Digging Deeper
A garden is any space with soil where fruits and vegetables can grow. Simple, right? Well, I suggest you dig a little deeper. Think of what plants are...they are alive. All living organisms require unique things from the environment in order to stay alive. Imagine a huge farm where different varieties of fruits and vegetables are, randomly, placed - each plant needing different things from the environment in order to survive. Caring for that garden wouldn't be easy. When organisms are forced to compete, someone always loses. Plants are known to strangle or starve each other over something as simple as water. In order to plant a successful garden, you need to prevent competition and create a non-threatening environment. Plant companions are plants that grow well together. If plants need different things from the soil in an effort to stay alive, they will make good companions. Plants that don't grow well together are, most likely, competing over the same nutrients. The main focus of this unit is the science of gardening. The class is called "FOOD" and is part of my S.T.E.A.M. course. As I progress through the term, I will dig deeper into the question: Where does food come from?
⸺⸺⸺⸺
OUTDOOR SPACE
The location I chose for my garden is the back patio of my home. The space is large (256 ft²) and gets great sun exposure throughout the day.
BACK PATIO
16 ft x 16 ft = 256 ft²
The three vessels I chose to plant my garden in are:
- (2) 48”L x 10”W x 10”H flower boxes
- (4) 5 gallon buckets
- (1) 84”L x 48"W x 8"H garden bed
⸺⸺⸺⸺
TOTAL VOLUME OF SOIL
In order to know the total volume of soil I needed, I first calculated the volume of each individual vessel. I did this by using the equation: Volume = Length x Width x Height. Since the buckets are not perfect cylinders and become narrow towards the bottom, I researched how many cubic inches are in one US gallon - 231 cubic inches - and multiplied by 5 to find the volume for five gallons. After calculating the volume of each vessel, I multiplied by how many vessels I had of each type, then added all three results to get the total volume of soil for the garden.
(2) FLOWER BOXES: Length: 48in, Width: 10in, Height: 10in
Shape: Rectangular Prism
Volume: 48in x 10in x 10in = 4,800 in³ x 2 = 9,600 in³
(4) BUCKETS: 5 gallons each (231 cubic inches in one US gallon)
Shape: Cylinder
Volume: 231 in³/gallon x 5 gallons = 1,155 in³ x 4 = 4,620 in³
GARDEN BED: Length: 84in, Width: 48in, Height: 8in,
Shape: Rectangular Prism
Volume: 84in x 48in x 8in = 32,256 in³
9,600 in³ + 4,620 in³ + 32,256 in³ = 46,476 in³
TOTAL SOIL = 46,476 in³
⸺⸺⸺⸺
TOP LAYER OF SOIL
In order to know the total area for the top layer of soil, I calculated the surface area of each vessel using the equation: Area = Length x Width. For the buckets, I used the diameter of the opening to find the area of the circle: Area = 𝞹r². Once again, I multiplied the results with the number of vessels I had of each type, and added all three values together to get the total top layer of soil.
(2) FLOWER BOXES: 48 in x 10 in = 480 in² x 2 = 960 in²
GARDEN BED: Length: 84in, Width: 48in
84in x 48in = 4,032 in² / 144 = 28 ft²
6.67 ft² + 2.76 ft² + 28 ft² = 37.43 ft²
Nitrogen (N) = 33
Phosphorus (P) = 24
Potassium (K) = 177 - (C.E.C) 18
⸺⸺⸺⸺
QUOTE
I was inspired by a quote from Ron Finely's TED Talk - Ron Finley: A Guerilla Gardener in South Central LA. Ron lived in a neighborhood where healthy food wasn't readily available. Ron said, "When you grow your own food, you grow your own money" (Finley 2013). This quote can mean any or all of the following:
1.) Having a garden is like having a little Whole Foods in your own backyard where the food is free.
2.) If you grow enough healthy food, there will always be people willing to buy it.
3.) You are what you eat! Eating healthy means you will stay healthy. If you stay healthy, you won't have big medical bills.
⸺⸺⸺⸺
4 PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL FARMING
The famous Japanese farmer and author of the book "One Straw Revolution," Masanobu Fukuoka, uses natural farming to grow crops. Natural farming is based on four principles. The four principles of natural farming are: no cultivation, no pesticides, no chemicals, and no fertilizer (Fukuoka 1978). For this gardening project, I am only following half of Fukuoka's four principles - no pesticides and no chemicals. The reason I am breaking from the other two principles is because I am using supplements for my soil, and I have carrots to cultivate.
