Informative Essay

Alan Franklin

Mrs. Boresen

Per. 07 / Expository Writing

Informative Essay

21 April 2010

Water ice can display emotions. Well when its water is exposed to outer forces before it is frozen that is. Masaru Emoto once did an experiment where he took several measured amounts of water and exposed them to different stimuli; music, vocal expressions, thought, light, and other variations. He then froze each measure of water, just to see what happened. The ice changed its forms to adopt characteristics of the stimuli (anger=cracking, happy=symmetrical, etc.). This is important because these experiments may help to explain more of our universe and possibly more about us, humans. I’ve developed a theory to explain these phenomena, and based my assumptions on the work of other well known scientists, such as Albert Einstein and commentators on the production The Secret. Energy and mass are one thing, thought has an impact on our world, ice changes shape when exposed to emotions before becoming ice, all matter vibrates and resonates, and atoms form the building blocks and “glue” of the universe.

A famous physicist, Albert Einstein, once theorized that energy and matter are one and the same (stated in his theory of relativity). Einstein also stated in his theory that energy and mass are conserved separately because mass is not lost due to a change in atomic state (Albert Einstein 1). This also applies to vaporized material and nuclear power plants. Energy from the reactions is merely scattered from the point of origin and radiate out wards in all directions, just as thought does. Thought is transmitted through the mind and water in the body in the form of energy, then is transferred to the elemental particles outside of the body in the form of energy but the thought carries its own frequency. These transmissions then go on to affect and change the rest of the immediate, surrounding world. In effect, we shape our world simply by thinking about it.

Masaru Emoto’s theories are based upon the principles of Vibration and Resonance. This basically means that though energy does make up all things, it must be released and transformed by atomic vibration, and then it must resonate, be attuned with, with other matter and elements in order to affect them (Masaru Emoto 29). Later in his published work Emoto theorizes that both Life and water resonate with the rest of the world (Masaru Emoto 31). Also he talks about how water must be present in most situations involving energy because it transfers energy very well in most directions (Masaru Emoto 52). So in essence, we would not be able to affect our world as well as we do if we did not have water and/or were not made primarily, 70% or more, of water.

The ice that Emoto was dealing with was able to change its atomic structure, thus its physical/visual form, because it resonated with the stimuli that Masaru Emoto exposed it to. When he exposed it to music, its appearance in ice form was aesthetically identical to the images a human imagines when listening to the same music (Emoto OFFICE 1). He additionally simply spoke words, with feeling, at the beakers of water before freezing them and found that, again aesthetically, the ice’s form represented the meaning of the feeling behind the word. As he continued his experiments, he photographed his findings in the most aesthetic ways (Masaru Emoto 35-50).

The Secret, a movie, identified the possibility that thought shapes the universe. I, like many other physicists, know that energy shapes and controls the universe as a whole. Thus, it is not a giant leap to think that the energy created by thought may be strong enough to shape the very fabric of the universe. “Thoughts become things,” was a remark by Mike Dooley (The Secret 1).

Thought is the product of atoms reacting to each other, and their effects are the products of atomic interaction as well. A thought is a magnetic presence created when the mind activates its neurons and transmits its signal out into the body and out into the world. These neurons are made of atoms, and are transferring excess energy of a certain frequency, in the form of thought. These thoughts continue on to become manifested inside and outside of the body that created them; on to alter the world. This is all due to the fact that atoms interact.

Atoms are amazing things made of energy that also make up all matter. They are infinitesimally small, spherical particles that spin and turn, and affect the entire universe. Each of their properties add to one another to make the structure of our plane of existence.

Atoms are spaced widely apart, but we do not pass though “solid” objects because that solidity is created by an electromagnetic barrier that prevents us. Electromagnetism is just a manifestation of how an atom’s energy “shapes” the matter in the ‘verse. This “barrier” is not perfect, for if you add energy to the atoms, they will move apart and changes state. Thus, eliminating the close electromagnetic field, but it is not destroyed. It is merely shifted into a looser state and still holds the atoms in a relatively small area, instead of just blowing apart in all directions and continuing on into infinity.

