Plants filter the water. It's the most beautiful and low maintenance way to keep a piece of nature in any space!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
It's Thyme for A Fresh Spin on Kid's Crafts!
over 5 years ago
– Wed, Mar 13, 2019 at 10:59:09 AM
Keeping our kiddos occupied and attentive is no small task. It's a lot to ask of a child to stay engaged and focused for longer than a few minutes. As parents, it's easy to get frustrated with the seemingly endless supply of energy children possess. Finding new and productive outlets each day to foster your inquisitive child's imagination can be quite challenging. No matter if you have toddlers or young adults at home, the need for creative family activities is never-ending.
As more people every day start to take a greener approach to life, many parents are incorporating those same sensibilities into playtime. Trading toxic paints and plastic toys for more organic options, kids are rediscovering the joy of nature-based recreation. A movement some are calling, "back to basics parenting," parents around the globe are returning to more Earth-based activities centered around building eco-friendly and socially conscious communities.
Crafting With Plants Is A Blooming Good Time!
Fostering an appreciation for living things not requiring a charger takes quite an effort. In the age of technology, children need gentle reminders that not everything needs an ON button. Unlike games and phones, there’s little need to restrict extra playtime if the activity is educational and socially conscious. Even in the tiniest of spaces, home gardens are popping up. Microgreens, herbs, and even succulents are becoming part of our everyday home decor. Having fresh herbs on hand isn't just beneficial to the environment; it can also lower your grocery bill. But did you know that plants can also serve up a great deal of fun, too? Crafting with plants teaches valuable lessons while keeping small hands occupied and little faces smiling. You may even find time to sit down - at least for a short while.
Here are a couple of crafty ideas from theEcoQube Think Tank to keep your little ones busy:
No matter what age your kids are, teaching them to cook can be an adventure! Teaching adults to cook can sometimes prove more challenging than teaching children! Here's one crafty idea that's educational for kids and even culinarily challenged adults, too. Always eager to learn, kids are more than willing to get their hands dirty. When it comes to dirty hands, having them in the food is usually discouraged. However, this activity also teaches kids the importance of cleanliness.
Teaching Kids To Cook Without The Chaos!
Herbs such as thyme, oregano, and lemongrass are extremely easy to grow, and their subtle flavors make them great starter herbs for new chefs. Start by clipping fresh herbs, making sure to leave the stems. (This is the perfect time to demonstrate the proper way to wash fresh foods!) After properly rinsing the herbs, lay them onto paper towels. Covering the herbs with a top layer of paper towels, very gently press down to blot the delicate leaves dry. Once dry, place the herbs in different colored bowls for each variety of herb.
Gather small amounts of each herb to create little bouquets, using bits of ribbon and twine to secure them. Use a hole punch to create tags out of scrap paper, allowing kids to color the labels. Clothespins are a great way to display your child's creativity while adding a little more rustic decor to your kitchen. Next time you're cooking in the kitchen, it may be your little one making the seasoning suggestions. Inspiring kids to create aromatic, culinary masterpieces is a great way to show how exciting healthy eating can be.
WOOLY WILLY? He’s Back! And GREENER than ever!
Not only do microgreens add texture and flavor to just about any dish, but they're also a lot of fun! One of the easiest plants to grow, home greenhouse systems have made these tiny wonders a kitchen staple. Begin by filling a bowl with microgreens. Grab a stack of paper plates, a few markers, and some glue. Ask your child to draw a face on a paper plate. Using non-toxic glue or paste, use the microgreens to create facial hair! Remember Wooly Willy? Meet his eco-friendly cousin, Microgreen Marty! Draw trees and cover them with fluffy greenery, or let your child's imagination run wild! A scary ogre with a microgreen beard? The possibilities are endless and the clean-up minimal.
Conclusion:
When you're running low on ideas to keep kids occupied, you only have to look as far as the nearest window for great ideas. Mother nature is chock full of wonderfully creative ideas to keep kids busy and stimulated. Crafts don't have to be complicated to be fun. Keep it simple and keep growing!
Check out some of these other cool campaigns that we love!!!
