www.mymakegreengogreen.com Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
APPS TO GET YOUR KIDS INTO THE GARDEN
by Meg Sperring
With the arrival of summer, you want to get your kids outdoors, but all they do is play, talk, and listen on their electronic devices—indoors. Get them into the fresh air with apps that lead them into the garden.
There are a number of gardening apps and outdoor apps for children. The first thing to do is to channel their curiosity with game apps and story apps, and then download further apps that will help them to practically apply what they have learned.
Roo's Fabulous Edible Garden. A free game app that will spark your kids' interest in growing fruit and vegetables, with the side benefit of learning how yummy this produce is to eat. The game takes them through preparing the ground and planting their own virtual garden, harvesting their crop, and finally cooking their produce. During the growing season, they weed their plot, remove harmful insects and learn about the good ones, and water their plants. Suitable for Grades 1 to 3 and up, this gardening app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (iOS 3.0 or later), and was developed by UNC-TV.
Green RADventures of Nico. A fun story app that teaches kids about growing plants that you can eat. Your children will plant seeds, learn about growing processes of plants, and sing along with the Green Minstrel. Suitable for children ages 4 to 12, this app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later).
Star Walk, Star Chart, or Night Sky (compatible with iOS and Android) are other great apps that will get your kids into the garden. These outdoor apps allow kids to explore the night sky above them, and are easy to use. Your children will have access to fascinating information about the celestial bodies that they see, and the apps enable them to move back in time to view the sky of years ago. Apps like these make kids aware of the infinite potential of nature, and help them to understand how the rhythms of the natural world control the activities in it.
Plants and Plants Pro. This reasonably priced gardening app helps kids organize and schedule their gardening activities and to tag plants that need individual care. An icon alert lets them know when they need to water or fertilize their plants. The app gives information about various plants, and kids can add plants to the library whenever they want. Suitable for ages 8 to 99. The app was developed by Tuparev Technologies, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later). Upgrades to the app are free.
Audubon Wildflowers, SMM Wildflowers, or Wildflowers of Central Texas all provide information about wildflowers. Choose an app that covers your area, and you can download them onto iOS and Android devices. Take the kids on a walk, identify the flowers that you see, and then source them from your local plant nursery. Indigenous plants thrive in gardens, and are easy for youngsters to grow because they're in their correct climate zone.
Gardening apps and outdoor apps are great for encouraging your children to get outside and enjoy themselves. Once they're in the garden, they can continue to use their apps and will realize that they've found a fun and interesting place to be. Why don't you join them?
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
With the arrival of summer, you want to get your kids outdoors, but all they do is play, talk, and listen on their electronic devices—indoors. Get them into the fresh air with apps that lead them into the garden.
There are a number of gardening apps and outdoor apps for children. The first thing to do is to channel their curiosity with game apps and story apps, and then download further apps that will help them to practically apply what they have learned.
Roo's Fabulous Edible Garden. A free game app that will spark your kids' interest in growing fruit and vegetables, with the side benefit of learning how yummy this produce is to eat. The game takes them through preparing the ground and planting their own virtual garden, harvesting their crop, and finally cooking their produce. During the growing season, they weed their plot, remove harmful insects and learn about the good ones, and water their plants. Suitable for Grades 1 to 3 and up, this gardening app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (iOS 3.0 or later), and was developed by UNC-TV.
Green RADventures of Nico. A fun story app that teaches kids about growing plants that you can eat. Your children will plant seeds, learn about growing processes of plants, and sing along with the Green Minstrel. Suitable for children ages 4 to 12, this app is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later).
Star Walk, Star Chart, or Night Sky (compatible with iOS and Android) are other great apps that will get your kids into the garden. These outdoor apps allow kids to explore the night sky above them, and are easy to use. Your children will have access to fascinating information about the celestial bodies that they see, and the apps enable them to move back in time to view the sky of years ago. Apps like these make kids aware of the infinite potential of nature, and help them to understand how the rhythms of the natural world control the activities in it.
Plants and Plants Pro. This reasonably priced gardening app helps kids organize and schedule their gardening activities and to tag plants that need individual care. An icon alert lets them know when they need to water or fertilize their plants. The app gives information about various plants, and kids can add plants to the library whenever they want. Suitable for ages 8 to 99. The app was developed by Tuparev Technologies, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later). Upgrades to the app are free.
Audubon Wildflowers, SMM Wildflowers, or Wildflowers of Central Texas all provide information about wildflowers. Choose an app that covers your area, and you can download them onto iOS and Android devices. Take the kids on a walk, identify the flowers that you see, and then source them from your local plant nursery. Indigenous plants thrive in gardens, and are easy for youngsters to grow because they're in their correct climate zone.
Gardening apps and outdoor apps are great for encouraging your children to get outside and enjoy themselves. Once they're in the garden, they can continue to use their apps and will realize that they've found a fun and interesting place to be. Why don't you join them?
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Better then ever...Boomers!
