Garden-Based Learning at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, CA

Belief in garden-based learning is not new. In fact the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the 1700s and the educator Maria Montessori in the early 20th Century recognized the value of the garden as a tool. by 1914 there was even a federal government agency created to advocate and provide support for youth gardens. In recent years, school garden programs have increased dramatically in number and diversity, fueled by rising awareness of the serious consequences of childhood obesity and diet-related disease, such as Type 2 Diabetes.

The rise in school garden programs also reflect the adoption of federal school wellness policies and public concerns about where our food comes from. Research shows that participation in garden programs brings benefits for students by increasing their healthy eating habits, cooperative abilities, social skills, and academic achievement.

California continues to be a national leader in the school garden movement, and the training and support provided by Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) staff has been the wellspring for many of the pioneer programs in Bay Area schools, including the Edible Schoolyard. A wealth of information on school gardens and garden-based learning can be found at the California School Garden Network website at http://www.csgna.org. 

California School Garden Network

School gardens are a powerful means of instilling lifelong environmental and nutritional literacy among children. These gardens can serve as living laboratories for hands-on exploration and learning, and seed saving can be a strong component of teaching ecoliteracy. The outdoor classroom fosters critical thinking skills and increases retention rate in man subject areas, including math, social studies, science, nutrition, and geography.

 

Garden and seed saving bring nature to children at a scale that can fully engage them. To fully understand the profound concepts expressed in this simple poem requires a depth of interaction with and knowledge about the natural world that few of us now experience.

 

 

'We feel by the moon'

 

We move by the stars

We eat from the earth

We drink from the rain

We breathe of the air

We live in all things

All things live in us

 

~ Author Unknown

 

 

To really understand this poem means that students know that because seeds are 95 percent water, they are affected by the moon's gravitational pull and experience miniature tides inside them. Seeds drink from the rain and respire. Many cultures plant by moon cycles. Seeds are a source of food for many animals, birds and insects; they provide a concentrated source of protein and carbohydrates. Seeds have co-evolved with humans, and it can be said that we live in them and they in us. The idea that plants convey meaning and therefore can offer light to an attentive person is a commonly held belief in much of the world.

 

 

Indoor Air Pollution & Plants

In our world of energy efficient houses and office buildings sealed against the elements, it is alarming to find the number of pollutants that are constant roommates. Copy machines and printers, rug pads, insulation and other synthetic materials, veneer furniture, products made of pressed wood and plywood, smoke, and detergents all give off pollutants, such as benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, ammonia and formaldehyde. Studies by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) indicate that indoor air pollution is one of the fastest growing environmental problems.

How can we reduce these troubling substances in our lives? Plants reduce indoor pollution and therefore provide us with a healthier physical atmosphere. They absorb pollutants through their leaves, where naturally occurring microorganisms break down the chemicals. Some absorption and breakdown also occurs in potting soil.

The original research on plant filtering began with NASA, where the need to find ways to reduce the high amount of pollutants emitted by equipment on the space shuttle was discovered. Researchers as the National Space Technology Lab found that houseplants reduced pollutants, particularly nitrogen and formaldehyde. In fact, just a single spider plant in an enclosed chamber filled with formaldehyde removed 85 percent of the pollutant in a day. As few as 15 plants can significantly reduce pollutants in the average house. The study suggested that we use one potted plant for every 100 square feet of floor space for pollution control.

Besides controlling gaseous pollution in the home, plant leaves clean air by trapping particulate matter. And, in their natural process of respiration, plants absorb our waste product ~ carbon dioxide ~ and furnish us oxygen and moisture. The old myth about avoiding plants in the bedroom because they use up air couldn't be further from the truth.


Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution & The Best Absorbers:

Formaldehyde:
Carpeting, pressed wood, fiberboard, foam insulation, paper products
Best Absorbers:
Bamboo Palm, Dracaena, Golden Pothos, Philodendron, Sansevieria, Spider plant

Hydrocarbons:
Vynl furniture, detergents, fabric softener
Best Absorber: Spider plant

Nitrogen Dioxide:
Malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters, leaking chimneys
Best Absorber: Spider plant

Benzene:
Glue, spot remover, paint, varnish, paint stripper
Best Absorbers: Dracaena, English Ivy, Spathiphyllum

Methylene Chloride:
Paint stripper, aerosols
Best Absorber: Spider plant

Trichloroethylene:
Ink, paint, lacquer, varnish, adhesive
Best Absorbers: Dracaena, Spathiphyllum



Resources:

Indoor Web Ring ~ a ring of web pages dedicated to indoor growing.
Indoor Web Ring


Informative Further Reading:

The Royal Horticultural Society
Encyclopedia of House Plants
London: Century Publishing. 1987.

