Initial Plant Research

Carrot

a. The carrot is a vegetable plant. 

b. The carrot comes with wholesome health benefiting compounds such as betacarotenes, vitamin A, minerals, and anti oxidants. They are exceptionally rich a rich source of carotenes and vitamin-A. a 100 g fresh carrot contains 8285 µg of beta-carotene and 16706 IU of Vitamin A. With this said studies have found that flavonoid compounds in carrots help protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers. 

c. The growing season for a carrot in San Diego is year round. The weather isn't to harsh and it could survive some cold here and there since San Diego is always sunny, and that's exactly what a carrot needs, sunshine. To be precise it needs at least 6 to 8 hours of sun daily, so it is recommended to be planted in a sunny area. Also, the seed when planted does not have to be frozen, it could be planted normally. However, the smallest thing could go wrong when preparing the soil, so we have to be aware of the smallest rocks and little twigs that we have to get out. 

d. It will take about 2 to 4 months for the carrot to go from seed to harvest. I think this will make sense if we start now and see results in mid April. 

e. It would take a 4 by 5 foot area which will give us about 10 carrots per week for 1 or 2 months. Each seed should be planted at least 1 inch from each other in rows. 

f. Potting soil would be perfect when planted on a raised bed. 

g. When planted it should get at least 1-2 inches of water down in the soil. 

h. The best companion plants for the carrots are, tomatoes, alliums, and onions.

Pest Management
Some of the most common pests in carrots are
wireworms
vegetable weevils which have the most effect produce quality. 
Other pests that chew directly on the entire leaf are, caterpillars
parsleyworm
yellow woollybear
vegetable leafminer
vegetable weevil
larva. 

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ag295/html/carrotkey.htm

Collard Greens 

a. The collard greens are a vegetable plant.
b. Wonderfully nutritious collard leaves are very low in calories (provide only 30 cal per 100 g) and contain no cholesterol. However, these greeny leaves contain very good amount of soluble and insoluble dietary fibre that helps control LDL cholesterol levels and also; offers protection against hemorrhoids, constipation as well as colon cancer diseases. Widely considered to be healthful foods, collards are rich in invaluable sources of phyto-nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, such as di-indolyl-methane (DIM) and sulforaphane that have proven benefits against prostate, breast, cervical, colon, ovarian cancers by virtue of their cancer cell growth inhibition and cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
c. They are best harvested in November all through April. They could also be grown from the seed and San Diego's weather is not going to harm the process of it's growth in any way. 
d.  It will take about 55 to 75 days to go from seed to harvest. I think we will have enough time to plant it in time. 
e. A 4 by 5 foot area will give us a bunch of collards per week for the entire harvest. They are going to be planted in rows which are 16 inches apart and there is going to be a seed 4 inches apart inside the rows. 
f. They can grow in mostly all soil types but it has to be well in nutrients and draining. 
g. When first planting you should water it 1 to 2 inches down into the dirt. 

Pest Management
Some of the most common pests found in collard greens are best known as 
cabbage loopers 
cabbage whiteflies
diamond-back moths
And sometimes some bugs come around as well, such as 
flea beetles
harlequin bugs.

MLA: eHow. "Common Pests for Collard Greens."

Cauliflower a. It is a flower-vegetable plant
b. It is very low in calories. 100 g of the fresh cauliflower head provides only 26 calories. Nevertheless, it comprises of several health-benefiting antioxidants and vitamins in addition to be very low in fat and contains no cholesterol. Its florets contain about 2 g of dietary fiber per 100 g; providing about 5% of recommended value. Cauliflower contains several anti-cancer phyto-chemicals like sulforaphane and plant sterols such as indole-3-carbinol, which appears to function as an anti-estrogen agent. Together these compounds have proven benefits against prostate, breast, cervical, colon, ovarian cancers by virtue of their cancer-cell growth inhibition, cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
c. The growing season for this plant is year round, but it's very delicate and does not tolerate if the weather is too hot or too cold. So we have to be very careful and have an advantage that San Diego doesn't get too hot or cold like in other places. 
d. sprout within five to 10 days when the soil temperatures are at least 65 degrees.
e. A 4 by 5 foot area will give about 5 heads of cauliflower. 
g. Water thoroughly at least 1 to 2 inches down in the soil. 

Pest Management
Flea beetles
Cabbage maggots
Caterpillars
Cabbage loopers
Cabbage worms

such as aphids and flea beetles—tend to attack cauliflower more in spring than in fall. Cabbage maggots, sometimes called root maggots, can also be a serious problem. Caterpillars, such as cabbage loopers and imported cabbageworms, are other common cauliflower pests. 

Dirt! The Movie

1. How do most Americans react to the idea of children playing in dirt? Why do you think they react that way? From what I've seen recently, most Americans don't like the idea of their children playing in dirt because they have the idea stuck in their head that there are a lot of bugs and bad stuff hiding in the dirt. Maybe they react this way because they only see the appearance of the dirt and may not have much knowledge about what dirt really contains in it. In the movie, I noticed that one of the experts on dirt mentioned that he didn't understand the children now in days who don't want to play in dirt or their parents who don't let them because he states that the generations before us grew up in the dirt and it was filled with life.

  3. What is your reaction to hearing about the number of farmer suicides in rural India over the past decade? (The film reports there were 200,000.) If such a thing occurred in this country, what do you think would happen? My reaction to hearing this sadly but true statistic is very disappointing because it shows how much money and power can definitely influence people in such ways as to commit suicide and come to those extreme measures just to get out of a situation in which money and power as well as sustainability has been greatly fought for. If this such thing were to happen here, I think in my opinion everything would just go downhill. It would just come to show that people care more about how to make things fast in order to gain the money they need, but instead the outcome is far worse than expected because during the process a massive amount of natural resources will be cut off, and that would be irreversible.

  7. Keeping in mind the hummingbird story told in the film, do you think doing the best you can is enough to preserve the health of the planet, even if millions of people do their best? What responsibility do governments have to help maintain a healthy planet for future generations? To be honest hearing the hummingbird story really impacted me, not only from the message it gave out but also how the lady was telling it. She had such hope and strength when she was telling the story that it almost made me feel like I wanted to be like the hummingbird as she felt the same way. Maybe the best I can do might not be enough to preserve the health of the planet, but it will bring me satisfaction to know that I tried and was a part of something so beautiful as to continue the cycle of the dirt and later on see what it becomes. As far as to what the government needs to in order to maintain this planet healthy for future generation to come, I think they should encourage programs that give back to the community. Such as the ones in the movie that had kids from schools making their own gardens, and prisoners helping out by planting and cultivating the dirt. Things like those are what the government should encourage and expect form us.