Jamie Adi Seo Hyung

Soil is important to life on earth because it houses many necessary organisms we need in order to live, for example, the soil is home to decomposers and decomposers break down dead or decaying organisms. Soil is one of the most important resources. It enables us to grow food, soil is the home for other plants and organisms, it soaks up excess water, and it is used as the foundation for building structures. (see more on page 4) .

As Doe Zanatamata said, “What you see depends on how you see the world. To most people, this is just dirt.

To a farmer, it’s potential.” It all depends on how you look at soil, or anything really! Soil is important and some people take it for granted.

Unfortunately for us, at the moment there is a serious issue called topsoil loss or degradation. You may think it’s not that important because you’re only losing the top layer, but the top layer has many important nutrients and the lack of nutrients weakens the structure of the soil and this forces the water to distribute unevenly.

For this years Organism of the Year we chose the remarkable root fungus. Root fungus is a type of Mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizae includes many of the major fungal groups in the Fungus Kingdom. There are 7 different types of mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae is a symbiotic relationship between plants and fun-

gi. More than 80% of plants are in a symbiotic relationship with root fungus.

Most of these plants are crops, mosses, and ferns. Both the plant and the fungi benefit.

The plant benefits because when the fungi colonize at the base of the plant, it gives the plant and increased amount of water and nutrient absorption.

On the other hand, the fungi benefits because the plants provides the fungi with carbohydrates leftover from photosynthesis. Fungi are heterotrophic organisms, so the fungi relies on the host plant to provide what the fungi needs to survive. The fungi retrieves nutrients and water from the soil, which it distributes to the plant when the soil conditions are not good. The root fungi’s hyphae act as a second root system for the host plant. This allows the plant to absorb more nutrients and water. The hyphae store the water and nutrients that they retrieve from the ground, and then distribute them to the plants’ roots when the soil conditions are bad. This gives the plant a

very sustainable nutrient supply. In fossils, scientists have seen symbiotic relationships between the plant and mycorrhizal fungi. This has lead them to believe that the fungi enabled the first plants to live on land, rather than in water.

This is where it all starts, the soil.

And then lands the seed, ready to be born into a new life.

Then the sprout, a symbol of life, health.

And from this sprout comes life, comes beauty.

And all that’s left for us to do is, nurture it, and keep it healthy

And then there’s the rain, nurturing the soil and seed to be able to birth a beautiful; child.

And this is where creativity comes ihn, it helps this beautiful life alive.

And if we all pitch in, we can create a beautiful world beyond our imaginations

Soil is one of the three most important natural resources. Soil is made up of minerals that come from rocks, organic matter that comes from plants, and the living organisms that live in the soil. Soil is the home to many different species. Most of the species are decomposers and decomposers help us as humans. Soil also regulates water flow and is also necessary for plants, food, water, and oxygen. Soil is the foundation of buildings and is part of the circle of life.

There were two different types of soil that we looked at, the dry one and the fertile one.

Under the microscope, the dry soil didn’t have many organisms in it, however, the fertile soil was rich and had different moving organisms in it. Before we looked at the soil under a

microscope, I could already tell that the fertile soil had more living organisms in it because it had more things to survive while the dry soil looked dead and had a similar feeling to sand.

This lab didn’t need many materials, all you needed were different types of soil and a microscope! First you would collect your soil sample and then look at them under a microscope! Easy! You can even come up with your own experiment! Send us a couple photos of you doing your experiment and you could be featured in our next magazine!

After 40 years vacancy, the City of Pasadena and Caltrans contemplated the possible uses of the lot at the corner of Arlington Drive and Pasadena Avenue. Some of the first suggestions were, “it should be passive, with no playing fields, parking lots or restrooms.� Betty Mckenney proposed that they develop a water wise garden appropriate for the Mediterranean climate we have here in California.

With more extensive research, many people were hooked on the idea. Along with donations from Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, the Mediterranean Garden Society, and friends and neighbors, the Cal Poly Pomona students, Pasadena Water and Power, and the McKenneys worked together to achieve their dream.

First, the lot was drowned in mulch, and an irrigation system was installed. By 2005,

the first plants and trees were planted. Since then, the McKenneys have planted approximately 400 trees in addition to drought-tolerant plants. Scattered throughout the garden are pots, umbrellas, paths, and even a labyrinth. The garden has been recognized by the LA Times, The Quarterly, and Pasadena Star News. Many local schools including Westridge have done community service there. One of these projects was the labyrinth, built by girls from Mayfield Senior School.

