Soil Penelope Sofia Camille

Letter from the Editors-Camille

During my two weeks of working in the Soil Unit, I

have experienced truly amazing things, such as

walking through green gardens bursting with color,

seeing wildlife in their natural habitat, or spraying my

friends with a hose. This opportunity has been very

beneficial to my knowledge because I have learned

several new things that I didn’t know before. I studied

worms, trees, and got down and dirty to plant in the

amphitheater. But as I studied things that were

beneficial to the soil, I learned about some unsettling

issues. During homework hours, I found out about

topsoil degradation, loss of soil, and how it is affecting

humans, animals and the environment. It’s like a two-

week science class!

Although this unit has taken up the four main

subjects (math, language arts, science, history), this

lesson is almost like a combination of all of them, and

yet including PE. It includes patterns in nature(math),

reading and writing poems (language arts),

collecting samples in petri dishes (science), learning

about the history of the victory gardens (history), and

even hiking along a steep trail to experience nature

as it is (PE). In the last few days, I have begun to look

at the Soil Unit as teaching one topic through four (or

five) different topics by the teachers.

I would like to thank these teachers for the

wonderful opportunity they have given to experience

this event and for giving the time to share their

knowledge of the earth. I truly appreciate the time

spent to educate us about the world. I would also like

to thank my partners for assisting each other in this

group project, building teamwork and listening skills

not only as partners, but as friends. The Soil Unit has

definitely impacted my educational path, even if it’s

a small effect.

-Camille

Letter from the Editors-Penelope

The Soil unit was…………how else could I

describe it? Dirty. But a little dirt doesn’t hurt anyone.

In my opinion, the soil unit was a great way to learn

about the substance that everything grows on; soil. I

also learned more about teamwork, as we all had

to collaborate to create this wonderful soil

magazine. Each of the members of my group

divided the work as equally as we could, and had

to try to see from the eyes of another to respect and

use each other’s ideas along with our own. Packing

a waste free lunch was relatively easy for me,

because at my old school it was required to pack a

lunch everyday, and I often used recyclable

containers. The soil unit also inspired me to plant a

garden of my own, with some native and low-water

using plants that we learned about in it. This unit

opened my eyes in many ways, as I am now more

aware of the wonderful details of the world, after

laying down in the Arlington Gardens and writing

about my surroundings, and how even the smallest

organisms, like the creatures in the soil, can impact

it. In addition, I noticed how it is almost magic that

organisms and animals can work together to create

soil for new plants, from the remains of others, and

how easy it is to turn a barren urban landscape into

a green garden. So basically you can turn anything

into a colorful garden, all you really need is water,

sun and of course, the perfect soil.

Letter from the Editors-Sofia F-R

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for reading this issue of The Daily

Decomposer. This has always been my favorite issue

because we get to name organism of the year and

describe its contributions to the Soil world. Soil has a

special place in my heart and this whole experience

that led up to this magazine has been amazing. My

fellow editors and I have been involved in a week long

experience called the Soil unit. The soil unit taught me

that soil plays a huge part in the world we live in. This

experience has been a huge eye opener and before

this, I did not really understand soil like I do now. We did

many things in this unit but my favorite by far was a

series of rotations on Tuesday. People were brought in

to help teach us about soil. We got really hands on.

Some of the things we did were planting an herb

garden, planting and garden in front of MUDD and

making seed balls and newspaper pots. I got to be

really hands on and help people at the same time. We

planted an herb garden which the cafeteria will now

use for fresh herbs and vegetables. We also helped

plant a native gardens and make the grounds

beautiful. Lastly I got to take home a strawberry plant

and poppy plants. This will help me make my house

beautiful and learn about gardening at the same time.

In the beginning of the unit we walked to the Arlington

gardens and helped plant a community garden near

the Ronald McDonald house. I realized that many

people take nature for granted and that is what is

hurting our planet. In the community garden I thought

about how planting and gardening brings people

together. It also makes a difference in the world. Soon

people are going to be relying on this garden for their

nutrition and to keep healthy, I’m glad I could be a

part of making a difference in people’s lives. We

accomplished all this while learning about soil and

what it does for us.

