Planting HerbsThis week, I planted an herb garden next to the pond I made for week 10. We will use the herbs in meals/cooking, as well as allow caterpillars to eat the leaves. I already have vegetables and fruits in my garden, and this will be my first time growing herbs.
By planting herbs at home, we become less dependent on grocery stores, and instead are more self-sufficient. We can grow our own food safely without having to worry about toxic pesticides and herbicides. We also make fewer trips to the store and save more money by growing our own food. Not only will we use the herbs as food, but caterpillars can also eat them. Various herbs act as host plants for several different species of butterfly and moth larvae. A host plant is any plant than an insect uses to lay its eggs on and that the larva will then use as a food source until it reaches adulthood. Many different trees, flowers, and other plants are host plants. I planted 7 different herbs, and I will probably buy more within the next few weeks, like sage and dill.: I got thyme, lavender, oregano, & basil from our school greenhouse for free (thanks to Mr. Lindsey.) I then purchased cilantro, parsley, & mint from Lowes Hardware Store for a total of $15. Swallowtail butterflies use parsley, mint, and basil as host plants. Mint is also a host plant for the pyrausta moth. Lavender is a host plant for the hairstreak butterfly. Oregano is a host plant for the common buckeye butterfly. Not only do herbs act as host plants for pollinator larva, but they also benefit pollinators themselves. Flowering herbs are crucial in providing pollen and nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Herbs, just like any other plant, also combat erosion and clean the air.
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Trash TrapperThis week, I built a small trash trapper for a creek near my house that gets a lot of litter running through it. I often go there to pick up trash, but by making this blockage, all the trash will hopefully stay in one place for me to collect.
Trash makes its way into waterways from people purposefully littering, trash accidentally blowing out of bins, vehicles, etc., illegal dumping, and more. An example of this is someone throws a cigarette onto the road from their car window. When the next rain comes, the cigarette falls into a storm drain, where it is then carried into a creek. From the creek, the cigarette will most likely flow into a river, and eventually it will end up in the ocean, which is the final destination of most aquatic trash.
To build the trash trapper, I first went to the creek to find a good spot to put it. I measured the length of the creek where I would put the trapper and then got to building. I found a piece of wood in our barn that was the right size, and then cut a piece of wire mesh/screen to size. I nailed the mesh to the wood, leaving about a foot hanging. I then went to the creek and moved rocks around so that I could properly place the trapper. The wood sat on the bank, sitting above the water. I put rocks on the bottom of the mesh in the water to make sure it was secure. Whenever trash comes floating down the creek, it will be stopped by my trash trapper, and I will come collect the trash at least once a week. This will help keep the creek downstream cleaner, preventing more litter from continuing on into the ocean. Making a Garden PondThis week, I built a small wildlife pond in my garden. I worked on it over the weekend and still have some things to complete.
Building a pond, whether it be larger or on the smaller side, has many benefits. A pond attracts wildlife like birds, turtles, frogs, insects, and more. Ponds provide shelter, food & water, and a place for birds to take a bath. They also increase biodiversity and create habitat. To build the pond, I bought a small metal tub from Walmart and leveled the soil out. I chose a spot in my garden that gets full sun. I filled the bottom of the container with mud from a large pond that is at my moms work. The mud is full of worms and other insects that will live in the pond. I placed several large rocks at one end of the container. These rocks will allow animals to enter & exit the pond safely, provide a place for frogs and aquatic insects to hide from predators, and help birds to land and take a bath/drink. I also put a broken piece of terracotta pot in the water, which will also allow frogs and insects to hide. I drilled a small hole towards the top of the container. I put a small pipe in the hole that drains into the bog garden, letting no water go to waste. This drainage hole will keep the water in the pond at a constant level, making sure that when it rains, the pond doesn't fill up and overflow. I created a small bog garden that sits next to the pond, catching runoff water when it rains. I used a new oil pan from Tractor Supply, filling it with the same pond mud and sand. I planted native aquatic plants that grow well it wet/soggy soils. These plants will shade the pond and create habitat & protection. I still have to add aquatic plants to the pond that will oxygenate and clean the water. I will also add more soil, mulch, and rocks around the pond & bog garden to make it look as nice and natural as possible. The water still has to settle and clear up, but soon it will be full of life. |
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