JeffCo H20: A Litter Free State of Mind

June 25, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

Keep America Beautiful was created in 1953 to address an increase in littering that coincided with the construction of the interstate system and the growing popularity of disposable containers. Local ordinances, national ad campaigns, and community cleanup efforts soon followed. Over the ensuing decades, the anti-litter movement grew to include other elements such as municipal recycling programs and the push for more sustainable products. But in spite of the tears shed by Iron Eyes Cody, the litter problem in the US has not gone away. Its effects on our communities range from diminished quality of life and safety concerns to neighborhood blight and reduced economic growth.

So . . . what is considered litter, what items are the most littered, where does litter occur, and who litters? The most common definition of litter is solid waste of any type put where it does not belong. (Some people still argue that if something is biodegradable, like gum, it does not count as litter.) Cigarette butts are the most littered items, followed by bottles, cans, fast food packaging and plastic shopping bags. Roadways, transition points such as entrances to buildings, outdoor recreational areas, and shopping centers are the most common locations for littering. People under 30 are the most likely age group to litter. More than 80% of littering is intentional. There’s no doubt that litter is unsightly, but it also has environmental consequences. Wind, rain, traffic, and animals can carry litter to gutters, ditches and storm drains where it is carried untreated to waterways. According to Keep America Beautiful, 80% of US waterways are littered with trash that was first dropped on land. Even worse, hazardous materials which are illegally dumped can leach into water sources, contaminate soil and pollute the air.

As with any human behavior, there is a psychological aspect to littering. Not feeling a sense of ownership for an area followed by the belief that someone else will pick it up are the most common reasons that people litter. What appears to be socially acceptable is another factor in human behavior. When an area is littered, it has an almost magnetic effect. Since “everyone else is doing it”, litter attracts more litter. But a funny thing happens when an area is extremely clean . . . littering appears to be unacceptable, and the incidence of littering is greatly reduced.

One way to encourage people to take ownership of their community and improve its cleanliness is to get them involved in the process. This past spring, Storm Water Management staff promoted and facilitated roadside cleanups in 23 unincorporated and 14 incorporated Jefferson County areas in conjunction with the statewide People Against a Littered State (PALS) Spring Cleanup. This spring, a total of 1,469 volunteers picked up more than 58 tons of roadside litter. To support the roadway cleanup efforts in unincorporated communities, the Jefferson County Commission approved funding to purchase gloves, bags, water, and safety t-shirts. The Sheriff’s Office provided traffic control for 714 volunteers who picked up 40 tons of litter in unincorporated areas. Roads and Transportation Department crews coordinated and properly disposed of the collected roadway litter.

You can make littering unacceptable in your community. Participate in (or even initiate!) a roadside cleanup in 2015. Call 325.8741 to learn more.

What’s Happening?

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the July Brown Bag Series seminars at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The seminars are free, no registration is required, and light refreshments are provided. Call 325.8741 for more details.

Upcoming seminars include:

A Change of Scenery – July 9, Birmingham Botanical Gardens – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Auditorium) Discover how to make your landscape fit your current lifestyle, physical needs and desires. Instructors: Daniel and Andrew McCurry

GRANDScapes: Multigenerational Gardening – July 23, Birmingham Botanical Gardens – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Auditorium) Kindle the imagination of the (grand) kids in your life by creating fairy gardens, worm habitats, and other play inspiring features. Instructor: Vasha Rosenblum

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Greene Cemetery

June 20, 2014 Leave a comment

In this month’s article, we will dig deeper (no pun intended) into a local cemetery with a list of residents that reads like a Who’s Who of the early pioneers of Jefferson County. The Green[e]’s Station cemetery (also called ” Green[e] family cemetery, Green[e]-Massey cemetery, or the Smith’s Chapel cemetery) is located on Kent Road near to the main campus of Jefferson State Community College on AL highway 79 between Tarrant and Pinson. The cemetery is adjacent to the site of, but was not affiliated with the Smith’s Chapel Methodist Church on the old Huntsville Road. The cemetery is of singular historical import to those of us living today in Pinson Valley. The area began to be settled between 1817-1818 and many of the area’s early pioneers (and a minimum of seven slaves) are buried in the cemetery.

Settlers began coming into the area by wagon train, ox-cart, Indian-drags, on foot or horseback and staked out homesteads for themselves and their families. The plantations and farms of early pioneers stretched from one end of Pinson Valley to the other, bordered by Tarrant on one end and Pinson on the other. The area also stretched from Trussville and Roebuck to New Castle and Springdale.

The city of Tarrant as we know it today was not incorporated until 1918. Named for Rev. Benjamin Tarrant, the town grew up around the National Cast Iron Pipe Company and related companies. However, the settlement was much older. Travelers on the Huntsville Road in about 1817 often stopped at an area known as the Big Spring to rest and recharge on their way further into Alabama. While many moved on, others stayed and built a community, originally called Green[e]’s, or Green[e]’s Station. Brothers George Livingston Green[e]and Robert Hardy Green[e] both built large plantations in the area. The Tarrant area was also sometimes known as Nabor’s Spring.

The cemetery is the final resting place of Zachariah Hagood, one of the earliest physicians in Jefferson County, who practiced from 1840 to 1856. Dr. Zachariah, as he was known, almost single-handedly populated the settlement in northeastern part of Jefferson County that would eventually bear his name. He came here with his wife and baby… However, the valley was soon teeming with life from the many sons and daughters, Zachariah had 21 children from three wives. Robert, son of Dr. Zachariah, built a store on a crossroads next to the Huntsville Road which, beginning in 1836, also functioned as the community’s first post office. The area quickly became known as Hagood’s Crossroads. However, horse traders settling in the area from Pinson, Tennessee came in around 1852, eventually outvoted the Hagood’s and renamed the town Mount Pinson which, in turn, was later shortened to Pinson..A more poignant burial is that of Thomas Haughey, a physician who owned land in the area. Serving as a Republican US Congressman in the years following the Civil War, Haughey was assassinated in Courtland, AL while making a speech in 1869.

The cemetery started as a family burial place for the Green[e] family, who had significant land holdings in the area. The oldest known burial is reflected on a stone carved in 1829. Two of the oldest known burials are that of Goldsmith Whitehouse Hewitt (a veteran of the American Revolution), who died in 1846 and George Nash who died in 1852, the father of Zachariah Hagood’s first wife, Nancy Nash. Also buried there are John and Margaret Erwin, parents of Zachariah’s second and third wives, Nancy and Mary Ann Erwin. Families represented in cemetery include Greene, Hagood, Erwin, Massey, Reed, Reid, Marshall, Nash, and Hewitt.

