your bucket out if needed, and give it a quick clean. You’ll earn credit each week that you’re part of our program, and can redeem that credit on our farm store – essentially turning your waste into farm-fresh food – all while helping save the world!
We’re proud to take your scraps and turn those scraps into fresh food that you can claim on our farm store. Each month you’re part of our program, you’ll receive a credit (rewarding you for your food scraps!) that’s redeemable at our farm shop.
Recent Comments