Native plants, why we should garden with them, and when we think of the typical garden, it often conjures up images of perfectly groomed and trimmed plants and flowers amid a clean bed of mulch. Many gardeners choose their plants based on what “look” they want to achieve, or other desired benefits. However, that approach does not take native species into account. There are so many reasons to choose native species over mass-produced, ubiquitous landscape plants. Here are some of those reasons.

1. Pest Resistance

These plants are much more resistant to pests. Do you know someone who grows hybrid roses or tropical imports? They are probably always fighting June beetles and other pests. These plants, on the other hand, grow naturally in your area. Continue reading “Native Plants Why We Should Garden With Them” »

Your son or daughter comes home from school with questions about energy. How do you begin to explain such a vast concept? Teaching kids about energy starts with conveying that there are many forms of energy around us and even inside us. Life as we know it would not exist without energy. Energy is so important that all food packages list Calories, an old energy unit. Energy is either stored or involved with motion.

The property of an object or a system (a group of objects) which enables it to do work is called energy. You need energy to do work, or to apply a force across a distance, meaning to move something. If energy does involve moving an object, it is called kinetic energy. A ball rolling downhill has kinetic energy. Energy can also come from the position of an object or its arrangement. This type of energy is called potential energy, or stored energy. A ball that is stationary, on the slope of a hill, before it begins to roll down, has what is known as gravitational potential energy. As the ball rolls downhill, the potential energy it had is changed into kinetic energy. That is an example of the law of energy conservation; energy cannot be created or destroyed, it changes form from one type to another.

 Since energy does change from one form to another, sometimes it is difficult to determine whether energy is potential or kinetic. Some energy is potential energy and kinetic energy simultaneously, such as thermal energy, or heat. Even a moving object can have both potential energy and kinetic energy at the same time. As the ball rolls downhill, its potential energy is changed into kinetic energy. As it rolls, at any specific time, the total amount of energy that the ball has does not change; the law of energy conservation holds. This type of energy is considered mechanical energy.

When teaching kids about energy it’s important to relay that besides the motion of objects, other types of kinetic energy include radiant energy, or light; radiant heat energy; acoustic energy, or sound; and electrical energy, or electricity through wires. Other types of potential energy include electrical energy stored in a battery, chemical energy, nuclear energy, magnetic energy, and solar energy; all stored energy in atoms or molecules. Elastic energy is potential energy within a fluid or solid that can be converted into mechanical energy.

Can there ever be a perpetual motion machine? That is, a machine that never stops moving and constantly creates its own energy as it works? Most machines noticeably heat up as they operate. This heat is from friction. The energy that goes into a machine is always greater than the amount of work it produces, because some of the initial energy changes into friction. Because friction is never completely eliminated, the energy going into a machine is always going to be larger than the machines output. A machine can never run indefinitely, so a perpetual motion machine cannot exist.

When teaching kids about energy you can explain the different types of energy. Energy is either kinetic, involving motion, or potential, stored. Energy changes form from one to another, leading to the law of energy conservation. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it transforms from one type to another type. A perpetual motion machine cannot exist, since such a device would counteract the law of energy conservation.

Energy is a fascinating and vast subject but by remembering these energy basics teaching kids about energy can be simple and fun.

Originally posted 2010-04-26 04:55:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Green Roof What to Consider When Planning to Install One, and in various times, places, and cultures, this roof was the norm. People lived in earthen homes that were sometimes dug out of hillsides or creek banks, and the native grasses and wildflowers grew naturally on top. Other homes had sod or thatched grass roofs. Modern people are discovering the merits of this kind of roofing. If you are planning to install one of these, here are some things to consider and keep in mind.

1. Types of Green Roofs Continue reading “Green Roof What to Consider When Planning to Install a “Green” Roof” »

How to improve your indoor air quality, and depending on your location, indoor air can be just as polluted – if not more so – than outside air. The problem is the chemical nature of many building materials, to the point that “sick building syndrome” is a recognized disorder. Improving the air quality in your home is a good idea, even if you and your family do not have allergies or obvious symptoms of chemical exposure. Here are some tips for making sure the air in your home is clean.

