https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2 Made with charm en-us 2018-09-26 17:57:58 UTC 2026-01-26 00:03:32 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290493267 Recently, my grandparents have tried to keep the mini banana plantation in their backyard thriving.  In order to most effectively grow the trees, they would need soil that has is very permeable so that it is well-drained. Although a soil with a good mix of sand, clay, and silt will work, a slightly more sandy soil will help it thrive more by making it easier for water to drain and move. It should also have a fairly high cation exchange capacity because this property is the most desirable for agriculture. Furthermore, an acidic soil will be best since banana trees are not very tolerant of salty soils. ]]> 2018-10-08 21:05:01 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290493267 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290495883 This a picture of my Lorax with my jade necklace that I've had since I was little. In Chinese culture jade represents good luck and protection. I chose to talk about jade because it relates to geology and the rock cycle. Jade is short for the mineral jadeite. Jadeite is typically found in metamorphic rocks that are associated with regions that are near subduction zones (where one plate slides under another, creating extreme heat and pressure).This means that jade is common around convergent plate boundaries involving oceanic lithosphere. Geographically, jade is found around the rim of the Pacific Ocean which is known to be tectonically active.]]> 2018-10-08 21:16:39 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290495883 valeriarojas123456 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290550659 2018-10-09 03:29:12 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290550659 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290551012 This is a unique pencil that when used down till the end then placed in water will sprout as a plant. It may only have a small effect on the environment but the idea behind a wooden pencil will turn into a plant promotes other mediums for sustainability. The pencil serves as two purposes as it was created using the bare minimum of wood needed and is felt through its light weight. The end of the pencil also contains the seed and when placed in water for a period of time it will grow. This plant does not need any soil or other nutrients that come from the breakdown of rock to grow. It makes it efficient on its need for resources. Most plants would require the soil base and for this one to grow on its on with only water and sun and serves this purpose of furthering sustainability. ]]> 2018-10-09 03:31:07 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290551012 adcp2000 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290551627 this is my mom’s sweet potato plant that she’s been growing for about a year. she planted it not expecting it to grow, but within weeks the plant was thriving. the soil that it’s growing in has settled in layers with the top housing small different kinds of fungus. when you go deeper, the soil becomes moist and minerals can easily be found. in the next layer you can find nutrients and an accumulation of metals within the mix. the further down you go, the less organic matter is present, and the properties resemble that of the parent material. ]]> 2018-10-09 03:35:17 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290551627 valeriarojas123456 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290552507 2018-10-09 03:40:49 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/290552507 colinweil1234 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291017950 This is a photo of my Lorax in the garden box that my mom added to our yard. Throughout the last few months this garden has been able to grow plants like peppers and cucumbers that we have eaten. In order to help these plants grow and thrive, my family used potting soil in the garden box, which is a mix of different soils and nutrients for plants to use while growing. I did some research and found that most plants prefer a healthy mix of sand, silt, and clay particles for maximum growth, which results in a healthy loam soil for plants to thrive in. The soil used in our garden was likely a type of loam to help our plants grow adequately, and this is supported by our soil being neither super coarse or thick, meaning that it has a relatively even mix of sand, silt, and clay particles.]]> 2018-10-09 22:12:16 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291017950 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291050320 During a geocaching trip, me and my friends picked up an abandoned plastic toy in the grass. Even it’s a mini iron man, but still made of plastic. Plastics are very long-lived product that potentially have service over decades, and still our main use of lightweight and inexpensive materials as single-use items. Yet the environmental toll of discarded plastic cannot be overlooked because it takes hundreds to thousands years for plastic waste to decompose naturally. Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach  harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater that can be absorbed by human bodies, some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other potential health effects. Floating plastic debris are often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife.]]> 2018-10-10 01:40:38 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291050320 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291051394 This is a picture of my Lorax disapproving of construction occurring near my house. The construction is disrupting the once forested and grassy land once inhabited with deer, various birds, and several types of other flora and fauna. This is also important because it is disrupting the rock cycle into which the construction is digging into. ]]> 2018-10-10 01:46:38 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291051394 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291056114 When we buy products in bulk we reduce our carbon foot print. By eliminating the need for wasteful packaging, buying in bulk lessens the amount of trash that ends up in garbage dumps. Also, the less packaging used in products, the more simple its transportation becomes, ultimately easing the burden of CO2 emissions which contribute to air pollution and climate change. Not only does buying in bulk help us promote sustainability, it also saves money, time and reduces food waste in most families.]]