Earthship Logs

"Oils" Well that Ends Well!

Our trio had just returned to the T.R.E.E. and decided to go directly to their quarters to get some much deserved rest.

"Sleep fast ," jokes Captain Bluegill, "no telling how long it will be before we're needed again!"

The captain's words proved prophetic. No sooner had the heroes climbed into their beds, the POLLUTION ALERT screamed its warning.

Immediately Captain Redbird swooped to the control board to attempt to identify the emergency. It was bad....A man had finished changing the oil in his car, and was pouring the old oil along his base of the fence to "control weeds."

"Bluegill, Earthworm...this looks like a job for both of you. I'll stay here and keep a bird's eye view on the rest of Earthship."

Bluegill and Earthworm climbed into the Enviro-cruiser and at nearly the speed of light, rocketed their way to the problem site. Sure enough their fears were confirmed. There in the grass along the bottom of the fence lay a shiny black ooze.

As they exited the Enviro-cruiser, they were met by young Tom, a new and bright volunteer. He was quick to realize and learn the POWER of environmental education. Tom was the one who had placed the alert.

"I wanted to stop him before he dumped the oil, but I was too late...That's why I called for you," gasped Tom.

"Good thinking Tom," said Worm. "Saving the environment and educating the people of Earthship takes teamwork."

They approached the man who had dumped the oil and asked him why he had done it.

"That's what my father and my father's father always done with old oil...is there a problem?"

Just as the pollution-fighting pair had expected. The man who had dumped the oil didn't mean to harm the environment. He had just never been told about spilling or dumping oil on the ground. He thought it was just a little oil, what could it hurt?

They explained how the oil would pollute the soil and could eventually get in the groundwater we use for drinking. "Four quarts of oil will pollute gallons of Earthship's water...water we can't afford to lose," explained Captain Bluegill.

George vowed he would have the soil cleaned up and from now on he would store old oil in plastic milk jugs until he could take the jugs to a proper recycling site. He became a good friend of the environment, and in fact, he became an Earthship volunteer.

Please think before pouring anything onto the ground! Anything poured onto the earth eventually enters the groundwater supply. Please remember: Oil and other chemicals should always be properly recycled!

Captain Earthworm's Oil Tips

Here are some tips from Captain Earthworm that you can tell your parents to help keep the environment free from spilled oil.

• Used oil should never be dumped on the ground.
• Used oil should never be dumped down any drain or storm sewer.
• Absorbent materials, such as cat pan filler, sweeping compound, and rags, should always be kept on hand in case of spills.
• Used oil should be collected in plastic jugs. Many full service gas stations and lube centers will accept old oil.

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