Another aspect of the atom is its ability to split and/or merge and release excess energy. This energy is also released when chemicals react with one another, like in the brain. The brain then sends out pulses of energy, in the form of thought. Like energy going in the same direction “enforces” the first energy and creates an inescapable tug on reality. And this is how thought “begins” to shape the environment. Atoms have the ability to affect change on all scales of matter. It affects things larger, smaller, and equal to in size of the atoms in question. They affect change simply by spinning and moving. They release energy in the forms of heat, light, sound, etc. These forces of the atom are how we shape our universe.

“You create the universe as you go along,” is a quote by Winston Churchill (The Secret 2). We, in effect, are the center of the universe because we can only see as far as light can travel in all directions, a sphere of sight if you will, and the same goes for thought. In having us, and the Earth, as the center of our universe means that we have the power to shape it. Though the universe is technically infinite, we can only see so far and thus, for now, we only have a finite space for our thoughts to act upon.

Atoms affect all change, and thoughts (being the product of atomic interaction) are energy. Energy affects all matter, which is energy, so thought does in fact alter reality physically, not just mentally. I think that if we, as humans, all thought the same thought at the same time, or very close to, which we do every day, then we could impact the world more dramatically. Masaru Emoto released his research in the hopes of uniting the world’s thoughts in a single force for peace (Emoto About 1). We only think Anti-, so we need to not think anti- but must promote (meaning the only thing we talk about) peace, just as Emoto wanted.

Bibliography

Emoto, Masaru. OFFICE MASARU EMOTO. OFFICE MASARU EMOTO, GK, 29 Jan. 2008. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. .

Emoto, Masaru. The Miracle of Water. New York: Atria, 2007. Print.

The Secret :: Official Web Site of The Secret Movie :: Law of Attraction. TS Production LLC, 2007. Web. 23 Apr. 2010. .

The Secret. Dir. Drew Heriot. Perf. Rhonda Byrne. TS Productions, 2006. DVD.

Vujovic, Dr. Ljubo. "Albert Einstein." Tesla Memorial Society of New York. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. .

Out of time (final) [2nd attempt]

Nicola Tesla was, and still is, a prime example of a man “out of time.” His visionary ideas, such as AC current and radio towers, were ahead of their time when he invented them(WhatIs.com). Other inventions of his, like the “death ray” and the wireless energy converter, were so far ahead of their time that he was thought to be mad. As he progressed in age, the political party of the era forced ever shorter deadlines on his work. He was out of time, most of the time and had to work against time to get any of his inventions or experiments done on time. To top it all off, when he had died the U.S. Government had seized all of his unpublished work (WhatIs.com) so that any potentially harmful devices that they did not sanction would not be created, used, or even fully known by the world and its history for all time.

I, myself, have been “out of time” in various forms. One time, I was fully removed from the flow of time when I became exceptionally ill. I had caught a virus, that I do not remember the name of, that caused me to become unable to move, eat, or speak clearly. The bed that I slept on became my sanctuary, and by the time I recovered, a whole week had passed without my noticing, but to my parents I had seemed fully conscious. This ordeal had occurred when I was about seven years old. Later, but less consequentially, I had ran “out of time” on a paper that I had written for Mrs. Boresen, like now, and had to essentially rush “against” time to finish on schedule.

My family, like most others, has at least three living generations. A trend in my mother's side of the family was that most died with only a whisper. By this I mean, they developed either cancer, Alzheimer's, or both and died in a relatively unassuming fashion. My grandfather was diagnosed with cancer about a year before he died, he had also developed, what appeared to be, Alzheimer's. The aged man became completely unaware of the flow of life around him; he had been shot up with morphine to dull the pain, but this had mostly only made it so he could not communicate with the world outside of his body. On the day before he had finally given out, he had come rushing face first back into the world of time that he had been removed from for over two years, and was able to converse with my grandmother for one last time. Shortly after my grandmother had left for sleep, my grandfather was pronounced to be dead. At least I can say to myself, and others, that he died peacefully in his sleep.

