SUSTAINABILITY

AND FARMING
RADISHES
26.10.2018 (6:44 PM)

DAY 1
PREPARING FOR PROJECT/PLANTING SEEDS
Today is the day I will begin my semester project pertaining to sustainability and
farming. As stated in the objectives, I hope this project will help me learn/test what is
necessary to keep a plant alive to harvest. I hope to learn what is necessary to produce
a food crop. Lastly, at the end of this semester I will relate my experiences with
growing radishes to sustainable farming.

I have chosen to grow monoculture since I have acquired radish seeds from Dr.
Tommerup already. Additionally, I love radishes and would love to have my own
growing in my backyard to add to my current diet. I think it will be better than spending
money on radishes in the store. I decided to use soil because I have that readily
available to me. The soil I used is a MiracleGro organic raised bed soil. In my household
we already use this soil for small potted vegetable, herbs, and flowers. The price of this
soil is also reasonable.

I went to Target to find clear cups to plant the seeds in. I want to use clear cups so
that I can see the progress of the plants in the soil. I chose the cups I did because for
monoculture plants I figured the size would be adequate for each individual plant.

First I poked holes at the bottom of three cups for drainage. Then I filled the cups with
soil. After I filled the cup with soil, I watered it slowly so that the soil would absorb the
water evenly. Then I formed depressions with the butt of a pencil and dropped seeds in
each cup trying to keep them spaced evenly. I planted more seeds that I estimated I
would need to account for those which would not germinate. I chose a spot that would
receive a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight a day and that was safe from
housepets/winds.

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28.10.2018 7:55PM

FIRST GROWTH
Plant Height Measurement: 3-4mm

General Observations: Through the plastic in the cup, I’ve observed slight root
formation, white in color. Seedlings are emerging from the soil in different stages of
growth. Some are bigger than others. This is probably because of depth of the seeds
during planting. Also, each seed is different. Maybe some were better quality than
others. I could also attribute this to having scored the surface of some of the seeds.
This could have improved the growth rate.

¾ of a cup of water per pot. I use tap water at ambient temperature. I collected water
in a clean bucket and left it resting for a couple of hours in shade, without a lid, so that
it would be at ambient temperature and to let any possible chlorine residue in the tap
water dissipate.

The plants got sunlight in my backyard from 9:30AM to 5:00 PM. The sun is coming
from a SW direction. The time of the sun incidence is dictated by my house.

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2.11.2018 (2:00PM)

Plant Height Measurement: Highest plant reaching a height of roughly 22mm

General Observations: Strong root development going to a depth of 4cm into the soil.
Each plant shows leaves (on each single stem) which are completely developed, and
they stand well above the soil. Not all plants show the same rate of growth. The color is
uniform. A few seedlings are still barely protruding out of the soil.

The amount of sunlight was the same as last week/very similar.

Water has been adjusted slightly to maintain the soil at the same level of moisture,
depending of the temperature of the day. It has been slightly cooler and I’ve
subsequently decreased the amount of water to ¼ of a cup.

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9.11.2018 (6:20PM)

Plant Height Measurement: Average height is 35mm tall.

General Observation: Earlier this week I picked the 6 strongest looking plants and I
transplanted them (using the same soil/same type of container) into individual
containers so that they would grow independently from each other. I kept the other
plants in their original container to be used as a control. Each individual plant has
developed multiple stems and leaves. As they grow, the leaves adopt a different shape.
The leaves become elongated and different in shape; the little ones are more round
with two lobes. The bigger ones are long and more irregular in shape. Root growth is
very strong and thick, particularly in the pots with multiple plants. The length and
thickness of the roots has increased. The amount of sunlight has slightly decreased this
week as the daylight hours have diminished. 10AM – 430PM roughly. Most days during
this week I noticed a decrease in daily temperature of 5-8 degrees.

Plants are checked several times during the day. No insect sightings have occurred. the
soil remains moist and clean. NO OTHER GROWTH THAN THE ORIGINAL PLANTS HAS
BEEN OBSERVED. No weeds in the original soil.

