Project Process
Paola Yee
Challenge Project Process
Environmental Science
Process
My challenge project was to clean and beautify the garden of the 11th grade hall. At the beginning I saw that the garden was a mess it seemed as if it was not being taken care of but I accepted the challenge along with Micaela my partner. What we first did was brainstorm of what we wanted to have on the garden and how we wanted it to look like. Then we did some research we had to look for plants that were suited for the environment and that would grow in the type of soil that the school has (which was clay I think). We decided to plant cilantro because it is easy to grow and it does not take a lot of time to take care of it, and sage because it does not need a lot of water and not a lot of attention because they survive long time without being watered.
Then when we decided what to plant we came up with a budget the total was about $60. We said that we were going to do a fundraiser but we never got organized so we ended paying the supplies with our money, then Micaela went to home depot and bought four 2’’ by 4’’ and fertilizer, the sage and cilantro seeds. Then I had to go again to buy the Jiffy seed starters and some plant that were already grown those we used for decoration we bought plants that did not need a lot of water in few words “dessert plants” and we started our cilantro seeds in the Jiffy starters and we putted them inside the room with artificial light. They grew a lot actually better that the ones using the NFT method. Then we cleaned the garden because we wanted to start working on transplanting but we couldn’t because it was really messy and because the tree’s leaves kept falling and falling.
We also needed to remove all the weeds and we had to do that every day because they grow pretty quick and when it rained they grew more. So those things we struggled a lot then when the cilantro plants sprouted we took them outside and transplanted them into bigger pots so that they reached their full length. Then we planted the sage and we transplanted the ones that were already grown into bigger pots also so that they could reach their full height and then we want them to put them into the ground but we are still waiting for the weeds to die. Then actually the cilantro plants grew pretty because we put some fertilizer and that helped them.
Our biggest challenge was when rainy days came because we wasted time because we could not work outside due to the rain. Then after the rain there was more weeds so it was the same thing over and over again more trash etc so sometimes it was stressing and tiring but we got over it. I actually feel we did a good job because the garden looked great.
Product
I am really proud of my final product because I feel like I accomplished my goal and because I think I did a good job cleaning and beautifying the garden we finished it of course I would like to continue cleaning it just for fun and to keep it pretty. What I also am proud of is that all of our seeds sprouted and that they grew really pretty and big and they actually taste good.
What makes me mad is that the garden in completely covered of black tarp because of all the weed that grew during the break. And when the weed dries we are going to have to repeat the whole process of cleaning once again in order for the garden to look nice. I still need to transplant the grown flowers into the ground because they are still in the small pots but I can’t do it right know because we have POL’s and because as I said is covered with a black tarp, but it is definitely something I would like to work on it once the tarp is removed so I would really like to see the garden completely done.
I really think I put a lot of effort in it I stayed if I needed to stay and I enjoyed working on it I really did because actually gardening is one of my hobbies I would even consider it one of my passions because since I was little I saw my grandmother working on the garden and since she is my neighbor I would work with her and actually transplant so I think gardening became part of my life. Not only I learn o garden because of my mother but both sides of my family members like to take care of the gardens and really enojoy doing it.
I also learned to transplant and grow plants since I was young I actually have pictures I will post them on my DP. I did not see my project as a project because it was something I never got stressed and it was something I liked doing and I was happy while doing it. So I think that is why I succeded. We cleaned it took care of it grew plants even the bunny liked the plants. We watered it we removed all kinds of trash and what it is most important we put effort and time to it, so that we could see it as we imagined.