Thank You Again,

Sofia F-R

Table of Contents

Letter from the Editors Page 2-

The Base of Our World Page 6-

Fern’s Inspiring Speech Page 7-

Bloomers of the Huntington Gardens Page 8–

Nature in the Descango Page 9-

Poems Page 10-15

Westridge Green Page 16

Propaganda Poster Page 17

Jokes for laughs Page 18

NEW!

Soil: The Base of our world

Soil is necessary for us to survive. It provides a platform

for us to walk, live and build on. It gives us jobs, like archae-

ology while regulating carbon dioxide and

greenhouse gases. Many other organisms be-

sides us rely on the soil. It shelters many organisms

and animals such as the mole and worms. Soil

absorbs water which is later transferred to plants.

It houses all our forests, trees and plants. Not only

does it provide us with all these things, it houses

plants which provide oxygen for us. The plants, which can-

not live without soil, provide us with food. In essence without

soil, we would cease to live. Soil plays a huge factor in our

lives. It helps us to survive and provides us with what we

need to live.

Fungi: The Organism of the Year

Fern’s Inspiring Speech

“You don’t know how much of an honor this is!” exclaims Fern when

she receives the good news. “I’m just so proud to be Organism of the

Year.” Last night, Fern was named The Daily Decomposer’s Organism of

the Year for her numerous contributions to the soil world. (See page )

“I’m glad that this could be published,”

Fern says solemnly, “not only for the award,

but so I can get the word out about the

problems concerning our soil loss.” All

over the world, soil is being eroded by powerful water and wind. Our

source of food, forests, and wildlife are gradually being taken away.

“Homes are being destroyed! It’s just so sad!!!” Fern says tearfully.

Fortunately, there are solutions to helping prevent soil loss and degra-

dation. The first step is making everybody aware, as Fern has done. This

will be most effective in people who work with soil. Another is to keep

soil in good condition, attracting more organisms to form a good struc-

ture. To get involved, go to soil-net.com for more details. Help the envi-

ronment, whether it’s breaking down matter to form compost like Fern,

or just spreading the word to the world.

Without decomposition, organisms would have an overload of ni-

trogen in them, and would not pass it down to future generations, so no

new plants/organisms will grow. The ground would be completely buried

in plant material, as they would not decompose without the necessary

enzymes needed to break down lignin, which is found in trees. The help-

ful fungus chews through material, and turns it into the rich soil that we

live in. Another reason that we nominated Decomposing fungi for the

Daily Decomposer’s organism of the year is because they can break

down material more easily than fungi can, resulting in faster decomposi-

tion and better soil.

Moments

A butterfly dances through the leaves

Leaving whispers of its past

White irises seem to speak

But their voices are caught in their petals

Muffled steps of a small creature call to me

Asking me to investigate further

Leaves are ruffled by the breeze’s shadow

Traces of what the wind once was

One tree stands solitary

The blossoms it carry’s like a mother, are delicate yet

powerful

Colors flash through my mind as I hold this flower

It seems so vulnerable yet at peace

Purple, velvety, light

But when I open my eyes all I see is red

Sounds of distant laughter haunt my past

Yet they make no mark on my future

I lay down my mind revolving gears turning

Wondering what I will do with my last moments

The sky is at its bluest peak for me

To everyone else around me, it seems to be a dull

gray

They see in time

As I rock back and forth all I hear is the faint

squeaking of unoiled hinges

Suddenly a creature lands on my finger

One touch and the moment will shatter lost forever,

like its wings

Its feet flit across my hand

A noise distracts me

I look back and it’s gone

I close my eyes for what maybe the last time

Wondering if I will ever see the clouds again

A moment doesn’t last forever neither did I

I blink open my eyes, A butterfly

Gone.