Registered as an Alabama Historic Cemetery on January 20, 2004, the cemetery is likely older than Alabama statehood. However, the years have not been kind to this venerable old resting place… In its current state, it is horribly overgrown, with numerous sunken graves and vandalized gravestones.

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This hallowed place of rest for our ancestors deserves better than it has received. It falls to the generations living today to give the cemetery its due, if for no other reason than a show of respect for this burial ground, and especially in gratitude for the stalwart pioneers who risked everything to settle what is now known as Pinson Valley.

This article is intended to provide accurate historical information to a general audience. Material contained herein is gathered from reputable online and traditional sources, but unless otherwise noted, is not the result of original scholarship or research by the author.

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

Skip Campbell retired from UPS in early 2012 after 38 years as a senior manager, working in numerous locations in the United States and abroad, with primary responsibilities in operations and industrial engineering. He received his BS degree in Applied Science and Operations Analysis from the University of Alabama and holds Master’s degrees in Engineering Management, Quality and Management,. Skip holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Development, with concentrations in Organizational Theory and Macroergonomics. Skip is a Senior Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and sits on the Board of Visitors for the College of Continuing Studies at the University of Alabama. Since retiring, Skip serves as an Adjunct Professor with the College of Continuing Studies (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at the University of Alabama and focuses his academic research efforts on the area of pre-20th century Alabama history. Skip belongs to a number of historical and cemetery preservation associations. He and his wife Denise have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.

JeffCo H20: Less Effort, More Impact – It’s Mulch Better!

May 29, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

Summer turf growing season has arrived! It’s time to tune up the lawnmower and get ready for that chore of cutting the grass. If you are like many homeowners, you are not looking forward to all that mowing, bagging, and other work involved in summer lawn care. However, there is a way to skip the bagging step and actually improve your lawn while saving time, reducing cost, and making the most of a free resource.

For starters, bagged grass clippings account for 20 – 30 percent of residential waste hauled away to landfills during the summer months, even though clippings are 100 percent recyclable and contain valuable nutrients. According to research done by the Oregon State University Extension Service, you can reduce your fertilizer use by as much as one half by regularly mowing your lawn and allowing the grass clippings to remain on the lawn. Grass clippings contain nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and other nutrients which are released into the soil as the clippings decompose, making clippings an excellent organic source of fertilizer for your lawn. The clippings also encourage earthworms and microorganisms to live in the soil, further enriching it. Grass clippings bring another benefit – they help retain soil moisture, thereby reducing watering amount and frequency.

If you want to try keeping grass clippings on your yard this summer, there are a few things to keep in mind. Using a mulching lawnmower is best because it is designed to chop mowed grass into very small particles and evenly distribute the clippings back onto the lawn. Setting the lawnmower blade at the correct height for your type of turf and cutting the grass frequently enough so that no more than 1/3 of the total plant height is removed at any one time will provide the best results. Mowing about once a week during the growing season is generally about right. Plus, the job goes faster when the lawn only needs a light once-over. Infrequent mowing can create its own issues, including big heavy clumps of clippings that can smother the lawn and cause thatch buildup.

With a little planning, keeping grass clippings on your lawn can be a win-win for both you and your turf.

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Neighbors Part 2

May 7, 2014 Leave a comment

The second church that we will discuss from the early days of Tarrant was the Bethel Methodist Church, established between 1818 and 1820 by Methodist “Circuit Rider”, Rev. Ebenezer Hearn. Between 1817 and 1818, Rev. James Tarrant (a veteran of the American Revolution) traveled from South Carolina to Alabama with his family, including son Benjamin (a veteran of the War of 1812), and Benjamin’s wife, Morning, and their two children. Travelers into the Tarrant area often stopped at a large campground near to what was called the Big Spring on Five Mile Creek. It was popular because there was fresh water to drink and clothes could be washed. Rev. Tarrant had been sent by the Methodist Bishop in Nashville to establish a Methodist church in the area. James eventually moved on and built the Bethlehem Methodist Church, near Hueytown, with his slave, Adam, in 1818. Benjamin and his family, however, purchased property in the Tarrant area and maintained his home there until he died in 1874. Benjamin made his living both through farming and as a local politician. Benjamin also had a well-deserved reputation for hard living and was known to be a heavy drinker and gambler. However, in 1842, Benjamin changed his ways and was ordained as a Methodist minister. He later became active at Bethel Church where he was an evangelist for the next 30 years. Contrary to popular opinion, Tarrant was named for Benjamin Tarrant and NOT for his ancestor, Felix. Virtually all of the Tarrant family trace their lineage from Judge Leonard Tarrant who fought with Andrew Jackson at Horseshoe Bend. (There is a well-known 1814 hand-drawn map of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, drawn for Captain Leonard Tarrant).

Bethlehem United Methodist from Hueytown Historical Society

Northeastern Jefferson County paid a significant role in the Civil War. Bethel Church was used as a gathering spot for rebel soldiers from Tarrant who were members of Company C, 19th Alabama infantry, the Jefferson County unit originating “from Hagood’s Crossroads [Pinson]… and included the sons of all the planters for miles around”. The “Reminiscences of Julius C. Greene” note that the militia mustered once a year at Massey Springs on the Huntsville Trail [Pinson Valley Parkway and Valleycrest Road]. People from all over the county came and stayed a week. The young men would drill; the old men talked crops and politics; the young women cooked and played games; the old women would knit and gossip. There would be a dance every night, an old-fashioned square dance. Some old negro slaves, with wing collar, long-tailed coat, and pants as tight as their skin would call the dance while the negro fiddlers played “Cotton Eye Joe,” “Turkey in the Straw,” “The Devil’s Dream,” and other old time pieces”.

The officers of the militia were: General John Massey, Major Robert H. Green, Captain A. J. Tarrant, Lieutenant John Ayers, Second Lieutenant George Barton, and Top Sergeant Robert N. Martin. Because of its close association with the rebel cause, Bethel Church was burned in 1865 by Wilson’s Raiders during the same sweep in which Hanby’s Forge was destroyed and the University of Alabama was burned.

