Thursday, November 28, 2013

Deriving Nutrients From Ocean Life

The oceans cover 71% of the planet's surface. They are home to an uncountable number of different species of plants and animals. Just like on land, these animals have adapted to their surroundings by many different methods. Some grow like weeds do on the surface. Some swim throughout the oceans whereas others grow slowly over millennium. Many of these animals and plants are rich in minerals and nutrients which makes them perfect for your garden. Everything from fish to sea weed can be used to give your plants all of the essential ingredients for a healthy garden. The main nutrients surface plants need to thrive are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, some trace elements, amino acids, and vitamins. There are many fertilizers that already provide all of these nutrients but many of them can also be obtained naturally from the sea. Some of the life in the sea that is useful as nutrients for your plants includes kelp meal and extract as well as fish emulsions. Besides these main two there are many other marine-based plant fuels.Kelp grows naturally all over the ocean. You often see it drifting to shore and washed up on beaches. It is the weed of the ocean. Kelp and some of the other seaweeds are great sources of essential nutrients for plant growth. Kelp meal is available to anyone interested in growing in either a meal form which takes the form of a dried powder or as an extract which is a liquid. Kelp meal can be applied to the top layer of soil or mixed into the pot prior to planting. It slowly breaks down over time giving plants everything they require. Kelp extract on the other hand can be mixed into any hydroponic solution or put in water that will later be applied to plants. There are several important nutrients contained in kelp including phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium and it is an organic source of over 60 different trace elements. All of these resources are in a water soluble state. Seaweed and kelp also are very rich in many vitamins as well such as A, C, E, and B-12. They also contain amino acids and plant hormones. There are other advantages to a kelp based diet for plants. Kelp breaks down quickly making essential nutrients quickly available to plants. Kelp also increases the activity of the ecosystem around the plants roots. The one downside to using kelp is that earthworms are unable to break it down. Besides this kelp works wonders in the garden.Fish can also be a great source of plant food. Fish meal and fish emulsions are both organic and are highly nutritious (at least to plants). Fish meal is dried and ground whole fish or fish trimmings with the majority of the fish oil removed during the drying process. This is done to keep the fish meal from going rancid. Fish meal, similarly to kelp, contains nitrogen, phosphorous, and an abundance of trace elements. However, it is not a good source of potassium. Similar to kelp it is also a bio-activator. The one downside to using fish meal as plant fuel is the order. It smells strongly of fish. In order to control the odor you can cover the fish meal with a layer of top soil.Fish emulsion is the liquid form of fish meal. It is made by using enzymes that partially digest and ferment fish remains. Fish emulsion is high in nitrogen, phosphorous, and contains many trace elements. Since it has already been broken down and is in liquid form when compared to fish meal the nutrients it contains are made available to plants almost immediately. It is also almost impossible to overfeed making it quite safer than fish meal. Fish meal can also be used with hydroponics setups.Whether you decide to use kelp based sources of nutrients or decide to go with either fish meal or fish extract your plants will be happy. The ocean is full of biodiversity and much of that biodiversity can be used for many different home based uses. From food to plant nutrients the water has always benefited humanity.



Guru Grow Lights produces high quality made in Canada LED grow lights for use in the hydroponics and agricultural industries. Their grow lights come with a full six month 100% money back return policy.

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Workplace First Aid Kits - What Should I Include?

There are no hard and fast rules about what should be in a first aid kit for the workplace. In the UK, many companies market "HSE Approved" first aid kits, but in fact there is no such thing. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) does make some suggestions as to what might be included; but in fact, it is a pretty incomplete list.On the other hand, the HSE does have some strong views on what should not be included in a workplace first aid kit. Specifically, they say that drugs, prescription or otherwise, such as aspirin or paracetamol, along with creams and ointments, are not appropriate and should not be kept in a first aid box.For a basic starter first aid kit, suitable for up to ten employees, in a low hazard environment such as a library, or offices, here is a suggested list:



A leaflet or book, giving basic first aid advice

20 sterile sticky plasters, individually wrapped

2 sterile eye pads

4 triangular bandages, individually wrapped

6 safety pins

2 large sterile wound dressings

6 medium sterile wound dressings

4 small sterile wound dressings

2 pairs disposable gloves, preferably individually wrapped

1 pair blunt ended scissors

1 roll sticky tape

2 non adherent dressings 10cm x 10cm

1 clean plastic bag e.g. freezer/sandwich bag



If access to clean water is difficult:



1 litre bottle of water or 2 half litre bottles, minimum, preferably sterile

10 moist wipes, non alcoholic, individually wrapped.



Other items may be appropriate, depending upon your individual environment. You may wish to include things like instant cold packs to reduce the swelling on sprained ankles, or if there is an office kettle and a burn is possible, then a small roll of clean clingfilm would make an excellent dressing.Do make sure that first aid kits are kept in an easy clean, marked container. Its location should be easily accessible, known to all employees and marked by a sign consisting of a white cross on a green background. It is essential that there should be an appointed person or, preferably, a trained first aider, whose responsibility it is to keep the first aid kit properly stocked, clean and up to date.The HSE strongly recommends that all appointed persons should have some first aid training. They have introduced the new Emergency First Aid at Work course, a one day, approved and recognised course, to replace the old appointed persons courses, which were unregulated and varied wildly in their content and quality.



Chris Sollars has many years experience in the medical field, both clinically and commercially and has travelled throughout the World, delivering education, training and advice. Chris now owns Sollars First Aid, a UK first aid training company. You can find much more information on first aid and first aid at work training, including HSE approved courses, by going to our website http://www.sollarsfirstaid.com.

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