https://www.tkhunt.com/2567454/ 【編んだもの全て紹介🍎】バッグ、洋服、帽子、ポーチなど…｜書籍の予約が始まりました📚 #AmeLife #baking #canelé #Cooking #CozyVlog #crochet #CrochetVlog #DailyVlog #DaysInMyLife #FleaMarket #JapanVlog #JapaneseVlog #LessScreenTime #lifestyle #ProductiveDays #ProductiveVlog #ScreenTime #SlowLiving #TOKYO #TokyoFleaMarket #TokyoVlog #VLOG #yt:cc=on #アメライフ #インテリア #お菓子作り #かぎ針編み #カヌレ #まいChay #ライフスタイル #料理 #日常vlog #暮らしvlog #暮らしを整える #東京暮らし #生活モチベ #編み物 #蚤の市 #赤坂蚤の市
#lessscreentime — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #lessscreentime, aggregated by home.social.
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https://www.tkhunt.com/2543466/ 蚤の市で北欧を味わう🧺 画面を見る時間を少し減らした日々｜Cozy Days of Flea Markets, Crochet & Baking #AmeLife #baking #canelé #Cooking #CozyVlog #crochet #CrochetVlog #DailyVlog #DaysInMyLife #FleaMarket #JapanVlog #JapaneseVlog #LessScreenTime #lifestyle #ProductiveDays #ProductiveVlog #ScreenTime #SlowLiving #TOKYO #TokyoFleaMarket #TokyoVlog #VLOG #yt:cc=on #アメライフ #インテリア #お菓子作り #かぎ針編み #カヌレ #まいChay #ライフスタイル #料理 #日常vlog #暮らしvlog #暮らしを整える #東京暮らし #生活モチベ #編み物 #蚤の市 #赤坂蚤の市
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Gen Z adults are ditching #smartphones for #FlipPhones; research backs the benefits
"A growing number of young people are swapping smartphones for basic flip phones to break free from social media, and researchers say reduced screen time can improve sleep, focus, and stress levels."
#SolarPunkSunday #SmartphoneAddiction #LoTech #OldSchoolTechnology #LessScreenTime
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#LeedsUK - The city closing down streets so children can play
Kate McGough, 8/4/2026
"The idea of regularly closing down residential streets for children to play was started in 2009 by a group of parents in Bristol, who wanted to show that 'playing out near home should be normal, it doesn't have to be a special event'. "
Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jnmzekx0roArchived version:
https://archive.ph/Blq5A#SolarPunkSunday #LessScreenTime #SpendTimeOutdoors #SafePlacesToPlay #PlaySpace #ClosedStreets #SafeStreets #NoCarStreets #NoCars #BuildingCommunity
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"Find your local Auckland toy library near you to borrow toys, books and more activities to do at home to suit the changing stages of your baby, toddler, preschoolers and kids as they grow up."
Learn more:
https://www.aucklandforkids.co.nz/toy-libraries/#SolarPunkSunday #ToySharing
#SharingEconomy #ToyRentals
#Aotearoa #ToyLibrariesNewZealand
#ToyLibrariesAotearoa #MorePlayTime #LessScreenTime #LearningActivities #PlayIsTheWay -
Brooklyn's treasure chest for little explorers
"Nau mai, haere mai to the Brooklyn Toy Library!
Discover a treasure trove of toys for tamariki that's kind to both your wallet and the planet.
Drop by the Vogelmorn Bowling Club during our opening hours to have a play.
Tamariki can bounce on the trampoline and play with our outdoor toys.
While you're here, you can sit back with a coffee and kai from our friends at the VBC Cafe.
Donate toys
We welcome donations of excellent quality toys that will delight our tamariki!
We're looking for toys that are:
– Perfect for ages 0-7 years
– In excellent condition with no missing parts
– Easy to clean and built to last
– No soft toysBefore dropping off your donation, please email us a photo and brief description. This helps us ensure your generous gift is a perfect fit for our collection."
FMI:
https://brooklyntoylibrary.org.nz/#SolarPunkSunday #ToySharing
#SharingEconomy #ToyRentals
#Aotearoa #ToyLibrariesNewZealand
#ToyLibrariesAotearoa #MorePlayTime
#LessScreenTime #LearningActivities
#DonateToys -
So, while a lot of #ToyLibraries charge membership fees, some offer discounted fees for active members.
