Organism Magazine
The Scoop on community Gardens!
Read more from Cover Story inside!
Amazing nature drawings
Photos of Native Plants!
Mite May 2013 Special Edition
Micro-organism of the year; The Mighty Mite
Soil is very
important to life on
Earth for
many reasons. Soil
is home to
many microorgan-
isms, including Mites. In the lab comparing Micro-organisms, it proved that even the smallest pinch of dirt can contain many different organisms. Micro-organisms are part of the process of decomposition, which is the breaking down of organic matter into fertile soil. Without soil, there would be no place for mites to decompose to produce more soil. Also without soil because the mites would die off from absence of shelter, the food chain would be thrown off without decomposers. Not only can the lack of soil affect micro-organisms such as mites, but also humans. One way soil can be significant and useful to humans is it can be used as the foundation of buildings. Soil can also help with maintaining the ecosystem. Soil potentially has the ability to reduce climate change. The surface of the soil captures carbon dioxide preventing the carbon to be released into the atmosphere and therefore reducing climate change. Also, because the surface of the soil holds water, it saves water because the plants can absorb water as needed naturally. Even though soil may seem an inert substance that only has the ability to grow plants, it has many uses that can be vital to humans.
Right now, something is happening to all of our precious soil. Much of our topsoil, about the top two inches of soil with the most nurturance, is disappearing and it is our fault. When farmers get pieces of land, they usually chop down all the trees and take out all of plants so they can plant crops. Because there are no more roots to hold the soil, and because there is no more organic matter to be made into humus, the soil becomes less compressed. This also happens when they plow the field. This means it is much easier for the wind or rain water to blow or wash the soil away. Why does this matter? Well, the earth doesn’t have unlimited soil, and you might not have heard that it takes about five hundred years for soil to be made. That means we might soon run out. With the soil gone, all that’s left would be a wasteland of bedrock. Winds would pick up the soil and create huge dust storms, blotting out the sun. We would also not have anywhere to farm or any place for trees. All in all, it would be very bad. Mites are arthropods that are extremely helpful to the soil. Each mite is an invertebrate, meaning they have no spinal cord, and their legs are jointed together. They can greatly range in size, from microscopic to large. So large, that if one crawled up your leg, there would be a very high level of freaking-out. They help soil decompose. They do this by breaking up organic material, and then mixing those pieces into the soil. This also mixes in air, so water can get into the soil. These smaller pieces help small organisms perform the decomposition process. There are many different types of mites, and the ones beneficial top soil is named soil mites. By Emily, Catherine, and Sophia
Which compost worked it best? A contest of the plants...
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p o o c S REAL
e h T : s n e d r a G y t i n u . Comm S . F a i h p o S By
The “Organism� staff decided to visit a real community garden in Pasadena, CA, so that we could give our readers an inside look on what is really going on. We were educated by the amazing staff at the garden. They told us the efforts that they had put into the garden. The community had decided (3 years ago). And since then, they have been working on the plan and design. But the process is long, and finally, a year they found a location. It as a large lot owned by caltrans. They are now starting to make their creation come true, and they are getting the community and volunteers together to start creating this small slice of earth in the center of the city. It is really incredible what they are planning to create, a beautiful, lush, crop-filled garden. It is so nice to see that a community can come together to create something so beautiful. It is such a pretty and great place to be.
The Importance of Native Plants
They require less water. Living in Southern California which is the desert, water shortages are becoming more frequent.
They have developed a resistance against pests and diseases. By reducing the bad pesticides, it lets natural and good pesticides take over to produce a healthy plant.
By planting native plants, they will attract native pollinators and animals. The native pollinators will make the native fruit taste and grow better and the native animals such as insects and birds will keep away mosquitoes and plant-eating bugs.
Also by planting native plants, we can help to restore ecosystems destroyed by development. -Emily B.
http://nativeplantsocietyneohio.org/
N at i v e P l a n t s
Underground Sapling World Catherine S. My piece is drawn about what we learned during the soil unit. It is called Underground Sapling World because it depicts all the tunnels and roots under the ground. It also shows all the organisms living there like the worms, ants, and red mushrooms. It is like a whole different world down there.
Images from: (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/2008/8/Tiny-round-shinyblack.htm http://boards.cannabis.com/hydroponics/197410-tiny-black-bugs-my-roots.html )
. B y l i
Em
Letter from the Editor By Emily B.
My experience in the soil unit was very positive. Along the way, we learned many facts about soil, exploring concepts such as “Why is soil important?”, “How is soil formed?”, and “What is soil degradation and why does it matter?” We also learned about the benefits of having a garden and visited places such as Arlington Gardens, the Pasadena Community Garden, and Descanso Gardens as inspirations of planting our own garden! The first day of the Soil Unit we focused on the concept “Whey does soil matter and how is it formed?” By researching our soil organism of the year, mite, and learning about the importance of a Victory Garden, we were learning the importance of soil to both of these things. Without soil, the mites would have nowhere to live and the Victory gardens wouldn’t be successful because there would be nowhere suitable to plant food. The second day we learned more in depth, how soil is formed. We also went to the Arlington Gardens and acquired an understanding of why it is good to plant Native plants in California. Native plants require less water, which helps to save water, something that is very important in an effort to reduce the water shortage. By observing nature using 5 different senses, we changed our perspective to how beautiful nature really is. Then using our qualitative observations from nature, we wrote a Wild and Precious poem. The next day we visited the Pasadena Community Garden and learned about the different types of soil and that here in Southern California, we have sandy soil. For the last couple of days, we concluded the soil unit, by tying everything together that we learned, and created this, our soil magazine!
Nature at its Peak By Emily B.
