Organic vs Non-organic

I'm struggling a bit with the results of my fair test so far. I was really expecting that the organic lettuce would do just as well, if not better, than the non-organic one. But the one I have been feeding the chemical fertiliser is doing twice as well as the other two.

It looks healthier, greener, bigger and more appealing. If I was just going on looks to suggest which method of gardening was better - I'd have to go with the non-organic one. But that just doesn't feel right to me. The lettuce may look fantastic, but the fertiliser I've been putting on it to help it get there is not quite so appealing. It's bright blue! It looks like something you would find in the bottom of a plastic fish tank.   I can't imagine eating something that colour, but it's things like that that go into the food that I eat.

I have gone through stages of trying to eat only organic because I have read that it's better for me and I don't like the idea of putting chemicals in my body. But until I started this experiment, I didn't fully understand how the use of chemicals could actually make things that may not be good for you, look so good. It's amazing  how doing something yourself helps you to understand a concept.

That's why doing Inquiry-based activities are so good for kids' learning, I guess!

Sustainability choice creeps up on me

Today marks Day 15 of our Fair Test where we've each been growing a plant of choice (Jess is growing lettuce, Shirin is growing rocket and I'm growing peas) and testing which fertiliser (organic vs. non-organic) grows the best produce.

Today I went down to my garden bed and discovered something fabulous! I was so excited, I had to grab the camera to capture what I think represents 'nature as art'. The vines on my peas have started to wrap around their stands! This happened over night and I'm so excited by it. My plants are growing and doing what they need to survive by reaching out to something and holding on so tightly. So beautiful!

I couldn't help but take photos of the vines to share on our blog.

And then as I was focusing on the vines, I noticed the beautiful patterns than were emerging on the bigger leaves of the plant.

Exposure to readings for our Art class has really opened my eyes to creativity all around me - even in nature. And yes, I took some close up photos of the leaves as well ...

Look at the detail, isn't it amazing?! Literally splashes of colour.

And then you know what else happened? Well I couldn't stop taking photos there, I ended up walking around the garden and taking photos of everything I could find that interested me or that had depth of colour or line that I'd never really paid much attention to before.

In our back garden we have some mango trees and some garden boxes that we're growing a whole host of veges in. While in our front garden we've got rose beds and lavender bushes lining our verandah and side fence. When I was taking photos of the lavender it got me wondering how I can use the lavender in our home. A little side research project for me to look into because we do buy lavender products and how great would it be if I could use what we're growing in our garden instead? Adding my little contribution to making sustainable and environmental choices.

And there you have it - a personal connection to art, nature and making sustainable choices as a result of a fair test experiment. Who would have guessed? :)