1. Air Purifiers

Lately, air purifiers have been competing with open windows for air quality control. Continue reading “How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality” »

Originally posted 2010-05-04 06:09:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Healthy Halloween Treats How to Make Healthy Halloween Treats, and few holidays emphasize unhealthy treats as much as Halloween does! As Americans are getting more concerned about childhood obesity, many parents are looking for ways to celebrate this holiday without filling up on Milk Duds. Here are some ways you can make Halloween treats that look and taste good.

1. Mummy Fingers
Part of Halloween is the creepy shape and look of the treats. Using sticks of cheese, cut slits at intervals to make “joints.” Then cut “fingernails” out of green pepper, red apple, or sliced almonds and use a bit of soft cream cheese to attach them onto the tips of the cheese “fingers.” Continue reading “Healthy Halloween Treats How to Make Healthy Halloween Treats” »

Energy efficient house, turn your home into a low energy house because many of us are concerned about the amount of energy you use in and around your home, either because of environmental concerns or financial concerns. Here are some tips for turning your home into a energy efficient house.

1. Do a home energy audit. Go through your home and note the type and location of insulation, the state of the weather stripping on windows and doors, lighting, and so forth. As you do your audit, keep the following tips in mind. Continue reading “Energy Efficient House: Turn Your Home into a Low-Energy House” »

Converting your toilet to a low flush toilet will save water and money, and saving water equals saving money, and toilets typically use a whole lot of water. In fact, about one quarter of a home’s entire water usage is from toilet use. Buying a low-flow toilet can get expensive, but you can convert your existing toilet into a low-flow one for very little (or for free!). There are a couple of ways to do this. Continue reading “Converting Your Toilet to a Low Flush Toilet Will Save Water and Money” »

Originally posted 2010-04-10 18:32:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

How to make recycled Mothers Day handmade gifts is good because your mother probably taught you not to waste anything. You can show her that you were listening and present her with a Mothers Day handmade gift made from recycled materials. Here are some ideas to make recycled Mothers Day gifts you can make yourself.

Glass jars and bottles

There are all kinds of possibilities for gifts made from used glass. Consider investing in some glass paint; when baked in the oven, your painted design becomes permanent. Or, spray paint the glass first and use regular acrylic craft paints over the spray-painted surface. Continue reading “How to Make Recycled Mothers Day Handmade Gifts” »

Originally posted 2010-04-18 07:08:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

As we examine How to be Ethical and Green when shopping, are you concerned with remaining true to your ethical convictions when shopping? Some people are concerned about animal testing and other processes used in the development and manufacturing of consumer products. These are practices that some view as unethical, and it can be helpful to have some tips on how to keep your shopping trips ethical.

Genetically Modified Foods or GM Foods

GM Foods (Genetically Modified Foods, or GMFs) are a concern for those who want to minimize their impact on the environment. GMFs are a new technology and much is left up to chance, in what amounts to an uncertain experiment with our food. Because labeling laws are dicey, look for foods that are labeled to be free of GMFs – unlabeled foods may or may not contain GMFs, including produce. If you have to guess, choose organic and/or locally grown foods that are far less likely to be genetically modified. Continue reading “How To Be Ethical And Be Green When Shopping” »

Originally posted 2010-04-10 14:23:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Mountain Bike riding tips – Does mountain biking cause harm to nature, but there is little doubt that the popularity of mountain biking has increased in recent years. This is not without controversy – not long ago, there was discussion about allowing mountain biking in national parks where it had not been allowed before. Here are some of the pros and cons of mountain biking, and some of the suggested rules that mountain bikers can follow to minimize their impact.

Pros

* Allowing mountain biking in national parks increases visitation to the park. Continue reading “Mountain Bike Riding Tips – Does Mountain Biking Cause Harm to Nature?” »