Just created this great video postcard...
check it out @ www.handswithseedsboomer.info
Let me know what you think! ~linda
check it out @ www.handswithseedsboomer.info
Let me know what you think! ~linda
Monday, May 13, 2013
Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Space Oddity poignant, says David Bowie
DAVID Bowie has given Commander Chris Hadfield the thumbs up for the astronaut's zero gravity version of Space Oddity.
The five-minute video posted by NASA drew a salute from Bowie's official Facebook page: "It's possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created." In a high-flying, perfectly pitched first, the Canadian astronaut on the International Space Station is bowing out of orbit with a musical video of his own custom version of David Bowie's 1969 classic.
It's believed to be the first music video made in space, according to NASA.
Commander Hadfield's personalised rendition of Space Oddity was posted on YouTube yesterday, one day before his departure from the orbiting lab. He's wrapping up a five-month mission that began last December. His return aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, along with American Thomas Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko, was set for sometime within the next 24 hours in Kazakhstan.
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
The five-minute video posted by NASA drew a salute from Bowie's official Facebook page: "It's possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created." In a high-flying, perfectly pitched first, the Canadian astronaut on the International Space Station is bowing out of orbit with a musical video of his own custom version of David Bowie's 1969 classic.
It's believed to be the first music video made in space, according to NASA.
Commander Hadfield's personalised rendition of Space Oddity was posted on YouTube yesterday, one day before his departure from the orbiting lab. He's wrapping up a five-month mission that began last December. His return aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, along with American Thomas Marshburn and Russian Roman Romanenko, was set for sometime within the next 24 hours in Kazakhstan.
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Sue Conant shares her fav Melaleuca Product Stories...
Sue lives in Madison, WI and has been shopping the Melaleuca Store, factory direct for over a year & a half. We caught her bragging about her experiences at our Hands with Seeds Wine & Wellness Gathering on Friday, May 10, 2013, in Stoughton. (and yes, I videotaped Sue sideways...like dah! But it only makes it more interesting!) Want to learn more? Call Linda @608.314.4004
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
www.mymakegreengogreen.com
Friday, May 3, 2013
PREPARING YOUR LAWN FOR SUMMER
by Tish Holt
Spring is here and many of us are getting our homes and gardens ready for the season. And on the to-do list is getting your winter lawn into shape for the warmer months ahead.
When approaching the care of your lawn it is important to remember that the goal is not to create a weed-free, emerald green carpet but to have an attractive, naturally sustainable environment that sets off your home. There are natural methods for preserving and/or creating a healthy lawn and now is a great time to begin preparing. Here are some introductory tips to get you started.
Spring is here and many of us are getting our homes and gardens ready for the season. And on the to-do list is getting your winter lawn into shape for the warmer months ahead.
When approaching the care of your lawn it is important to remember that the goal is not to create a weed-free, emerald green carpet but to have an attractive, naturally sustainable environment that sets off your home. There are natural methods for preserving and/or creating a healthy lawn and now is a great time to begin preparing. Here are some introductory tips to get you started.
- Early signs of life from your dormant lawn.
- Potential problem areas (areas that have fostered crabgrass, weeds, etc. in the past).
- Healthy, rich soil for new grass growth.
- Re-emergence of friendly insects (such as ladybugs, earthworms, bees, butterflies, etc.) around your yard.
- Choose grass to plant that is best suited for your area. There are quite a few varieties that fit a wide range of environments. Look for grasses that resist drought, disease, needs little fertilizer or mowing and are able to handle foot traffic.
- Lawn Alternatives. Some climates are poorly suited for turf grass. Other groundcover (such as native meadow grasses) could also be considered in hard-to-maintain areas.
- When mowing, leave the grass clippings where they are scattered. Grass clippings provide needed nitrogen for new grass growth, reduce water evaporation and keep the soil temperatures cooler.
- Mow often but keep the lawn taller during the spring season (between two to four inches depending on the kind of grass). This allows the roots to deepen which helps the grass fight diseases, withstand droughts and compete against weeds.
- Plant Earthworms. They are great aerators for your soil.
- Composting. This is a great aerator/soil loosener for compacted soil.
- Avoid pesticides. They may provide short-term results but are detrimental to the health of your lawn, your family, your pets and other living things in your yard. Pesticide runoff also contributes to pollution in streams and groundwater.
- Natural Fertilizers. If you wish to use fertilizers to provide nutrients for your grass consider using natural, slow-release products such as grass clippings, compost, manures (dehydrated cow manure, dried poultry manure), fish emulsion, cottonseed meal and mixed organic fertilizers.
- Avoid chemical and/or synthetic fertilizers. They promote compacted soil, shallow roots, fungus growth, and are toxic to the soil in the long-run.
- Test your soil. Kits are available at many local garden centers and there are services that offer to test your soil for you as well. This only needs to be done every 3 – 5 years to check the pH (acidity and alkalinity) and fertility needs of your soil - but if you are a beginner to natural or chemical-free lawn maintenance, testing is advisable.
- Do not over-water your lawn. Your soil should be moist, but not wet. Excessive watering encourages harmful plant fungus and if your lawn has been improperly treated with chemicals, over-watering can contribute to runoff of those chemicals.
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