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“We don’t inherit the planet from our parents; we borrow it from our children”. - Proverb.

I’ve never been one to keep up with the latest fashion trend but I am sold on, “Green is the new Black”!  I was definitely not raised with this mentality but being a biology teacher myself, I cannot ignore it!

I have decreased my use of fossil fuels by buying a hybrid car and planning my trips around town.  I am currently in Churchill, Manitoba, participating in an Earthwatch study that is examining plant growth on the tundra.  The treeline up here is changing, and climate change could be a factor.

We had to drop our plans for a home addition because the water table in our area has risen due to heavy rains over the last few years.  Our basement has flooded three times in the last two years, though we're not in a flood zone.  Poor soil conditions forced us to give up a kitchen and garage addition for a sun room to be built on an existing patio.  The city refused to okay the plans as originally drawn because the new structure wouldn't withstand 100mph winds.  100mph winds in Ohio?  A few years ago that would have seemed absurd but after losing five large trees i

Climate Change has effected almost every aspect of my life, in the classroom, as I am a science teacher, and at home with my family.  I guess the big idea I try to act upon is whether what I am doing is sustainable or not for our Earth.  I have a huge vegetable garden, I have changed the light bulbs, I buy locally grown food when I can, I buy organic foods, I recycle, I try to use ecologically sound cleaning products.  I try to do what I can.  We walk, we take the train, although we drive as our suburban lifestyle demands. 

How is climate change affecting you? I realized that the summer started earlier than the last years and therefore, fall started earlier too. It was very warm in April and May but then in June/July was it not so warm anymore (normally it is the opposite).

Have you changed your light bulbs? Yes, we use the good light bulbs and we do not have too many lights on. When we leave the room than we turn off the light.

How has climate change effected me?   A great deal.  I spent this July studying the "Estimation of Primary Productivity and Particle Export Rates as a Function of Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Bering Sea." I was awarded a grant by the ARMADA project, funded by the NSF.  I spoke to scientists first hand about the effects of global climate change and the anthropogenic causes.

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