Biomimicry

Agriculture Article C.C.

Nov 15, 2013

Per 4

        Biomimicry uses solutions found in nature to solve human problems. Careful observation of how nature puts waste to use and never leaves a valuable resource behind has been a trailblazer for efficiency and sustainability in architecture and manufacture. Keeping an eye out in our world will help humans solve problems for years to come. (Pawlyn, 2011)

        One of the biggest examples of the cycles that nature uses to solve problems, can be seen in garden ecosystems that are self-sustaining. Plants were designed to survive without interference, so why change a system that has been tested for eons? Rainwater is part of a large Earth-centered cycle. Rather than waste water from the tap, use the same water that plants naturally use! Once the plants are mature, instead of buying new seeds every year, use the ones the plants already provide. The best part of garden cycles is using waste parts of plants as the foundation for new life, through composting and mulching. Previously useless plant waste is redistributed to build a framework for new life.

          Of course, humans have been inspired by nature in other ways. Solar panels, for example, combined nature’s idea and man’s engineering to harvest great amounts of energy from the sun by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity. This imitates how plants use photosynthesis to convert energy from light into chemical energy for the plant. (Carter, 1996) The plants available in the garden space at Avanti use this same technique, absorbing solar energy and using it as a catalyst for sugar production. Solar panels employ the same idea seen in the leaves of plants to generate renewable energy for anywhere!

There’s no doubt the Earth is a “smart” system. After millions of years of testing and evolution, we humans see plants that have adapted to their environment in crazy ways. As problems for us get more complicated, we should consider that life forms similar to us faced those same problems, and came out on top. We should be inspired by the achievements of nature.

Sources:

Pawlyn, M. (Performer) (2011). Using nature's genius in architecture [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pawlyn_using_nature_s_genius_in_architecture.html

Carter, J. S. (1996). Photosynthesis. Retrieved from http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/photosyn.htm

How, When and Why to Prune

How, When and Why to Prune

By H.B.

         In the Sagan Satellite Garden there are many shrubs that may need pruning at one time or another.  These currently include; sage, rosemary, thyme, catnip, and lemongrass.  Below is a table showing when each of these shrubs should be pruned.

Name of Plant	Time of Year to be Pruned
Sage	Winter, when it is dormant
Rosemary	Any time of the year, it never goes fully dormant
Thyme	After it has bloomed in the summer
Catnip	Summer, after its first flowering
Lemongrass	Late winter

            

         There are basic ways of pruning that can be applied to any of the fore mentioned shrubs.  To start off, use hand pruners (for better control of what is getting trimmed off) to remove any damaged, dead or diseased stems, as well as any extremely thick or woody stems that are not the trunk of the shrub. Diseased or dead stems can usually be spotted easily because they turn a different color and/or texture than the rest of the stems on the plant. Woody or thick stems will create an undesirable shape and can also create especially unappetizing herbs. Also be sure to remove vigorous, upright growing, shoots that come from the trunk or side branches, as well as shoots that develop or start underground near the shrub.

          After basic pruning of the shrub has been done, shaping is optional. To shape a shrub, hand pruners are the suggested tool to use as opposed to large shears, in order to have more control over the shaping of the shrub.  First, cut off any excessively long branches. Do this by clipping them to a similar length as the main mass of foliage, but do not cut each branch to exactly the same length. Next reach within the tangle of the main mass of foliage and remove any particularly large or twiggy branches, make sure to clip these at the point where they join a main branch. Now give the shrub a final once over to ensure it is shaped in a neat fashion, make sure not to be excessive about how much you trim back at any point in the process.

            There is a variety of reasons to pruning shrubs and it can have many different advantages, especially when it comes to a plants health. It can help the plant fight off disease and even generate higher quality herbs if applicable. Also keep in mind that pruning has advantages for you too, it prevents the shrub from growing too big and gradually taking over an entire garden or worse killing off other plants in the garden.  At the Avanti Sagan Satellite Garden, we have the shrubs mentioned previously as well as many others all around the garden that are pruned and shaped by students. Anyone is welcome to come check out these and many other awesome plants at the garden!

