Inside the magazine
Artwork by Twenty-first century artists
Panther Ridge Farm
And so much more!!
Barbaric Yawps The Ever Changing Soil Oh, as the seasons pass I see the rain, the sun, the snow, and the wind come and go. I walk the land and my feet burn as the hard sharp rocks offer neither kindness nor care. I hear the crunching and crackling beneath my feet; the bedrock breaking and parting as the water drips and freezes in the tiny cracks. The ground shakes, thunders, and roars as a weed sprouts out from inside the rock. All calms as it withers and dies. Many years pass and my feet are now comforted by the soft humus on top of the bedrock. For there are no longer tiny weeds, but grand and hefty trees lie in their place. In addition there are bugs crawling here and there. I acquire chills as a spider crawls creepily up my leg, and the warmth in my heart radiates as a mocking jay sings its morning tune. When I leave this place and come back, I know I will not find only this tree and these bugs, but a forest of trees and colonies of bugs. My time has come, and I have fallen deep in the soil. I feel the bugs crawling on me, but it is a different feeling than when I was alive. I do not want the creepy crawlies to leave, instead, I want them to come and engulf my body. I want them to return me to the soil as repayment for all the earth has given me Now humus, and someday soil, I feel the footsteps of my descendants. I hear their laughter and feel their joy. As they laugh and humor themselves, what they do not know is it only gets better. The joy never stops. For when you leave the world up there, you will join us in the soil. You will become one of us, and you will be able to enjoy the laughter and bliss as if you are still alive. -Brooke
Reincarnation What is life? What is life if we are all born to die, To live a life full of errors and never a second chance? Why can’t we have the chance to learn and to grow into something better than before? Sometimes I wonder, I wonder if there is a second life. A life of no sin or wrongdoing. A life full of peace and wisdom. A life full of purpose. Maybe we die for a reason. A reason to become stronger. Maybe we die to help something better. Our bodies break down into the soil to provide nutrients for a life much sweeter. The soil is filled with all the sins we've preformed. But the nutrients help the life to learn from our mistakes and grow from it. To grow into something beautiful. Starting from a seed. -Emmy
Barbaric Yawps From the Earth How can we be pleased with our lives? Maybe we are never meant to be pleased because we can never be satisfied Life is a choice You can choose how to live a life But often times we don't realize it I wonder if there is a correct way of living a life Every single second, thousands and millions of lives begin Every single second, thousands and millions of lives ends I wonder if our death has a purpose At last, we all become an essential part of the earth even if we no longer have a life We are broken down by the decomposers into pieces from figures to humus All the disgrace we caused is carried deep inside the humus But the nutrients purify it allowing us to learn from the wrongdoings This is why we are able to flourish From the earth, we grow and end -Jay Hee
One Wild and Precious Poems Grey Above my head, vines weave up Metal railings as if they were snakes The green and golden leaves Poke outward from the vine's trunk They stretch to the light As if they were begging for the sun's attention The purple flowers and pods dangle from a branch I reach to a pod, The pod has a stubby and smooth texture which remind me of a shaved haircut.
