Tower Garden Maintenance

Vegetable Tower Garden Maintenance

Written by Alex R and Ashley L

          When we came back from the holiday break our vegetable Tower Garden needed some maintenance. The water level in the water tank was low and the pH needed adjustment. This is how we do it so that we continue to get vegetables and herbs from our garden.  

To start off with filling or refilling and checking the pH level of the Tower Garden, we needed to make sure that we had all the materials which include a 4L water jug, stir stick, 150ml measure, Tonic A, Tonic B, Acid solution, Base solution, and pH tester kit. 

After gathering the materials, we started by filling the 4-litre empty jug with water. Once it was filled then we measured out 25ml Tonic A and 25ml B which is good for 4L of water. In our case we needed to fill the Garden multiple times which added up to 200 ml of Tonic A and B. When we put Tonic A and B into the 4-liter jug we then added the water to the Tower Garden and stirred it around to make sure that the nutrient solutions were evenly distributed in the water tank.  

          To check the pH of the tank water  we took out 5ml of water out of the tank and added five drops of the pH solution. The pH level should be between 5.5 and 6.5, ideally 6. If it is not between those numbers then you can add more of either the base or acid to the tower garden depending on what your level of pH is. Our first test showed the pH to below at 4.5.  Every time you need to add more of either the base or acid to bring the pH to the correct level, you will need to check the pH level again until it is at the ideal pH. It took us a few times to get the pH level right, but after a few tries, we got it to where we wanted which was pH 6. 

   Now our tower garden is restored so it can continue to support the vegetable growth. Soon we will be replanting some more vegetables. Our latest edible vegetable is a cucumber that is almost ready for harvest! We also have kale and basil which we are still harvesting. 

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Cystic fibrosis

Haley Hummerston

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs in the body. Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. At present, there is no cure. The degree of CF severity differs from person to person, however, the persistence and ongoing infection in the lungs, and loss of lung function will eventually lead to fatality in the majority of people with CF. It is estimated that one in every 3600 children born in Canada has CF. Cystic fibrosis affects cells that produce sweat, mucus, and digestive enzymes. Normally these secreted fluids are thin and smooth like olive oil. They lubricate various organs and tissues, preventing them from getting too dry or infected. In people with CF however, a faulty gene causes fluids to become thick and sticky. Instead as acting as a lubricant, the fluid clog the ducks, tubes, and passageways in the body. Although people with the condition require daily care, they can still lead a relatively normal life and work or attend school. Screening tests and treatment methods have improved the recent years, so many people with cystic fibrosis can live into their 40s and 50s. 

Symptoms of cystic fibrosis can vary depending on the person and the severity of their condition. The age at which symptoms develop can also differ. Symptoms may appear at infancy but for other children, symptoms may not begin until after puberty or even later in life. Symptoms of CF are: persistent cough with productive thick mucus, wheezing and shortness of breath, frequent chest infections, which may include pneumonia, bowel disturbances, such as intestinal obstruction, and weight loss or failure to gain weight. One of the first signs of CF is a strong salty taste of the skin. Parents of children with CF have mentioned tasting saltiness when kissing their children. 

 Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that occurs when a child inherits to defective copies of the gene responsible for CF, one from each parent. Approximately 1 out of 25 Canadians carry one defective copy of the CF gene. Carriers do not have CF, and do not exhibit any of the related symptoms. When two CF carriers have a child, there is a 25% chance that the child will be born with CF. There’s also a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier, and a 25% chance that the child will not be a carrier. 

There is no cure for Cystic fibrosis, but treatment can ease symptoms and reduce complications. The goals of treatment include preventing and controlling infections that occur in the lungs, removing and loosening mucus from the lungs, and treating and preventing intestinal blockage. Some methods of treatment are: medications such as anti-inflammatory medications, chest therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, feeding tube, bowel surgery, and a lung transplant. Cystic fibrosis does not recur in transplanted lungs. However, other complications associated with CF such as sinus infections, diabetes, pancreas problems, and osteoporosis - can still occur after a lung transplant. 

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353700

https://www.cysticfibrosis.ca/about-cf/what-is-cystic-fibrosis

https://www.healthline.com/health/cystic-fibrosis

Can Virtual Reality be used to reduce pain

Haley Hummerston

Virtual Reality (VR) has been used to manage pain and distress associated with a wide variety of known painful medical procedures. In clinical settings and experimental studies, participants immersed in VR experience reduced levels of pain, general distress/unpleasantness and report a desire to use VR again during painful medical procedures. 

Investigators hypothesize that VR acts as a non-pharmacologic form of analgesia by exerting an array of emotional affective, emotion-based cognitive and attentional processes on the body’s intricate pain modulation system. 

Researchers began to explore virtual reality as a therapy for pain in the late 1990s, but the expensive and bulky equipment prevented it from gaining popularity. Today’s VR systems are more affordable, lightweight, smaller and more comfortable. Many use a smartphone for the display and hardware, which can cut costs. A number of recent studies have attempted to provide evidence that VR distraction therapy works. In 2017, the director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai and colleagues published a controlled trial testing the effects on pain of a 3D VR experience versus a  2D nature video on a TV screen in 100 hospitalized patients. Although both methods lowered perceived pain levels, patients in the VR group reported a greater reduction in pain, on average than the TV group. 

References:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/about/news

Local Artist Indigenous Artist

Hi again, Banting! Want to learn about local Indigenous artist, Anne Marie Bourgeois? Click the link below to read about her painting Grandfather Spirit!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k23PJamMD-jWY5w63YXKMLdOLko7mVHlVTmVi8m-yVU/edit?usp=sharing

Indigenous Issues Happening Today By Eliza C

Hi there, Banting! Below is a link of 5 different issues happening for Indigenous
Communities today. Did you know just how many different issues Indigenous Communities face in day-to-day life? Sometimes, these issues are oversighted as well and are often missed. From issues such as legal action and services that include values directed towards Indigenous Communities to Disney movies. Learn more about theses issues in the link below!


https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TpzlovZmdnqXOfjcsm-r3gs3Y9Itja0uf4hGrFWmn_Q/edit?usp=sharing

Access to Clean Drinking Water on Reserves by Eliza C.

Hi there, Banting! This is a small poster on a BIG issue! Shouldn't everyone have access to clean water in Canada? What if I told you that not everyone does? In fact most Reserves in Canada do not have complete access to clean and safe drinking water and are under a boil-water advisory. That's crazy to think about! Imagine needing to boil water every time you wanted to do something as small as brushing your teeth or washing your clothing. Below is some details on this huge issue, including on what Canada is going to about it.

Monarch Butterfly: Habitat Loss, Destruction and Protection

HI AGAIN, please click my link below to view my general presentation on the monarch butterfly life cycle, which talks about and includes photos of our own monarch butterfly project at banting!


https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQdcRxhf37VTAzLKlEAl-GjGTs0JL1X8VYmZgCH1B7KcTIQ_BxnJwmy8Ow8DI8_11f3xvC2XdbEn0na/pub