The Indoor Garden
John Brookes
New York: Crown Publishers. 1986.

Anti-Aging: Ayurvedic Treatments and Home Remedy

Ayurveda and Yoga says that a normal human being should live 120 years, and through Sadhana (Routine practice of certain physical activities) one can prolong his life well past 160. While this concept was ridiculed by the western medicine, today the modern science accepts the fact that human beings should live 120 years or more. Human life span is solely determined by the number of times cells can replicate. It is genetically predetermined and researchers conclude that based on that concept a man should live 120 years or more.

Though humans are designed to live over 120 years, the average life span hovers around 70.  The reason for this is the deterioration of cells and tissues caused mainly because of the free radicals. These free radicals are oxidizing agents created in our system due to metabolism, toxins, pollutants, metals and so on. To combat this our body needs anti-oxidants. Too much of stress and insufficient supply of anti-oxidants increases the speed of aging. Ayurveda prescribes certain herbs to combat this accelerated aging, coupled with certain yoga asanas, people can effectively fight quick aging and regain their youth and vitality.
Most of the anti-aging herbs mentioned here are safe for prolonged usage.

Anti Aging Herbal Supplements

1. Indian Gooseberry (Amla, Phyllanthus Emblica)
Indian gooseberries are one of the richest sources of vitamin c (contains 720 mg of vitamin C per 100 gm of fruit) . It has 20 times more Vitamin C than oranges  However the herbal benefits of the Indian gooseberries are not restricted to vitamin c alone, it also has immune boosting and anti-aging benefits. It is a powerhouse of nutrients, learn more about Indian Gooseberries (Amla)

2. Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)
Ashwagandha is an important herb in Ayurveda and has been in use for thousands of years in curing several diseases like ulcers, inflammations and impotence. The important constituents of ashwaganda are alkaloids and steroidal lactones like tropine and cuscohygrine.  Ashwagandha’s leaf extract boosts our Immune system and increase T-cell generation. The chemical agents in ashwagandha relieves the body of stress and oxidative degeneration. It is an excellent anti-aging supplement which detoxifies the body and controls inflammation and arthritis.

3. Guduchi – Tinospora Cordiofolia (Indian Tinospora)
Guduchi is generally used in Ayurveda to treat diabetes. However in addition Guduchi is used to strengthen the body and as an immunomodulator. It increases vitality and longevity.

4. Yashtimadhu (Licorice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra)
The rhizomes of Yashtimadhu is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants and this supplement rejuvenates and protects the liver and increases cell growth and cellular health. It is prescribed by Ayurveda to control pre-mature aging.

5. Garlic (Allium Sativum)
Garlic is a prohibited food in yogic diet (the sattvik diet), however it is considered as a powerful medicine by ayurveda for certain conditions. It is prescribed for issues related to cardiovascular system and to overcome premature aging. It has enormous amounts of anti-oxidants  and important compounds like allicin and diallyl sulphide.

6. Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna)
This again is prescribed for heart related issues, but this herb also acts as an anti-aging herb.

7. Centella Asiatica (Vallarai, Brahmi)
Centella asiatica is a very important herb in both Ayurveda and Siddha systems. It is longevity herb, it is one of the most powerful adaptogens, it improves memory and controls mental fatigue and oxidative stress. It improves wound healing  and reduces scar tissues. Excellent anti-aging herb.

Be Smart with Antibiotics

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that should be reserved for situations that demand them, for instance, when the immune system cannot contain a bacterial infection or when a bacterial infec...tion establishes itself in a vital organ like the heart, lungs, or brain.


Antibiotics not only kill harmful bacteria that are making you sick, they also destroy the beneficial flora in your gut, and can promote the development of resistant organisms in your body. There's even evidence that without normal "friendly" bacteria in the digestive tract, our immune system wouldn't function properly, and we would be less resistant to harmful bugs.


To restore the helpful organisms, be sure to take supplemental probiotics while you're on antibiotics. Acidophilus is the general name for dried or liquid cultures of the living lactobacillus bacteria that aid digestion. Always check the expiration date to help ensure that the acidophilus product you choose is still viable. Take one tablespoon of the liquid culture or one to two capsules after meals, unless the label directs otherwise. I recommend taking acidophilus to restore "friendly" cultures even when on antibiotics for just a few days. And I particularly recommend products containing lactobacillus GG or bacillus coagulans 30 (BC-30), two strains proven to survive passage through the strong acid in the stomach.