The leaves start to dance. I feel the warm breeze on my skin It feels as if it were a kiss, Which gives me a feeling of protection The scent of lavender, rosemary, and maple make me feel like this is a safe haven
I can hear the birds humming within the branches of the olive tree The branches sway in rhythm with the birds’ song And at this very moment I feel like the color grey -Emmy
The Memories of Soil Standing upon the field of blossoming nature And the wind takes the paths after me Making the leaves dance as it passes by As I set my feet, feeling the warmth of the soil I wonder if the soil remembers every single flower that bloomed and everything else that fell upon it Wrapping around the metal railings were the vines with leaves Stretching and hoping to reach the sun before others do Sitting down I spot the clouds scattered across the air looking down on me Pressing my palm against the ground I feel my fingers spreading through Leaving marks behind which probably no one pays any attention to The closer I get to the trees, The clearer the visions of nature becomes Then comes the dogs' barking Hidden behind the sounds of birds The sound so flawless that no one could ever sing -Jay Hee
Earth The sky rests there observing life as if it could get no better, but I sit here on this bench wondering why life is full of flaws and imperfections. Above me the hummingbirds and bees buzz wildly as they set forth to their next destinations. The birds and the bees spreading the pollen unknowingly spread the unfamiliar scent of new life and rejuvenation. The distant smell of the rosemary and jasmine drifts through the air. The earth in between my fingers is unlike the sand in an hour glass; so coarse and imperfect. The smells of roses and sweet mint linger just above my head. The new blossoms of spring carry the smell of acceptance and peace.. Sticky sap from the tree lurking overhead is the sweet bliss of life after the sharp prick of a rose thorn. The sweet mint welcomes the new blooms of spring with it aromatic fragrance. Why can we never learn from our mistakes? -Brooke
Art
This illustration of the same tree throughout the four seasons is showing how everything is connected. Also the roots of the tree are all intertwined showing the connectedness of the four seasons. In Spring there is new growth and lots of rain to support the new growth. The rain from spring is then stored in the soil and the roots of the tree. This stored water is then used to help the tree withstand the dryness and heat of summer. It is also partially used to grow the tree. All of the new leaves that have grown this year turn red, orange, and yellow and slowly fall off as Autumn rolls around. These fallen leaves are covered with the frost and snow and start to compost. When spring rolls around these leaves have been composted and this is the fresh humus for the tree. This cycle can continue for thousands of years if not interrupted. -Brooke
Art
During the Soil Unit, I learned that good soil is necessary for both plants and humans. Also I got to learn that people often forget about the importance of having trees and don't protect them enough. When half of the class went to Rubio Canyon, I noticed that a lot of trees were either in weak conditions or in need of good care. Therefore, I decided to paint trees in order to allow people to respect trees and to keep planting more trees. Someday, I hope to see all the trees grow beautifully like the trees which I've painted. -Jay Hee
The History of Panther Ridge Farm
Panther Ridge Farm Panther Ridge Farm is a non-certified organic urban farm that was recently founded in 2011. It is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains just 15 miles from Los Angeles. There, they grow year-round fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, and mushrooms. They also raise chickens for their eggs and meat, and keep bees to pollinate their crops and to produce honey. Panther Ridge’s main focus is providing people with wilderness and agricultural experiences that provide a sense of responsibility for the Earth. They believe that experience is how people learn and witness our role in nature. The farm offers an environmental education program. It provides “local environmental explorations and hands-on learn-by-doing experiences are designed to foster a sense of reverence and respect for life on our planet and to develop mindfulness of the natural systems that connect and sustain us all. It is our goal that through these experiences we are creating the next generation of environmental leaders and community stewards.” "PANTHER RIDGE FARM."PANTHER RIDGE FARM. Web. 27 May 2015. The Panther Ridge Farm is committed in educating others about their part on this Earth. -Emmy
NEMATODES!!
The Nematode is the Organism of the Year!! Nematodes Nematodes are the organism of the year! Did you know that nematodes are only 1/20 of an inch long? That is so tiny! Nematodes are non-segmented worms. Nematodes live in all levels of the soil, so chances are nematodes have crawled all over you if you have ever gardened. These nematodes are both bad and good. Do be aware of these evil nematodes they are cannibals. Don’t worry, most nematodes are beneficial. Helpful nematodes help control diseases and cycle nutrients through the soil. Can you imagine no food on Earth?! This is what would happen without nematodes. When nematodes eat bacteria or fungi they release ammonium. This ammonium is then released because the bacteria and fungi the nematodes consumed contained more nitrogen than it required. This ammonium makes the soil fertile, and if the soil was not fertile then we would not be able to grow any crops. Without these crops we could not be able to feed our animals, therefore we have nothing else to eat and we would all starve to death! It sure is a great thing that we have nematodes. Attention helicopter parents. Did you know your children have been playing, and literally rolling around with nematodes?! Yes, nematodes, those creepy crawly worms releasing ammonia are being transported by staff of the CEC to the sandboxes which your children are playing in every day after school. Your precious children’s’ limbs are being touches by worms, but luckily the nematodes aren’t hungry for those little “piggies” they’re looking for other kinds of tasty morsels like fleas. Don’t worry nematodes would rather eat bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other nematodes, not your children. Without nematodes, soil would be uncultivated, and the joy of gardening would be non-existent. Can you imagine a world without gardens? The beauty gardens give us, the enjoyment we receive, and the practical results of life-giving nutrition, without nematodes none of this would be possible. Don’t you think we should sing a song, and cheer them on, and as Alfred Austin poignantly remarked, “the glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” Hooray for Nematodes!
