Initial Plant Write-Up

I wish to plant and harvest white sage.

• White sage is a perennial herb that is a part of the sunflower family.
• Native to Southern California.
• Drought resistant.
  
• It is best to plant in the fall. Do not plant in the summer.
  
• The flowers of the white sage bloom from August through September, however the plant actively grows in the spring and summer.
• White sage grows on dry, but well drained, sandy to rocky soils below 3500 m.

White sage can be divided from the cuttings of other pieces of white sage and replanted. I know of specific areas in east county that wild white sage grows. I can harvest the cuttings from these areas.

• For dividing the whole plant, gently loosen the soil around the plant, taking care to not damage the roots, and then lift the plant gently with a pitchfork; shake off as much soil from the roots as possible.
• Divide the plant into smaller pieces by hand, retaining only healthy, vigorous sections, each with new buds.
• The cut pieces should be replanted as soon as possible so that they do not dry out.
• The roots of the white sage should be spread out when replanted.
• White sage should be planted in full sunlight and the rooting zone should be kept somewhat moist while it is still becoming established.
• Should be planted on 12-18" centers.
• White sage can live in soil with pH levels from 6-9.
  

White sage is a medicinal herb that is sacred to most American Indian tribes. The burning and smudging of white sage is used to purify the mind, body and soul of sickness and bad spirits.

Sources

"Conservation Plant Characteristics for ScientificName (CommonName) | USDA PLANTS." Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. Web. 28 Jan. 2010. http://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=ARLU.

United States. United States Department of Agriculture. National Resources Conservation Services. USDA National Resources Conservation Services | Plant Guide | White Sage. USDA National Resources Conservation Services. Web. 27 Jan. 2010. http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_arlu.pdf.

"White Sage." Horizon Herbs-Organic growers of medicinal herb seeds, plants and organic vegetable seeds. Web. 28 Jan. 2010. http://www.horizonherbs.com/pilot.asp?pg=white_sage.

"White Sage Plant Guide | Salvia Apiana Plant Information | Garden Guides." Garden Guides, Your Guide to Everything Gardening. Web. 28 Jan. 2010. http://www.gardenguides.com/taxonomy/white-sage-salvia-apiana/.

Water Consumption & Conservation

Water is the most precious resource on the planet. Life on Earth could not exist without water. I plan to make a video that details the important role that water plays in our lives and the natural world. This video will not be a doomsday outlook in regards to our water use, but rather a critique of our water habits and how we can work to reduce our water footprint so that we can provide the next generation with enough water to survive.

The first portion of the video will explain the water cycle. About 97% of the water on earth is the salt water in the forms of oceans, seas & bays and the remaining 3% is fresh water in the forms of surface water, ground water, icecaps, glaciers, rivers, swamps and lakes. Only 1% of that fresh water is usable to humans. The water cycle is the process that recycles water on Earth. Salt water from the ocean makes the transformation to fresh water when it is heated by the sun and evaporates into the air. Air currents take the water vapor into the atmosphere where it is then condensed into clouds. Clouds then release the water as precipitation. Precipitation can take three possible paths: 1) freeze and accumulate in the forms of ice caps or glaciers 2) fall back into the ocean 3) fall onto land. Precipitation that falls onto land can flow over the ground as surface runoff, into lakes, swamps and rivers. Much of the surface runoff water seeps into the ground as infiltration. Over time the water eventually makes its way back into the ocean where the cycle will repeat.

The second portion of the video will break down the water use of the average American and the agricultural industry. This portion will also inform the audience of many ways that they can reduce their water footprint.

"The average family of four can use 400 gallons of water every day, and, on average, approximately 70 percent of that water is used indoors."

"The bathroom is the largest consumer of indoor water. The toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water. Almost every activity or daily routine that happens in the home bathroom uses a large quantity of water."

"A bathroom faucet generally runs at 2 gallons of water per minute. By turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving, a person can save more than 200 gallons of water per month."

"Older toilets use between 3.5 and 7 gallons of water per flush."

Sources

"Where is Earth's water located? USGS Water Science for Schools." USGS Georgia Water Science Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html. This source outlines the distribution of water on Earth (i.e. areas that contain salt water and areas that contain fresh water).

"The Water Cycle: Summary, from USGS Water Science." USGS Georgia Water Science Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html. This source outlines the water cycle.

"American Water Works Association – www.drinktap.org Home Water Information Conservation Water Use Statistics." Home. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. http://www.drinktap.org/consumerdnn/Home/WaterInformation/Conservation/WaterUseStatistics/tabid/85/Default.aspx. This source breaks down the common uses of water at home and the amount that they use.

"US Indoor Water Use | WaterSense | US EPA." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/indoor.html. This source lists several important facts regarding the average indoor use in the United States.

Farmer in Chief Reading and Discussion

Michael Pollen's article, Farmer in Chief, is a letter written to the President elect warning of the importance of the country's agricultural system and food industry, and the need for it to change in order to ensure a safer, healthier and more sustainable future. This was one of the most organized and flawless arguments that I have ever read.

During the socratic seminar our class seemed to focus on whether or not the government should be able to oversee the American people's diet and initiate changes that would benefit their health. Should the American people be given the responsibility to choose what they eat even if it does not benefit their health. During the discussion I made the comparison of the previous notion to the example of the U.S. government outlawing citizens from injecting harmful drugs and substances into their bodies. I believe that the U.S. government should reduce the number of subsidies that it provides for 'unhealthy' foods, and increase the number of subsidies for healthy food.

However with this suggestion comes another issue regarding the government's judgment. What exactly constitutes 'unhealthy' food? Should the healthiness of a food be judged on the number of calories that it contains? Or possibly the number of preservatives and additives that it contains. Pollen stated in his article, "We have traded quality for quantity." The American food system has been flooded with an array of foods that have lead to increased cases of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol. I believe both of these should be taken into consideration if the government were to initiate changes that would greatly limit the diet of American citizens.

I believe that the most immediate way toward a safer, healthier and more sustainable food system is for Americans to buy from local farmers and producers. The majority of local food producers tend to offer healthier alternatives to many of their regional counterparts that are using more sustainable methods of production. I support the idea of requiring all public schools to teach students to make healthy dietary choices.

Agriculture Family History

My family tree has featured several relatives who have had agricultural jobs. My grandfather on my mother's side of the family served in the forestry service for four years. Most of my relatives on my father's side of the family have grown corn and/or raised sheep, cattle or horses on the Navajo reservation.

What is one thing in the natural world that you are curious about?

I want to expand my knowledge of the evolutionary growth of redwood trees and the role they play in the environment. The enormity of these organisms never ceases to amaze me. What elements of their surrounding environment promoted their extraordinary growth and how long did it take this evolutionary leap? Where are other species of trees similar to redwoods found and how do their environments differ? What type of wildlife do redwood forests support? I hope to spend an extended amount of time studying redwood trees at some point in my life so that I may answer all of my questions pertaining to these colossal structures of nature.