Above me the gentle hum of a large bird with inert wings soars ever so fluidly Circular bulbous balls of light mimic the contour of Orange Grove Blvd. Wind whistling through the dense growth alludes to increasingly growing footsteps The fresh hint of the watery succulent compliments the deep, Earthy scent of the dirt scattered among the musty crumpled leaves worn by climate and time The unique foreign texture of firm yet smooth, waxy skin brushes my arm This work of art is the center of attention surrounded by a force field of clearance with a radius of 7 feet The harsh sun lashes down upon the delicate environment finding its way into every nook and cranny Our shadows stand out against the arid compacted soil The components of the ecosystem work in different ways, but unite as a solitary active form We are lucky as to experience this raw, pure, natural form of nature before our society takes over
We are the Earth By Emily B.
The earthy soil cakes my feet still wet from April showers The Marigolds hesitantly poke their colorful heads above the ground, while the tulips eagerly push their heads out from beneath The wind roughly blows through the grass, but their strong roots keep them grounded We are direct citizens of the Earth We strongly cling to people, so attached to them Some of us are shy and self-conscious, while others are avid to put ourselves out there Even though something may go wrong, our family and friends are always there to support us We are each individual plants living and acting as one whole ecosystem Returning back from where we originated, sprouting ideas to make the place we live a more fertile ecosystem
e n i r e h t Ca
Letter from the Editor
.
The soil unit was really fun and I actually learned a lot from it. I learned all about the organisms in the soil, about types of plants, and soil itself. It wasn’t what I learned about soil that made this experience so amazing, though, one of the best things was visiting the gardens. On the second day, we went to the Arlington Gardens. The garden was amazing. Most of the flowers were in bloom, and there were bees and butterflies. It was so calming and relaxing, and I could see why so many people visited. Over the week, we visited many more gardens, like the Pasadena Community Gardens, and found out why soil was so important. These trips also allowed us to see how bad it would be without soil. Another of my favorite things to do was make the cover of our magazine and our propaganda poster. It was fun because I love doing art projects. Our group worked very well together and finished them in no time. In doing so, we had to do a lot of research about the mite. I learned how needed and important any organism is, no matter how it looks. This week and a half has been so much fun. By the end of the second to last
day, we had planted about three gardens that day. We have weeded, found bacteria, written two poems, walked a labyrinth, mulched, written, cut, glued, researched and in doing so, had more fun than the soil in Westridge.
My Oasis
Mother Soil
Above me, Leaves sway slowly as a breeze
Made from the dirt, You and I.
Presents an oasis in a desert of sun. The sharp cry of a bird cuts through the sky overhead. Far away,
From the soil,
The silhouette of a palm tree stands
We are grown.
High over everything. All around,
We are born, And we feed on all the riches The soil brings. We make shelter
Leaves and twigs rustle gently with the breeze As bees buzz around And seemingly ages away, cars wiz on by. Nearby, I smell the slightly sweet, airy scent
And are blessed with
Of poppies that burn light fire
Scenes of rolling hills
And the sweet and lightly sour scent
And thick green forests.
Of clovers scattered like sand,
When is it our turn to give back?
And the damp, earthy smell Of the soft ground.
We will get old,
Right beside me,
And the soil still stands,
The silky soft petals of the poppies
Helping, mothering, Nurturing us. We will return to our mother, The one who fed us,
Brush my hand Like the giant, fluffy clouds in the sky. To my right, A tree sits silently, An umbrella from the sun
And sheltered us,
For animals and people.
Disappearing into the ground.
In front of me, A ladybug saunters on by,
-Catherine S.
With a shell like flames, And spots like the night sky, And wings like stained glass. Everywhere, The poppies fade into a giant orange bonfire, The clovers into a sea of green, The ladybug, just a spot, As I walk by. The sun is high in the sky As I leave my oasis. Just how long will this oasis stay?
. S . F hia
Sop
Letter From the Editor .In this soil unit, we have been learning about all the benefits of soil to our community and in our lives. We have learned about gardening, nature, and the affect soil has had on our history and culture. We learned about victory gardens, which were gardens planted to keep people healthy and fed around WWII. We also learned about community gardens. There is such a long process to make one, and it takes the whole community to come together. We learned about trees and gardens around our school, and how they are beneficial. This unit was fun and challenging, filled with hands on activities and lessons. We learned how nature is in math and science. We wrote poems, and learned about history. And there was a lot to learn and see. I am proud of all the mini projects and magazine that my group worked hard on. I liked having all the visitors come and teach us about their experiences with soil. And I am proud of the poems and writing reflections that I put effort into throughout the unit.
Barbaric Yawp Poem By Sophia F.S.
I run down the hill, screeching to the birds above. The sound of gravel sliding pierces through my ears. My veins run under the trees, under the houses, under the cities. I am quiet and not to be seen, Yet I pity those who do not respect me.
I shout my barbaric yawp from the center of the earth to the air you breath. I am walked all over, yet I am unfazed. For without me the world would be in feculence. For you need me.
One Wild and Precious Life Poem
I squint in the warm glaring sun, cascading a golden shadow across my hairline. I see a sea of green, like a painted canvas, with violet flowers splattered throughout. Above me, the scent of warm caramel. Purple petals fade into trees. They smell like a warm beach at dawn. To the right is a bunch of vines, covered in magenta flowers, and encasing a wood bench. I slowly put my hand along the rim of the bench, to feel the smooth surface. I slide in and gaze at the garden, filled with green leaves and red flowers. The smell of fresh peeled oranges fills my mind as I inhale, and the sound of my friends at my side vanish as I close my eyes. The sound of the wind hitting the dark soil echo's in my ears. My hands run over the leaves falling onto my clothes, felling the rough and soft edges. I slowly blink my eyes open to immediately spot a far away tree, each leaf spotted with sun. But this mirage is slowly disappearing.