⸺⸺⸺⸺
CONCLUSION
After digging a little deeper, you now know gardens are more than just plants and top soil. From seed to sprout, making sure your plants meet their nutritional requirements means YOU will meet YOUR nutritional requirements. Natural farming is a gardening philosophy that works with nature to produce healthy food. This method of farming, in turn, keeps our bodies and land healthy. By arranging your garden with natural plant companions and nitrogen fixers, your garden will thrive without interference from competitors or malnourishment.
Hooser, Tamara Christine Van. “What Kinds of Vitamins Do Plants Need?” Home Guides | SF Gate, 7 Oct. 2016, homeguides.sfgate.com/kinds-vitamins-plants-need-49591.html.
Finley, Ron. “A Guerilla Gardener in South Central LA.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, Feb. 2013, www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.
Fukuoka, Masanobu. The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming. Emmaus: Rodale Press, 1978. Print.
⸺⸺⸺⸺
OUTDOOR SPACE
The location I chose for my garden is the back patio of my home. The space is large (256 ft²) and gets great sun exposure throughout the day.
BACK PATIO
16 ft x 16 ft = 256 ft²
The three vessels I chose to plant my garden in are:
- (2) 48”L x 10”W x 10”H flower boxes
- (4) 5 gallon buckets
- (1) 84”L x 48"W x 8"H garden bed
⸺⸺⸺⸺
TOTAL VOLUME OF SOIL
In order to know the total volume of soil I needed, I first calculated the volume of each individual vessel. I did this by using the equation: Volume = Length x Width x Height. Since the buckets are not perfect cylinders and become narrow towards the bottom, I researched how many cubic inches are in one US gallon - 231 cubic inches - and multiplied by 5 to find the volume for five gallons. After calculating the volume of each vessel, I multiplied by how many vessels I had of each type, then added all three results to get the total volume of soil for the garden.
(2) FLOWER BOXES: Length: 48in, Width: 10in, Height: 10in
Shape: Rectangular Prism
Volume: 48in x 10in x 10in = 4,800 in³ x 2 = 9,600 in³
(4) BUCKETS: 5 gallons each (231 cubic inches in one US gallon)
Shape: Cylinder
Volume: 231 in³/gallon x 5 gallons = 1,155 in³ x 4 = 4,620 in³
GARDEN BED: Length: 84in, Width: 48in, Height: 8in,
Shape: Rectangular Prism
Volume: 84in x 48in x 8in = 32,256 in³
9,600 in³ + 4,620 in³ + 32,256 in³ = 46,476 in³
TOTAL SOIL = 46,476 in³
⸺⸺⸺⸺
TOP LAYER OF SOIL
(2) FLOWER BOXES: 48 in x 10 in = 480 in² x 2 = 960 in²
960 in² / 144 = 6.67 ft²
(4) BUCKETS: 11.25 in diameter
11.25 in / 2 = 5.625 in
A = 3.14 x (5.625 in)²
99.40 in² x 4 = 397.61 in² / 144 = 2.76 ft²
(4) BUCKETS: 11.25 in diameter
11.25 in / 2 = 5.625 in
A = 3.14 x (5.625 in)²
99.40 in² x 4 = 397.61 in² / 144 = 2.76 ft²
GARDEN BED: Length: 84in, Width: 48in
84in x 48in = 4,032 in² / 144 = 28 ft²
6.67 ft² + 2.76 ft² + 28 ft² = 37.43 ft²
TOTAL TOP LAYER OF SOIL = 37.43 ft²
⸺⸺⸺⸺
GARDEN + SUPPLEMENTS
NITROGEN:
37.43 ft² x 4 lbs = 149.72 ft²/lb / 100 ft² = 1.49 lbs
PHOSPHOROUS:
37.43 ft² x 2 lbs = 74.86 ft²/lb / 100 ft² = 0.74 lbs
POTASSIUM:
37.43 ft² x 0.5 lbs = 18.71 ft²/lb / 100 ft² = 0.18 lbs
A supplement is something that completes something else when added to it. "The macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium wash out of the soil over time requiring soil enrichment with fertilizer to restore the balance and help plants attain their best growth potential" (Hooser 2016). Based on the plants I chose, these are the supplement amounts my garden needs in order to be nutritionally balanced.
