What else is due?

In addistion to the other assignments listed on the previous post we now have a couple of new things due:
1. Description of pH experiment
2. Description of field trip to BKFarmyards to learn about hoop houses.
What are they? What are the pros and cons of them? Can CAS have one? Would you build one?
3. Final reflection: What did you like about the class? What are you still interested to learn about or be involved in? What do you recommend be different for the next class?
4. Your part of the chapter of the Garbage to Gold (Trash/compost) book.

The Compost Book

Our garbage affects our health and the environment. Unfortunately, there is no safe and easy place to put all of our waste indefinitely. We can, however, decrease our trash flow by separating and composting the organic waste.
Your job is to create a compelling book/resource guide that describes the problem, how decomposition works and the benefits of using compost.
Each student will:
1. Choose one area from the three sections described above and find at least 5 sources of information. These sources should include a variety of information, graphics, data, etc.
2. Meet as a group to identify which sources (should be 5 from each person) should be included.
3. Write your section of the guide using your sources as reference material. Each student will be responsible for a part of the section.
The problem with our trash: Each student pick one area:
a. history
b. data
c. impacts
How decomposition works:
a. The biology
b. The chemistry
c. The physics
The benefits of compost:
a. How it is used
b. Studies on effectiveness
c. Examples of innovative ways to compost in large-scale areas.
4. Each section should have at least 2 visuals (graph, table, picture, etc.), 1 video, 1 podcast and 4 written articles.

New Blogs Need Updating

Hi,
Today I read through the students' blog and they are very good. They all seem to need updating and more detailed information though:
At this point you should have:
1. First impressions of the farm.
2. Map of the farm
3. Description of companion planting and what crops you have chosen to plant based on companion planting.
4. Daily observations of the berm and the work that you do: Planting, thinning, dead-heading, weeding as well as observations of the plants: germination, harvesting and general health.
5. Soil and air temperature daily as well as soil moisture.
6. Description of our soil: N:P:K as well as pH and soil texture. Describe the process of getting the results.
7. Experiment Description for raising nitrogen: In Detail!
8. Research for lowering the pH of the soil organically.
Lots of Pictures!!

This is a picture of the roots of the cover crops improving the health of the soil by increasing organic matter and preventing erosion.

new Class Blogs

Here are the new crops of Blogs!
Titianna: http://titiannafisher.blogspot.com/
Tiara: http://www.tiara-thomas.blogspot.com/
Bridget: http://infiniteonature.blogspot.com/
Bobby: http://bobbysiafakas.wordpress.com
Mike: http://mikearcosfarm.blogspot.com/
Louis: http://city-asfarm.blogspot.com/
Aja: http://ajagrantsfarm.blogspot.com/
Hersh: http://hds-inquiry.blogspot.com/2011/09/hershs-first-farm-impression.html
Kendrick: http://farmingwithken.blogspot.com/
Rukiya: http://rukiyadaurbanfarmer.blogspot.com/
Tianna: http://yamuddda.blogspot.com/

Wow! Hot, Hot, Hot and Harvesting!

I went to the farm this morning and it was amazing!
Everything is growing robustly. Really! There is even a 5 inch watermelon developing. So much basil, the largest tomatoes I've ever seen, lots of blooming flowers attracting the good bugs, everything!
I thought I'd go for an hour and ended up staying for hours..It go so hot though that I almost passed out biking home. Luckily, I could cut up the cucumber, mix it with aloe vera and use it as a cooling face mask.
Anyway,
Here is a pic of the harvest from today:
Eight little carrots
.5lb of pineapple sage (I'm making tea out of it). It is so large it needs to be harvested. Please come and harvest some).
1 lb of basil
4 cucumbers
14 Nardello peppers

Bees and Pix

Hi,
Here is a picture of our beautiful cilantro and the nasturtiums with sugar snap peas.

Also there are two bee demonstrations happening: tonight (thursday at 6pm) and tomorrow morning (Friday at 10am).
Here is a great youtub of the bee waggle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ijI-g4jHg
Lastly...go see the movie, Queen of the Sun tonight at Cinema Village. It got great reviews and its closing tonight...all about bees, GMO's pollination, seed saving, importance of people planting in their communities, etc.

Times at the farm, nutrient test results, recipe for quinoa salad and bee talk

If anyone is interested in making up time or just being at the farm.
I can be there the following times. Please email/text me that you are coming:
Friday (6/17) afternoon:
1:30 (Bee talk at the hive...very exciting!)
Monday (6/20)
1:30
Wednesday (6/22)
1:30

Alissa and Adrian's test results (thanks to Massiel)
Phosphorus: abundant
Potassium: No precipitate (this is interesting since I don't know if this was the fertilized or unfertilized, I look forward to reading about it on your blogs!0.

Recipe for Quinoa salad, this isn't exactly the one I had today, but similar:
Quinoa Salad with Spinach, Raisins, and Walnuts

1 T olive oil

2 T minced red onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 c quinoa, rinsed (rinsing is to remove the bitterness from the seeds)

1 ½ T golden raisins

1 ½ T dried currants

1 2/3 c water

1 c frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

¼ c toasted chopped walnuts

2 T chopped parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

1-2 T good quality extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

3 oz feta or goat cheese

In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil to medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until soft. Add the quinoa and continue to sauté for another minute or so. Add the raisins, currants and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and allow to cook until water is nearly absorbed, about 10 minutes. Stir in spinach and cover again and let cook another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, walnuts, and parsley. Season generously to taste. Drizzle olive oil over and stir in. Serve chilled or at room temperature, topped with a bit of feta.
http://tastyeatsathome.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/quinoa-salad-with-spinach-raisins-and-walnuts/