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Sustainable Design: Urban Permaculture
almost 6 years ago
– Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 10:20:01 PM
Hey Eco-Designers!
We launched EcoQube a few years ago…
Back in 2014 to be exact!
We’ve believed our whole lives that with a growing population and shortage of natural resources, we would face issues with sustainable growth as well as food-insecurity.
And we launched EcoQube to help combat these problems by helping spread the concept of sustainable, agricultural hydroponic farming packaged into beautifully designed products.
Today, we wanted to get back to our roots and share another cool sustainable method of raising crops!
Introduction to Permaculture
Permaculture is an alternative system of raising crops and livestock that allows nature to do its own natural work.
The term permaculture is derived from the term “permanent culture”. It is essentially a system very similar to a farm in which you grow your own plants and livestock in an organic and sustainable way. In other words, it is akin to a big system where you make the best effort to not waste anything and you grow plants together that complement each other.
Practically anyone using permaculture principles can convert their backyard garden, rooftop, patio or balcony into a sustainable food-producing farm-like garden.
According to urban permaculture principles, they do not use any pesticides or any fertilizers to frequently maintain their crops. This means that instead of adding chemicals and pesticides to the crops they plan to harvest, they utilize the power of nitrogen-fixing plants to provide nitrogen and nurture to the soil. Nitrogen-fixing plants stores nitrogen in the roots by producing lumps on the roots called nitrogen modules. These nitrogen lumps do wonders for your garden by providing your garden and nearby plants with essential nutrients.
Permaculture gardens implement various recycling techniques such as using rain barrels to recycle rainwater. The recycled rainwater is packed with nutrients and is imperative to a healthy garden.
Urban Permaculture Design
Urban permaculture design is essentially implementing a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly using the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. Put differently, urban permaculture design is planning out a garden to “work with nature”, rather than against it.
The design principles are derived from patterns found in nature. These principles or patterns include techniques such as using “keyholes” to increase the moistness of the soil and continually provides nutrients to the plants as well as creating complimentary groups of animals, plants or people, all of which fulfill different but corresponding roles in the system.
Permaculture deals heavily with the design of a garden. There are tons of books written on permaculture design and courses to teach you how to effectively make the most efficient gardens and sustainable gardens.
Luke Hancock, a qualified Permaculture Design Consultant (PDC) and instructor of an urban permaculture design course in Chiang Mai, Thailand, believes the current system we use to harvest crops is not sustainable. He states the constant use of fertilizers that diminish the quality of the soil. Permaculture uses different plants and animals in a holistic system to complement each other.
The Benefits of Permaculture
There are many benefits to using permaculture. Here we will go over some of the key benefits of applying permaculture.
Save Water - As we mentioned before, it is the best permaculture practice to recycle rainwater and wastewater. Doing so will make the garden more efficient while saving water and costs.
Reduce Waste - In a permaculture system, everything compliments each other and is used. Permaculture uses garden waste as a fertilizer so the use of garden waste is one of the reasons why it is so sustainable.
Cost Effective - Permaculture is cost efficient since you don’t need to use pesticides. With that said, most permaculture systems also require less maintenance.
Less Chemical Crops - Since pesticides and fertilizers are not used on the crops, you will reap more natural and organic crops.
What do you think about urban permaculture design?
Check out some of these other cool campaigns that we love!!!
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With the popularity and growing usage of Smartphone's, tablets, and computers, we have dramatically increased our exposure to blue light. Get HELIX Daytime and Nighttime, Kickstarter special 2 for $40 and protect your eyes from our digital age!
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Biophilic Design - On To Better Workspaces
almost 6 years ago
– Sun, Jan 20, 2019 at 06:11:36 PM
Hey EcoQube C backers!
We hope you've had a blast over the holidays and are ready to crush it this year!
One of the best ways to make sure you’re energized to do great work is to actually take a moment to relax and breathe in fresh air on the side of a mountain cliff, or take a hike among a forest of trees.
However, this isn’t always possible, especially in today’s world consisting of concrete jungles and increasingly artificial environments.
It is, however, important! Recent psychological evidence states that the color green, the color of plants, is believed to be associated with peace of mind, tranquility, and the feeling of happiness which inevitably keeps you feeling rejuvenated throughout your day.