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6
16.11.2018 (3:45PM)

Plant Height Measurement: The tallest plant is 40mm

General Observations: Leaves are larger. Individual plants show faster growth than the
ones kept together. Root growth has increased. Some plants show more leaves than
previously noticed. Temperature has been a bit warmer in the past few days. The
sunlight has not changed greatly. Watering has been maintained the same: ¼ cup of
water every two days.

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23.11.2018 (4:03PM)

Plant Height Measurement: Some of the plants have grown slightly. Some have reached
45mm.

General Observations: Some plants show new leaves formed. Root development
remains the same. The temperature has been steadily decreasing, especially in the
early morning hours. I maintained the same watering amount, but I have observed
more water collecting in the drain pan. Leaves continue to grow slightly. New leaves are
continuing in some of the plants

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9
30.11.2018 (4:00PM)

Plant Height Measurement: No noticeable growth for this week (in height, size, or
number of leaves).

General Observations: No need for watering due to decreased sunlight hours caused by
cloud coverage and rain. Temperatures have decreased noticeably. Plants were moved
under patio cover during the rain to avoid overwatering or flooding of the container.
Plants remain healthy, but the growth seems to have been stunted in comparison to the
previous periods. Root development is unchanged.

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9 DECEMBER 2019

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INTERVIEWS

A: Susana

B: Nicolas

1. How would you define sustainability?

a. “A form of thriving.”
b. “When you are proactive about creating. Replenishing the sources
that you’re using. For example, collecting timber, but at the same
time you’re planting trees. Planning ahead. Creating resources
before depleting existing ones.”
2. What is sustainable farming?
a. “An organized form of farming. Focused on industrial growth.”
b. “I think sustainable farming is using the land in a reasonable
manner so that you’re not overwhelming the resources. Like,
rotating crops so you don’t plant until the soil in exhausted.
3. What are GMOs? Have you ever eaten any?”
a. “Food that has been genetically modified. No. I haven’t.”
b. “Genetically modified (not sure what the “O”) is. They’re modified
to resist diseases, increase yields. I try not to, but I’m sure I
have.”
4. What is food safety?
a. “The way the industry is regulated to handle food for the safety of
the population.”
b. “Done to make sure than the food is safe to consume. FDA rules,
inspections on farms and store. The regulations about how food
needs to be grown, harvested, distributed, sold. Announcements
about recalled food.”
5. What do you think the future holds with respect to food availability?
a. “I think it is going to improve. I think they are going to find ways
to improve everything. They could find new resources, reduce
pests, reduce illnesses that could harm humans.”
b. “Depends on how they approach it. How they control production
and distribution. How third world countries are being held to
producing in a smarter way. It depends on climate change issues
play a role in food availability. Food will eventually need to be

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 more government controlled rather than being run by corporations
that produce with the sole intent from profiting from it.”

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Alexis Chiribao

Tommerup

Bio 300

10 December 2018

Sustainability and Farming Project: Radishes

Sustainable farming is done in order to meet the needs of society for

food and materials in a way that does not affect the success of future

generations from also meeting those needs. It is a method of growing crops

and raising livestock by relying on organic fertilizers, soil conservation,

water conservation, biological pest control, and minimal use of non-

renewable fossil-fuel energy. Sustainability is essentially about people

caring enough to set future generations up for success. In order for us to live

sustainably, the structures that meet basic needs must work toward

regeneration rather than consumption. Examples of sustainable farming

practices include crop rotating. Crop rotating is the systemic planting of

different crops in a specific order over time within the same growing space.

When a single crop is grown in one field for many years in a row, the crop

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will cause the depletion of particular nutrients from the soil. This depletion

of nutrients leads to poor plant health and lower crop yield. With crop

rotation, nutrients are replenished depending on the crops that are planted.

For example, a simple rotation between a heavy nitrogen using plant (e.g.,

corn) and a nitrogen depositing plant (e.g., soybeans) can help maintain a

healthy balance of nutrients in the soil. Crop rotation also prevents plant

diseases and pests by exchanging crops that may be susceptible to a

particular disease or pest with a crop that is not susceptible. There is no

limit to the number of crops in a rotation. Depending on the needs of the

gardener, a larger rotation schedule may be implemented, and can include

the rotation of animal feed crops like hay, clover, or oats. Fields may also be

used as animal pastures or allowed to lay fallow until the following year.