#ToyLibrary Federation of #NewZealand
"The Toy Library Federation of NZ is the national body to which individual toy libraries belong.
"We act as a support to new and existing non-profit toy libraries; offering information and support on all aspects of running a toy library, toy selection and the value of play.
"Toy Libraries offer a range of quality toys, puzzles, games and learning activities for members to hire for a set period of time. In NZ our toy libraries mainly cater for children 0-8 years. Many libraries stock #games, #puzzles, #sport, #musical and other play items suitable for the entire family.
"Toy Libraries are a non-profit community service run by voluntary committee, for the benefit of children in your community."#SolarPunkSunday #ToySharing #SharingEconomy #ToyRentals #Aotearoa #ToyLibrariesNewZealand #ToyLibrariesAotearoa #MorePlayTime #LessScreenTime #LearningActivities #PlayIsTheWay
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#Nature’s Prescription for Our Future
Why caring for nature is caring for ourselves
By Dona Bertarelli October 31, 2025
Excerpt: "Nature’s ability to sustain us is not only ecological. It is deeply personal. More and more studies show that spending time in natural environments reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the immune system. A large study in the United Kingdom found that those who spent at least two hours a week outdoors were 59 percent more likely to report good health and 23 percent more likely to report high well-being, regardless of age, income, or location. Other research shows that even brief moments in nature, a walk in a park, the sound of birds, the sight of water, can already ease stress, steady the mind, and sharpen our attention."
Read more:
https://nautil.us/natures-prescription-for-our-future-1245190/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us#SolarPunkSunday #MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime #GreenBathing
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More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones
Sequoia Carrillo, September 1, 2025
Excerpt: "In Texas, every public and charter school student will be without their phones during the school day this fall. Brigette Whaley, an associate professor of education at West Texas A&M University, expects to see "a more equitable environment" in classrooms with higher student engagement.
"Last year, she tracked the success of a cell phone ban in one west Texas high school by surveying teachers throughout the year. They reported more participation by students, and also said they saw student anxiety plummet – mainly because students weren't afraid of being filmed at any moment and embarrassing themselves.
" 'They could relax in the classroom and participate,' she said. 'And not be so anxious about what other students were doing.'
"The findings in west Texas align with results from many of the states and districts that are heading back to school without phones: Students learn better in a #PhoneFree environment. Getting cell phones out of the classroom is a rare issue with significant bipartisan support, allowing a rapid adoption of policies across red and blue states alike.
"Some 31 states and the District of Columbia now restrict students' use of #CellPhones in schools, according to Education Week."
Read more / listen:
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/01/nx-s1-5495531/more-states-now-ban-cell-phones-in-schools#TechAddiction #SmartPhoneAddiction #ReadABook #TalkToAFriend #TakeNotes #Handwriting #PayAttention #LessDistractions #LessScreenTime
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More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones
September 1, 2025
"Some 31 states and the District of Columbia now restrict students' use of cell phones in schools, according to Education Week."
Read more:
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/01/nx-s1-5495531/more-states-now-ban-cell-phones-in-schools#MoreQualityTimeLessScreenTime #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #LessScreenTime #BeingPresent #SmartphoneAddiction #SolarPunkSunday
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So, part of my ideal* bedtime routine involves turning off the computer, maybe watching a little Iron Chef or ASMR videos, then turning off the TV, making the rounds, check on kitty, change into comfy PJ's, rearrange the plush pals, and then read for a bit. On nights when my eyes are too tired to read, I'll listen to NPR on my clock radio (which has a timer).
* And yeah, I don't always stick to that routine, and when I don't, my sleep suffers.
#LessScreenTime #LightPollution #WindingDown #ReadABook #ListenToTheRadio #SleepDisruption
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Speaking of #LightPollution...
#ScreenTime Before #Bed Is Ruining Your Child’s #Sleep (Here’s What Parents Need to Know)
by Don on February 26, 2025
"Establishing a Screen-Free Bedtime Routine
"Creating a peaceful bedtime routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by setting a consistent bedtime and work backward about 30-45 minutes to begin your routine. Replace screen activities with calming alternatives that help signal to your child’s body that it’s time to wind down.
