"Golden Sage"
Salvia officinalis Icterina
AKA Cat Food


Origin: Sage is a member of the mint family and is an herb native to the Mediterranean reigon it has ben traditionally uses in cooking and medicine.

Nutrition: Sage has a long history of use as a medicine odern evidence supports its effects as an anhidrotic, antibiotic, antifungal, astringent, antispasmodic, estrogenic, hypoglycemic and tonic. It even shows promising results in the management of alzheimers.

The strongest active constituents of Sage are within its essential oil, which contains cineole, borneol, and thujone. Sage leaf contains tannic acid, oleic acid, ursonic acid, ursolic acid, cornsole, cornsolic acid, fumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, niacin, nicotinamide, flavones, flavonoid glycosides, and estrogenic substances.

Fun Fact!: You can use sage for aromatic, ornamental, craft, and culinary purposes!!

Note: Cats will eat this plant up.

Artist Statement

Wyatt Watt

Environmental justice
video

This film is an experiment in perspective going against the grain of traditional social stigmas to present an alternative definition for the term "environmentalist." The ideas expressed through the films satirical attitude toward environmentalism approaches the Environmental Justice Movement with a vicious sense of irony.

The environmental justice movement is a highly political widespread coordination to give people of racial minorities, economically disadvantaged, and third world countries the recognition and ability to solve environmental issues that effect them directly, instead of the environmental segregation taking place in political and financial circles who for the most part do not live in the effected areas.

The video relates these ideas by giving an immense sense of power and recognition to people who would otherwise be refferd to as bums. individuals who undoubtedly fit the profile of an environmentally segregated group of people. Though the people featured in the film may or may not be aware of the impact they are making perspective is a powerful thing, and it looks to me like anyone no matter what race, socioeconomic class, or social status can positively effect the environment and deservs rights to decision making processes.

Annotated sources

The social context of recycling:
http://www.jstor.org/pss/2095910
In recent years "doomsday prophecy's" have infiltrated the psyches of single family homes leading to the appearance of curbside recycling programs. This study examines how environmental concern translates to pro-environmental behavior though only in very specific social context. Specifically watching influence of attitude on the environment on recycling behavior.\

Depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) recycled from post-consumer soft-drink bottles:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/104047314/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
This article explains different ways to breakdown the plastic from recycled plastic bottles in order for use in other types of plastic and chemical materials. A series of heating and metal acetate is used in order to Depolymerize the plastic making it usable elsewhere in the post consumer plastic feild.

Waterr

Wyatt Watt
Jon Oreilly
Period ½

The Wonderful World of Water

Necessary to every living creature is water; it makes up every organic thing on our planet. Being a natural right every living thing deserves a steady supply of fresh water. In this modern age of abundance came the cultivation of water distribution known as irrigation. Giving man the power to control where crops grow, how animals live, and to give ourselves easily accessible water. Though techniques have advanced vigorously over the years, with an ever expanding population our thirst for water has become greater than ever. Irrigation must again advance and develop to sustain our populations and reduce negative side effects currently plaguing our system.
Fresh water only accounts for 3% of the total water on earth, and of that percentage only 1% is accessible for use. The majority of this slight amount of water is used for agriculture. Farms, especially ones that follow an industrial layout, are subject to chronic over-watering because of their use of overhead watering systems. Overhead watering is the standard in which the majority of farms irrigate their crop. These systems spray large quantities of water over hundreds of acres right onto the surface of the soil. In doing this frequently at all hours of the day, a large unknown amount of water is wasted to evaporation. From an agricultural standpoint these systems also do not effectively irrigate crops roots deep down in the soil, so overwatering happens daily. In the bread-basket of America the Midwest where the majority of our nation’s corn, soybean, and wheat crop comes from, effects of overwater are already being seen. These states use water pumped up from the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest aquifer in North America. The aquifer spans 800 by 400 miles across the Great Plains being one of the largest in the world. This aquifer provides 30% of the nation’s groundwater and 27% of the irrigated land in North America sit right on top of it. Currently the aquifer is being depleted at the rate of 12 billion cubic meters per year. Runoff and water table depletion also affect the aquifer meaning that the aquifer could become to low or too contaminated anytime in the next hundred years at this rate.
San Diego county and surrounding Southern California rely on water from the Colorado River due west of the aforementioned aquifer. It supplies water to 27 million people, businesses, factories and farms. Agricultural operations use 80% of the water diverted from the Colorado. Recently climate change has resulted in prolonged winters in the Rocky Mountains making the amount of runoff more insufficient each year. It is estimated that if climate change continues at the rate it is going the Colorado River could only be able to provide adequate water supply 60% of its baseline availability by 2050. This could cause massive water shortages to the millions of people that rely on it daily. If agriculture continues it’s over watering trend food prices would sky-rocket. This is exactly why these inefficient irrigation systems need to go.
In our Senior Garden we use a small scale T-tape watering system which uses a drip irrigation technique that slowly releases water into the soil, drip by drip. Effectively, the water seeps into the ground for plants to absorb though it uses much less water and significantly reduces water lost to evaporation. Systems identical to this exist for large-scale farming operations, on an industrial scale and a corporate budget. These setups are not only effective but inexpensive, considering the subsidies that large farms receive every year implementing T-tape or similar products would not be a financial burden.
Over watering coupled with poor drainage causes water to run off of an agricultural area into residential or natural areas far from the farm itself. This process causes erosion and contamination of natural ecosystems. Often times runoff is unavoidable as it is waters natural tendency to travel downhill into larger bodies. Excessive irrigation can concentrate pesticides, nutrients, disease-carrying microorganisms, and salts all of which impact water quality in the top layer of soil. Pollution from runoff from this soil is the leading source of compromised water quality to freshwater lakes and rivers, and also a major contributor to ground water contamination like the Ogallala Aquifer. These ecosystems can also be protected by the use of drip tape and other effective watering systems, as it is becoming apparent that the state of our natural world it being severely effected by our agricultural
We have succeeded on a small scale at solving large real world issues here in our class garden. Proving that responsible and surprisingly effective irrigation systems exist, means that there are solutions to our water crisis. Implementing these techniques would protect our environment and our future.