References

Better Homes and Gardens (n.d.). Shape Your Shrubs. Retrieved from http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/care/shape-your-shrubs/

Better Homes and Gardens (n.d.). What to Prune When. Retrieved from http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/care/what-to-prune-when/

Why Do Leaves Turn Red in Autumn?

M. P.

4^th Period Sustainable Agriculture

11-17-2013

Why Do Leaves Turn Red in Autumn?

             It is a well known fact that leaves are green because of the chlorophyll in the cells. Chlorophyll, found in the chloroplasts, is one of the main ingredients responsible for photosynthesis, the process where leaves convert water, carbon dioxide, and light into sugars that they can use to feed themselves (Photosynthesis, 2011). Right now, in the Madison-Avanti Giving Garden, we can see the leaves on the raspberry plants turning dark red. If chlorophyll is responsible for their green color in the spring and summer, then what is making the raspberry leaves change color?

            A common misconception about leaves is that as chlorophyll breaks down in preparation for winter dormancy, its absence reveals other pigments hidden in the leaf (Lee & Gould, 2002). Fairly recent research shows that the opposite is true. The chlorophyll is still present, but a higher concentration of a pigment called anthocyanin is what causes the red hue (Lee & Gould, 2002).

            What is the purpose of anthocyanin? Why does it appear so abundantly in the fall? We have yet to discover all of its various jobs within the cell, but there are a few purposes of the compound that have been hypothesized.

This November in Olympia has been bright and sunny, but very, very cold. In bright and cold conditions, a phenomenon called photoinhibition can occur (Lee & Gould, 2002). To put it simply, photoinhibition is the decline of photosynthetic processes (Lee & Gould, 2002). All this bright sunlight is made up of light waves. Different sizes of waves have different colors, some that are visible to humans, and some that aren’t. The visible light waves are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Different materials reflect and absorb different colors of light. Chlorophyll appears green, which means that it absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light (Ray, 2013). Anthocyanin appears red, which means that is reflects red light, but absorbs green. This helps deter phtotoinhibition because anthocyanin absorbs the light that is not useful to the plant (Lee & Gould, 2002). The chloroplasts have no use for green light, so it is absorbed by the anthocyanin to prevent light overexposure (Lee & Gould, 2002). This absorbed light is released gradually in the form of heat (Lee & Gould, 2002).

On a similar note, light overexposure in an oxygen dense leaf can result in the production of highly reactive oxygen-based free radicals like superoxide (Lee & Gould, 2002). Free radicals often have unpaired electrons, which makes them highly reactive and unstable (Lee & Gould, 2002). Certain free radicals are beneficial to cell construction, but too many can destroy structures within the cells they inhabit (Lee & Gould, 2002). Anthocyanin discourages free radical production in the same way that it prevents photoinhibition, by “shielding” chloroplasts from non-beneficial light waves (Lee & Gould, 2002).

From an ecological standpoint, anthocyanins could appear in autumn to deter animals from eating the leaves (Lee & Gould, 2002). In nature, red is usually a color that means “back off.” This gives the tree time before the leaves drop off to reabsorb the nitrogen that is heavily present in chloroplasts (Lee & Gould, 2002). Nitrogen is very important for plants because it is an ingredient in ATP and nucleic acids, as well as part of the photosynthetic process. This “back off” theory has garnered criticism by some scholars because of observations of chimps eating young, red colored leaves in tropical forests (Lee & Gould, 2002). Others think that anthocyanin’s red pigment, and by default seasonal green to red leaf color changes, is a cue that caused three color vision to evolve in primates (Lee & Gould, 2002).

Intensive research into the properties of anthocyanin is still a fairly new concept, and as of now, we have yet to completely understand the full spectrum of its powers. In time, these kinks will hopefully be worked out, and a greater comprehension will be reached.  Happy autumn!