"Begin by dimming the lights throughout the house to support natural #melatonin production. Choose quiet activities like reading stories together, listening to #GentleMusic, or practicing simple #BreathingExercises. Many families find success with a warm #bath or shower, followed by putting on comfortable pajamas and brushing teeth.
"Consider incorporating #mindful activities like #GentleStretching, #coloring, or #QuietPlay with #NonElectronicToys. Some children benefit from a brief #CuddleTime or sharing their favorite moments from the day. Keep a consistent order of activities to help your child feel secure and know what to expect.
"Remember that transition times can be challenging. Give clear, gentle reminders about upcoming routine steps, and offer praise when your child follows along. If your child seems resistant, try making it fun by turning routine tasks into simple games or using visual schedules for younger children.
"Store all devices in another room to avoid temptation, and make the bedroom a #ScreenFreeZone. This helps create a sleep-friendly environment and reinforces healthy boundaries around technology use."
#Parenting #LessScreenTime #ReadABook #Storytime #Bedtime #ChildhoodDevelopment #SmartPhoneAddiction #SleepDisruption
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Why the Brain Prefers to Read on Paper
by Kris deDecker, October 25, 2013
" 'Beyond treating individual letters as physical objects, the human brain may also perceive a text in its entirety as a kind of physical landscape. When we read, we construct a #MentalRepresentation of the text in which meaning is anchored to structure.
"The exact nature of such representations remains unclear, but they are likely similar to the mental maps we create of terrain—such as mountains and trails—and of man-made physical spaces, such as apartments and offices.
"Both anecdotally and in published studies, people report that when trying to locate a particular piece of written information they often remember where in the text it appeared. We might recall that we passed the red farmhouse near the start of the trail before we started climbing uphill through the forest; in a similar way, we remember that we read about Mr. Darcy rebuffing Elizabeth Bennett on the bottom of the left-hand page in one of the earlier chapters.
"In most cases, paper books have more obvious topography than onscreen text. An open paperback presents a reader with two clearly defined domains—the left and right pages—and a total of eight corners with which to orient oneself. A reader can focus on a single page of a paper book without losing sight of the whole text: one can see where the book begins and ends and where one page is in relation to those borders. One can even feel the thickness of the pages read in one hand and pages to be read in the other.
"Turning the pages of a paper book is like leaving one footprint after another on the trail—there’s a rhythm to it and a visible record of how far one has traveled. All these features not only make text in a paper book easily navigable, they also make it easier to form a coherent mental map of the text.' "
https://www.notechmagazine.com/2013/10/why-the-brain-prefers-to-read-on-paper.html
#SolarPunkSunday #TechAddiction #Books #PhysicalBooks #ASMR #FullyEngaged #NeoLuddites #LessScreenTime #LibrariesRule #ReadABook #PaperMaps #PhysicalLandscape #Handwriting
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So, this is very interesting... I know I used to find making clay balls in pottery class would help keep me focused and calm...
The #Meditative Art of #Hikaru #Dorodango: How Japanese Schoolchildren Turn Mud Into Shiny Spheres
A developmental psychology professor discovered hikaru dorodango in a Japanese schoolyard in 1999, and the practice is still inspiring artists worldwide today.
By Marla Mackoul
Aug 12, 2025Excerpts: "No one is quite sure how hikaru dorodango originated, but it’s clear that it wouldn’t be as prominent as it is today without the efforts of Japanese developmental psychology professor Fumio Kayo. In 1999, Kayo was visiting a Kyoto nursery school to observe children at play when he noticed them deeply concentrated on forming playground dirt into shining spheres. It was a painstaking process even teachers would join in on. After working so long and so hard to create them, the dorodango would become treasured possessions of the children.
Making a dorodango involved locating the perfect soil, mixing it into mud, molding it into a sphere, and finally polishing it to perfection. The art requires patience, trial and error, and resourcefulness, causing it to be praised for its beneficial impact on early childhood development. Indeed, Kayo both published academic papers on the subject as well as developed a simple methodology that allowed him to introduce the activity to children across Kyoto. Hikaru dorodango was featured by Japanese public broadcaster NHK in 2001, and it has slowly gained prominence internationally—and among adults—since then.