Union General James H. Wilson

Tarrant had its share of racial strife during the Civil War and Reconstruction. There is a reference to carpetbaggers wanting the blacks to kill all the whites between “Massey’s Springs and Hagood’s Crossroads” and yet another about arresting “every man from Hagood’s Crossroads to Five Mile Creek”. John Massey was one of the largest slave owners in Jefferson County. In the 1860 census he owned over 60 slaves. Greene mentions that “George L. Greene settled at what is now Tarrant and Major Robert H. Greene at what is now the Munger farm, six miles above Tarrant”.(Yankees camped on the farm when they came through the area). It is from this turmoil that the third Tarrant church emerged. Beginning as a prayer group of run-away slaves from Bibb County who joined with and others who worked on the plantation. First meeting in different houses each week, the group organized a brush arbor church [a rough-hewn, open-sided shelter constructed of vertical poles driven into the ground with additional long poles laid across the top as support for a roof of brush, cut branches or hay. Brush arbors were sometimes used by churches to protect worshipers from the weather during revival meetings] in 1891 known as Goins Chapel, for the former slave who eventually became a successful farmer and donated the land where the church would be located. Because “Chapel” was more often used by the Methodist church, the name was changed to Rushing Springs Baptist Church, a reference to a free-flowing spring near the church. Of special note is that the church had an early rule that required its Pastors to be able to read and write.

church

Rushing Springs Baptist Church, Tarrant, Alabama

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

JeffCo H2O: The High Cost of Thirsty Lawns

May 1, 2014May 1, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

We’ve all seen it before. A sprinkler system turns on and vigorously waters the lawn – and the sidewalk – and the street. Failing to properly adjust and time sprinkler systems can create a runoff cocktail of yard chemicals, soil, and pet waste, not to mention the amount of wasted water. It is estimated that thirsty turf consumes as much as 19.5 trillion gallons of water per year in the US. Luckily there are some things that can be done to reduce the impact on natural resources. Simply choosing the type of turf grass that is best suited for your yard and implementing more efficient irrigation practices can go a long way toward reducing runoff and conserving water.

Our love for lawns is rooted in history. The first managed residential grassy areas date back to the 1600s. Today, lawns are the largest irrigated crop in the US. According to Scienceline.org, irrigated turf occupies more than 40 million acres of land. But our long devotion to expansive (and expensive) lawns may have to change in the future due to the effects of lingering droughts and declining groundwater reserves. Already the popularity of alternative landscaping techniques to conserve resources is growing. Creating an alternative landscape involves scaling back the turf in your yard to further reduce water consumption, runoff, and yard chemical use. Here are a few ideas to begin a transition from turf to an alternative landscape:

◊ Start with a plan! First identify turf areas that serve a purpose, such as recreation. These areas will remain unchanged.

◊ Identify the hardest to maintain turf areas as the first candidates for removal. Areas of turf that are the least functional, or do not serve a specific purpose, are next on the removal list.

◊ As time and money allow, replace the turf areas you have identified with easy care groundcover, water efficient plants, or consider planting trees to create natural areas that will expand as the tree canopy grows.

Over time, your yard can become a lovely, low impact, sustainable retreat.

What’s Happening?

Do Dah Day – May 17 – This is a great opportunity to come on out and strut your pet’s stuff in Rhodes and Caldwell Parks! This fun, family friendly event benefits local animal charities. Jefferson County Storm Water Management staff plans to be there with a poo toss game (yes, you read that right) to teach proper pet waste disposal. Visit http://www.dodahday.org to learn more.

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Neighbors Part 1

April 24, 2014 Leave a comment

In this month’s blog, we will talk about my old stomping grounds – our neighbors on highway 79 – from Tarrant (in the interest of full disclosure, I was an Inglenook kid, growing up just over the city limits into Birmingham) north on Pinson Valley Parkway including Robinwood, Ketona, Pawnee, the Jefferson State area and on out to Pinson. From a historical perspective, these areas have much more in common than they do differences.

Tarrant was incorporated as a city in 1918, a mill town owing its existence in large part to the starting of the National Cast Iron Pipe Company. One of the original share owners in NCIPC was Felix Tarrant, a dentist by training. Felix also founded the Tarrant Land Company which sold property in and around the Tarrant area.

However, Tarrant, as a settlement, was there much earlier. Originally called Green[e]’s, or Nabors Springs, the Tarrant area was settled in much the same way as Pinson, by soldiers passing through the area to or from the Creek War or War of 1812. These soldiers later brought or sent for their families to join them in their new home. After local Native American tribes were forced to cede their land after signing the treaty in 1814 with General Andrew Jackson, the US government opted to offset the costs of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812/Creek War by giving or selling the newly acquired lands to their veterans. Some land was given to those owed pensions due to military service, while some lands were sold for as little as $1.50 per acre.

Churches were almost always at the center, both literally and figuratively, at the center of most early settlements and, as such, were major influences. In Tarrant’s case, however, most denominations did not come onto the scene until after the town was incorporated. That being said, there were three early churches in Tarrant that deserve mentioning. The older of the two was the Smith’s Chapel Methodist Church, founded in the days before Alabama became a state in 1819. Originally next to James Cunningham’s house at the headwaters of the creek named for him, the building was later moved to the Huntsville Road (now Highway 79) close to where Kent Corporation now stands. The Greene family cemetery, where many of the area’s early pioneers (and a minimum of seven slaves) are buried, was next to the church. Families that are residents of the cemetery include Greene, Hagood, Erwin, Massey, Reed, Reid, Marshall, and Hewitt (including Goldsmith Whitehouse Hewitt, a veteran of the American Revolution). Extant church records for Smith Chapel include a copy of the General Rules of the United Methodist Societies (published for the Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church), which admonishes its members to lead an exemplary life: “…by doing no harm; by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which most generally practiced”. These “rules for life” were part of a booklet where the church listed their members, attendance records (including notes on members who had been “expelled”), from 1842 until 1855. Copies of the original church records list members who owned slaves. In addition, it lists the slaves who were members of the church, and who their owners were. While not unexpected for the time, it is ironic that the Rules expressly forbid members of the Methodist church from “buying and selling of men, women, and children, with an intention to enslave them”.

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

JeffCo H20:Rock, paper, garden

April 3, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. But along with warmer days come issues like bare patches, aggressive weeds, soggy spots, and soaring water bills. Before using yard chemicals to control pesky plants, giving up on too wet or bare areas, or dragging out the hose to water the landscape yet again, you might want to consider some stormwater friendly low maintenance options.