> 2018-10-10 02:19:22 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291056114 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291058695 My family (including my Lorax) uses a pellet grill when making burgers, sausage, steaks, and other meat of barbeque dinners. A pellet grill doesn't use coal or gas, both of which are nonrenewable resources that take hundreds of years for the Earth to naturally create. A pellet grill utilizes mesquite wood pellets, a renewable resource that comes from trees, to cook our food. Therefore, I pellet grill is more environmentally friendly than grills that demand nonrenewable sources. ]]> 2018-10-10 02:41:50 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291058695 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291061121 Here my Lorax is pictured next to the miniature tree that my mom keeps in our house. In order to thrive, this plant needs not only water and sunlight, but also the optimum soil. Soil can be divided into three main categories: sand, silt, and clay. These three types differ in the size of each granule; sand is the largest while clay is the smallest. These three basic types of soil combine to form multiple variations of soil. The best variation is a rich sandy loam, which is around 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay. Loam is the best for plant life because it holds onto water well while also having enough space within the particles for the roots to grow. With loamy soil, the plant is able to flourish, giving my Lorax a relaxing tropical paradise!]]> 2018-10-10 03:03:23 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291061121 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291171699 My Lorax and I headed out behind our and scooped a a big piece of dirt. Anylayzing this dirt, we found it to be a majority of clay, being that when we poured water on it it became very sticky, as clay does. As for our sample’ soil horizon, it can be inferred that it was horizon o, and partly into horizon a. This is all relevant to the apes class in the way that we analyzed soil in our area, and our current study unit in apes is soil analysis and rocks]]> 2018-10-10 11:26:12 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/291171699 colinweil1234 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/296223188 I was thinking about what we had learned about farming techniques like fertilizers and pesticides and how they can have a negative impact on the environment and move as runoff into streams and other water sources. This made me think about the small water source near my house, as it is only a short walk away from my house and there are many other houses nearby. Our family does use fertilizer on our grass lawn to help the plants grow, and during rainy periods like the one we are currently experiencing there is a strong possibility that those fertilizers could end up as runoff that pollutes our nearby water source; the ground around the water slopes downward, which would make it very easy for pollutants like fertilizer from our house to end up in the water! My Lorax and I went to investigate the water and found that there are many homes very close by that likely practice the same fertilization and lawn-care methods that our home does; hopefully they are careful not to over-fertilize during rainy periods! Many animals like birds and turtles inhabit any rely on this water source for food or shelter, so it will take responsible use of fertilizer and other environmental precautions to balance the lawn-care needs of my neighborhood with the need to protect our nearby environment from runoff and contamination by the fertilizers and chemicals that we use regularly.]]> 2018-10-23 23:08:01 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/296223188 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297492965 This is a picture of my Lorax with a pack of tums. I would say that most people wouldn’t think that tums contain corn starch, but they do. It’s a great example of the multiple uses of corn and how prevalent of a crop it is in the United States, especially given the immense amount of processed food and other products available. Corn is used to produce so many different products because it is a great source of starch that can be converted into different forms like high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, dextrins, oil, ethanol, etc. It is also commonly used as animal feed for chickens and cattle. What’s important to remember is that because corn is heavily subsidized, farmers in the country grow more of it. We should be aware that many products contain manipulated corn products and may not appear to be 100% as they are presented.]]> 2018-10-26 17:04:25 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297492965 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297493325 Just a couple days ago, my parents decided to trim down a couple of our trees. We hired some people to do so, and afterwards, they told us that one of the trees has early signs of termites. Luckily, none have gone in the house and they are still just in the tree. However, we are going to have to fumigate it, meaning that we have to use pesticides. I personally do not care for using pesticides and insecticides, but in instances such as these where I think they are beneficial. Though they do cause environmental harm, using them for occasions like this can prevent long term damages where even worse measures are needed.]]> 2018-10-26 17:05:09 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297493325 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297495252 Our studies in Apes got me and my little Lorax buddy thinking about our food and it’s quality/ availability. As shown, my dinner consisted of pizza and apples. The apples were bought from HEB, and most likely contained some type of genetic modification to it. Many fruits and vegetables sold at supermarkets now contain some type of genetic modification in them, due to the increase in yield, size, flavor etc. The pizza was bought frozen, then heated in the oven. Similar to the apples, the pizza most likely contained some time of genetically modified ingredient. In fact, roughly 75% of all food sold in supermarkets are some variation of a GMO product. This can be explained by genetic modifications ability to improve normal food, and make it more plentiful, maximizing profits of the distributer. As for the availability of this food, there is never a shortage. Apples are on the shelves of the super markets year round, as are the rest of the fruits and vegetables sold, further demonstrating the effect of GMO’s and the virtual elimination of seasons for food.]]