Soil 2013 Grace A Kamryn Virginia

Organism of The Year:

Root Fungus

This year’s organism of the year is Root Fungus! When you think of fungus you probably think of fuzzy mold. Little do people know that fungus, specifically root fungus, mycorrhizae, is one of the most important organisms to keep soil healthy. Why is this a big deal, it’s just dirt you might ask? The incipient to everything is soil. Why is soil important to the life on earth? Soil sustains life; it grows food for almost every organism on earth. If there was no soil the food webs would collapse because there wouldn't be nutrients for plants, which would later affect the animals. Soil is home to plants, if we didn't have plants we wouldn't have firewood, paper to write on, oxygen to breathe. We wouldn't be able to eat anything, we would starve and die. Soil is one of the main reasons we know so much about history, it preserves precious artifacts. If there was never soil forest wouldn’t exist.

Which means no wood, no buildings, wood toys, fire or furniture.

Soil also makes a sturdy platform to build buildings on. Not only is it

helpful to human beings but also is home to billions of organisms. Did you know there’re over a billion organisms in a teaspoon of soil?

Soil also regulates carbon and greenhouse gasses. Soil is one of the things that we need to survive.

One of the world’s main problem is topsoil degradation. Soil loss is the wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind water or ice The implications of this are terrifying topsoil loss could mean the end of the human race, because our source of food would be gone.

In the future a huge food source would be cut out, and we wouldn't be able to eat; so we would eventually die out Many studies now show that topsoil degradation is happening due to human activities. This following information that is going to be shared is a secret in the Soil Preservers Association. One of the ways to prevent topsoil degradation is to compost and add organic matter.

Root Fungus is a type of fungi that live in the roots of plants. They

however are pretty different from decomposing fungi. One of the differences is they don’t have chloroplasts. What also makes them special is they don’t make their own food they get their food from the organisms they eat. They help the soil because they take carbon from plants directly to the soil. The more carbon in soil the more organic matter, which will help prevent soil loss. Root Fungi also are a big reason plants flourish because the fungus brings in more water and nutrient minerals.

This year we voted Root fungi as the organism of the year because of it’s helpful contributions it makes towards the worldwide problem of soil loss.“The miracle of the seed and the soil is not available by affirmation; it is only available by labor.”

Barbaric Yawp I battle this problem in life or death.

Whether to stand out

And bravely yell out my barbaric yaw p across the world.

But what would be left of me?

The last pieces earth did not take bac k from me, The last alive part of my body Soon to be delivered to the earth as nutrients.

How could that be?

-Kamryn G.

History of The Arlington Garden by: Virginia W. At the corner of Arlington Drive and Pasa- to see, and the consensus was that it dena Avenue, this Caltrans site has sat

would be passive, with no playing fields,

vacant for 40 years, awaiting the construc- parking lots or restrooms, but, no one

the McKenneys have planted nearly 400 trees and a huge variety of plants that will thrive in our Southern Californian climate.

tion of the 710 freeway. This is Arlington

was sure what direction the development

Sequoyah School, PHS Interact Club,

Garden. Arlington Garden is Pasadena’s

should take. It was suggested by Betty

Mayfield Senior School, and Westridge

only dedicated public garden. It is a three

McKenney, that it be a water wise, Medi-

School for Girls have all performed com-

acre botanical garden that changes with

terranean climate garden. Pasadena Beau-

munity service in this oasis. It is a part of

the seasons. It all started in 2003, when

tiful Foundation and the Mediterranean

Westridge’s curriculum and is visited

Caltrans and the City started to talk about

Garden Society provided valuable sup-

every year. This garden has grown so

what to do with the three acre vacant lot,

port. Neighbors of the soon to be garden

much from that vacant lot; it has earned

home to only two mature oaks, a jacaran-

donated funds, plants, and outdoor furni-

mentions in the LA Times and the Pasade-

da, a California Pepper, and five different

ture to get the garden up and running. In

na Star News, and the Quarterly and Ar-

varieties of palms. The community was

July, 2005, the first plants and trees were

royo magazines.

asked what development they would like

planted in Arlington Garden. Since then,

‫אני עכשיו בית‬ ‫ כדור הארץ לכדור‬.‫באמצע החיים אנחנו מוות‬ ‫ עפר לעפר‬,‫ אפר אל אפר‬,‫הארץ‬ -‫ שירות קבורה‬,‫ספר תפילות‬ ‫אני להיקבר‬ ‫אני רואה רק חושך‬ ‫אני יכול להרגיש את האדמה הלחה שהקיפה‬ ‫את הגוף שלי‬ ‫התולעים מתחילות לקנן בתעלות האוזן שלי‬ ‫העור שלי מתחיל להתפורר כמושבות של‬ ‫פטריות להתחיל לצרוך העור שלי‬ ‫חולדות מתחילות להתחפר בכלוב הצלעות שלי‬ ‫עכשיו אני בבית‬ ‫מעליי אני יכול להרגיש את צעדיו‬ ‫הם עושים על הקרקע לרעוד ולהפחיד את‬ ‫בעלי החיים‬ ‫אני יכול מתפלל לאלה שאבדו‬ ‫לוואי שיכולתי לנחם אותם‬ ‫תגיד להם שאני שמח‬ ‫עכשיו אני בבית‬ ~ ‫גרייס אולדריץ‬

In the midst of life we are death.