"Other artists around the world have also found creating the mud balls to be both an excellent creative outlet as well as a grounding meditative practice. Artist Kiyoko Miki, for instance, uses different soil types and paint to create colored pastes, turning her dorodango into every color of the rainbow. She even drills holes into some to make charming flower vases."
#SolarpunkSunday #Japan #WorkingWithNature #ArtByHumans #MeditativeArt #MoreMudTime #LessScreenTime #ChildhoodDevelopment #Calming #Creative
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#WikiHow - How to Beat an Addiction to Cell Phones: Tips to Get Off Your Phone
What to do if you think you have a phone addiction
Co-authored by Tiffany Douglass, MA and Aly Rusciano
Last Updated: March 19, 2025"How do you stop being addicted to your phone?
- Schedule when and how long you can use your phone.
- Turn off notifications for apps and social media.
- Put your phone somewhere you can’t access it.
- Replace phone habits with new hobbies or constructive activities.
- Ask your loved ones for support to keep you accountable."Learn more:
https://www.wikihow.com/Beat-an-Addiction-to-Cell-Phones#SolarPunkSunday #TechAddiction #SmartPhoneAddiction #LessScreenTime #SpendTimeInNature #BoardGames #TheLudditeClub #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime
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#Massachusetts - Learn, tinker and play at the #SpringfieldMuseums this summer
Ashley Potter
Fri, July 11, 2025 at 7:25 AM EDTSPRINGFIELD — "Families can turn up the heat on summer fun while staying cool in air-conditioned halls at the Springfield Museums.
"Now open seven days a week through Aug. 15, the museums are offering a slate of activities including hands-on exhibitions, live entertainment on the Quadrangle Green, and music inspired by cultures from around the globe.
"Most summer activities are included with Museum admission, and that cost is waived for Springfield residents with proof of residence.
" 'I am hoping that visitors and their families leave the museums this summer thinking ‘I’ve learned something new,' said Abby Garner, Family Engagement Coordinator for the Springfield Museums, in an interview with The Republican.
" 'Whether that is from the #planetarium, one of our #musical performances, the additional activities we are offering, or from one of our visiting exhibits.'
"Some of the Museums’ summer activities are returning favorites, like the return of Giant Bubbles with Mr. Vinny, a show on the Quadrangle each Friday afternoon that encourages children to watch, chase and pop bubbles. The Toe Jam #Puppet Band, a children’s entertainment troupe that combines #music, #puppetry and #storytelling, also returns.
"Other activities, like hands-on experiences in the Cat’s Corner, Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center and #SparkLab, were curated by the Museum’s education staff for this year’s summer programming.
"In the Cat’s Corner, located inside of The Amazing World of #DrSeuss Museum, guests can read some of Ted Geisel’s stories and take part in facilitated art activities. In the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center, located inside of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, guests can participate in activities that range from arts and crafts to dress-up and puppet play. In the Spark!Lab, located inside of the Springfield Science Museum, make projects inspired by inventions and innovations in American history, or invent something totally new.
" 'Activities can change from week to week in our drop-in spaces, so there are new experiences often for visitors looking to visit more than once this summer,' Garner said.
A focus on music
"The summer schedule also offered the opportunity for more live music at the Museums.
" 'We’ve had musical performances on and off throughout the years, and they’re always really special events, especially when the weather’s nice and we can have them out on our #QuadrangleGreen and kids can dance and #sing and #play,' said Larissa Murray, Director of Education for the Springfield Museums. 'But we wanted to make it more of a featured event, something that you could plan for as opposed to it just happening now and again.'
"Wednesdays are a strong turn-out day for the Museums, Murray explained, making it the perfect opportunity to test out a new music program.
"As a result, the Springfield Museums are offering a 'Music on Wednesdays' program this summer, with a different group or performer scheduled each week. The live music begins on July 9 with the Community Music School of Springfield performing #BombaYPlena music from #PuertoRico and #WestAfrican-inspired drumming and dance."
