Summer Workshop for kids, Lagro QC
1. Sugar solution extends the life of cut
flowers.
In horticulture,
they call this pulsing, a technique
of providing nourishment and extending the shelf life of cut flowers. This
technique lengthens vase life twice as much.
It allows buds to open and postpones stem collapse, while it enhances
freshness of the opened flowers.
Pulsing for roses
is done by immersing the stem ends for one to three hours in 10% sugar
solution, and for gladiolus 12 to 24 hours in 20% sugar solution. Daisies,
carnation, chrysanthemums, and the like are better handled if harvested and
transported in their immature stage, then opened by pulsing. It is best to cut the stem at an angle,
dipped 6 to 12 hours in 10% sugar solution compounded with 200 ppm of 8-hydroxyquinoline
sulfate, 100 ppm citric acid. Best
results are obtained at cool temperature and low relative humidity.
2. Control common insect pests
with red pepper (siling labuyo).
These are the ways old folks make use of red pepper or siling labuyo (Capsicum annuum) in
controlling destructive insects.
·
To
protect mungbeans from bean weevil (Callosobruchus
maculatus), thoroughly dry some 8
to 10 ripe labuyo and
place them in a tea bag. Place the bag
inside the glass jar or plastic container in which mungbean is stored. Cover hermetically. Effective protection
against the pest is from three to six months.
Just be sure the mungbean is well dried (14 percent moisture) before
storage.
·
When
spraying garden plants, crush 5 to 10 pieces of ripe labuyo in one gallon of
water (5 liters), and apply the solution with sprinkler like watering the
plants. Repeat every week until there
are no signs of insects and other pests in your garden. You may add a pinch of
powder soap, preferably natural soap (Perla) Note: Don’t apply on tomato,
eggplant, potato, tobacco and pepper itself.
These belong to the same family – Solanaceae – and may be affected by
the mosaic virus the labuyo may be carrying.
Use it instead on other plants.
3. Ants on the move means that a strong
rain, if not a typhoon, is coming. Cockroaches come out of their abode and seek
for shelter outside.
The biological
clock of these creatures responds to invisible signals, which comprise
decreased atmospheric pressure, high relative humidity and air temperature.
Their sensitive antennae and tactile hairs covering their body pick these up
these changes of the environment. Thus we find ants in exodus, they move as a
colony carrying their eggs and young indoors. Cockroaches become unusually
active, flying about in frenzy, in search for a new place. There is a common
message, that is, to escape to safer ground, an archetype engrained in their
genes passed on to them by their ancestors through evolution.
…………………….………………………………………………………………………………..
“Rediscovering
indigenous knowledge and folk wisdom enlarges and enhances our history and
tradition. Even beliefs and practices, which we may not be able to explain
scientifically, can be potential materials for research. And if in our judgment
they fail to meet such test, still they are valuable to us because they are
part of our culture and they contribute immensely to the quaintness of living.”
- A.V. Rotor
………………………………………….…………………………………………………………..
4. If the father or mother leaves the house, place the clothes he or she last worn beside the sleeping child so that he goes into deep sleep.
This is pheromones in action. Pheromones are chemical signals for bonding in the animal world, and among humans. Like the queen bee that keeps its colony intact through pheromones, so we are attracted by a similar odor, although of a less specific one. People are compatible through smell. Pheromones are left in clothes and other belongings, so that a baby may remain fast asleep as if he were in his mother’s or father’s arms.
5. Press the base of the nail of the large toe to wake an unconscious person.
First, place the patient in a comfortable position, loosen his clothes for better blood circulation, and be sure he gets fresh air. It is a common practice to fan an unconscious person or to keep him warm if he is cold. Using your thumb slowly press the base of the large toe and watch for signs that the patient is coming back to consciousness. First he stirs, pulls his leg away from your hold (if he senses pain), then takes a deep breath which is usually accompanied by moan. Release your hold. Repeat until he becomes fully conscious. If he does not respond, press harder but be gentle. Try the other large toe. If there is no response immediately sought for medical attention. Remember that prolonged unconsciousness endangers the patient to harm complications.
6. Lighted candles drive flies away.
Houseflies (Musca domestica) are the most popular
uninvited guests during a party, especially if it is one held outdoor. Before
they build into a swarm, light some candles and place them strategically where
they are most attracted. Candle smoke
drives away houseflies and blue bottle flies (bangaw), keeping them at bay until the party is over. For aesthetic
reason, make the setup attractive by using decorative candles and holders,
especially one that can withstand a sudden gust of wind. Otherwise, just plant
a large candle or two, at the middle of the serving table. If your guests ask
what is this all about, blow the candle out momentarily and they will
understand.
7. Gulat ang gamut sa sinok. To stop hiccup, jolt the person.
Now and then anyone may fall into a pit of hiccup for reasons not well
understood even in the medical field.
But as sudden and unpredictable it came, just by jolting the person is
enough to terminate hiccup.
This is what you can do to help your friend in a pit. The first remedy
is to give him water. If this does not work, gently massage the back of his
head. If still this does not work,
secretly time the interval of his hiccup.
Jolt him up real good coinciding with the next hiccup. Pronto! The hiccup is gone.
.
8. Stop that sneeze quick!
Press the base of
your nose hard and hold it there until the urge to sneeze subsides. You may do
it subtlety even in the middle of a speech or conference, but don’t wait for
the last minute; sneeze can’t wait.
9. Press the base of the jaw joint to
relieve toothache.
There’s a saying
that when your tooth aches, there’s nothing you can do about it except to take
painkiller. Mabuti pa ang sakit ng tiyan. At least for stomach ache you can manage to
find a comfortable position, or press the painful part to secure relief.
But here is a
simple remedy Dr. Vanda Hernandez, school dentist of St. Paul University QC
10. Smoke therapy (suob) – old folks’ aroma
therapy.
Basang, my auntie
who took care of me when I was a child, was sick and dying. Doctor Catalino,
our rural physician, gave her injection but her condition did not improve, and
now she was in a pit of convulsion. As a
last ditch Cousin Bistra who knew something about herbal cure gathered leaves
of kamias (Averrhoa balimbi) and
roasted it on charcoal until a characteristic aroma began to fill the room.
Fanning it over the patient face, with prayers chanted, Basang began to calm
down, the color of her skin improved, and soon fell into deep sleep.
Ms. Precila
Delima who is taking her doctorate in biology in UST related in class a
practice among the Ibanag of Cagayan of using suob by mothers who have just
given birth. Garlic and shallot onion (sibuyas
tagalog) are roasted on charcoal, and packed with cloth. While still warm the patient sits on the pack
for several minutes, with her whole body covered with blanket. She perspires profusely, eliminating wastes
and toxins from her body. The whole
procedure is closely attended to by the “olds” in the family with the direction
of the village manghihilot or
homegrown midwife (comadrona or partera
Ilk.). Old folks believe that this practice is important because it drives out
evil spirits or wards them off in order to prepare the way the mother faces the
crucial responsibility of motherhood – after child bearing follows the bigger
task - child rearing. ~
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