Honors Blog #4

Book Name: As in the Heart, So in the Earth by Pierre Rabhi

The book is organized by beginning with Rabhi going to a place where culture and the village's unity is most important. This helps the auhor employ how important the Earth's soil since what the people grow in their highly depends on what they can grow and having the patience to survive in a village when they can go to the "new world" where technology is nowhere near unavailable. The author uses first person point of view in his fictional tale in which he addresses the importance of soil and the community to emphasize what the modern world has done. What the modern world has done is split the communication with the people and earth.

Honors Blog #3

Book Name: As in the Heart, So in the Earth by Pierre Rabhi

The tone of this writer (to me) is a tone that makes you sense its sincerity about the topic that he is speaking of. This tone suits those who search for a convincing concept and even those who just want to learn something new about the earth we live in. This book is organized by speaking about the author's journey to a society in which technology is rarely seen. I think the book eventually speaks of what the author has learned from these people and the place they live in causing an impact on his life the way he thinks about certain issues. The author manipulates the book by explaining what he goes through and what he feels; causing an impact in how you may think about the situation and be concerned.

Honors Blog #2

Book Name: As in the Heart, So in the Earth by Pierre Rabhi

I think this author's argument is to protect the earth's nature by speaking of when people lived in harmony with the planet and discoursed with the land. When I first analyzed what the author was trying to convey, I was amazed at how well he was able to make me feel how most of the "new world" in which are all a part of, is very ignorant when it comes to seeing how special earth and its components really are what it can to for us and the planet. When reading the story, I felt as if I was being taken back in time where there wasn't any new technology to interfere with communicating well and confidently with one another. As I read what the Rabhi was experiencing, I felt ass if this place he was describing was nonexistent since I have never seen or experienced this myself.

Honors Blog #1

Book Name: As in the Heart, So in the Earth by Pierre Rabhi

Pierre Rabhi has the potential and experience to gain the reader's credibility because this author is not only a very unique writer, but an environmentalist as well and most importantly, a farmer himself. I think that what may bias the author's argument is the fact that there is many views when it comes to speaking about agriculture. Many believe that it is perfectly fine to genetically modify fruits and vegetables (etc.), just as long as they taste good and are not poisonous. Others know better and are against this. They know that these crops are more pesticide rather than the crop itself. This is what Rahbi is trying to convey. Also, that this is not only ruining the crops' origins, but the culture behind the growing crops.

scientific name: Lumbricus terrestris
common name: Earthworm, Megadrile, or Lob Worm
physical description:The basic body plan of an earthworm is a tube, the digestive system, within a tube, the muscular slimy, moist outer body. They have a distinguishing pink segment on their body which is located closer to the head and their color varies from pink to brown. This worm can reach 20-25 cm in length.
description of life cycle: Cocoon -> Hatching -> Earthworm. (Quite basic)
predator/prey information:While they generally feed on plant material, they have been observed feeding on dead insects and feces.

any other interesting facts:

1. earthworms have the ability to convert large pieces of organic matter into rich humus, and therefore improving soil fertility.
2. the earthworm also ingests any other soil particles to make casts that are highly rich. They are deposited on the surface or deeper in the soil.
3. By its burrowing actions, the earthworm is of great value in keeping the soil structure open, creating channels that allow the processes of both aeration and drainage to occur.

5 Agriculture Questions

1.How long has agriculture been around?

2. Where did agriculture begin?

3. How did they know what to do?

(ex: How much water to add? How deep to plant it?, What was good for it?)

4.How did agriculture expand throughout the entire world?

5. What is the most popular vegetable/fruit that is grown in agriculture?

Photosynthesis Review Questions

1) After Thanksgiving break you return to the HTHMA garden to find that your crops have not been watered in over two weeks. Most of your plants are dead and those that are alive are barely hanging on. In relation to the process of photosynthesis, describe what has happened to your plants.

The plant will eventually run out of H2O therefore it will not be able to produce ATP, NADPH, nor glucose, which are the plant's main components for growth. The plants who are "barely hanging on" either stored glucose, or were able to retain more water keeping them alive much longer.

