I've become a better environmental steward lately, I guess because the increase in oil prices has led me to think about what happens if resources (and clean air and water) become scarce one day. I would feel guilty for being a mindless contributor to that. So we moved an existing cage that was being used to keep critters away from the cabbage plants up the hill and turned it into a compost bin. The lid had not been installed yet, so the other day my neighbor emails me to let me know that she found Ruby stuck inside the compost bin. I don't know how she managed to get in because the walls are fairly high. Apparently she put on her pitiful act so that my neighbor would rescue her. The reason I needed a more robust compost bin was primarily Ruby, because last summer I caught her eating corn cobs and the resultant methane emissions were very unpleasant.

The compost bin now has a lid on it. She can only gaze with desire at the stinky contents inside.

I also started a second recycling bin for plastics and glass that my city curbside program does not accept. The recycling center is downtown close to my office. If you live around here, it's Alabama Environmental Council.