Category Archives: Environment

Teaching Kids About the Environment the Fun Way

As parents, we want our children to learn about the environment and how to take care of it. It’s never too early to start teaching them about sustainability and the importance of recycling. However, it can be challenging to find engaging and educational resources that will capture their attention. Luckily, there are fun games that parents can use to teach their kids about the environment while having fun at the same time.

Wind And Solar

One game that stands out is the sustainable energy game called Wind And Solar. This game allows players to adjust the placements of windmills and solar panels to maximize energy production. Kids will learn how wind and solar power can generate electricity and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As they play the game, they will need to pay attention to the wind lines on the screen and move the blades on the windmill up or down to catch the wind. If they are catching the wind, the windmill blades will spin, and if they are not, they will stop.

They also need to look at the clouds in the sky and their movement, moving the solar cells left or right as needed to maximize sun exposure while minimizing the time spent under clouds. The game has a timer and a total energy meter, showing how much energy they have created.

Sort The Trash

Another game that is worth playing is Sort The Trash, a recycling game where players move the recycling bin across the screen to collect recyclables while avoiding other garbage. This game will teach kids about the importance of recycling and proper waste disposal. They will need to drag the bin side to side to collect recyclables, including bottles, cartons, and cans.

On the other hand, they need to avoid collecting batteries, straws, plastic bags, and compost items like apples, eggs, bananas, or used paper coffee cups. Missing recyclables or collecting non-recyclable items will result in a strike, and when they get three strikes, the game is over. As they advance through the game, the items fall faster, making it more challenging.

I enjoyed playing these games while taking a rest from my daily chores. Since my kids are adults now, I will tell my younger nieces and nephews about these fun and educational games. These environmentally-friendly games for kids are perfect for parents who want their children to learn about sustainability and the environment in a fun and engaging way.

By introducing these fun educational games for kids, parents can help their children develop an interest in environmental issues at an early age. Playing these games can instill a sense of responsibility for the planet and encourage kids to think about their actions and their impact on the environment. These games can also promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills as children learn to adjust the placements of windmills and solar panels or sort out recyclables from other garbage.

In conclusion, Wind and Solar and Sort The Trash are two games that parents can use to teach their kids about the environment while having fun at the same time. These games are perfect for kids who love playing games and learning about sustainability and environmental issues. As parents, we can help our children develop an interest in the environment by introducing them to these fun and educational games.

Pocket Vegetable Garden

Hubby is so excited about growing a mini vegetable garden. He started with the sili labuyo plant (chili pepper) which I bought from Halamanan sa Pasig last month. I also purchased from them three Bacularis plants which are known for their air-purifying quality.

He got inspired by the siling labuyo plant that he decided to also plant tomato seeds, spring onion stalk, more sili seeds, and later kinchay or Chinese celery.

Update: We have already picked at least eight ripened chilis. Their so small but spicy.

We’ve got tomatoes growing right here. I’m excited about this project. We’ve been planning to have our vegetable garden for so long and it is slowly being realized this year.

Update: The young onion (upper right corner) and the celery (lower right side) died. The tomatoes grew a bit.

Planting is one of the small things that made hubby and me happy these days. It’s something that eases off our stress and worries from day-to-day activities. We are not getting any younger and simple activity like this is beneficial to both our mental and emotional health. 

My certified plantito hubby. 😀 This batch (of the plant) will serve as a fence right outside our window to secure it from irresponsible neighbors who leave their garbage and whatnot on the sidewalk.

Bioengineering

I’m glad to have stumbled upon this photo posted by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar on his Facebook page in July. The photo showed a segment of Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

According to Sec. Villar, coco net, and vetiver grass are being utilized in the 11-km segment of TPLEX to prevent soil erosion. The photo also carries hashtags #BuildBuildBuild and #Bioengineering.

DPWH Sec. Mark Villar photo

According to Wikipedia, bioengineering means the application of principles of biology and the tools of engineering to create usable, tangible, economically-viable products.

Sun-dried coconut halves

In 2012, we were able to observe how coco nets are developed in Las Piñas. The intricate process includes, drying up coconut halves; decorticating the husks; twining the fibers; finally weaving the net.

The tour at the green social enterprises in Las Piñas was made possible by the Villar Foundation.