Bare, sloped or otherwise hard to maintain areas easily can be transformed into a yard feature by installing a rock garden. If you don’t already have appropriate rocks in your yard, you can purchase them at a home and garden store. Properly installed, the rock will help reduce weeds, hold in moisture, and stabilize the soil. When choosing plants for your rock garden, make sure that they are suited for our local conditions, and all have similar water and sun requirements.

A rock garden can help tame a difficult to maintain area of your landscape

You already may have a weed control solution at your home and don’t know it. Correctly applied, layers of newspaper are an inexpensive and easy way to prevent weeds. Spread the newspaper about 10 sheets thick over the soil and overlap the layers by several inches to eliminate gaps. Work newspaper around existing plants, or poke holes in the newspaper to install new plants. Gently spray the newspapers with water until they are soaked, then lightly cover with leaves or other mulch to give a uniform appearance and help hold the sheets in place. The newspaper will prevent weeds from springing up, help keep soil moist and cool during the growing season, and add nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

Newspapers are an inexpensive, chemical free way to control weeds.

A rain garden is a great remedy for depressions (in your yard that is). Placing water loving plants in low lying areas will help soak up the sogginess and create a beautiful and colorful area. Installing a rain barrel to collect rainwater from your roof is an easy way to store up rainy day resources and reduce the cost of watering thirsty areas of your yard. Rain barrels can be purchased at home and garden stores, ordered online, or homemade from food quality plastic drums.

What’s Happening?

Household Hazardous Waste Day – April 26 – Get ready to bring your HHW to McLendon Park (Legion Field), Birmingham from 8 to11 am. Proper disposal will be available for paint, auto and alkaline batteries, used motor oil, electronics, ammunition, white goods, and paper shredding. This event is free and open to all residents of Jefferson County.

Birmingham E-Cycling Day – May 8– Here’s another chance to properly dispose of your old, broken, or unwanted electronics. Bring them to Linn Park from 8 am to 12 noon for recycling. Items accepted include personal computers, televisions, monitors, VCRs, stereos, DVD players, microwaves, phones, laptops, keyboards, mice, printers, ink/toner cartridges, remote controls, modems, projectors, and cameras. This event is free and open to citizens of the Birmingham Metro Area. Call 787-5222 for more information.

Alabama Master Gardeners Helpline – Help for your home gardening challenges is just a phone call away! Dial 1-877-252-GROW and select option 3 to speak to a master gardener volunteer serving the Birmingham area.

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Post Creek War Settlement

March 26, 2014 Leave a comment

This month’s blog will continue our exploration of the early history of northeastern Jefferson on the “triangle” in and around the Pinson area made up of the respective parts of Jefferson, Blount and St. Clair Counties. Anyone with a weather radio can attest to the aggravation that occurs when you adjust your settings to include all three counties… During a good round of thunderstorms, it is hard to get any peace and quiet. In the same way that weather is no respecter of county lines, neither were our forebears to Pinson and surrounding areas.

1818 Map of Alabama depicting county arrangements

The Treaty of Fort Jackson effectively ended the Creek War in 1814 and opened what is now the state of Alabama to settlement by the soldiers and settlers who had come from Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia to fight in the Creek War of 1813-14. When the war ended, they returned to take advantage of lands ceded to the United States by Native-Americans. As the population grew, the need for governmental infrastructure led to more counties being created in a relatively short period.

Blount County was created by the Alabama Territorial Legislature on February 6, 1818, formed from land ceded to the federal government by the Creek Nation on August 9, 1814 and was named for Governor Willie Blount of Tennessee, who provided significant assistance to settlers in Alabama during the Creek War. Blount County lies in what is known as the mineral region of Alabama. Last month’s blog introduced Caleb Friley and John Jones, who established Jonesborough, near current day Bessemer. As with other settlers coming into the area, Jones and Friley first came down the Huntsville Road from Tennessee into what is now Blount and Jefferson County. They established Bear Meat Cabin in 1816. In April of 1816, Rev. Ebenezer Hearn preached his first sermon here, signaling the beginning of Methodism in central Alabama. A post office was opened in 1821, and the settlement was incorporated as Blountsville in December of 1827.

Ole Bear Meat Cabin. (Junior Blount County Historical Society/BhamWiki)

Originally part of Blount County, Jefferson County was established on December 13, 1819, named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson. The following day, December 14, 1819, Alabama became the 22nd state in the Union. The county is located on the southernmost edge of the Appalachian Mountains and lies in the center of what was the iron, coal, and limestone mining belt of the Southern US. Long before Birmingham was founded in 1871, the county seat of Jefferson County was located in Carrollsville (near Princeton Hospital on Birmingham’s west end) from 1819 to 1821. Elyton was the county seat from 1821 to 1873, when it was usurped by the new city of Birmingham.

Village Springs, the first settlement in the Pinson area, more or less straddles the Jefferson and Blount county lines. Along with Palmerdale, Remlap is also named for the area’s Palmer family. Remlap is “Palmer” spelled backwards (some stories tell of some alleged disagreement that forced the communities to separate). Clay and Argo meet near where Jefferson and St. Clair counties meet.

St. Clair County was established on November 20, 1818 by splitting off from Shelby County. The county is named in honor of General Arthur St. Clair, who came to America from Scotland as an officer in the British Army in the French and Indian War and later served as a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

General Arthur St. Clair

Originally called St. Clairsville, Ashville, the county seat, was named for John Ash, a senator in the state’s first General Assembly. In 1836, a portion of St. Clair County was separated to establish Cherokee County and DeKalb County. In 1866, after the Civil War, a northeast section of the county was used to create Etowah County. St. Clair currently has county seats in both Ashville and Pell City, making it one of two counties in Alabama, and one of 33 in the US, with more than one county seat.