Source:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/learn-tinker-play-springfield-museums-112542385.html#SolarPunkSunday #LessScreenTime #Creativity #MultiCultural #MakeArt #BuildingCommunity #GlobalCommunity
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"It’s really important for a kid to be left alone"- When #TaikaWaititi made his feelings clear about the role of tech in children's lives
By Sourav Chakraborty
Modified May 03, 2025 04:54 GMT" 'Exactly, now they’ve all got iPads and it’s done for them! I think it’s really important for a kid to be left alone and left to figure it out for themselves how to pass the time. As a kid, I spent so much time bored and coming up with ideas of how to do things, so I’d write stories or I’d draw pictures or invent worlds through drawing or just in my head, just thinking about things. I think that a lot of my creativity has really come from being bored.' " [SO TRUE!!!]
#SmartphoneAddiction #TechIsDumbingUsDown #NoAI #Imagination #LudditeClub #NeoLuddites #Luddites #LessScreenTime #MoreBoardGames #MoreGreenTime #MoreOutdoorTime #FlipPhones #MoreBooks #Smartphones #TechAddiction #TurnOffYourPhone #BePresent #ThinkForYourself #ResistTheMachine #NoSmartphonesForKids #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime
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Now in College, #LudditeTeens Still Don’t Want Your Likes
Three years after starting a club meant to fight #SocialMedia’s grip on young people, many original members are holding firm and gaining new converts.
By Alex Vadukul
Jan. 30, 2025"Biruk Watling, a college sophomore wearing a baggy coat and purple fingerless gloves, walked the chilly campus of Temple University in #Philadelphia on a recent afternoon to recruit new members to her club.
She taped a flier to a pole: '#JoinTheLudditeClub For #MeaningfulConnections.' Down the block, she posted another one: 'Do You Desire a Healthier Relationship With Technology, Especially Social Media? The Luddite Club Welcomes You and Your Ideas.'"When a student approached, Ms. Watling dove into her pitch.
"'Our club promotes #ConsciousConsumption of #technology,' she said. 'We’re for #HumanConnection. I’m one of the first members of the original Luddite Club in #Brooklyn. Now I’m trying to start it in #Philly.
"She pulled out a #FlipPhone, mystifying her recruit.
"'We use these,' she said. 'This has been the most freeing experience of my life.'
If Ms. Watling had a missionary’s zeal, it was because she wasn’t just promoting a student club, but an approach to modern life that profoundly changed her two years ago, when she helped form the Luddite Club as a high school student in New York."But that was then, back when things were simpler, before she had embarked on the more independent life of a college student and found herself having to navigate QR codes, two-factor-identification logins, dating apps and other digital staples of campus life.
"The #LudditeClub was the subject of an article I wrote in 2022 — a story that, ironically, went viral. It told of how a group of teenage tech skeptics from Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn and a few other schools in the city gathered on weekends in Prospect Park to enjoy some time together away from the machine."They #sketched and #painted side by side. They read quietly, favoring works by #Dostoyevsky, #Kerouac and #Vonnegut. They sat on logs and groused about how #TikTok was dumbing down their generation. Their flip phones were decorated with stickers and nail polish.
"Readers inspired by their message responded in hundreds of emails and comments. Reporters from Germany, Brazil, Japan and elsewhere flooded my inbox, asking me how to reach these students who were so hard to track down online. Snarky Reddit threads and think pieces sprouted. #RalphNader endorsed the club in an opinion essay, writing: 'This is a rebellion that needs support and diffusion.'"
Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/style/luddite-teens-reunion.htmlArchived version:
https://archive.ph/
#SolarPunkSunday #Nature #NeoLuddite #Luddites #LessScreenTime #MoreBoardGames #MoreGreenTime #MoreOutdoorTime #FlipPhones #MoreBooks #ResistTheMachine -
More of this, please...!
‘#Rewilding’ the schoolyard — District, land trust make space for outdoor learning
by ERIC WELCH, January 31, 2025 1:00 AM
KOOTENAI — "Six months ago, a small piece of school-owned property beside Kootenai Elementary [in #Idaho] was contributing little to the students next door.
