ReadyMade

I borrowed this book entitled ReadyMade. I'm not really a DIY guy but the way the book was put together was cool and catchy so I decided to give it a try.

It was a book after my heart after all, with tips and tricks for reusing and recycling stuff. And not only does it challenge you to make new stuff out of things around you, it also aims to educate the reader with how things get produced. Take paper, for example. In a precise, easy to understand timeline, the process for making paper is discussed in easily digestible chunks, and along the way we also learn why, aside from the destruction of rainforests, the process of bleaching also produces harmful environmental after-effects.

For this blog post I decided to write about the book and Googled the title. And instead of just the book, I discovered this amazing website that expands way beyond what the book has to offer. Suddenly I found something exciting on the web again! I have just become their fan on Facebook, and will register as a member as soon as I finish this post.... which is right now!

Technorati tags: DIY

When to harvest potatoes

So it is indeed true what they say about potatoes: it's so easy to grow! About a month after I planted my seed potatoes, look how big they have grown! Watering the plants everyday has really paid off.

And a couple more weeks later, see how robust they have grown (see below). Some have even started to flower. I read that when the plant flowers, you can already harvest the potatoes. These are called "new potatoes", with the skin being thinner than the older potatoes. As such, new potatoes are usually cooked with the skin on, and is great for boiling and roasting.

There's Jo-Lo helping out with the watering chore courtesy of a water gun :-)

Of course, the potatoes would be a lot smaller too. In my case, I would like to have bigger potatoes so I will let these reach the mature stage. Friends have asked how one knows if the potatoes are ready for harvest: dig it up every now and then? Nope! When the plant itself starts yellowing and the plant withers is the time to harvest. Some people even recommend letting the plant completely die off. Essentially at this stage the skin has toughened up and so the potato will be less susceptible to disease. In like manner, new potatoes will have to be cooked at the earliest possible time because its skin does little protection.

My plants look very healthy, and I sure am excited to harvest the potatoes, hopefully soon!

Technorati tags: gardening

Baguio City Mayor and Council Okay 25-year Lease of Athletic Bowl (part of Burnham Park) to Koreans

In a matter of months, we have another dilemma in our hands. Earlier, local officials tried to pass a budget approval for private cars in a time when the city badly needed trucks to collect the city's mounting trash problem, and then the trees beside the Convention Center were nearly cut down to make room for more buildings. Now, we have learned that the local government has entered into a contract with the Koreans to lease the Athletic Bowl for 25 years. It is, essentially, a privatization of a public park, a park that is meant for the people. But here's the local government, leasing it out to the Koreans, which effectively means the people of Baguio will no longer have free access to the place. Wow, the local people being made foreigners in their own soil.

Read more about this at iBaguio, and please join the online protest at Facebook:
Save the Burnham Park Movement and Petition Against Baguio Athletic Bowl MOA. Please help us prevent further commercialization of Baguio City!

[UPDATE 13 January 2010 FROM FACEBOOK GROUP]

IT’S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.

With the Baguio City Council recalling Resolution 515 in a highly-emotional session Monday (January 12, 2010) we feel the petition against the Athletic Bowl MOA contained in this Facebook group, has already served its purpose. In the valiant stand taken by Councilor Pinky Chan Rondez during the session, she cited our Facebook presence to underline the public’s disgust over the deal. The prevailing negative public perception over this scandalous agreement (which some quarters still downplay as pure chismis circulated through Facebook), the City Councilors are quickly washing their hands clean.

But the main idea for this petition as an influential democratic space is STILL ALIVE. Now we know that TOGETHER, we can get things done the right way. UNITED, our opinions can make or shake the government. In the Medieval Ages, they said that the pen is mightier than the sword. In our generation, the mouse is mightier than lions.
In this regard, we shall continue to keep the fire burning for this and other Baguio issues, as we rename our group BAGUIO PETITIONS ONLINE. Mabuhay ang Baguio Facebookers!

Technorati tags: Baguio

Mystery plant

When we moved to our house February of last year, I spotted this plant which was left on its own outside the house and was already wilting away. I thought it still had a chance at life so I placed it in the sun room and watered it once in a while. Surprisingly, it flourished and has even produced flowers!

I do not know what this plant is called so if you know its name, I will be happy to hear from you. I am keen to propagate this beautiful plant. Many thanks!





Technorati tags: Baguio