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

The Darter Festival

March 13, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

The Darter Festival is a lively celebration of the Watercress Darter—a gorgeous fish that lives in Birmingham and nowhere else in the world! The Darter Festival will be held on Saturday, April 5th from 11 am to 4 pm at Railroad Park. We will feature performances by blues pianist Clay Swafford, rising indie stars The Heavy Hearts, and world music and dance with Jon Scalici and Erynias Tribe. Good People Brewing Company will feature the limited edition Darter Spring Ale, and the Fish Market will provide specialty dishes and a children’s menu. There will also be kite flying, darter art, and a Watercress Darter Photo Booth, sponsored by the Alumni Association of Birmingham-Southern College. The Darter Festival is free and open to the public. Proceeds benefit the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College and the Railroad Park Foundation. VIP packages are available by calling 205-226-7740 or going to http://www.bsc.edu/sec/darterfest.cfm

JeffCo H2O: Square Peg, Round Hole

March 5, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

You saw a picture of what you consider to be the perfect yard and can’t seem to get it out of your mind – lush weed-free turf, abundant blooming flowers, and perfectly pruned shrubs. You say to yourself: “I don’t care how much work or money it would take to have a yard that looks like that – it would be worth it!” It’s easy to get carried away by the standards set in those pristine (and probably enhanced) photos you see in magazines. Trying to force a set of standards on your landscape when natural conditions, your time, or your resources make it impossible for your yard to live up to those standards can be counterproductive, time consuming, expensive, and filled with seemingly endless tasks: watering, fertilizing, raking, spraying, clipping, bagging…the list goes on.

Usually when we try to interfere with our landscape’s natural balance and attempt to take over what would best be left to nature, we are in effect trying to put that square peg (the perfect yard in the picture) in a round hole (the realities of our yard). Our efforts inevitably set off a series of necessary and expensive ‘fixes’ which can include overuse of yard chemicals and extensive watering requirements.

Spring is nearly here and the frigid unpredictable winter weather of January and February is safely in the past (we hope). This is a great time to take stock of your landscape and consider making choices that follow the path of least resistance. By letting the conditions in your yard – sun, shade, wet, dry, flat, sloped – dictate what grows where, you will go a long way toward creating a lovely and low maintenance yard. You may want to read the wonderful 12 Lessons Learned by John Manion, Kaul Wildflower Garden Curator, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, to learn more about working with and appreciating the uniqueness of your yard.

12 Lessons Learned

By John Manion

Kaul Wildflower Garden Curator, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

After many years of several types of gardening in many different locations, I have developed the following list of lessons I have learned that may be used to establish, preserve, or maintain a healthy and sustainable ecosystem:

Work with what you have – versus trying to impose your wants on your landscape. If you have sun, plant sun loving plants; if you have poor drainage, plant species that like wet feet from time-to-time.
Take your cues from nature; it knows how to do it best. Use native plants; they already know what to do!
Develop an intimate relationship with your landscape over time. Study factors such as its light, moisture, and air flow.
Think of your property as a stepping-stone, or corridor for wildlife – and thus provide safe passage.
Plant a variety of plant species and group several of each species together. Many plants are reputed to repel certain pests and pathogens and larger clumps attract beneficial insects more effectively.
Learn which plants are hosts to desired insects and animals, and then plant them in groupings of several plants.
Always include a source of water, whether it is a bird bath, a pond, or a rock with an indentation that holds water.
Avoid dedicating large areas to plants that require significant use of chemicals and/or fertilizers, such as lawns. Keep in mind that monocultures (an entire area with a single plant species) are host to a reduced variety of beneficial organisms.
Avoid extensive use of synthetic fertilizers and significantly limit, or even consider ceasing, the use of chemically based herbicides and pesticides.
Remember that many of the most beneficial organisms are microscopic, so maintain healthy soil.
Compost, compost, compost! I believe that making and applying your own compost is the single best thing you can do for your landscape. Its benefits are countless.
Be a lifelong learner and take advantage of the countless sources of information…online, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, public gardens, libraries, Master Gardeners and other plant groups.

What’s Happening?

Come on out to the Brown Bag Seminar Series, co-sponsored by Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Jefferson County Storm Water Management. This nine seminar series, which runs March through August, is free with no reservations required and light refreshments provided. For more information, call 325-8741.

Upcoming seminars include:

Trees and Shrubs – March 26, Birmingham Botanical Gardens – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Auditorium) Find out why planting the right plant in the right place at the right time makes all the difference! Instructor: Mike Rushing

Eat Your Yard – April 2, Birmingham Botanical Gardens – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Auditorium) Discover how to incorporate fruits, vegetables and herbs into your existing landscape. Instructor: William Randle

Medicinal Gardening – April 9, Birmingham Botanical Gardens – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Ireland Room) Learn about herbal medicines and how to include them in your garden and everyday life. Instructor: Cameron Strouss

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

TCNP Currents: Turkey Creek Nature Preserve visitor Questionnaire

February 26, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

Turkey Creek Nature Preserve is still relatively new, in fact, we celebrate our 5th year in operation this year! We have a lot of plans in the works to provide new opportunities for the public to enjoy the Preserve. To help us with our planning, we wanted to give you the opportunity to let us know what you think. Below is a link to a survey. This survey will help us to better understand how you use the Preserve, and how we can continue to improve it.

Click Here to start survey!

If we get enough responses, for next month’s column, I will address some of the more popular questions or concerns that come up. So, if you have something to say, now is the time!

Thank you so much for your support.

Until then, we’ll see ya downstream!

Charles Yeager

Manager, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Early Settlements

February 19, 2014 Leave a comment

The history of what we now know as Pinson extends beyond the borders of our town… Geographically, it encompasses the entirety of the northeastern part of Jefferson County. When we examine the footprint over time, we see that it existed before there was a Jefferson County (Jefferson County was originally part of Blount County) actually; even before there was a state of Alabama.

These neighboring communities and Pinson developed from the same pages of US history – soldiers and settlers moving through the area as they moved southward from Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Predominantly, they came first with military or volunteer forces joining the Creek War effort or later, taking advantage of lands forcibly ceded to the United States by Native-Americans.

In what was termed the “Great Migration”, veterans and others surged into Alabama. They were awed by the plentiful natural resources, rich soil, clear water, and moderate weather that bode well for future farming and settlement. In addition, what is now northeastern Jefferson County enjoyed an abundance of raw materials needed for the forging of iron and steel. The state’s population swelled from approximately 9,000 in 1810 to over 145,000 in 1820.

Among the first settlers to our area were John Jones and Caleb Friley. Relatives by marriage, these ironsmiths from Tennessee traveled down the Huntsville Road in about 1815 with the throngs of others looking for opportunities in this new land. Jones and Friley had both been with Jackson’s West Tennessee Militia that marched through the territory in 1813. Jones and his family eventually settled in what is now Bessemer, near to where Splash Adventure Water Park now stands. After planting crops, several members of the Jones family built cabins and a stockade to protect them from Indian raids. Called Fort Jonesborough, the settlement that developed came to be known as Jonesboro. Jones Valley is also named for John Jones and his family.

