I spent the last week in Georgia. First, I visited with our partners at Farmers’ Almanac TV. What a professional group. Season 2 is now airing around the country on Public Television Stations…. check your local listings for times. The balance of the week was spent at Live Oak Plantation in Adel. It was first-rate accommodations. While I have done many interviews in Atlanta over the years, this was my first drive through Southern Georgia. Temperatures in the 50s made me long for spring in Maine. What a lovely part of the country! While I was traveling, Maine received snow and enjoyed wind chill temps of -27 degrees. Shivery is Not Dead! It was a little late arriving, but not certainly dead.

One of the hot topics on our forum is Global Warming. Unusual warmth last winter and again this year have sparked discussion of Global Warming and its impact on our weather. Our poll is not scientific but does give a sense of what is being discussed. With 19,154 votes tabulated, the results:

8,363 (44%) - Yes, how else do you explain this unusual weather.

7,814 (41%) - No, this is a sign of an impending Ice Age.

2,477 (15%) - Not sure, but is looks like many of our habits are hurting the atmosphere

I have been willing to blame this winter on El Nino, but when you look back 10 years, most of the warmest temperature in recordable history have occurred. Global Warming stirs great emotion because if we are headed in that direction, the long-term consequences will be devastation. I invite you to go our forum under Global Warming and read what our visitors are saying.

If you feel that we are hurting the atmosphere (and the majority do), then here are some suggestions regarding the reduction of carbon dioxides. This was sent to me but I am not sure of the source.

• Replace one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb and save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
• Drive less - walk, bike or carpool.
• Recycle more - save 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide by recycling 1/2 of your household waste each year.
• Adjust your thermostats - down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in the summer can save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide
• Plant a tree - my favorite. Trees are our friends. Plant a couple each year and we help the planet. I am told a tree absorbs 1 ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime.
• Check your tires - improve mileage and reduce carbons.
• Turn off electronic devises when not using them and save tons of carbon dioxide each year.

The above are simple steps, and now is a great time to start! Glad to be back in Maine, I just love to wake up to 0 degrees weather.

Enjoy your day!!

Technorati Tags Farmers’ Almanac TV, Global Warming