Johnny's Blog

Blog Post 1

To give us background information on the research project I am involved in, I and the other farm interns are conducting an experiment to see if horse manure can be composted for garden use. But before we can proceed on our experiment, we have to learn the basics of composting. A compost pile is constructed by stacking a layer of “green” (nitrogen-rich) organic matter, on top of a layer of “brown” (carbon-rich) organic matter, in the size and shape of a 1-1-1 (l-w-h) yd cube. The equal balance of nitrogen-rich organic matter and carbon-rich organic matter, plus the optimum size of the pile, will ensure that the compost will break down as effectively as possible. The newly formed pile will begin to heat up, signifying that the organic matter is being actively broken down by bacteria. The pile will then cool down, a sign that the pile is done composting and will need to be turned over. This “mixing” will be repeated a few times.

In our experiment, we are using horse manure as a substitute for our green (nitrogen-rich) material. Horse manure contains ample amounts of nitrogen, making it ideal to be used in compost. But in case you’re wondering, as is most likely the case, why horse poop out of all organic material? To answer the question, we can easily obtain horse poop from horse stables just across the Stanford Educational Farm. Not only are we receiving free material to compost, but are also doing the owner's of the horse stables a favor by removing the excess poop. But a problem exists with using horse poop. It often contains numerous toxins due to the medications that the horses are fed. To be able to safely use horse poop enriched compost as a planting material, the toxins in the poop must be neutralized. Our hypothesis is that the toxins in the poop can be neutralized through the heating process of the compost.

Almost immediately, we started our work with the compost. On the second day of the internship, after our daily morning session of weeding, we carted wheelbarrows across the street to the horse stables. Our supervisor led us to the back of a big red barn, to which sat a huge, unsightly pile of horse poop. As we shoveled the slimy matter into our wheelbarrows, we were overtaken by its strong, acid-tinged odor. We filled the wheelbarrows with the manure and promptly carted the material back to the farm, where we were glad to have gotten rid of the foul material.

We then piled the horse manure, which would be our “green” layer, along with dead leaves, which constituted our “brown” layer, to form a fresh batch of compost. The next day, it began to exhibit the tell-tale sign of decomposition: the rapid heat up. The face of the thermometer read an impressive 140 degrees Fahrenheit. I was able to experience this firsthand by reaching my hand into the core of the pile, which was akin to sticking a hand into a boiling pot of water. Okay, maybe not, but was like feeling the waters of a hot Jacuzzi. At that point, I realized I was experiencing a biological process in action!

As we speak, the compost pile is still in the process of breaking down. As it continues to decompose, we will track its progress by recording its temperature daily. In addition, we will take samples of the pile to the soil lab for more extensive testing, such as to analyze its chemical and mineral content.

Blog Post 2

As the researcher slowly lifted out the sea slug out of its tank, the other interns and I were transfixed. Oozing a steady stream of purple ink, the slimy gray mollusk was trying to escape the researcher's hand. The slug slithered out and dropped back into its tank with a plop!

The sea slug was one among many fascinating creatures that were held in the research tanks of the Hopkins Marine Station; the tanks were home to a multitude of bizarre creatures, including several varieties of sea stars, worms, and the unusually active brittle star, which would continuously flair its tentacles. Along with the mollusk viewing session, we were given a tour of the Research Station that day, which was spent by a peek inside the research labs, a look inside the library, and an exploration of the surrounding tide pools and its marine life.

The trip to the Hopkins Marine Station was one of the many highlights of my internship experience at Stanford. These recent weeks have flown by, with every week holding a variety of experiences. On one hand, the farm interns and I have been doing gardening tasks at the farm, including weeding, planting, and best of all, harvesting! The work on the farm has been nice and relaxing, a retreat from the rigors of life. Although the tasks we perform can seem unimportant and monotonous at times, such as pulling the weeds, they have made me appreciate how little things make up a bigger process. For example, in order to grow food, one has to keep track of many aspects such as irrigation, weeding, that may seem small and unimportant, but in fact are vital components of the growing process. The weeding we do has also taught me that weeds are a constant.

Blog Post 3

It has been tough for me to acknowledge that this week was my last at Stanford. For the past 2 months, I have been so focused into my job as a farm intern that my life revolved around it. During this final week especially, I tried to enjoy the time that remained of my internship. This final week was essentially a highlight of my experience as an intern. We started the mornings with a peaceful session of weeding, which was followed by bean planting, and then ending in the afternoon with a final harvest session.

As I leave the program, I am grateful for my opportunity to be a farm intern. I will miss the slow, peaceful days spent working around the farm, surrounded by the other farm interns and directors. I will not forget the rest of the farm interns and the cast of directors, all of whom I grew close over the working hours and lunches eaten together at the farm. I was able to experience firsthand during my time at the farm the patience necessary to grow food, through countless sessions of weeding, harvesting, and installation of drip lines.