> 2018-10-26 17:08:40 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297495252 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297585402 My Lorax is in front of my neighbor's garden. They grow tomatoes, bananas, beans, squash, and more. Because of this they are able to consume less from store bought produce and put purpose to the land in their backyard. This is beneficial to the environment as even if small amounts of people grow their own produce, overall the amount that would go to waste or need would decrease. Additionally, they use organic seeds which is to their benefit as they do not need they high yield GMO seeds for large scale agriculture. The plants they grow are seasonal and they use soil, mulch, and organic substances to grow their produce. This sustainability of agriculture is a small scale but if the mindset is applied everywhere it can make a great change. ]]> 2018-10-26 21:33:42 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297585402 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297600494 I got nachos for lunch at school. The ingredients contain whole corn, corn, vegetable oil (corn), and Salt (sodium). According to Harvard's report, participants who ate larger quantities of starchy vegetables were more likely to gain weight. These starchy foods have higher glycemic loads, producing frequent, intense blood sugar spikes after they are eaten, which can ultimately make a person want to consume even more. We know from the documentary Food Inc, corn is a commercial crop that is actually unhealthy and innutritious to eat. It is sad that a public school serves these type of processed food to the students.]]> 2018-10-27 01:13:40 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297600494 adcp2000 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297604575 ale cristancho
my mom runs a company that teaches moms how to cook the healthiest food for their children. these are some of the thugs found in our pantry. 2/3 are non GMO and one is the complete opposite. although it might not seem like a large difference, the foods that contain GMOs can cause some people to develop allergies or intolerance to foods. i developed an intolerance to some insecticide/ pesticide/  found in fruits that aren’t 100% organic. another effect of foods that contain GMOs are the loss of genetic diversity within species of plants, making them quite similar. ]]> 2018-10-27 02:23:44 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297604575 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297608242 When it comes to growing produce such as bananas and apples, there is a lot of a controversy over the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and GMO's. Although pesticides are useful for removing harmful organisms that prey on the fruit and vegetables that farmers are trying to grow, they also limit biodiversity and will eventually become obsolete as the pests develop immunities. Fertilizers are also helpful for maximizing productivity and reducing costs, but they drain the soil of nutrients at a expedited rate and also create runoff that can contaminate water and kill organisms such as fish or birds that prey on the fish. Finally, GMO's, or genetically modified organisms, are controversial because of the ambiguity that surrounds the possible side effects that they have. Critics of GMO's claim that they can cause the development of cancer and other dangerous diseases while supporters point to the lack of evidence surrounding those claims, stating that GMO's vastly improve productive capacity, outweighing the potential health costs. ]]> 2018-10-27 03:22:28 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297608242 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297610346 Solar power is arguably the cleanest, most reliable form of renewable energy available, and it can be used in several forms to help power your home. At my house we use small solar powered spot lights to light our front porch and out backyard. Solar energy is a sustainable energy and is inherently more sustainable than fossil fuel energy sources. As a way of converting the sun's energy into electrical energy, solar panels make use of the single most sustainable resource on the planet: the light of the sun. It is also a non-polluting source of energy and it does not emit any greenhouse gases when producing electricity. Using solar power means reducing your energy bills and taking care of the environment. ]]> 2018-10-27 04:01:40 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297610346 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297610769 So me and my Lorax became dubious of the trees that we were driving by and decided to do some research on them. Turns out many of them look very similar to each other because they are most likely genetically modified to look a certain way. This is also done so they are easier to maintain. This goes to show that GMOs are everywhere. Eradicating them would be almost impossible as cross pollination is inevitable.]]> 2018-10-27 04:10:28 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/297610769 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/298331827 2018-10-30 02:20:05 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/298331827 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/298333245 2018-10-30 02:27:35 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/298333245 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/298333251 2018-10-30 02:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/298333251 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/300011418 My dad's having me do the lawn and something we've bought a lot of is these. The fertilizer is synthetic and engineered for grass this specific time of year. It also has herbicide in it. I've also sprayed around and at the weeds with some herbicide that is acutely engineered to target only curtain weeds.]]> 2018-11-02 23:10:18 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/300011418 https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/300013527 This is my cat and he's helping control the pest population around my house and in my garrage. He currently preys on roaches, beetles, spiders, mice, the occasional bird, and lizards like the one in the photo.]]> 2018-11-02 23:36:58 UTC https://padlet.com/VKAPES/_5_2/wish/300013527