"A combination of #woods and #wetlands, the area was appealing to educators aiming to expand the school’s outdoor education opportunities, but teachers were discouraged from using it because of persistent marshiness that made it impossible to visit without tracking mud throughout the school’s halls and classrooms.
"In July, nonprofit #KaniksuLandTrust set out to change that. Since then, the organization has replaced the area’s primitive dirt trails with gravel paths, installed several culverts and a small footbridge to help students traverse the area, and created six unique outdoor classrooms designed to facilitate a variety of lesson types.
"'Just like our teachers need classrooms, outdoor educators need a classroom, too, and playgrounds are quite uninspiring spaces for outdoor education,' said Katie Cox, KLT executive director. 'The idea is really, ‘How much nature can we bring to the schools?'
"The 10-acre parcel is home to a surprisingly diverse collection of plants and features, and includes an aspen grove, a white pine forest and an area that was once home to a small orchard that still contains productive apple trees.
"A natural hill facilitates sledding and a 'boulder hop' circuit is designed to act as a homemade alternative to traditional playground structures.
"'It’s a fun space for the kids to get their wigglies out,' Cox said.
"Anita Palmer, Kootenai’s art and outdoor education specialist, is a primary user of the area. Palmer teaches lessons outside when possible and aims to help students become responsible users of the land by teaching them the '#LeaveNoTrace' principles.
"'They’re just happier outside. More engaged,' Palmer said. 'They definitely have more energy.'
"Because Palmer splits time between outdoor education and art, she also makes use of the area and its resources when helping students practice creative expression.
"This year, students in Palmer’s class have created pinecone bird feeders, traced leaves by placing them under a page and rubbing it with a crayon, and made mandala patterns in the woods using natural materials like stones and pine needles.
"In addition to outdoor education, Cox hopes instructors of core courses can also utilize the space to enhance their curriculum.
"'If teachers want to pull the kids out in order to use nature to teach math or use nature for reading time, there's space for them to do that,' Cox said. 'It can be as simple as sectioning off a space and saying, ‘How many willow trees are planted in this space? Count them and measure the longest branch with a tape measure and collect the data.'
"Elizabeth Sims, a beacon teacher at Kootenai who instructs students who struggle with behavior how to cooperate with peers and adults, uses the space to allow students to stretch their legs in a comforting environment.
"'The gym can be very overstimulating,' Sims said. 'It’s very calming being out in nature,' she added. 'Even the kids that are more high-behavior just seem more grounded out there.'
"With the #Kootenai property transformed, Cox and KLT are now turning their attention toward a pair of spaces they hope to similarly improve on the grounds of Farmin Stidwell and Washington elementary schools."
Read more:
https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2025/jan/31/rewilding-the-schoolyard/
#SolarPunkSunday #NatureBasedEducation #NatureBasedLearning #MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime -
Some good tips here! The author even mentions some mistakes he's made...
Excerpt from: #Foraging: Ultimate Guide to Wild Food
by Eric Orr
Proper Identification of #WildEdibles
"Before eating any wild plant, make 100% sure it's not poisonous.
"Find a mentor. Learning from an expert or someone more experienced will give you a higher level of confidence.
"Get a Good Book. There’s no substitute for a mentor, but a good field guide is a close second. A reference book will give you confidence as you get more comfortable with foraging.
"Learn the few dangerous species in your area before venturing into the wild to forage. If you know what poisonous plants you may encounter, you'll feel more comfortable foraging for the edible species.
"Don't always rely on common names. Common names can refer to several different plants. Some wild edible plants share the same common names as poisonous plants. Latin names are more reliable. For example, if someone offers you hemlock tea, before drinking, you might ask whether it's infused with Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) or with the tender tips of Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock tree). Latin was chosen to classify plants and animals because it's a dead language, so we can't expect it to evolve or change, whereas common names vary and fluctuate.
"Use all of your senses. Don't limit yourself to visual ID alone. Lots of wild edible plants have look-alikes. Learn how to differentiate similar plants by smell, feel, texture, etc. It's not a rule, but in many cases, poisonous plants are unpalatable and rank smelling. That said, taste should only be used if you're absolutely sure the plant is not poisonous. Some plants, such as water hemlock, are deadly in very small doses.
"Learn habitat. You won't find cattails on a high slope, and you won't find ramps in a swamp.