1888 Map showing Jonesboro

Shortly after its founding, Williamson Hawkins another veteran of the War of 1812 and reputed to be a relative of David Crockett (he hated to be called “Davy”), made it to the Jonesboro settlement in May 1815 after being detained in Tennessee “on personal business”. Hawkins drove some cattle with him, bringing “all the supplies he could pack on a horse”, including using a “drag” behind the horse to carry some of the goods. Hawkins eventually built a 2,000 acre plantation near Elyton, then the county seat of Jefferson County. Possibly at Hawkins’ urging, a colony of settlers from Rutherford County Tennessee moved into the area now known as Woodlawn. Other settlers came from South Carolina. In these groups of settlers came many of the names associated with northeast Jefferson County, including, but not limited to: Wood, Barton, Reid (Reed), Tarrant, Green (Greene), Brown, Cowden, Montgomery, and Cunningham.

Woodlawn takes its name from the Wood family, headed by Obadiah Wood and his son Edmund. The town of Rockville was established on Edmund’s twelve hundred acre plantation in 1832. A group of houses sprang up along what was known as the Georgia Road. When the Alabama and Chattanooga railroad was built in 1870, the town became known as Wood Station, and later Woodlawn.

Obadiah Washington Wood, 1815-1893

Another resident of the area was George Roebuck, who built a home on Georgia Road near where the Boys’ Industrial School is located. Roebuck was named for George. His brother, Alfred Roebuck had a “stand” (an early combination rest area, truck stop, bed & breakfast, curb market, and used animal lot) at the intersection of the Huntsville Road and Stout’s Road in Norwood.

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

2014 Tree Giveaway

February 10, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

The Turkey Creek Nature Preserve would like to thank everyone that came out on Saturday, February 8th, 2014, the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve to support our first ever Tree Giveaway for the community of Pinson. This very special event was part of a statewide effort, lead by the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Arbor Day Foundation, to help communities impacted by the 2011 tornadoes. During our tree-age (triage, get it?) 1,500 trees were given away by the Friends of Turkey Creek volunteer group. Also, on-hand to answer any tree care questions during the event, were horticulture experts from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Jefferson County Storm Water Authority.

Trees provide many very important ecological services for our society, such as clean air, clean water, erosion control, and of course general beautification. Unfortunately, sever weather, and development contributes to the loss of many trees and the services they provide us, every year. We hope that these trees will help make our community a cleaner, greener place.

There are still a few trees left, if you are interested in one of these trees or have any questions about caring for your trees, please feel free to email TCNP at cyeager@bsc.edu or call us at 205.680.4116.

This event would not have been possible without the help of volunteers from the Friends of Turkey Creek that worked hard all morning to label and pass out trees. If you would like to learn more about how you can support the Friends of Turkey Creek, please visit their Facebook page!

Pinson Tree Giveaway at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

February 2, 2014February 2, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

The Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson, Alabama has partnered with the the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Arbor Day Foundation for a Tree Giveaway on February 8th. This event is part of a a statewide effort to provide seedlings to communities effected by the 2011 tornadoes.

The Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Tree Giveaway will be held at the “Falls” parking area starting at 10am on February 8th, and will continue until all the trees have been handed out.

The free seedlings available will include:

Flowering Dogwood

Shumard Oak

Eastern Redbud

Blackgum

Bald Cypress

For more information about the Pinson Tree Giveaway contact TCNP by phone at 205.680.4116 or by email at cyeager@bsc.edu

JeffCO H20: Take the ‘Hazard’ out of Household Hazardous Waste

January 30, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

The start of a new year often inspires us to get rid of clutter and organize our living space. Sometimes we even become motivated enough to tackle what’s stacked in the garage, stuffed under the kitchen sink, or gathering dust in the pantry. Often that includes a collection of old household products that we no longer need. Before tossing these unwanted items into the trash, first take a look at what your collection includes.

Many products like drain openers, automotive fluids, adhesives, batteries, oil based paint, solvents, and cleaners containing bleach are considered to be household hazardous waste (HHW) because they contain corrosive, toxic, flammable, or reactive ingredients. It is unsafe when these items are discarded with regular household trash, since some can emit harmful fumes or create a dangerous reaction if mixed with other chemicals. And any of these products spilled on the ground can harm water quality in local creeks and streams when washed by rain into the nearest storm drain. That’s why HHW requires special handling by a facility which accepts these items.

Some local municipalities offer opportunities for residents to drop off HHW. If you live in an unincorporated area, the Alabama Environmental Center (AEC) website (aeconline.org/recycling) is a great resource for locating facilities which accept specific types of HHW. One of those facilities is Mercedes Benz U.S. International (205-507-3300) in Vance which accepts HHW from the public at its Plant 2 on the third Friday of each month from 5 am – 8 am and 1 pm – 6 pm.

Certainly there are some household tasks that require specialized products for which there is no substitute. When purchasing this type of product, try to buy just enough for the job to eliminate leftovers. But in many cases, you can choose a less toxic approach to handle most household cleaning jobs. Items found in your kitchen or bathroom easily can be used to make safe, inexpensive cleaners. They are better for your family’s health and the environment, and they help reduce the need to purchase more toxic products.

There are many tips and recipes available online for making your own cleaning products. Here are just a few: Want to make your windows sparkle? Mix a few tablespoons of white vinegar with water in a spray bottle, lightly spray the glass, and wipe dry with newspaper or a microfiber cloth. Need to scrub the sink or tub? A few sprinkles of baking soda or salt on a damp sponge should do the trick. Add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to remove stains and mildew. Time to disinfect the counter? Heat 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar to 150º and carefully pour into a spray bottle. Spray the warm vinegar on the counter, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe dry. Got pesky streaks on the mirror? Equal amounts of white vinegar, distilled water, and alcohol sprayed on the mirror and wiped clean with a microfiber cloth will give your reflection perfection in no time. Fingerprints on the furniture? A few drops of olive oil and white vinegar rubbed onto furniture with a soft cloth can make wood shine. Want more? A good place to start is GreenerChoices.org.

