(Cole's) - It’s an age-old question -- to feed or not to feed birds in fall and winter.  Some people believe that feeding wild birds can cause more harm than good, like preventing timely migrations, or causing birds to depend on feeders rather than foraging food. The truth is these are myths and feeding birds is beneficial to their well-being. Birds migrate regardless of seed in feeders. It’s estimated that wild birds only get 25 percent of food from feeders, the rest is naturally sourced, so full feeders don’t keep birds from migrating.

(NewsUSA) - The laundry industry would have you believe that in order to get brilliant, clean laundry, you need to use powders, liquids and pods that are diluted with water, and come in bulky, single-use plastic containers. However, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), plastic waste is en route to overtake fossil fuels as the leading environmental pollution by 2030.     

According to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050, making this the best time to consider a more sustainable laundry routine.     

Compare that hectic routine to those memorable moments when you're able to sit quietly, let the sunshine warm your face, hear the birds, and allow nature to envelope you. While everyone longs for less stress, actually relaxing can be dauntingly stressful!

However, a new study out of the United Kingdom sheds light on one way people can de-stress: bird watching. The study finds that people who watch birds from their home have lower depression, anxiety, and stress compared to those that live in less leafy areas that have fewer birds. People "felt relaxed and connected to nature when they watched birds in their garden," researchers say. These feelings increased with the level of bird feeding in the yard, they add.

Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC by state health departments, but this number doesn't reflect all diagnosed cases of Lyme disease. Recent estimates suggest that approximately 300,000 people may get Lyme disease each year in the United States.

New data reported by the CDC in 2018 showed that state and local health departments reported more cases of tick-borne diseases in 2017 than ever before, including Lyme disease. While the uptick in ticks remains unclear, a number of factors can affect tick populations, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, and most certainly, host populations, like deer.

Special features of modern electric mowers include variable speeds that allow users to adjust to different conditions on the ground. That means no need for extra effort when going uphill. In addition, electric mowers can be set for slower speeds to maneuver around flower beds, trees, or lawn furniture.

Many top companies, including DR Power Equipment, Ryobi, Greenworks, and Craftsman and Kobalt, among others, offer a range of styles and models for battery-powered, self-propelled, walk-behind lawn mowers that feature the unique and efficient variable-speed electric transmission designed by General Transmissions.

Fortunately, companies like 7-Eleven are leading the way in offering innovative solutions aimed to help consumers mitigate the negative environmental effects of car travel, giving them a chance to make a difference.

Through a program called RENEW, 7-Eleven calculates tailpipe carbon emissions and offsets those emissions through local and global carbon reduction projects, including reforestation and tree plantings.