Works Cited:

Lee, D., & Gould, K. (2002). Why Leaves Turn Red. American Scientist, 90(6), 524. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

Photosynthesis. In (2011). Hutchinson Encyclopedia. Helicon Publishing. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

Ray, C. (2013, July 23). Seeing red. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

Photo credit Madeline P.

Helping the Community

by C.R.

Avanti’s Sagan satellite is such a wonderful place to be. I had no clue how a school could be so extremely giving to the community, but Avanti is not the only one giving around here. Madison Elementary has an even larger garden, which is able to give lots of crops to the local Thurston county food bank.

Harvested produce from MAGG & the Sagan Satellite

The Sagan Satellite is named after a famous intelligent astrophysicist named Carl Sagan. The 8 garden beds are named after different planets (ex. Earth,Uranus, Neptune.) These were created by Avanti Students and GRuB, a non-profit organization. It was made for students to learn with their hands instead of sitting in a classroom with a book learning about plants.

Madison Elementary has a wonderful garden that serves the purpose of allowing the children that attend Madison to have a hands learning experience. They involve the Scientific and creative point of view while teaching them to look at plants and vegetables in a totally different way.

Thanks to Avanti and Madison students, we are able to donate the crops by harvesting them and give them to the local non-profit Thurston County Food Bank. Madison and Avanti school gardens are able to provide vegetables such as squashes, tomatoes and a very long list of amazing vegetables.

In the end, I am extremely honored to be able to say that I am a part of of this giving community. And even more honored to be able to say that I am an Avanti High School student. When you work in the garden you feel as if you are doing something good for the community.

A Tribute to Seminar 2

Well, today was the end of Seminar 2 at Avanti High School.

The students of that seminar in the Sustainable Agriculture class will be sorely missed.  Their contributions to the Madison/Avanti Giving Garden and the Sagan Satellite were numerous.

And as a tribute to their efforts, here are a few snapshots of their labor:

Donated produce to Thurston County Food Bank

Harvest 4 lbs of tomatillos which made....

...El Salvadorian mango salsa! yum!

Saving seeds to plant next spring (^calendula seeds)

Discovered organisms in an organic garden (^isopod!)

Planted onions, garlic, and bulb flowers

Patting down the soil: these will be happy plants!

Scotch Broom: Plague or Pleasing To the Eye?

by D. C. 

            Cytisus scoparius, scotch broom, may be pleasing to the eye but what you don’t know is that is classified as a “Class B Noxious Weed”. The plant is native to the British Isles and Central Europe. What makes this plant so noxious is its difficulty to eradicate it partially due to its long-lived seed bank. Also because it has such a strong and  It is also toxic to humans, horses, and other livestock, it replaces native and beneficial plants to the current ecosystem and changes the chemical composition of the soil. The reason this plant was brought here was to prevent soil erosion and it is found all down Washington, British Columbia, Oregon and California, you mainly see it next to highways or in big open fields where it can spread like wildfire. Speaking of wildfires, it is also a potential fire hazard to the grasslands and rangeland it occupies. Scotch broom can be identified as a large, yellow flowered shrub with often green like stems. The seedpods are black or brown and very flat. When the plant is fully matured it will disperse its seeds as much as twenty feet away. A single plant can produce over 10,000 seeds per year, these plants start producing seeds after three years and usually live about 17 years, but can survive 25 years. The seeds themselves can remain viable in soil from five to SIXTY years. This is NOT a plant you want anywhere around your house. As appealing as this plant is to the eye, it is a dangerous plant and a invasive species. This plant causes “$100 million in agricultural and forestry losses, an enormous price to pay for some pleasant yellow flowers.” It is undoubtedly pretty, but you should not plant it in fear of an outbreak or spread of it, it will take over your entire yard, or the whole side of a highway.

Aspen Trees

by M. V.

I was recently on a horse packing trip in Eastern Washington. The air was much dryer and the plants are different than those I am used to seeing on the Western side of the state. I saw lots of pine needles and noticed unfamiliar trees such as Pine and Tamarack as well as others.  I came across an Aspen grove and was astounded by its beauty. It looked like a fairy land. It sounded as if hail was falling in the middle of summer when its leaves shook from the wind. I caught myself thinking about these trees after that trip and began to wonder what people use Aspen trees for.