Here When you were young, you differed from today.

There were no large structures pressing you, into compact earth.

Then there was stillness and long peaceful days.

Now, there is chaos and no peace in sight.

There were no battle wounds, or black water.

One day, hopefully I will be able to sink into your gentle hands And not have to worry about being lost.

I will always be there for others to find.

This is the way it should be.

That’s what we should spend our short days doing.

I wonder what is coming.

What will come of the turning

of the soil.

The turning of our generations.

Until then, I look across the horizon, and try to find peace.

Even with the still soil and the chaotic wind.

I can find this place.

-Adi

the wonders down below my soccer cleats make indentations in the ground the ball speeds across the field flattening each blade of grass in its path the game is over i lug my bag towards the car my legs heavy, they follow behind my cleats dragging in the grass i ponder how does the soil renew itself before we come to ruin it again i might know, and i reach for my science notes the humus (dead grass) sifts into the top layer replenishing the soil with much needed nutrients

fertilization, an embryo forms easy peasy next time you walk upon this forgotten world appreciate the wonders that occur down below -Jamie

Where I’m From People hide in darkness, so they don’t get hurt.

While I got pushed into shadows, and no one bothered to look.

I stayed in the shadows, to hide from the fear, turns out it was already here.

I hide in the corners, to try to get away.

Out come the tears, part of the silent language of misery.

But the tears hit the ground, and out come the plants, for everything bad must lead to something better.

The flowers start to sprout, and the sun comes out.

The darkness is gone, nowhere near.

But all good things must come to an end.

The flowers are dying, the fallen petals covering the unknown.

The plants go back into the ground.

I wish to go with them.

I try to soak in to the rich and dark soil.

I knew I couldn’t go back with the plants.

I had a different destiny.

I wasn’t ready to go back To where had I come from.

So I start to get up and walk on my own.

Out of the darkness, not alone.

-Seo

Outside, feeling the cool fresh breeze on my face.

Looking up, I see pomegranates, yet smell cherries.

I walk towards the suspicious fruit, As I hesitantly smell it.

Evil fruit!

It’s going to bite me.

It’s just a fruit though.

I’ll be alright.

How were fruit made?

Who made them?

Why? -Seo Hyung Kwak

running out of ink. i’m in an upside down world. above me, the trees reach for the clouds, they sway reluctantly in the wind. i turn my head to peer into a dark forest, home of the bees and the bugs. my pen is running out of ink. but is my work here finished?

No. a branch slithers out of its pot, but it is cut short. Literally, the branch comes to a vicious halt. too many journeys have been cut short. here i go again, running out of ink.

-Jamie

Pipes and Poppies Why do I sit here? among pipes and poppies, among birds, among bees, and flowers? among sight and sound.

The nosey bee zipping past my ear, as if to want to know how my day went, only to land on flowerand forget me.

Never to touch the pitted ground that I trample with my human feet.

Nosey bee, may you forget me.

I will never forget you, the glowing creature that nobody knows of except me.

I know why I sit here.

All I am unsure of is why here alone, in the beautiful, vast desert

only knowing bee and poppie.

Why don’t you come sit with me?

-Adi

Dear Reader, As I write this, the year for Get the Dirt is coming to an end. We are wrapping up the year with some great stories and amazing photography. For this issue, we have been going all over Los Angeles to find some great stories. And we have done just that.

This Month it has been extremely fun to explore the great world of soil. We have only focused on that. I guess you could call this month the Soil Unit. Our team has gone to the ends of the earth to find all of this information. We have gone on guided hikes, visited the beautiful Arlington Gardens, explored the beautiful Westridge School for girls campus.

There have been some wonderful helping hands along the way, including the amazing Leigh Adams. She is an expert in the field, quite literally. She works at the Arboretum in Pasadena, California. She has a kind and determined heart. My fellow editors and I went on an educating tree walk with her. We learned about the different things that are harming the 12 million+ Californian trees that have died in the past three years. It is very inspiring to be in her presence along with the other professionals whom we have spoken with.