Decorticating machine separates coco fibers from coconut husk

Twining and weaving nets from coconut husks are just one of the social enterprises of the foundation. The other livelihood projects include handloom weaving, house waste composting, vermin composting, producing hollow blocks from trash, and crafting baskets from water hyacinths.

Worker separates fiber for twining

The development of these livelihood projects was an offshoot of an endeavor to clean and revive the Las Pinas-Zapote River.

The husks not thrown on the river were left on the sidewalks, and the city had to spend more to haul the garbage. Trash collectors failed to collect sacks of coconut husk, so they end up polluting the river.

Twining the coconut fibers to create ropes

Mrs. (now Senator) Cynthia Villar, managing director of the Villar Foundation, met with experts from the Bicol University for the Coco Coir technology; to address the growing problem with uncollected coconut husks.

Twines are weaved in the loom to create nets

Dr. Justino Arboleda, an agricultural engineer, designed the machinery to make the coco-net. Coco Coir Enterprise utilizes coconut husk and converts them into a coco net.

Finished coco nets are being used for slope protection and control soil erosion. Las Piñas City and private developers use coco nets in various projects.

Congratulations Sec. Villar, for implementing the #bioengineering techniques to assist in the #BuildBuildBuild program of the government. This sure saves a lot of government fundings.

Upgrades To Make Before Selling Your Home

When you decide to sell your home, if you are like most people, you want to get as much money from the sale as you can. To help you do that, here are four upgrades you should make that will attract the buyers and get you the most money for your investment.

Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

1. Lighting

A dreary house will be more difficult to sell than one that is filled with sunshine and emits a bright, welcoming appearance. So, clean your windows to let the light in and add light fixtures to dark corners of your home.

2. Paint

There is a myriad of colors available to paint the walls of your home with, but if you want to sell your home for the most money, make sure every room has a neutral color paint. The light-colored walls will allow the buyers to imagine their furniture in the settings, which will help your home sell.

3. Kitchen

According to real estate professionals, money spent on improving or updating kitchens and bathrooms is well spent. You can change the faucets, add quartz countertops Pittsburgh PA, or purchase new appliances. If your home is high-end, make sure to look at the floors to see if there is a wear pattern that needs replacing.

4. Yard

If you have a fence around your yard, make sure it is mended and looks sturdy. Also, remove any dead plants and replace them with flowers or new shrubs. Don’t forget to have the dead growth of your trees trimmed back and the grass neatly clipped.

Selling your home can be as exciting as you want it to be if you are prepared. Make the property appealing to new buyers, and your home can sell almost overnight. Just use the four upgrades listed above to help you get your home ready for buyers.

Preserving the Beauty of Wetlands

Taking care of the eco-system is an important role, especially when man-made changes impact local vegetation and wildlife. In the area of Florida, there are many littoral zones that need upkeep, since the zone is a requirement for many of the man-made lakes.

Photo by Dave on Unsplash

The Significance of Littoral Zones

Man-made lakes can impact a healthy ecosystem, but the right littoral zone can prevent erosion, improve water quality, and provide a safe habitat for local wildlife. For many of the areas in Florida, any lakes that are deeper than 6 feet and are greater than an acre in size require a zone. For a littoral zone, native plants cover approximately 80% of the vegetation. Another 10% of the area is covered with exotic plants. The diversity allows for native animal life to find a home, but the increased consumption of nitrogen and phosphorus by native life reduces the build of aquatic weeds and algae. Because of the growth that can occur and the displacement of wildlife, it is very important that the area is professionally maintained. You can establish a routine cleanout or upkeep with one of the littoral shelf maintenance Sarasota FL companies.

Zone Benefits

The aesthetic properties of a littoral zone are one of the prime benefits, especially when you are dealing with professional or residential areas. The natural beauty it offers can raise the value of the property, which is always a benefit for resale value. A zone can also be used to prevent erosion. The nutrients from the surrounding wetland make the roots of any plants on the shoreline stronger, making the bank more durable. This is another reason why proper maintenance is important. It helps stabilize the shoreline and improve water quality.

A littoral zone, though potentially required, is beneficial to both native wildlife and community residents. When it is well-maintained, it can be a beautiful but productive habitat.