             My first thought was that people used Aspen wood to build furniture because of its beautiful color. I found in my research that people do use Aspen wood for furniture making along with many other uses. Aspen is mainly used for making matches, wood shavings for animals, furniture, inside sauna’s and it has many medicinal properties. People do not typically use Aspen wood to heat their homes because it doesn’t produce heat due to its slow burn.

            I was particularly interested in learning about Aspen trees’ medicinal uses. The first thing I noticed was that Aspen has a chemical known as salicin that makes Aspen’s medicinal use very close to that of aspirin. According to WebMD, salicin has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Native American women commonly used Aspen leaves and bark for menstrual relief. Men can use Aspen for prostate problems. It is also used for nerve pain, fever reducing, joint problems, and bruising. Aspirin is used for inflammation and swelling. Aspen bark and leaves can produce the same effects. There are several references that Native Americans used the bark and leaves medicinally such as for eye washes and ear aches (medplant.nmsu.edu).

            Aspen has many more uses than just making beautiful furniture. When I think of my camping trip in the mountains, I now not only remember the beautiful Aspen groves I saw, but I now appreciate its uses that have been around for hundreds of years.

Butterflies and the Avanti/Madison Garden

by P. M.

Washington State boasts a wide variety of butterflies and moths. These two insects belong to the order Lepidoptera, of which moths are the majority. Due to climate change and the destruction of natural habitats taking place, many species are endangered, or worse, gone for good. Lepidopterists around the word even noted species have begun to migrate to places drastically outside of their normal habitat.  In the Pacific Northwest, more than 99% of the prairie land has been lost due to settlement. One of the butterflies’ singular to Washington and Oregon, the Taylor Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori), is dangerously close to becoming extinct, but unfortunately, the state offers no protection.

          

Butterflies are an important part of any ecosystem. Like bees, they primarily feed on flower nectar, but contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t stop there. They have also been known to eat plant sap, animal scat and urine, decomposing fruit, and even carrion. But, as nectar is their dominant source of nutrients, it creates the biggest impact on the environment. Butterflies unknowingly spread spores from each plant to another, thus helping pollinate plants, increase gene flow, and drive evolution.

Unfortunately, they aren’t always helpful. The Cabbage butterfly, or Pieris rapae, is one of the most common species of Lepidoptera in the world, and odds are, if you see a little white butterfly, that’s probably it. In Washington, it’s considered an invasive species. It is gregarious in its larvae stage, and is known to cause damage to plants in the mustard family, and, as the name implies, cabbage crop.

The Avanti/Madison garden helps provide more habitat for insects (some of them, alas, do more damage than good) which benefits itself, and hopefully, makes up for some of the territory that has been lost to contemporary developments. Even if it is only a tiny increment in comparison to the larger picture of the destruction of the natural biosphere, every garden helps.

Taylor’s Checkerspot
Dennis Aubrey, 2011

Interesting Facts about Lepidoptera:

·       There are over one million species.

·       Lepidoptera are cold blooded and need sunlight to warm the muscles which enable them to fly.  Some species can shiver to raise their body temperatures.

·       The scientific name ‘Lepidoptera’ means ‘scaly wing’ because butterflies and moths have rows of microscopic scales to cover the clear membrane of the wing. Some of the scales are ‘truly’ pigmented, while others create colour by refracting light.

·       The average lifespan of butterfly fauna is one to two weeks, but monarchs and some other species can live up to ten months.

·       Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita, was a collector and distinguished lepidopterist.

Source Cited

https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/species/Data/TaylorsCheckerspot/

Butterflies of Cascadia, by Robert Pyle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieris_rapae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphydryas_editha_taylori

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=climate-change-may-disrupt-monarch-butterfly-migration

http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/blog/2011/07/20/spp-launches-new-conservation-program-at-mcccw/