We also learned from some of our other teachers about the food deserts near us. We learned that a lot of people don’t get the choice to eat healthy food. Either they can’t afford it, they don’t have access, or all of the above. We went to the Ron Finley Garden in South Central LA. We spoke to Ron Finley and he is quite the remarkable person. He is a middle aged african american man that has done a lot of good in his life. He grew a garden

in a long stretch of grass in the front of his house. He ran into some legal issues but barreled through them. He has been planting gardens all over LA since then.

I also found the part about how you can decompose at home, led by Iesha Wadala, particularly interesting. She spoke a lot about the benefits and what you can do to make your own compost bin. She was really great to talk to. After her spiel, my friend and I made up a complex decompomposing mechanism, she really inspired us. Overall, the making of this issue was really a great learning experience for me and I think for the rest of my editing team.

Stay Healthy, Adi, Editor and Illustrator

Dear Readers, Over the course of the Soil Unit, we have learned many different things and gone to many different places. We went on many field trips, but the ones that I remembered most were when we went to Southern Los Angeles and when we went to Rubio Canyon. When we visited Southern Los Angeles we saw Ron Finley. Ron Finley is known for planting a garden on city property, but the property wasn’t used for anything, so he put it to good use. Ron Finley lives in a food desert which means that he lived where food wasn’t as easily attainable. At the gar-

den, we talked about what a food desert was, we took pictures and we ate some of his food as well. We went to his backyard and what I saw was an empty swimming pool with graffiti on the walls. I was upset that we left so soon, but I was glad that I had witnessed such a great garden and a great person.

Rubio Canyon was also amazing. I learned how to use mulch. It was a great experience with many fun parts. I fell a couple times, but that didn’t stop me or any of us to mulch more plants. Mulching plants helps it more because then you don’t have to water it as much and it gets the water to the actually plant instead of it going to other plants and weeds. At the end of the day, I was dirty and tired, but I was happy because I helped the plants and all together it was a great experience!

Although we didn’t talk much about our short visits to other places in our articles our next issue will include more information on Food Deserts and the places we visited. Don’t forget to read the next issue of Get The Dirt! Don’t forget, spend less; grow more!

Seo Hyung, Editor of Get The Dirt

Dear Readers, The Soil Unit has opened my eyes to the beauty of this magnificent necessity, while also exposing me to the serious issues that accompany it. Soil is a quite perplexing material; it replenishes itself after each wave of humans stopping all over it. The soil unit has presented me with countless opportunities to

learn about the structure of soil and many opportunities to marvel at its complexity. For example, outstretched in the Arlington Gardens, I had time to appreciate the organisms and plants around me, and I expressed my ideas through a poem.

Field trips were also a fantastic way to interest me in what we had been learning about inside the classroom, and it was awesome to take my knowledge outside the classroom. My favorite field trip was to Ron Finley’s home and garden. I was most impacted when he said, “My garden is my art.” I think this is so true and beautiful; not only is gardening useful, but it can also be a way of expressing oneself. I was also impacted when he said, “You’re all me. You don’t need me to do something like this. You can do this too.” I appreciated his modesty and that he made sure we knew that we could develop something just as plentiful and luscious as his garden without needing his help or instruction. I agree that it’s important that people know how easy it is to grow their own food, and that they know the benefits of eating that locally grown food. I also immensely enjoyed the stations that we went through with the guests. At each station I learned something new and very interesting! I learned several ways I can help enrich my soil and save water at home!

I also learned that I should remove the rocks around my Oak tree because they are not helping it! Writing this magazine has been a majestic adventure in which I’ve grown closer to my surroundings, learned more about my part in maintaining the earth, and I’ve had a whole bunch of fun along the way.

Jamie , Editor of Get the Dirt

How Healthy Are You? Which do you prefer?

1. an apple 2. doritos 3. fruit snacks How much water do you drink a day?

1. 8 or more glasses 2. 1-3 glasses 3. 4-6 glasses Where do you go if you need a quick snack or meal?

1. jamba juice 2. Mcdonald’s 3. subway When you have a choice, what do you drink?

1. water 2. soda 3. a starbucks refresher When you order food, what side do you get?

1. a side of fruit 2. a side of fries 3. 3. a side of mac n cheese.

If you got mostly 1s, you are doing great! You know what you should be putting into your body! If you got mostly 2, you definitely need to switch things up! If you got mostly 3s, you are doing ok, but you could do better! Incorporate my fruits and vegetables into your diet!