2) Upon microscopic inspection of the underside of your plant’s leaves, you notice that in an attempt to conserve water the stomata (aka stomates) are closed. Explain in detail how this impacts the light independent reactions of photosynthesis.

CO₂ used during photosynthesis first must pass through stomata into internal spaces within the leaf. It then diffuses into mesophyll cells where it becomes available for photosynthesis.When the stomata close, CO₂ levels drop rapidly within the leaf, inhibiting the light-independent reactions. This then causes photosynthesis to stop.

Seed Banks

When I watched the TED video, the very first shocking sentence I heard was: "In the U.S. (in the late 1800's), farmers and gardeners were growing 7,100 named varieties of apples; imagine that, 7,100 apples with names. Today, 6,800 of those are extinct, no longer to be seen again." What this video was striving to get across was that the variety of corn, rice, and wheat we grow today may not thrive in a future who is constantly being threatened by climate changes. I definitely agree. I agree with this because I personally feel that the apples who are now extinct prove that they've already diminished due to the future's climate changes. To solve this dilemma, they built a seed bank, Global Seed Vault, under a mountain in Svalbard to conserve biological diversity and agricultural diversity of unique varieties of food crops. "Workers used a refrigeration system to bring vault to -8 degrees Celsius (just below 0 degrees Fahrenheit), and a smaller refrigeration system plus the area's natural permafrost and the mountain's thick rock will keep the vault at at least -4 C (25 F)." This will hopefully keep these seeds stored for centuries to come, or perhaps they may be sooner that.

There is also another seed bank, The Millennium Seed Bank, located in London. This seed bank, however, does not contain food crops' seeds, instead, it contains plant seeds. The seed bank "aims to house all the 300,000 different plant species known to exist to ensure future biodiversity and protect a vital source of food and medicines."This seed bank is in a complicated situation though because they receive their money from the national lottery and the other from donations. The danger within the way they receive their money is that there is 2012 London Olympics coming sapping lottery money, which means that it will lead it to run dry from money. Donations may also run dry due to the fact that the economy is a current down fall and people or organizations will not be able to donate. On the positive side, this seed bank is held at -20 degrees Celsius keeping the plants safe for thousands of years.

My Garden Plot

Broccoli Di Ciccio is generally planted by seed or starts in moist, well-draining soil. To plant this, I must prepare a planting bed in a sunny location. The, I must work in 5 inches of compost for adding organic nutrients to the bed.Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and water sparingly until the seeds germinate. Thereafter, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy down to at least 6 inches. Also, thin the seedlings 18 to 24 inches apart. To harvest broccoli, I have to cut off the heads and stems (cut to just above a new bump or floret where a stem forms). This keeps the broccoli producing longer. Reseed the bed every two weeks for a constant supply of the vegetable. Day to maturity are 50-85 days and its height will be 24-30 inches.

*Important :

• It is recommended to harvest main head when it is three inches in diameters. This will also encourage more side shoots.
• To guard against aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles, and other pests, it is best to lay floating row covers directly over seeded crops or plants.

Quick Background: Salvia viridis (Annual Clary, Orval) is an annual plant native to an area extending from the Mediterranean to the Crimea and into Iran. It was known as Salvia horminum for many years, since Carl Linnaeus described S. viridis and S. horminum as separate species in 1753. Some modern botanist still believe that they are two separate species.viridis, from the Greek, refers to the color green, with implications of youth and vigor. Horminum is Greek for sage.

• Fast-growing herbaceous plants require more attention to watering than woody plants
• When possible, water in the morning to avoid promoting diseases from night watering
• Water slowly and deeply when plants begin to wilt and do not perk up at night
• Watering twice, a few minutes apart, helps water soak in deeper
• Soaker hoses and trickle or "drip" irrigation are very efficient and water-conservative
• Never over-water, or you may cause root problems
• Mulches help reduce water evaporation in hot or dry weather
• In dry climates, form a soil "ring" around plants to hold water longer

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds

LIACF Observations #2

Life In A Cubic Foot Observations #1

• This spider had Cursorial legs
• It seemed to have a Labium
• Main colors: khaki, dark brown, light brown, and a brown that seemed to be almost black.