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

2014 Snow at Turkey Creek

January 30, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Alabama Fever

January 22, 2014January 22, 2014 2 Comments

When last we visited the history of the area near and around Pinson, we had made our way through the war years during which our ancestors fought the War of 1812 and the Creek War of 1813-1814. Some settlers had arrived in the area prior to the wars while others found their way as they traveled to join Jackson and others in the war effort. These new arrivals came into Alabama from Virginia, Kentucky, the Carolinas, and Georgia. Of particular note are the volunteers coming into the state from eastern and middle Tennessee to help fight the war (that’s how Tennessee became known as the Volunteer state).

These settlers traveled by way of the Huntsville Road, a trail originally cleared and used by Native-Americans. The road began in Fayetteville, Tennessee. It was lengthened as soldiers moved southward from Fayetteville to Huntsville (at Ditto’s Landing), then to Mudtown (a Native-American village located on the Cahaba River; Blountsville, down to Elyton (later the city of Birmingham), and then finally to Tuscaloosa. In very general terms, the road moved down what is now US Highway 231, merging with what is now AL Highway 79, passing Pinson on its way south and then moving down what is now Pinson Valley Parkway, into Tarrant and then turning right (approximately where the Cedar House restaurant is today) toward the neighborhoods of North Birmingham and Norwood in Birmingham.

The Huntsville Road, also known as “Bear Meat Cabin Road” (pictured above), took many early Alabama settlers through modern day Pinson, AL.

Aside from the natural beauty found in the lush hills (some of the highest points in Jefferson County are found here) and valleys of what are now Blount and Jefferson counties, there were added incentives. As Native American tribes ceded territory after their defeat in the wars, a land rush occurred when settlers and land speculators moved in to establish land claims in Alabama. This influx of settlers driven by the availability of cheap and plentiful land became known as “Alabama Fever”. New arrivals were impressed with the availability of good land with plentiful natural resources where they could hunt and farm. There was plenty of available timber and other materials that they could build their homes from. They liked what they saw and determined to build a new life in the area. Both before the wars (some family histories claim kin living in the area before 1808) and afterward, they traveled to the area that they had fallen in love with and established settlements here.

Daniel Murphree, from South Carolina, established a settlement that became known as Murphree’s Valley and, later, as Village Springs. The area between Pinson and Oneonta is still known by that name). Dr. Zachariah Hagood and his family settled here after the Creek War about 1816. The Hagood and Anderson families helped to found Oldsides Baptist Church (now Pinson First Baptist) in 1818 and included a slave member, Alfred Hagood. Dr. Zachariah, as he was known, allowed mail service to be operated from his home beginning in 1836. However, it was not Dr. Zachariah that lent his name to the town. The doc’s son, Robert opened a store at the crossroads in town. The settlement became known as Hagood’s Crossroads, and the name stuck until about 1852, when a vote by the townspeople renamed it Mount Pinson. The story goes that the name change resulted from a group of men from Pinson, Tennessee stopping in town for a few days while herding their horses and mules. They camped on a piece of land between Oldsides Baptist and Old Bradford Road that was often used by people passing through and needing to stop for the night. Later settling here, they said the area reminded them of home, so they starting calling the area Mount Pinson, later shortened to Pinson…

Daniel Murphree’s cabin was orginally constructed in Murphree’s Valley and later relocated to Palisades Park in Oneonta, AL. Photo Courtesy of http://www.blountcountypark.com

One of Jackson’s blacksmiths, David Hanby, and his family purchased land here by as early as 1822. The Hanby’s not only farmed, but operated a blacksmith shop (producing horseshoes and household goods) and was also successful in the mining and selling of coal. James Cunningham and Hanby both operated mills on Cunningham Creek and Turkey Creek, respectively. Most of these early mills were designed to grind corn, but could not grind wheat. Other mill owners of the day were Jonathan Moreland, John Click, and a Mr. Revis, among others.

Our history extends beyond the borders of what we now know as the Pinson area. It extends and includes most of the communities that surround us. We will discuss these communities, the pioneers that settled them, and the ways that we are all connected in the months ahead.

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

Drips, Dust, Rainbows and Suds!

January 9, 2014 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

Did you ever see a rainbow in a parking lot after it’s rained? These little reminders that oil and water don’t mix show up on paved areas as a result of vehicle leaks. Their size may seem small, but their impact can be huge. If just one drop of oil dripped from each of the 740,000 vehicles registered in Jefferson County, it would result in 64 quarts of oil capable of polluting 16 million gallons of water! That’s why fixing even small leaks and properly cleaning up spills can make a big difference in our local water quality. But cars aren’t the only culprits. Lawn equipment and recreational vehicles also can be sources of sneaky leaks. Regular maintenance and proper cleanup can reduce the effects of these problems. If you change your own oil and fluids, make sure you carefully collect and take them to one of the many local businesses which accept these for recycling, and properly clean up any drips or spills. Using a hose to clean the driveway carries oil and fluids into the storm drainage system which empties into local waterways. A better solution is to sprinkle some absorbent material like cat litter on the area, let it soak up the drips, sweep it up, and dispose of it in the trash.

Washing vehicles and lawn equipment on paved areas produces a stream of detergents, oils, grease, fluids, and brake dust comprised of toxic heavy metals which – you guessed it – flows right into the nearest storm drain. Consider washing vehicles and equipment on grassy areas to allow wash water and the substances it carries to soak into the ground rather than run off. Another alternative is to take vehicles to a commercial car wash, since these facilities are required to treat wash water before it is released.

Making stormwater friendly choices like these can go a long way toward keeping our waterways safe and clean!

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org

Exploring Pinson’s Legacy: Holiday Traditions

December 19, 2013December 19, 2013 Leave a comment

As we go through the late-year holidays, almost everyone spends at least a little time reflecting on the traditions that have come down to us through the years; decades certainly, but often centuries. Maybe we perceive them as memories of something that “our” family did, a holiday parade or festival, a church or town tradition, and maybe (or likely) a special meal. However they manifest themselves, our beliefs and traditions; religious or secular, ones specific to a given family or to our community in general, are the culmination of celebration and ritual from years past. While no tradition that I am aware of makes any claim to be uniquely Pinsonian, it is good to consider the customs and traditions from the past.