Earth to Earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust -Book of Common Prayer, Burial Service I am being buried I see nothing but darkness I can feel the moist soil surrounding my body The worms start to nest in my ear canals My skin starts to disintegrate as the colo nies of fungi start to consume my skin Rats start to burrow in my rib cage I am now a home Above me I can feel footsteps They make the ground shake and scare the animals I can hear them praying for their lost ones I wish I could comfort them Tell them I’m happy I am now a home ~Grace A

The Quad Tree Kamryn G. The historic oak tree on the Quad has been around since even before Westridge. As we all know, Westridge was built in 1913. But what you might not know is that Westridge was also built around that oak tree. Unfortunately, due to condition that the tree is in, the tree will soon be cut down. All of our history is behind that tree! The witness of everything since the beginning of this school. The tree has been in this condition for many years now. When we put in the grass, it caused overwatering to the tree from the sprinklers.

Barbaric Yawp First came the Earth, And with it, the tiniest unicellular organism s, From some of those, Tall, imposing trees grew, And from some, Humans grew.

Soil was there at the time of the dinosaur

s,

At the time of the Neanderthals, At the smallest of tribal battles, At the biggest of wars.

Soil has been through it all, And will be here for much longer than any It will see many more wars, And more battles, To come.

It will be here as long as the Earth, And we are all descended from it, It saw the beginning of us, And it will see the end. ~ Virginia

human,

My life as a Tree Someone plants a small seed in rich silt They water Me everyday In a week after trying to push I sprout out of the ground First comes one leaf then anoTher Before long I’m a little tree NotHing is around me As it rains I grow biggEr BefOre long I’m 6 feet tall Life is greAt 20 years later builders start to come I’m scared I don't Know what will happen There is now a lawn around me This isn’t what I'm used to Other trees are being planted Am I going to survive?

There is now a sprinkler system I’m getting over watered I don’t have long to live I am dying slowly....

Grace A

Letter from the editor by: Virginia

This magazine holds so much effort and work. We have worked hard to make it the best possible experience for our readers. This magazine is a tribute to the Soil Unit and all who helped with it. We learned a lot and put it to use in this.

harmony that you have to be hard pressed to create. It’s so beautiful that it seems almost endless, as if you could get lost if you walked there enough. You could visit it for an hour every day for a month, and still not have discovered all of it. The garden is beautiful and mysterious. It is ever changing and amazing.

In the Soil Unit we learned so much. My most memorable part was the Arlington Garden. It was beautiful and informative. It is such an oasis, a space that is separated, somehow, from the rest of the world. All of the flowers, trees, plants, birds, create a

Another memorable part was the tree walk. Although it was only part of a rotation, it was still very interesting, to me. I learned a lot about trees, like how to tell if a tree is healthy or not. Or, to do your homework before you plant a tree.

How to take care of a tree and

Dear Reader,

help it if it’s dying, and how to identify what kind if tree it is, with a leaf and a book. I loved walking around campus and seeing the trees.

The Soil Unit was amazing and I count myself lucky for being able to experience it. It was a great week and was really fun.

Letters From The Editors Dear Reader, I have learned so many things after a week of being taught about soil . Before this Unit I didn’t think about how important soil is. Little did I know that the incipient to everything is soil.

Why is soil important to the life on earth? Soil sustains life; it grows food for almost every organism on earth. If there was no soil the food webs would collapse because there wouldn't be nutrients for plants, which would later affect the animals. Soil is home to plants, if we didn't have plants our life would be in danger. Soil is one of the main reasons we know so much about history because it preserves precious artifacts. If there was never soil forests wouldn’t exist. Which means no wood, no buildings, wood toys, or furniture. Soil also makes a sturdy platform to build buildings on. Not only is it helpful to human beings but also is home to billions of organisms. Did you know there’re over a billion organisms in a teaspoon of soil? It also regulates carbon and greenhouse gasses. Soil is one of the things that we need to survive. One of my favorite my favorite things I did this unit was when we planted the herb garden outside the commons because I know it will help the Westridge community. When I was gardening in different locations of Westridge I could tell the difference between soils.

Overall I really enjoyed this unit because of all the interesting things that I didn’t know before. When I heard that we were doing the Soil Unit I was confused because I didn’t think soil was important except for walking on. Now I realize how wrong I was.

Grace A Dear Reader, Over the course of two weeks, we went on adventures around Pasadena and the school. We learned about soil and how important it was in our life. How the bud of life sprouts from soil. Through this magazine, we hoped 5to accomplish our goal of teaching you what we have learned ourselves. We have improved our magazine for you, adding fun poems, stories, and pictures! One of our adventures we wanted to tell you was planting, and making our compost bin. In one day, we planted flowers, herbs, and fruits, in pots. Then we made a worm compost bin. We went through struggles with the icky nematodes for you! We hope you enjoy this magazine!

Kamryn G.

Above me there is a tile sun, It glows with yellows and reds, Framed with blue, blue sky.

Somewhere, A bird chirps, Loudly and clearly.

The orange blossom next to smells sweet, And it is sweltering, It is as if its petals are on fire.

Each individual apricot frond, Is layered with silk.

The slate stones on the walk,

Above Me

Are ashen and smoky.

I hear black and white birds pecking at trees It sounds as if someone is knocking on a window begging for entrance I see palm tree fronds swaying gently in the wind The sun is shining through the fronds glaring in my eyes The sky is a magical blue scattered with wispy clouds So perfect you might think it was a painting I can faintly hear footsteps from across the garden As I look towards the horizon a tiny tree This tree has thin branches that dance with the rhythm of the wind The tree is a light green like a tree frog I can smell the aroma of the purple flower that is lightly brushing my cheek I can feel it getting darker as I enter the shadow of a bush As I walk I stop and feel a plant waxy like a banana peel When I turn to my right I see a tree that looks like a skeleton At the base is a blanket of purple flowers Enjoy the simple things in life, for those are the greatest

It is late afternoon, And there is no shade to be seen, The bright sunlight surrounding me.

I am in my own little, idle world. ~ Virginia W.

~Grace A.