Houseplants: Doing Your Part for Climate Control
In a lovely greenhouse-like structure just off the main garden, Alexandria Knight is presenting her seminar about how you can do your part to fight climate change. Global warming affects the climate but YOU could help make a difference and reduce the impact of global warming just by owning house plants. Come along to this seminar and learn about the importance of owning plants, and equip yourself with the knowledge to grow and maintain healthy houseplants, both magical and mundane.

ooc: Remember, this is not a lesson like in the school RPG. Due to the nature and format of these presentations, please try to limit yourself to one main reaction post in response to the presentation/speech showing your character listening/participating/reflecting as you see fit. You may post a second time after the speaker character responds to your questions, or to interact with the speaker at the end of the presentation.

If Alexandria was being completely honest, she was a complete nervous wreck. She had never been one for public speaking, but she had the experience and knowledge, not to mention that it was good to give back to the community. While she didn't necessarily believe in some of the things that the convention was standing for, she was a firm supporter in environmental protection. As a climate controller for the ministry for nearly a decade and working as an environmental permitting director for the last three years, it was a fair assumption that she was definitely one to care about the environment. And while her palate generally consisted of more than just the vegetarian health options available today, she still cared about climate control.

She was also grateful that her time slot wasn't on the first day, because it allowed her to mill around the convention. However, the downside to being first thing on a Sunday morning was that people were definitely half asleep.

"Good Morning, Everyone!" she started out loud. There was silence in the crowds. Seriously people, was the brunch on the terrace not enough? It was 10 am, not 5. Smiling, "Let's try that again... I've seen morgues more lively than this bunch. Good morning everyone!" She said a little louder, before continuing now that their attention was grabbed. "In case you forgot to read your brochures or left them in the gardens, which by the way the brochures are decomposable, so no stress, I'm Alexandria Knight and I'll be talking to you for about the next half an hour about climate control and what we can do help. There will be time at the end for questions."

"Let's start with global warming shall we? Global warming is the concept that the average global temperature has increased over the last century. It occurs due to carbon dioxide and other air pollutants collected in the atmosphere absorb sunlight and bounce off the earth's surface. The radiation should escape into space, but alas, the pollutants trap the heat and the planet heats up.

Burning fossil fuels is the largest source of heat trapping pollution, contributed namely by burning coal which is dismally still done in some parts of the world. However, that's another topic for another day, because I'm here to talk to you about what we can do to control this climate change."

"Yes, we could eat less meat, but I personally believe it's the quality of meat we consume, rather than quantity." Sorry vegetarians and animal lovers, she liked her meat. "However, there is something on a personal level that we can do to help the carbon dioxide levels, which is supporting plant growth. Plants are excellent because they consume that excess carbon dioxide in the air, using sunlight to convert it to sugar and oxygen. The sugar is food which allows the plants to release more oxygen into the atmosphere. Oxygen, as you should know, is what we need to live. So by default, plants are good for the climate control because they'll feed on that sunlight, reduce carbon dioxide in the air and stabilize, or even lower the global temperatures."

"So today, as my little keepsake for all of you and because of my passion about plant growth, you will all get an air plant to take home with you. Air plants are great for those of us who have this fear of house plants, because they're quite easy to maintain. For those of us with kids or just general busy lives, they allow us to still feel like a contributing member of society in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but not feel burdened anymore than we already are..." Because who wasn't burdened? Could they have another seminar on alleviating life stresses, since that was one she was sure would be popular.

"There are more than 650 types of air plants, which means that they can grow and thrive without soil. They get their water and nutrients through their special leaves, which makes them super easy to grow and care for. The roots of air plants are used for attaching themselves to shrubs, trees, rocks, and the ground.

They love warm weather and, this bit is great, but they can survive despite neglect!" Because sometimes one simply forgot to feed the plants, as it was chaotic enough remembering to feed yourself or others.

"Some things about care of them, they do need constant air circulation. They also need some moisture. In the summertime, you'll need to mist it lightly with water every day, but in the winter time, maybe only once or twice per week. They need a little fertilizer every month in the spring and summer, low nitrogen, weak strength. Most air plants, like humans, need protection from the full sun. These particular air plants thrive indoors in bright filtered light. As we're in a climate that gets colder than 7 or 8 degrees, an indoor air plant will thrive better."

Glancing at her watch, she glanced up at the crowds again. "Anyway, because I want to give you time to come pick out a plant, although you can get one up until the event closes... Does anyone have any questions?"


ooc: everyone gets an air plant!! They're housed in various shaped glass bulbs and feel free to use one of the shapes in this picture or be creative!

Althea Scabior wasn't one to buy into the whole 'make the room more lively' thing. She simply wanted the presenter to get on with it, and was pleased when she did. Even more pleased when the subject matter proved to be interesting. She took a few notes and stayed silent up the back. No questions here.

The air plants though.... sounded ideal for her daughter. One of those could be a good way of introducing Jade to caring for plants, and responsibility in the first instance.

She applauded at the end, selected one of the samples, and left the room efficiently. It was a very full schedule for her.

Even though Addison Anders department was making any presentations today didn't stop the women from attending. As the department head for Mysteries she made sure to arrive early and give herself the entire free so as to stop by and hear each speech that was being made. The entire department had been told to attend if they were able and she was sure that a least a few of them were here...somewhere. Having parted from her brother, niece and husband whom were probably eating now she had made her way to the greenhouse area.

This presentation/speech was supposed to be about houseplants and helping with climate control. Now Addison was never one that was good with plants but after her talk with Gabby awhile back about plants that were safe around children she had looked into it. Hopefully this here speech would be useful and she could then confidently go out and get some plants for her home.

Standing quietly, the blonde listened to everything that was being said. When the speech shifted onto air plants it became all the more interesting. She was indeed a busy women and she did have two young ones at home, both currently under the age of two. Her babies were the main reason she hadn't gone out and brought home plants, she needed whatever came home to be safe...and well not to mention she wasn't very good with keeping plants alive. So hearing about these air plants and how easy they were to keep was a huge plus. Not to mention that they were getting to select one to take home. This was indeed very lovely. She would have to get Hadleigh to check this out and Evan...he had even more babies at home than she herself did.

At the end she made her way to the front to select a beautiful air plant that was in a star shaped glass bulb. "Hello, Miss Knight. That was a very interesting speech. I have two very young children at home, could you possibly recommend any other plants that would help with climate control as well as be safe in my home?" It was very much worth asking while she was standing here!