Many Pinsonians celebrate the holidays at the Annual Christmas Parade in Pinson Alabama

Many of our holiday customs were born of a western-European Judeo/Christian tradition… including the Yule tree, a myriad of holiday foods, the giving and receiving of gifts, and (hopefully), a sense of peace and goodwill and the desire to set differences aside. In this spirit, it is useful to examine some of the traditions of the Native-Americans who lived in our area before the arrival of Europeans and others. While such traditions did not stem from the same origins, many of their core values were similar and are worth comparing to our more familiar ones…

For Native-American peoples in the southeastern US (including Cherokee and Muscogee peoples), corn (or maize) was their single most important food and played an important role in their rituals and celebrations. Accordingly, the most important ceremony of the year was the Green Corn festival; Posketv or Puskita (pronounced Bus-get-uh) in their native language and the Busk in English). Traditionally held for four to eight days in late summer, the festival was tied to the harvest of the corn crop and signified the start of the new year. Held when the first crop became edible, the festival celebrated both the success of the crop and the sense of family and community that came from everyone working together to achieve a common goal. First, there was a ritual Fasting, which began the first afternoon of the festival and lasted until the second sunrise, which signified cleansing the body of all impurities. The remainder of the festival was marked by singing, dancing, and feasting.

Native Americans celebrating their annual harvest during the Green Corn Festival

Taking place in a central ceremonial circle surrounded by arbors [trees or scrubs] with the leaders of the tribe [wise men?] facing one of the four cardinal directions. At the center of the circle was the ceremonial fire, which served as the focal area of prayers and songs of the people and was considered a living and sacred entity that relayed prayers to the god Hsaketumese (the Maker of Breath), the purifying power that balanced the universe.

Two attributes of the holiday are especially worth noting. First, the festival was used to celebrate renewal and the sacredness of life. Old fires were extinguished and cleared away, the village was thoroughly cleaned and worn or broken pottery was discarded (unless it could be used for other duties). Secondly, it was a time of forgiveness. All debts, disagreements, and crimes (except for rape and murder) were forgiven. The sense of renewal for the new year was symbolized by the kindling of new fires and display of sacred objects, such as brass or copper plates or pots and new medicine bundles.

So, it seems that many of the values and traditions that we hold dear were the same in many ways to those of the Native-Americans that lived here before us. As we each celebrate the coming holidays with our friends and family, let’s take a moment to reflect on the traditions of those peoples that came before and to cherish the truly important things that make our time together special. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

–E. E. (Skip) Campbell, Ph.D.

JeffCO H20: Recycle, downcycle, upcycle, ecycle, precycle . . . What’s it all mean???

December 4, 2013 TurkeyCreekAdminLeave a comment

According to the EPA, recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials which otherwise would be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products, thereby conserving raw materials, lowering energy consumption, curtailing littering, and reducing impact on landfills.

Recycling is not a 20^th century idea. The first documented recycling program began in 1031 when Japan required that documents and other used paper be recycled. Various forms of recycling came and went over the ensuing centuries, but it wasn’t until the all-aluminum beverage can was introduced in the late 1950s that recycling gained traction in America. Today, many US communities advocate and provide recycling opportunities for residents.

Pinson’s community recycling trailer located at City Hall

So how are we doing? At 4.6 pounds of trash per day for every American, we generate much more trash than we recycle. The EPA estimates that while 75% of America’s trash is recyclable, we only recycle about 30%. So it makes sense that our country’s biggest export is . . . trash! China, our biggest customer, buys the material we throw away, reprocesses it, and sells it back to US manufacturers. And then we buy new stuff, throw it away, sell our trash to China . . . you get the idea.

While there are many domestic companies which process recycled materials, companies in countries with low labor costs and lax environmental laws have been the major producers of cheap recycled plastic resin. But China recently passed ‘Green Fence’ restrictions which prohibit its import of plastics #3 – #7. This could mean that here in the US, many more plastics will be headed for landfills.

When we do recycle, are these recycled materials used to make more of the same products? The answer is . . . it depends.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, US consumers use 70 million plastic water bottles per day; 60 million of these are discarded as trash. The International Bottled Water Association reports that manufacturers currently are using just 50% recycled plastic in their containers.

Some materials are downcycled to produce entirely different products with less value and recycling potential than the original product. Many plastics and some paper fall into this category. Some materials are upcycled to make products with more value than the original product such as countertops made from glass containers and fabrics made from plastic bottles.

upcycled glass counter tops

Ecycling recovers usable materials from discarded electronics such as plastic, metal and wire, and valuable elements such as gold, silver, palladium, and copper which all can be reprocessed for use in new electronic components. Ecycling also properly handles toxic materials found in electronic devices such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic which can leach from landfills and pollute groundwater. According to the Electronic TakeBack Coalition, US consumers discarded 3.4 million tons of electronics in 2011 but recycled less than 25%.

E-Cycle

It’s even possible to reduce the need for recycling by choosing products which either can be reused or decrease the amount of waste generated. Precycling is making those choices which have some degree of sustainability or upfront waste reduction such as purchasing reusable rather than single use or disposable products; buying food, cleaning products, and other consumables in bulk to reduce packaging waste; or choosing items that can be repaired or refurbished rather than discarded.

Reducing the amount of waste we generate means less litter, trash and hazardous materials carried by rain into waterways. Less energy used for manufacturing and transportation means less particulate air pollution deposited in surface waterways. Putting a little effort into choosing wisely, reducing waste, reusing materials, recycling whenever possible, and conserving natural resources can have a big impact on improving our future on planet earth.

Speaking of Recycling . . .

Just in Time for the Holidays – It makes sense to de-clutter your living space before the coming weeks filled with family gatherings and house guests. Consider some alternatives for getting rid of unwanted items that are not in good enough shape for donation. There may be a better choice for them than the landfill! Check out the Alabama Environmental Center’s (AEC) Recycle Alabama website for the lowdown on most things recyclable. The site makes it easy to find out what AEC accepts, any material-specific guidelines, and other vendors which accept these materials. AEC is one of the few collection sites in Alabama that accepts glass containers and textiles (yep, even your old t-shirts, undies and shoes).

Tree Recycling – When the ornaments come off, a live Christmas tree is just some mulch waiting to happen. Find a tree recycling location near you.

Recycling Trailers – Recycling just got closer to home with drop off trailers placed in Jefferson County locations which do not have access to other recycling opportunities. Find a recycling trailer near you.

Lyn DiClemente

Jefferson County Department of Storm Water Management

B-210 Jefferson County Courthouse Annex

716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205.325.8741

diclementel@jccal.org