"Learn companion plants. Many plants are commonly found growing nearby certain other species. If you see yellow dock, there's a good chance pokeweed will be close by.
"Learn to follow wild edible plants through all seasons. This is important for two reasons. First is positive identification. When I was learning to forage, I misidentified the poisonous white snakeroot as wood nettle. I put the leaves in soup for a few months. Fortunately I only added it in small quantities and no one got sick. When it bloomed in July, it became clear to me that I had made a mistake. There are admittedly other subtleties of differentiation that I should have noticed, but the flowers were a dead giveaway.
"Another reason to follow wild edible plants through the seasons is to locate perennial plants that you want to harvest in early spring. For example, by the time pokeweed becomes identifiable, it's often past the point of use. If you make note of it during the warmer months, you'll know where to find it when it first appears in spring.
"Learn which parts of a wild edible plant are safe to use. Just because a wild plant is considered edible doesn't mean all parts are edible. For instance, while ripe cooked elderberries are safe to eat, the bark, stems and roots are considered poisonous. It's also important to note that some plants are only edible at certain times of the year. For example, stinging nettle shouldn't be used after it goes to seed.
"Keep a foraging journal. This is really important for developing a sense of what is available in your area when. Through months and years of recording your foraging finds, you'll gradually compile a calendar that tells you what's on the horizon for harvesting. This will also help you plan a menu schedule ahead of time."
Read more:
https://www.wildedible.com/foraging
#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheForests #MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime #NatureBasedLearning -
From: #WoodlandTrustUK
Responsible #foraging guidelines
"Leave plenty behind
"Wild food is vital for the survival of the #UK’s #wildlife.
"Forage carefully to ensure there is enough left for birds and species to consume now and to ensure plants and fungi can regenerate and reproduce. You may not be the only person foraging and plants and fungi need to produce seeds and spores to grow into the next generation."
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/foraging-guidelines/
#SolarPunkSunday #WildEdibles #Foraging #SaveTheForests #MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime -
Thinking Green: Why Schools Should Have #NaturalSpaces
December 13, 2023.
"As urbanization and technology increasingly dominate our landscapes and lifestyles, many educational facilities are becoming more and more sterile. However, the presence of green or natural spaces in schools has become more important than ever. Not only do these spaces offer aesthetic value, but they also contribute significantly to the physical, psychological, and educational well-being of students. This article explores the benefits of integrating green spaces in school environments and provides practical strategies, such as sourcing wholesale plants, for schools to achieve this goal.
The Benefits of Green Spaces
"Learning and Cognitive Development: Exposure to natural environments has been shown to improve memory, attention, and concentration in students. This leads to better academic performance and a more effective learning environment. Additionally, green spaces provide sensory experiences and opportunities for hands-on learning experiences and exploration, fostering curiosity and creativity among students.
"Mental Health and Well-being: Green spaces provide a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety in students. The tranquil environment of natural settings can offer a peaceful retreat from the often hectic school routine, contributing to better mental health and emotional well-being. In fact, studies have shown that children who have regular access to green spaces exhibit fewer behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity.
"Physical and Social Development: Access to green spaces encourages physical activities like playing, walking, and other forms of exercise. This not only helps in tackling issues like obesity but also promotes overall health and fitness among students. Natural environments also foster more organic social interactions that lead to improved social skills, better peer relationships, and greater opportunities for collaborative learning and play.
"Environment Quality: Plants and trees in green spaces function as natural air filters, improving air quality around the school. This is particularly beneficial in urban areas, where air pollution is a significant concern. At the same time, plants can perform the job of being natural sound buffers, reducing noise pollution and creating a more peaceful and conducive learning environment for students.
"Connection with Nature: Regular exposure to green spaces helps students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the #NaturalWorld. Students can learn about plants, animals, and ecosystems firsthand, applying their classroom knowledge to real-life experiences. This connection is crucial for fostering #EnvironmentalStewardship and a sense of responsibility towards nature conservation.