⸺⸺⸺⸺
GARDEN + SUPPLEMENTS
Illustrations by SN - 4/25/2018
My garden is a good example of commensalism, which is a symbiotic relationship where one set of organisms benefits and another set of organisms isn't affected in any way. As you can see, there is a flower called "nasturtium". The reason why I put it with all the vegetables is because it is a "nitrogen fixer". A nitrogen fixer is a plant that uses energy to create nitrogen for nutrients for the other plants. It doesn't affect the nasturtium at all though, that is why we have supplements. The soil for each garden has to be supplemented with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. On the left you can see my chosen supplements. The data down below shows the quantity per amount needed for the soil.NITROGEN:
37.43 ft² x 4 lbs = 149.72 ft²/lb / 100 ft² = 1.49 lbs
PHOSPHOROUS:
37.43 ft² x 2 lbs = 74.86 ft²/lb / 100 ft² = 0.74 lbs
POTASSIUM:
37.43 ft² x 0.5 lbs = 18.71 ft²/lb / 100 ft² = 0.18 lbs
Nutrient
|
Product / Supplement
|
Quantity per 100ft2
|
Quantity per Your Amount
|
Nitrogen
|
Fish Meal
|
4 lbs
|
1.49 lbs
|
Phosphorus
|
Soft Rock Phosphate
|
2 lbs
|
0.74 lbs
|
Potassium
|
Sulfate
|
(C.E.C) 15 or Higher - 0.5 lbs
|
0.18 lbs
|
A supplement is something that completes something else when added to it. "The macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium wash out of the soil over time requiring soil enrichment with fertilizer to restore the balance and help plants attain their best growth potential" (Hooser 2016). Based on the plants I chose, these are the supplement amounts my garden needs in order to be nutritionally balanced.
Nitrogen (N) = 33
Phosphorus (P) = 24
Potassium (K) = 177 - (C.E.C) 18
⸺⸺⸺⸺
QUOTE
I was inspired by a quote from Ron Finely's TED Talk - Ron Finley: A Guerilla Gardener in South Central LA. Ron lived in a neighborhood where healthy food wasn't readily available. Ron said, "When you grow your own food, you grow your own money" (Finley 2013). This quote can mean any or all of the following:
1.) Having a garden is like having a little Whole Foods in your own backyard where the food is free.
2.) If you grow enough healthy food, there will always be people willing to buy it.
3.) You are what you eat! Eating healthy means you will stay healthy. If you stay healthy, you won't have big medical bills.
⸺⸺⸺⸺
4 PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL FARMING
The famous Japanese farmer and author of the book "One Straw Revolution," Masanobu Fukuoka, uses natural farming to grow crops. Natural farming is based on four principles. The four principles of natural farming are: no cultivation, no pesticides, no chemicals, and no fertilizer (Fukuoka 1978). For this gardening project, I am only following half of Fukuoka's four principles - no pesticides and no chemicals. The reason I am breaking from the other two principles is because I am using supplements for my soil, and I have carrots to cultivate.
⸺⸺⸺⸺
CONCLUSION
After digging a little deeper, you now know gardens are more than just plants and top soil. From seed to sprout, making sure your plants meet their nutritional requirements means YOU will meet YOUR nutritional requirements. Natural farming is a gardening philosophy that works with nature to produce healthy food. This method of farming, in turn, keeps our bodies and land healthy. By arranging your garden with natural plant companions and nitrogen fixers, your garden will thrive without interference from competitors or malnourishment.
"As you have sown, so shall you reap." - Marcus Tullius Cicero
⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺
CITATIONS
Hooser, Tamara Christine Van. “What Kinds of Vitamins Do Plants Need?” Home Guides | SF Gate, 7 Oct. 2016, homeguides.sfgate.com/kinds-vitamins-plants-need-49591.html.
Finley, Ron. “A Guerilla Gardener in South Central LA.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, Feb. 2013, www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.
Fukuoka, Masanobu. The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming. Emmaus: Rodale Press, 1978. Print.
Comments
Post a Comment