What is Life Short Answers

1. If a plant and a mouse were placed in a sealed container with a water source, both the organisms will benefit form each other in the following ways:

1.     The mouse would get oxygen from the plant due to photosynthesis

2.     The plant would get carbon dioxide from the mouse’s breathing

Additionally, both organisms would grow and have longer lives due to the water source provided.

2.

a)    Measuring O2 levels can help provide an indication of the rate of “photo” reactions because the energy captured from the splitting of water molecules can be determined. Since oxygen is produced when water molecules split, we can therefore determine the rate of “photo” reactions.

b)   With a bicarbonate solution (another source of CO2), the plant would utilize the molecule’s CO2 during photosynthesis to produce both sugar and oxygen.

c)    By increasing the amount of CO2, the plant is provided with more “food” and due to this abundance, the plant will need to work faster to compensate. Thus increasing the “photo” reactions.

3.  I believe that it is cellular respiration that is occurring at a faster rate, because when a plant grows quicker it has an abundant source of “food”, in this case glucose, to feed on. With an abundance of glucose, the plant will want to break up the sugar to become useable energy for the plant.

Homework

The first chapters from Gaia's Garden talked about permaculture and self sustaining gardens. It explained the ideas and concepts of succession, and gave examples of its process. Further, it spoke to the effectiveness of growing methods, and how to optimize organic life.

Questions:

Could non-self sustaining gardens have better harvests?

If you create a self sustaining garden, what “gardening’ is left for you to do other than harvesting?

Can you create a self-sustaining garden within small areas?

Can you create a self-sustaining garden in ever environment?

Can you skip steps in succession?

How do we create a Self Sustaining Garden here? Is it possible?

Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is the study of culture and plants in conjunction with the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants, this includes foods, medicine, clothing, and more. Ethnobotanists are the scientists and researchers that study this field of work.

I am particularly interested in the medicinal aspects of this discipline, for I have always wondered about the science behind “home” and “Organic” remedies for sicknesses. I would really like to learn about different organic remedies and if they could be viable alternatives for the otherwise costly drugs we purchase. For this reason I wish to have my project wrap around this idea of organic medicine and find out how to make and why these remedies work.

           

Portland Ethnobotany Project:

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/portland-ethnobotany-project/

This project is part of the Northwest Ethnobotany Conservation Program, a program dedicated to restoring Native American traditions in the West Eugene Wetlands in Eugene, Oregon. The Portland Ethnobotany Project is a project which purpose is not only to restore culturally important lands for Native Americans, but to also research, conserve, and inhance culturally important plant resources, to feed the homeless, and serve as urban nature for youth and more.

Information on Three Awesome Plants!

Beets

a) Beets are root crops

b) They contain Vitamin C, Magnesium, Dietary Fiber, Iron, Folate, Potassium, and Manganese.

c) Beets need to be planted in cooler seasons ideally in temperature lower than 75 degrees. The seed should be soaked in water for 24 hours before being planted in soil of a pH higher than 6. The seeds germinates in two weeks and requires good nutrition and high phosphorus for healthy growth.

d) They take around 50 to 70 days to harvest.

e) In a relatively small area of 3 feet by 3 feet we could grow a reasonable amount.
i) seeds must be planted 3 inches apart from eachother

f) Healthy Beets require rich soil with organic material and potassium.
i) They grow well in neutral soil
ii) The NPK ratio is 1-2-2

g)
i) Beets need about an inch of water every week.
ii) The best way to water beets is through a drip irrigation system.

h) Green onions and Kohlrabi are both good companion plants.

Pests/Diseases

Flea Beetle- Small 1/16 inch jumping beetles.

Control: Pesticides such as Sevin, Diazinon and Rotenone are effective for ridding this problem. Pesticide use and recommendations for various areas are constantly changing. Check with your County agent for current recommendations.

Aphids- Small green, red, black or white sucking insects less than 3/16" long who suck plant fluids.

Control: Pesticides such as Sevin, Diazinon and Rotenone are effective, although over time their natural predator the Ladybug can control the Aphid.

 Beet Mosaic- This disease is characterized by yellow spots that develop on young leaves. These spots often appear as yellow rings with green centers.

Control: Avoid planting in infested fields or fields where wild varieties of beets have been grown.

"GARDEN + GARDENING + GARDENING TIPS & ADVICE." GARDEN Beets. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.

Harveson, Robert M. "False Root Nematode." Neb Guide. University of Nebraska, May 2008.
          Web. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1857/build/g1857.pdf>. 

Onions

a) Onions are root crops.

b) Anti-inflammatory, help immune system.

c) Would grow well in SD because of their warm weather requirements. They also Need 6-8hrs of sun per day.

d) Take up to about 4 months to mature.

e) In a small area of 3 feet by 3 feet 12 onions can be grown
i) 1 seed every two inches, in lines 12 inches apart.

f) No fertilizer necessary.
ii) cant find

g) Water thoroughly, 1-2 in deep in soil. One inch of water per week
i) The best way to water onions is with a drip irrigation system.

Pest/Diseases

Onion fly- A small flying insect similar looking to a house fly. They can be found flying around the base of the plant.

Control: One way is to pull up and destroy all affected plant manually. Also you can add a fine layer of sand to the base of the plant to prevent egg lying.

Lesser Bulb Fly- they look a lot like the Onion fly, although they are slightly smaller.

Control: These flies can be dealt with the same way as the Onion Fly.

Leaf blight- Leaf blight looks like white or pale gold specks and eventually it kills the leaves, which in turn damages, the whole plant, causing it to rot and die.

Control: Dig up infected plants and burn, bury deeply away from garden, or seal in bags and remove.

"Onion Pests and Diseases." Onion Pests and Diseases. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.

Deardorff, David C., and Kathryn B. Wadsworth. What's Wrong

with My Plant (and How Do I Fix It?): A Visual Guide to Easy

Diagnosis and Organic Remedies. Portland [Or.: Timber, 2009.

Print.

Mint

a) Mint is a bush.

b) Excellent source of Vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and fiber.

c) This is a year round plant, as long as its given contant sunlight and is always moist. It is recommended that this plant is grown from a small bush.

d) Seeing as we have a small bush, it makes sense to grow some for this semester.

e) Doesn't require too much space, although if you want to grow it by potting, it needs to be repotted every year.

f) Mint needs a rich soil with nitrogen. It also must stay moist at all times.

g) i) Mint must be watered daily and needs to be moist consistently.
ii) Drip irrigation and overhead watering are both just as useful in maintaining a mint bush.

h) Good companion for Mint are broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, and cabbage.

Pests/Diseases

Spider Mites-  Extremely small pests and can be identified as red or tan with black spots

Control: Spider mites can be controlled by using a water jet spray or horticulture oil.

Mint rust- A common fungal disease identified as orange spots on a mint’s leaves and stems.

Control: Remove any affected plants or cut the stems to soil level. The new growth may escape infection. Do not overwater.

"Mint." SuperHerbs.com. Sara's Super Herbs, n.d. Web. 24 Jan.
          2013. <http://www.superbherbs.net/mint.htm>.