For organic farms and gardens, crop rotation is essential as it helps limit the

amount of fertilizers and pesticides normally required (Gottschling).

Practices of soil-conserving and nutrient cycling are basic to organic

farming.

With sustainable farming, there is improved crop output since soil

nutrients stay high. There is also a decrease in runoff and erosion. Since

crops can be rotated year-round, there is less runoff from fertilizer. This

would mean that the soil is healthier and less likely to become eroded.

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Additionally, with sustainable farming, farmers would not have to spend on

artificial fertilizer since healthy soil will be able to replenish itself.

Although sustainable farming includes positives such as crop output, runoff

erosion, and lower prices, a trade off is that sustainability leads to the

downsizing of crops so that plants do not remove all nutrients from the soil

(Poincelot, R. P.).

With my radishes, I planned to keep a plant alive long enough to

harvest it. I chose to grow monoculture since I received the seeds from Dr.

Tommerup. Additionally, I love radishes and wanted to have my own

growing in my backyard to add to my diet. I decided to use soil because I

had it readily available to me. The soil I used is a MiracleGro organic raised

bed soil. In my household we already use this soil for small potted

vegetable, herbs, and flowers. It is free of rocks, and the price of this soil is

reasonable. I used only the water I thought would be necessary to grow the

plants because I did not want to be wasteful. I read online that it would be

better to keep the radish beds moist rather than soaked. I did not think I

would have a harvest by the time this project was over since most online

sites say that it takes six-eight weeks to mature. I chose a spot that would

provide plenty of sunlight but not too much since too much sunlight can

cause radishes to go to seed.

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 I was not able to get radishes in the five weeks of this project. I will

continue to care for the plants and If successful, I will have six radishes.

This will not be a viable source of nourishment. The ends justified the

means since I set out to figure out if I could grow a plant, keep it alive, and

produce a product. I will not profit from this growth and it will not keep me

from having to purchase produce from a store.

The two people I interviewed had appropriate answers for what

sustainability is. I was surprised by their responses to my questions

regarding GMOs. Both refuted that they had eaten genetically modified

foods. They seemed to have a mostly negative idea of GMOs. They did not

consider the advantages of them being more resistant to disease, insects,

frost, and drought. Additionally, they did not consider the human conditions

of malnutrition or starvation related to not having food available.

I have learned that sustainability is not just about sustaining resources

we can use as a society. It is about sustaining an entire system of life;

sustaining the earth. There are three principles of sustainability we can use

to mimic the ways in which nature sustains itself (Miller). These principles

put into play will help promote sustainability in the modern world. Those

principles are: solar energy, chemical cycling, and biodiversity. We must

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not deplete the earth’s natural capital, must not waster matter and energy

sources, must protect biodiversity, and must repair ecological damage we

have caused. Essentially, we must leave earth in a better condition in order

to sustain it and future generations.

My choices were sustainable relating to this project in that the

containers and soil I used were reusable. I only planted the seeds that I

could manage and kept in mind that I would consume anything that I

harvested. Additionally, the soil I used will be repurposed for different

crops I might plant in my garden. This project has allowed me to realize just

how much I consume in relation to material things. After this project I have

thought more about living simply and not taking as much from the earth as I

do currently. I would love to learn to live with fewer material possessions

and using products and services which will have a smaller environmental

impact.

I learned that the planting of crops should be planned in advance. I

had to consider the climate in the area I live to see what the most

appropriate plants would be for different seasons in my area. I learned that I

need to provide a suitable location, depending on the what the plant needs to

thrive; amount of sunlight needed. If I had to grow my own food to survive,

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I could in theory, I would definitely need more land. I would need to figure

out how to sustain myself until my potential farm would start producing. I

would need to find crops that I could store properly so that they could be

kept (preserve the harvest). It would not be easy, but with the proper tools,

equipment, space, water, and time for labor it could be done.

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Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic revision of

Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4:

E7720. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720. (n.d.).

doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f

Poincelot, R. P. (2004). From The Editor. Journal of Sustainable

Agriculture,23(3), 1-1. doi:10.1300/j064v23n03_01

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