-Sofia F-R

One Wild and Precious Life

By Penelope

Above me, the sprawling grey oak spreads its

branches across my piece of the sky

Rolling April thunderheads shatter the warm silence of

the clear Los Angeles blue

One lonely innocent palm withers and grows tall

against the rest,

With only the chaparral on the mountains to compete

Overpowering is the buzzing sound of a swarm of bees

navigating the maze of poppies

In the distance, some type of woodpecker mindlessly

drills Camphor’s trunk

A hazy sweet scent of purple flowers wafts over the

garden, while the thick and musty smell of gravel lurks

around my ankles

A crusted old flower petal lays rejected against the

pathway sand

Silken red and velveteen Valley poppies glint as I brush

my hand across the shining crimson

On my right a crew of yellow daises is scattered across

the green

A green sycamore’s leaves dwindling when an

unfathomable cold breeze churns up the winter

Now standing tall, an orange and purple Monarch

soars in between the lavender I had just been sitting

in

A vivid green oasis in the center of a gridlock

This is the world as I know it best

One Wild and Precious Life

As I scribble with my head bowed over a journal,

I run my fingers through the soft threads tumbling down

from my ponytail.

Above me, two trees overlap,

Forming a roof over my head.

I shift in my seat, and the sun glints high in the sky,

flashing through the leaves that shade me from this orb of

heat.

The shrubs that make up the sea of light green are

speckled with bright orange poppies,

whose smell is wafted by the movement of the laughing

and shrieking girls who approach me on my right.

When I lift my head, I attempt to look far but my gaze is

ended by a neighboring house.

I realize,

This is a getaway island in the middle of the commotion of

the city;

a place of peace.

- Camille

From the structure supporting me beneath my feet,

From the soft, fuzzy grass that I run my rough hands over,

Sprouts green life from which animals subsist.

From which I subsist.

In the brown clay that spreads far beyond,

In the dark mass that sinks into the earth,

Lie discarded cadavers in the fertile soil,

From which the green life I exist from grows.

From the discarded remains of the dead

Rises the fresh, animate living.

-Camille

Barbaric Yawp

Penelope

When we walk on the shallow ground

Do you think of all the creatures past decomposed?

Don’t be ashamed if you don’t, as it is a sickening topic

Honestly, I didn’t………….. Until now

When I realized how delicate the world is when every cycle

impacts it

We are the soil

Our strong voices, eager to make change compose back into

the beginnings

Even as the soil contains mites, bacteria and fatality of the world

as we know it

They must come back from the banished shadowy quarters of

our mind, along with our greatest fears, to being new life into the

scene.

You see- Mother Nature has her own way of working magic

Turning a new leaf on what is unpresentable

There is a reason that we have the process of decomposition,

where organisms take the darkness and turn it into the light of

new soil

Where the earth is reborn again

The circle is endless, as we pass on; we turn into a source of new

life

When we scream our last goodbye

With the help of the smallest of creatures, that live in the darkest

of places

A fresh green life can sprout and grow

And we watch it begin again.

BARBARIC YAWP

As I lay down I wonder what will become of me

When I close my eyes for the last time

When I have no breath left in me because it was

stolen by time

Will the earthworms find delight in something to

live in

Will the vultures take me

Will the grass wrap me in a blanket

Soft as a bird’s feather and then swallow me

whole

Or will I become part of the earth

Part of the ground that produces the very things

to make us live

The one who hears the crunches of our footsteps

everyday and doesn’t complain

The one who holds all our weight?

Whom we live, breathe and walk on but care

nothing about

But yet still I will live my life on this things called soil

I will live on it and off of it

When I do close my eyes

I will become part of the soil

Plants will sprout through me

I will create shelter to the millions of organisms

I will continue the circle of life and leave my mark

on the world

Without the soil there would be no life

And I will help it create new life

-Sofia F-R

She dug the plot on Monday, the soil was rich and

fine

But she forgot to put the dinner on, so out we

went to dine.

She planted roses Tuesday, she says they are a

must.

They really were quite lovely, but she forgot to

dust.

On Wednesday it was daisies they opened with

the sun,

All pinks and whites and yellows, but the laundry

wasn't done.

The poppies came on Thursday all bright and

cherry red,

I guess she really was engrossed, she never made

the bed.

It was violets here on Friday in colours she adores,

It never bothered her at all, the dirt upon our

floors.

Saturday I hired a maid, I'd not admit defeat,

She can garden all she wants now and the house

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Soil Penelope Sofia Camille

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