ECSFC102A SUSTAINABILITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

ECSFC102A SUSTAINABILITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Apply basic concepts of sustainability to practice.

Tabita Parada Venegas

Student No: 900005706

Teacher Name: Dasni Fonseka

Part 1:

Proposal

In order to create a sustainable project that involves all the community and family, an intensive analysis has been released to identify deficiencies in the appropriate conservation of natural resources. Walking around the service and asking children, families, and staff about their stile of life, what they usually eat and have in their homes, and in what they spend more. During all the conversations a high interest was noted in the avocado consume, as families everyday prepare avocado in all the possible ways, it can be consumed in salads, grounded over a piece of bread, shakes, mixed with mushroom.

Related to the high interest in this delicious food, the last surveys show an increment in the consumption of avocado in the lately 2020 of avocado in Australia. Within this incrementation has also increased the production, in many states of Australia, being Queensland leading the numbers with the highest production of this wanted fruit (Plant Health Australia, n.d).

The fact that the production has increased means that a lot of more soil is needed, it means that farmer every time will need bigger portions of land, and this could imply in the deforestation of many other natives trees. (Okafor, 2023)

Numerous negative effects on the natural environment, biodiversity, and a long-term viability of the plantations may result from the loss of water and soil in massive avocado plantations. Some of the most significant effects are:

Massive avocado tree plantings need a lot of water to grow and develop. This is known as depletion of water. If not managed properly, excessive water extraction might deplete the area's hydrological resources, harming nearby plant life as well as aquatic ecosystems. This might result in the decline of rivers and arroyos, the succession of wetlands, and the degradation of aquatic habitat.

Depletion of Soil: Massive monoculture plantations can artificially deplete the soil's nutrients.

Soil erosion: The removal of natural vegetation to make way for massive plantations may accelerate soil erosion since tree roots are often unable to restore the soil in the same way as native vegetation. The erosion of the soil may lead to the localised accumulation of water bodies and harm aquatic ecosystems.

The loss of Biodiversity: Mass plantings often consist of monocultures of a single type of tree. This might displace and replace the region's natural biodiversity, which would have an impact on the plant and animal species that depend on such ecosystems. Losses in biological diversity may have a cascade effect on both the health of ecosystems and the food chain.

Changes to the Microclimate: By modifying the humidity, temperature, and wind patterns, massive plantations may change the local Microclimate. This might influence local climate processes as well as the availability of water for other plants and animals.

The idea of germinating avocado seeds in the centre is highly sustainable as also contributes to the conscientization in the conservation and care of natural resources. Even if one seed is able to become in a tree it could feed many families that further will avoid to spent money in avocados that are cultivated under the exploitation and waste of natural resources.

Develop a timeline for completion of the action priority over a 6-8 week

period.

The material that will be needed to complete the sustainable project are:

Two or more avocados

Absorbent paper

Empty pot

Glass with water

Bottle with water

Flowerpot

Soil

Week 1:

Once the avocado fruit is consumed the stone is conserved and washed of any organic residues.

To start with the avocado germination, the skin of the seed must be peeled.

In the peeling process can be used two methods. Exposing the seed to the sun during 2 o 3 days, once the skin dries it comes off with the hands. The second methods consist of introducing the seed in a vase full of water during 1 or 2 weeks.

For the completion of this process, we would prefer the second option, introducing the seed in the vase of water as this allow us to peel the seed easily.

Week 2:

Once the seed has been one or two weeks in the water, we proceed to peel out the skin and accommodate it in a humid place.

This place can be set up by getting an empty pot with absorbent paper socked with water. The seed is accommodated into the pot surrounded with wet paper.

Week 3:

During this week is important to wash out the seed.

Changing the paper in case it gets dry and positioning the box near to a window for some moments when the sun is still soft, but never directly.

Week 4:

The adequate environment is crucial to germination. Pay attention to the changes of the seed.

Week 5:

Once the seed is starting to germinate is important to take out the seed from the wet paper as the root could rot.

Before the seed starts to sprout, the top of the seed dries out, the outer brown covering falls off, and the pit splits open from top to bottom (Forney, n.d). The first root start to appear in the bottom.

After to take out the seed from the pot with wet paper, it can be set up carefully over a bottle of water, allowing the little first root to touch the water.

Week 6:

At this point the root is starting to grow up, and a small flowerpot with soil will be needed to put our germinated seed.

The flowerpot must be settled where it can receive the sun, especially at morning but never directly.

Week 7:

Watch the avocado plant growing up while all the conditions are settled. Test occasionally the soil humidity by putting the finger on it. Add some water if necessary and provide a warm place for the plant.

Reference List

Australian Avocados. (n.d). Avotherapy: Grown your own Avocado Plant.

https://australianavocados.com.au/avotherapy/grow-a-avocado-plant/Forney, J. (n.d). How to Plant an Avocado Seed and Grow a Tree From a Pit. HGTV.

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/vegetables/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-guac-n-rollOkafor, J. (2023). Environmental Impact of Avocados. Trvst.

https://www.trvst.world/environment/environmental-impact-of-avocados/#:~:text=Avocado%20producers%20contribute%20to%20deforestation,occurs%20because%20of%20agricultural%20expansions.

Plant Health Australia. (n.d). Avocado.

https://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/industries/avocados/