Strategies for Creating Green Spaces
"Creating #SchoolGardens: School gardens can be used for teaching subjects like biology, environmental science, and nutrition. Gardens offer hands-on learning opportunities and can help students understand plant life cycles and food production. At the same time, planting trees around school premises can create shaded areas, reduce heat, and improve air quality. Sourcing native plants from wholesale nurseries can be a cost-effective and sustainable way to establish school gardens and contribute to overall greening efforts.
"Developing #GreenPlaygrounds: Unlike traditional playgrounds that predominantly feature manufactured equipment, green playgrounds integrate natural elements such as trees, grassy areas, bushes, and sand. These spaces are designed to stimulate imaginative and unstructured play, which is crucial for children’s cognitive, physical, and emotional development. By incorporating elements like logs for balancing, natural climbing structures, and areas for digging, children engage in more creative and physically active play.
"Establishing #WildlifeHabitats: By creating spaces like #ButterflyGardens, bird feeders, small ponds, or native plant areas, schools can attract and support various local wildlife species. These habitats provide students with unique, up-close opportunities to observe and learn about different ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. Such initiatives not only enhance #biodiversity but also serve as living laboratories for hands-on learning in subjects like biology, ecology, and environmental science.
"Incorporating Living Walls and Green Roofs: For schools with limited space, living walls (vertical gardens) and green roofs are innovative ways to integrate greenery. Living walls are installations where plants are grown on vertical surfaces, transforming plain walls into lush, living tapestries. Similarly, green roofs involve cultivating vegetation on rooftops. Both these features beautify the school environment and offer tangible environmental benefits, such as improved air quality and reduced urban heat island effect.
"Integrating #Sustainability Action: Integrating sustainability action into the curriculum and #GreenSpace initiatives can help students understand the importance of environmental stewardship. For instance, schools can implement a composting system in the school garden or use upcycled materials in garden projects to promote waste reduction and resource conservation. This form of education encourages critical thinking about how our activities impact the environment."
Read more:
https://campuspress.yale.edu/ledger/thinking-green-why-schools-should-have-natural-spaces/#Curiosity #Creativity #RiskTaking #Resilience #NatureDeficitDisorder #LessScreenTime #MoreGreenTime #SolarPunkSunday #NatureBasedLearning #SchoolGardens #BiophilicDesign
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The Benefits of #NatureBasedLearning
Early childhood programs with lesson plans like ‘over the river and through the woods’ provide a valuable foundation.
"The natural world is alive with spontaneity and unexpected lessons at every turn. Unlike predictable games, the surprises a young learner discovers outdoors promote problem-solving skills, scientific and mathematical exploration, language and preliteracy skills.
"'The first time children go out into the forest they are tripping over rocks and roots,' describes Audrey Elszasz, founder of Laurel School’s Outdoor Pre-Primary program on its Butler campus (complete with a yurt). “Eventually they are like little billy goats running up and down slippery slopes, coming back to the bus with muddy faces and rosy cheeks.”
"Nature-based education has been gradually gaining a foothold throughout the country, especially with early childhood programs that expose toddlers and preschoolers to the wonders of the great outdoors. The value of outdoor learning is not a new discovery. A decade ago, Richard Louv began opening eyes with his best-seller Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
"Louv argues that we pay a price for a preference for electronics vs. the outdoors: It results in a diminished use of our senses, attention challenges and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. With academics being 'pushed down' to lower grades to meet Common Core Standards, school days are more rigorous than ever."
https://clevelandmagazine.com/education/articles/the-benefits-of-nature-based-learning
#Curiosity #Creativity #RiskTaking #Resilience #NatureDeficitDisorder #LessScreenTime #MoreGreenTime #SolarPunkSunday -
#Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels – and the problem begins in childhood
Published: April 24, 2024 8:37am EDT
"Globally, a big part of this is due to the rapid development and industrialization of countries in East Asia over the last 50 years. Around that time, young people began spending more time in #classrooms reading and focusing on other objects very close to their eyes and less time #outdoors.
"This is also what researchers observed in the North American Arctic after World War II, when schooling was mandated for #IndigenousPeople. Myopia rates for #Inuit went from the single digits before the 1950s to upwards of 70% by the 1970s as all children began attending schools for the first time."
#LessScreenTime #MoreOutdoorTime #GoOutdoors #Nature #Smartphones #Computers #Childhood