Posted by Sean Kennedy on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 @ 11:16 AM
We often get asked what are the components of your products? Check out our MSDS sheets for a chemical breakdown, but the basic ingredient is Iron Oxide pigments. These Iron oxides yield pigments. Natural iron oxides pigments are called ochres. Ochres, Ochre or Ocher (pronounced /ˈoʊkər/ OH-kər, from the Greek ὠχρός, ōkhrós, pale) is term for both a golden-yellow or light yellow brown color and for a form of earth pigment which produces the color. The pigment can also be used to create a reddish tint known as Red ochre. The more rarely used terms Purple ochre and Brown ochre also exist for variant hues. Because of these other hues, the color Ochre is sometimes referred to as Yellow ochre.
Ochres are among the earliest pigments used by mankind, derived from naturally tinted clay containing mineral oxides. Chemically, it is hydrated iron (III) oxide. Modern artists' pigments continue to use the terms Yellow ochre and Red ochre for specific hues.
Many classic paint colors, such as raw and burnt siennas and umbers, are iron-oxide pigments. These pigments have been used in art since the earliest prehistoric art known, the cave paintings at Lascaux and nearby sites. Iron (III) oxide is typically used. They are considered to be nontoxic, moisture resistant, and nonbleeding. Iron oxides graded safe for cosmetic use are produced synthetically in order to avoid the inclusion of ferrous or ferric oxides, and impurities normally found in naturally occurring iron oxides. Typically, the iron(II) oxide pigment is black, while the iron(III) oxide is red or rust-colored. Iron compounds other than oxides can have other colors.
Because of these properties it is the best and safest way to treat mulch pine straw and grass. EnviroColor® strives to provide its end user the most vibrant, long lasting and environmentally sensitive top spray colorants. There are some very interesting and entertaining uses of the Ochres throughout history. My personal favorite was learning about the Himba culture. I look forward to your discoveries about the uses of Iron Oxide pigments from the prehistoric era to our modern times.
Posted by Sean Kennedy on Wed, Feb 10, 2010 @ 09:37 AM
The more I research the more confused I become about alternative fuel sources. Reading all the articles available about what is fact vs. fiction at least most sources agree that the biofuel debate will continue. Being related to the wood fiber industry I was interested in what Pete Stewart, the CEO of Forest2Market, had to say at the annual meeting of the Mulch and Soil Council. He threw out some statistics about the growing demand for renewable fuels using wood fiber. "The United Kingdom is targeting a rate of 20% of its fuel needs coming from renewable supplies by 2020. To reach this goal it will need to import around 12 million tons of fuel pellets, at least a third of which will likely be imported from the US." He also estimated that the demand for pellet fuel in the US may double in the next decade depending on the renewable resource legislation pending in front of Congress today.
This means a lot to my industry and that is why we are working diligently to provide an economical and sustainable alternative to replacing wood mulch every season. My favorite article I have read I found in Foreign Policy Magazine and encourage you to read it and give your opinions. As the world realizes that the impact of depleting fossil fuels and Sarah Palins "drill baby, drill" is a short term solution to our dependency on foreign oil, there are renewable alternatives for our energy needs and wood may or may not be the best choice. I look forward to continuing this interesting and relevant debate and appreciate your feedback.
Posted by Sean Kennedy on Wed, Feb 03, 2010 @ 10:18 AM
When dealing with questions like this one, I prefer to defer answers to the agronomical and horticultural experts. I searched and searched and went Ivy League this time and found some great, basic facts for nearly every mulching situation. Whether you need mulch to replenish nutrients in the soil, help in a vegetable garden or just looking to spruce up your curb appeal read what the Department of Horticulture at Cornell has to say. I feel this is one of the most comprehensive and informative pieces I have come across while learning about mulch and its various functions. If you have found other educational sources you would like to share, please link in your comments. I hope this is as useful to you as is to us at EnviroColor®.