What’s the solution to this lack of green in our lives?
Biophilic design.
The 2015 Human Spaces Report examined the impact of biophilic (nature-like) design in the workplace. This study involved found that office spaces designed to mimic nature could have amazing psychological impacts.
The Human Spaces global study involved 7,600 office employees across 16 countries and helped shed a limelight on the importance and effectiveness of biophilic design on the health and well-being of office workers.
The data collected from the study demonstrated that 85% of global corporate employees spent between 40-49 hours working every week -- often within concrete buildings with little access to natural sunlight or plants.
Work environments that featured natural elements were reported to have a 15% increase in employee well-being. In addition, they were found to be 6% more productive, and 15% more creative when compared to work spaces that did not have plants or biophilic elements.
Want to learn more about biophilic design and the positive impact it has on your everyday wellbeing?
Algae-Eating Tank Superstars: The Nerite Snails
almost 6 years ago
– Tue, Dec 18, 2018 at 07:17:31 AM
Hey EcoQube C backers!
Decorating your home with hydroponic living decor should be one thing on everyone’s New Year’s Must-Do list (it’s beautiful, sustainable, and environmentally friendly!). But, what if your tank gets filled with annoying, murky, greenish water?
Algal bloom is a common menace for fish parents, which occurs when the water nutrition level climbs to tremendous amounts. Excessive water nutrients and temperature can give rise to rapid algae growth. This can deplete the oxygen level of your tank making it harder for your ecosystem to thrive.
However, there do exist algae-eating miracles out there that can be a great addition to your tank.
Our favorite? They’re known as Nerite Snails.
Source: Riverpark.biz
This unbelievably dormant little tank citizen feeds on almost any kind of algae, making tank maintenance fuss-free.
These small snails usually have a short lifespan and can escape from your tank, so keep them homely by securing the lid. Nerite snails can grow to about 2.5 cm, with the zebra and the tiger nerite snails being the largest.
Source: Aqua Central Library
Nerite snails are omnivores and can eat even the stubborn algae on your tank walls that can only be scraped with sharp metal objects. These soft-shelled snails require so little maintenance, they can easily be kept by beginners!
In case you’re wondering - the only problem you could face with nerite snails is overpopulation. They can be quite happy, and breed too often, filling up your tank with so much love. Be sure to look out for any breeding that may be occurring to prevent overpopulation of your tank!
So, how’s your C’s looking? Send us a picture of your C setup for a chance to be featured in our newsletters or #ecoqubec on Instagram!
That’s all folks! We’re sharing all the love we have for you this last month of 2018, and have a great, great 2019 ahead!
Cheers!
CK from EcoQube
Check out some of these other cool campaigns that we love!!!
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Danios Fish - Little Lifetime Lovers
about 6 years ago
– Fri, Oct 26, 2018 at 09:15:42 PM
Hey EcoQube Backers!
As you might have guessed, we love fish of all types, and this month, we wanted to highlight one that’s extra special.
One of our favorite species of fish here at EcoQube is the Danios fish.
Known as prolific breeders and filled with a great zest of energy and bright, striped colors - who wouldn’t love danios?
These little fishes are some of the most highly-adaptive and intelligent fishes that can fit your EcoQube tank.
And these guys stay with their one true love for their entire lifespan (yes, that's pure loyalty!)
One thing you WILL want to keep in mind is to never put Danios in the same tank with fishes of flowy fins such as bettas and guppies. These little guys love to keep themselves busy and might nip these species' fins.
They can also withstand an impressive range of water temperature and environmental conditions. They’re happy with a water temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but spawning temperatures require 78 degrees Fahrenheit to get the love-making process running.
Danios lays around 300-500 eggs per fish, so should you ever find that your fish is pregnant, be sure to acquire extra tanks or give some away to your nearest fish enthusiast as mom and dad will otherwise eat their babies.
And while Danios are omnivores, they also enjoy fresh vegetable matter and frozen invertebrates - who would’ve thought?
What fish do you want to learn about?
Let us know by commenting below, or replying via email at [email protected] :)