Sources
Gleick, "Earth's water distribution". USGS. 10/25/09 .
California's Water Crisis - A Conundrum with No Simple Solution. Julie Mitchell. Web. 9 Oct. 2009. .
Energy-Saving Tips: On-Farm Irrigation. California Farm Bureau Federation. Web. 9 Oct. 2009. .
Griffis, David. "Proper Irrigation Methods." Proper Irrigation Methods. David Griffis. Web. 9 Oct. 2009. .

Socratic seminar reflection

Best Practices

Some ideas i had for the best practices is constant communication between classes, because we are both working in two different ways on the same project. We both need to be moving in the same direction in order to appease everyones idea of an ideal irrigation situation. for example after period one had laid the lengths of pvc across the length of the beds, the period three class came in and put in a number of spigots that they decided on their own, now this isn't going to necessarily effect the rest of the process however if these kinds of decisions are being made without us how is anyone suppose to know what the final product will be.

Another being the situation with laying the t-tape. in order for the t-tape to be laid out and undisturbed we first need the beds to be prepped and possible planted so that no one will have to work around any of the lengths of tape. It would appear that the irrigation is coming along much quicker than the bed prep, so my suggestion is that we organize a mass digging effort to knock the beds out ASAP.

Stop motion plant

Im growin chocolate mint, in my window....

Seinor project

First off i am not to sure about what kind of media component i want to use, however i am really into issues on the subject of environment and food. I want to look at it from a more urban standpoint. How our urban environment functions, whether or not it is similar to that of a more natural one. I think i could really get into it, if i am examining a space that i am most familiar with. I know this could get muttled with population, pollution, and energy however i want to stay more primal looking at the city like its own biosphere. Any ideas as to how i should do it?

Stoked on Zuchini (artichokes too)

Plant research

Zucchini:
- Though zucchini is treated as a vegetable it is actually an immature fruit, it being a swollen ovary of the zucchini flower.
- It is easiest to cultivate zucchini in a temperate climate, they are noted for being a high yielding crop in American gardens, where both the flower and fruit are a delicacy.
- Zucchini bears fruit as quickly as 45 to 55 days, germination takes place relatively quickly as well, seeds germinate within 10 to 14 days.
- The recommended spacing for zucchini is about 24 to 30 inches between each plant and they grow infinitely. since the plants are very high yielding only a few would be required to have a surplus of zucchini by the end of the semester.
- Zucchini requires fertile soil that is amended with a lot of compost, it helps if the soil is well drained. Though zucchini is not to picky, it prefers basic calcium enriched soil. Acidic soil will often times slow germination. Ph requirement is 5.5 -6.5
- Zucchini is largly composed of water so it is a heavy drinker, for best results water heavily in the morning around the base. You must avoid watering the foliage.

Though I could not find any information about companion plants for a zucchini, it actually seems like a very realistic goal for the semester. The plant is high yielding and grows quickly. The only problem to address is its large appetite for water. Perhaps there is a way to add something to the soil to reduce the amount of water required.

Artichokes:
- Artichokes are a thistle which has been cultivated for its delicious fleshy leaves.
- Artichokes peak harvest season is in the spring however they can yield all year long.
- Artichokes do not require any special preparation to grow from seed, the seed will germinate within 7- 24 days.
- the time until harvest is usually a matter of a couple months on average, the peak harvest season is in the spring though results will show in that allotted time.
- Artichokes should be spaced 1 to 3 feet apart, and 4 to 6 feet between rows. A few plants would be able to be grown for exhibition.
- Artichokes require basic calcium enriched soil, well drained.
- Artichokes need to be watered 1-2 times a week depending on the heat, soil should remain slightly moist.

I could not find any information about compatible plants to the artichoke, though considering its grown heavily in California I anticipate it would do very well in our climate.

curiosity

I am curious as to whether or not an entire city could be self sustained if every home or community grew their own food. and what it would take for that to happen. Is the only reason this isn't happening now because people are lazy? a little more realistically i would really like to know what kinds of local farms there are in San Diego because i am not familiar with any, furthermore how are their businesses doing and does it at all relate the the reading "fatal Harvest" Could local farmers really a test to these claims?