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Dept. HD Hugo Vega

Mrs. Tupaz
Environmental Science 229
May 21, 2013
The Green Lanterns Research Dept. Research
We the Green Planters are a group that is trying to make planting gardens easier. We are
trying to use an irrigation system to water plants and to save water and money. We want to make
gardening as easy as possible and show how much money you can save when gardening. We will
also try to help reduce the pollution in the S.F. Valley.
There has been a problem with air pollution in Los Angeles. Lets start off with air
pollution. Air pollution in Los Angeles has started since the 1900s. Los Angeles had received a
Grade of F for air quality this year. We drive fossil fuel base cars that release pollution to the
air and into our lungs. It is also caused by A/Cs, Heaters, firs, etc. This is bad because if we
dont anything now it will increase and create many problems like it will increase health
problems. The cause of the pollution is us.
Gardening is not the solution to solve the air pollution crisis but it will reduce the air
pollution. Gardening plants will help by breathing in carbon dioxide and convert into oxygen. It
also eliminates toxins. Plus it can benefit our own health and wealth.
Gardening will make you happier and make you save money. Garden is used as a therapy
called Horticultural Therapy and was used to help war vets during the 1940s and 50s. It
basically planting in a nice environment to relieve stress, but gardening doesnt just relieve
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stress. It can get you in shape, lower your possibility to get diabetes, help you lose weight, and
give you a good night sleep. A study at the University of Arkansas showed that women who have
a garden has a lower chance of getting osteoporosis than women who jog, swim, and even
women who do aerobatics. If you grow a food garden, it will help you save money and improve
your nutrition. Growing your own food will save you just by not going to the groceries saves you
gas, time, and leaves you with extra cash that you didnt spend at the store. People spend $70 a
year to maintain a garden but get $600 worth of food. So it will be good in the long run. You
would be better nourish since you grew the food. Therefore you dont have to worry about toxic
pesticides.
There are plants that grow seasonally and some grow very slowly, but heres some that
are quick to grow. Lettuce can be eaten as soon as leaves develop grow to maturity,6 to 8 weeks.
Baby plants can be picked when they are 3 inches high, leaves 6 inches between other plants.
Radish takes 21 days to sprout, from time seeds are planted. When it sprouts give the bigger
plants room to grow by uprooting the smaller sprouts, having more room between the bigger
ones. Squash sprout fast in warmer weather. Summer squash grow to maturity in 2 months can
be picked when 3 or 4 inches in length, leaving robust plants in the ground. Spinach take 6 to 8
weeks can be harvested when its still young. Green beans sprout within 2 or 3 days in warm
temperature, produce beans in 60 days. Fresh green beans can be picked, eaten a few days after
blossoms are shown or visible. Cress can reach height of 24 inches mustard greens December-
April when they are at their best and most readily available oriental greens. Scallions provide
many years of healthy alternatives to traditional medicine turnip grown in temperate climates
worldwide for its white, harvested when the plants are young, early as 40 days after planting.
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Turnip roots generally ready after 60 days, when they measure up to 3 inches in diameter.
Parsley are harvested within 3 weeks of planting
Unfortunately there is one major down side to gardening and its wasting water. Some
people make over water their plants and/or water there plants during the day( which evaporates
the water quicker) and/or water there plants before, during, and/or after rain. To avoid this use an
irrigation system. What it is a hose that stretches far and releases water to the plant in small
holes. The duration is up to you and it atomically turns on to whatever time you set it on. It is
also really easy to set up.
How does it help you and save you money and water. Well for most people who use they
cut their water usage by 75 percent compared to sprinklers. It can last for nearly a decade. Since
the tubing has to close to the plant it leaves a dry area between plants that prevents for weeds to
grow. Plus the system doesnt hurt the plant since it sprays to the roots.
So planting a garden with a right irrigation system can save you money, improve your
health, get you in good shape, help your mental health, relieve stress, and give you a goodnight
sleep. Wile it gives you all that it will also reduce pollution. It may not be that much but if you
convince your neighbors to grow a garden, it will reduce more pollution. The more the better air
quality.




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Air Quality in LA

A Irrigation system


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A diagram of a I.S.

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