Letter from the Editors Dear Fellow Readers, I have acquired so much knowledge on soil by being in the soil unit. I have learned how soil forms and erodes. I have also learned why is crucial to our Earth. During the soil unit I went on several field trips. On my first day I went to the Arlington Gardens where I participated in several fun activities. There were three rotations. I walked through a labyrinth, sampled soil and other things around an orange tree, and wrote a poem about the beauty of the Earth while walking through the garden. While walking through the labyrinth I had trouble not losing my patience, meaning no walking faster. I was the last in line so I was the last one walking in the labyrinth and I wanted it to end so I sped up my pace. After the labyrinth I went into tree pose and stood completely still for one whole minute. I was so proud because whenever I do tree pose I wobble a little, but in the moment I stood as strong and sturdy as a tree. The second day of the soil unit was welcomed by another field trip, but this time to Ron Finley’s garden. Ron Finely is an upstander who builds gardens on the city owned strip of lawn in front of people’s houses. When we arrived we learned about composting, and why Mr. Finley grows these gardens. He said he grows food not for its produce, but for the soil. He feels that the soil has given him so much and he needs to give back. He says that we were born from the soil, and this is where we will come back. Our final field trip was to Rubio Canyon. There we mulched the areas around baby oak trees, weeded plants, and even saw a buck! We became more educated on mulch and its benefits, for example it helps to save, it slows down soil erosion, and it makes the soil underneath it really rich because of the microorganisms that the mulch attracts. Inbetween our fieldtrips we examined our petri dishes, created a propaganda poster for healthy eating, and created an educational magazine on soil. The soil unit has opened my eyes to how the earth is just one large cycle, and at some point everything will become soil. Sincerely, Brooke
Dear Fellow Readers, For a school project, we spent two weeks learning about soil. We learned about soil by doing things such as, going on field trips, writing about a soil organism in a magazine, and reading short stories about decomposition. The soil unit is filled with a variety of interactive activities that I enjoy. Although my favorite part so far, was going to Ron Finley’s garden which is in South Los Angeles. Before his garden, people were living in a food desert, meaning affordable and nutritious food was difficult to access. Obesity and other problems are very common in food deserts. “Food is the problem and food is the solution” Ron Finley. Ron wanted to stop the food problems in his community and make a change. He wanted to take action by growing a garden on the street where anyone has access. Another thing I enjoyed this unit was learning about compost. Compost is a natural way we can turn our food into humus naturally. We learned how to make a compost bin and about the decomposers such as the red wigglers which turn the food scraps into rich soil. A precious moment for me was writing poetry about the beauty in Arlington Garden. It was a wonderful experience where we got to observe our surroundings and all that the soil has provided us with. It’s amazing how important soil is. Soil is an essential element. We never really stop to appreciate soil, but without it life would perish. The soil unit has been an amazing experience that has taught me a lot about soil. I feel that I have really grown from this opportunity and will take the importance of soil in with my everyday life. Sincerely, Emmy
Letter from the Editors Letter From the Editor Hello, everyone. My name is Jay Hee Kim. For the past two weeks, we have been focusing on the unit called "Soil Unit," where we got to learn about the soil. Throughout the Soil Unit, we have explored various aspects of soil and this unique experience has had such a deep impact on every single one of us. We learned not only how the soil is made but also how it enables plants and some food items to grow. Without soil, we will not be alive. Therefore, soil is very essential part of our lives. But, due to erosion, the good soil is starting to disappear. When the soil is bare and exposed, rain or wind can sweep away the soil pushing them into rivers and lakes. As a part of our class, we also went to the Arlington Garden, Rubio Canyon and saw the garden planted on a street by Ron Finley. During these field trips, we got to help mulching around the trees and watering the plants. We learned that even the simple works can hugely influence people, just like what Ron Finley has done. During the Soil Unit, I got to learn about how important soil is. But more importantly, I realized how much we should appreciate the soil for the benefits it has given us and try our best efforts to protect it. By reading our magazine, I hope you can also share our experience and view on soil. Thank you very much. - Jay Hee