My grandmother had been “out of time,” before she died, in a substantially different manner. When she was diagnosed, she had seemed healthy and fairly strong, for her age, but as time went on, she slowly deteriorated into being bedridden for the remainder of her life. As the cancer had dragged her defiant spirit into the “place without time,” she had attempted to continue with her life as it was before she had cancer. Her church choir was, in my opinion, the “best thing since sliced bread” to her and her downtrodden facade; she attended every practice she could, and even performed during an Easter sermon at LifeBridge Christian Church's main campus. Alas, to her cold disapproval, was not to last indefinitely; she had to eventually succumb to her unassuming fate, and die with some dignity left. She also, I can proudly say, died peacefully in her sleep. Her breathing simply stopped, and was pronounced dead around 2 a.m., much to the dismay of my mother, who was looking after her at the time.

Her faith, like many others, had invented a place where time was “out” and substance didn't exist. This was to be called “Limbo,” a realm outside of time, and beyond our perception; a spiritual/metaphysical realm where pain, pleasure, time, and even existence do not take form (thefreedictionary.com/limbo). It is a place removed from the natural, or unnatural, order of the universe as we see it today. Another name for the realm is Purgatory, the underworld in many mythologies, such as the Roman Pantheon, the Viking Asgard, and the western Christian Faith. Some scientists refer to this place as “the space between spaces,” in an effort to appeal to the side of reason when talking to a populace deeply involved in either faith or technology worship, but mostly only the realm of the numbers, and the “other” realm of imagination, can completely explain the intricacies of “limbo” and its relation to the definition of “out of time.”

What is it, to be out of time? For many, it is to run against time to get a deadline accomplished. But for others it is, in very real sense, to be completely removed from the normal flow of time, such as incapacitation.

To go by the legally written Oxford Dictionary definition, out of time means to be removed from “the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another” or, to “run” against the natural flow of a short period of perception. (dictionary.com).

Me, I think that definition does not fully impart what it means to be out of time. To be “out of time”, in most cases, is to run against the clock to finish something, or to be in the final stages of one's life when you know that the inevitable is only around the corner, like what happened to my grandparents. Another way of seeing it is to be completely removed from the flow of time itself, A.K.A. Nickola Tesla. Mostly, it is when a person refuses to let go of a previous time frame, in life that is constantly changing, and forgetting to live in the present. To end on a better note, to be “out of time” is not always to be considered a negative in life; those in “the Deep Freeze,” cryogenics, have a chance to see if the world is to move forward in its advances, or if the time comes, to guide with their wisdom and “fix” the world.


Bibliography

"1Time." Def. 7. Webster's New Explorer Dictionary and Thesaurus. 2005. Print.

"Limbo - definition of limbo by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia." Dictionary,
Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .

"Out of time | Define Out of time at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .

"Out of time." Online Dictionary: definitions by WordNet, Webster's, etc. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .

"Phase | Define Phase at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .

"What is Nikola Tesla? Definition from WhatIs.com." Computer Glossary, Computer Terms - Technology Definitions and Cheat Sheets from WhatIs.com - The Tech Dictionary and IT Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .

"What is time?" WHAT IS TIME. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .

Out of time (final)

What is it, to be out of time? For many, it is to run against time to get a deadline accomplished. But for others it is, in very real sense, to be completely removed from the normal flow of time, such as incapacitation.

To go by the legally written Oxford Dictionary definition, out of time means to be removed from “the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another”(dictionary.com). Or, to “run” against the natural flow of a short period of perception.