(More details of this spider in right hand corner photo)

We also caught this fly for Lia which has:

• Legs-Cusorial
• Mouth-Sponging
• Antenna-Aristate
• Wings-Haltere
• Three body segments

Initial Plant Research- Part 1 (Blue Bedder Salvia)

I believe this plant is a root crop. Its growing season is: Mid Spring,Late Spring/Early Summer,Mid Summer, and Late Summer/Early Fall. It takes four days to germinate and it sprouts in ten to fifteen days. I think it does make sense because this plant flowers in summer-frost therefore this would be the right time to begin. The seed's depth is 1/4 inches and its spacing is 9-12 inches and can grow 12-18 in/18-24 in height wise. It's soil requirements include some sand to clay loam. It likes ordinary, enriched, and acidic to alkaline soil. This plant has a characteristic of being long lasting and should be exposed to partial shade or full sun (full sun is defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous, direct sun per day). Salvias are also often recommended as companion plants for larger, taller or showier flowers or plants like roses or irises.

Watering:

1. Fast-growing herbaceous plants require more attention to watering than woody plants
2. When possible, water in the morning to avoid promoting diseases from night watering
3. Water slowly and deeply when plants begin to wilt and do not perk up at night
4. Watering twice, a few minutes apart, helps water soak in deeper
5. Soaker hoses and trickle or "drip" irrigation are very efficient and water-conservative
6. Never overwater, or you may cause root problems
7. Mulches help reduce water evaporation in hot or dry weather
8. In dry climates, form a soil "ring" around plants to hold water longer
   

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
This plant is resistant to deer

Journal In Class: Article from the Union-Tribune

How was your routine changed on Thursday afternoon and evening?
My routine was changed because it took me about three hours to get home, which is half of what it would take me in a regular school day. In the evening, I would usually stay home, but in this case, my family and I went over to my neighbor's house and chatted for a long time.

What do you really need in terms of electricity?
In terms of electricity, I think we need flashlights,perhaps a generator, and at least a cellphone to call the police in case of an emergency.

Were you surprised by the reactions of those around you to the loss of electricity? How/Why/Why no?
I was not surprised by their reactions because they were not freaking out, they were cautious due to the situation, but not frightened. I think this was because this had happened before in San Diego, just not for this long. Also because they were aware of why the blackout was caused.

Invasive Species: Xenopus laevis

Xenopus laevis, also known as the African Clawed Frog, is Native indigenous such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Congo, and many more. Its name was derived from three short claws on each hind foot. This frog was first collected in CA in Orange County in the late 1960s. Its ecosystem is fresh water and/or wetlands usually found in ponds and rivers. They can grow up to 5 inches height wise and live 5 to 15 years.

These frogs are usually greenish grey and their underside is creamy with with yellow tinge. Males are usually 20% smaller than females. These frogs lay eggs. After these frogs shed their skin (which is after every season), they eat the skin they shed. The African Clawed Frogs are veracious predators and easily adapt. For this reason, they can easily become harmful invasive species.

*Xenopus=strange foot
*laevis=smooth

Move, Learn, Eat

Move:How will you be active this semester?
This semester, I will be in the Soccer X-Block to keep myself active.

Eat: Commit to trying one new food this semester. What will it be?
I have always wanted to try out the mini octopus soup, but seeing the octopus in the soup disgusts me, even though many say it's pretty tasty. This year I want to see if I can accomplish this. If this does not work out, I want to try Greek food.

Learn: What is one new thing you want to learn this semester? Can be ANYTHING!
I want to learn how to do hand embroidery.

Extra question: What is one goal you want to accomplish this semester? Can be ANYTHING!
This year I want to get good grades and go to a O.W.W. that is outside the country.