Me, I think that definition does not fully impart what it means to be out of time. To be out of time, in most cases, is to run against the clock to finish something, or to be in the final stages of one's life when you know that the inevitable is only around the corner. Another way of seeing it is to be completely removed from the flow of time itself. Mostly, it is those sedated patients who know no time, or those that are dead that experience this form of being removed from time.

Throughout history, one recurring theme has been restated in almost every religion on the planet. And that is the idea of “limbo,” a spiritual/metaphysical realm where pain, pleasure, time, and even existence do not take form. It is a place removed from the natural, or unnatural, order of the universe as we see it today. Another name for the realm is Purgatory, the underworld in many mythologies, such as the Roman Pantheon, the Viking Asgard, and the western Christian Faith.

One example of a person being “out of time” was that of Nicola Tesla. He was a man that had exemplary visions for the future. Many of which were not suited to the relatively old thinkings of the people that lived when he did. The man also had another experience in being removed from time. As he aged, he began losing cohesion with how time ran and eventually went mad; by the general consensus of the time. Also, much of his later, unfinished works were seized by the United States government before anyone else could lay their eyes on his “masterpieces.”

So, it is not hard to imagine me saying that I had a relative that recently passed away that was also ripped out of time. The person was my grandfather, an intellectual introvert at the best of times. He didn't say much, but he did express his ideas in the form of blueprints and painting. Alas, it was not to last, for he was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors had to administer medication that after removing his pain, had also removed his conscious mind from the order of time. At least I can say he died in a genuinely peaceful fashion by simply falling asleep, to dream the dreams where time is irrelevant and unnecessary.

The only other “times” that I personally have come across being removed from time, is that my family genes make it hard for me to age at the same rate as most others. Also, in meditation and in normal life, my mind leaves the confines of my body and searches itself without the hassle of worrying about time.

How does one deal with being, “out of time?”

Bibliography
"1Time." Def. 7. Webster's New Explorer Dictionary and Thesaurus. 2005. Print.
"Limbo - definition of limbo by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia." Dictionary,
Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .
"Out of time Define Out of time at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .
"Out of time." Online Dictionary: definitions by WordNet, Webster's, etc. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .
"Phase Define Phase at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .
"What is Nikola Tesla? Definition from WhatIs.com." Computer Glossary, Computer Terms - Technology Definitions and Cheat Sheets from WhatIs.com - The Tech Dictionary and IT Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. .
"What is time?" WHAT IS TIME. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. .

"Out of Time" definition essay (first draft)

What is it, to be out of time? For many, it is to run against time to get a deadline accomplished. But for others it is, in very real sense, to be completely removed from the normal flow of time.
To go by the legally written Oxford Dictionary definition, out of time means to be removed from “the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another”(Dictionary.com). Or, to “run” against the natural flow of a short period of perception.
Me, I think that definition does not fully impart what it means to be out of time. To be out of time, in most cases, is to run against the clock to finish something, or to be in the final stages of one's life when you know that the inevitable is only around the corner. Another way of seeing it is to be completely removed from the flow of time itself. Mostly, it is those sedated patient who know no time, or those that are dead that experience this form of being removed from time.
Throughout history, one recurring theme has been restated in almost every religion on the planet. And that is the idea of “limbo,” a spiritual/metaphysical realm where pain, pleasure, time, and even existence do not take form. It is a place removed from the natural, or unnatural, order of the universe as we see it today. Another name for the realm is Purgatory, the underworld in many mythologies, such as the Roman Pantheon, the Viking Asgard, and the western Christian Faith.
One example of a person being “out of time” was that of Nicola Tesla. He was a man that had exemplary visions for the future. Many of which were not suited to the relatively old thinking ways of the people that lived when he did. The man also had another experience in being removed from time. As he aged, he began losing cohesion with how time ran and eventually went mad; by the general consensus of the time. Also, much of his later, unfinished works were seized by the United States government before anyone else could lay their eyes on his “masterpieces.”
So, it is not hard to imagine me saying that I had a relative that recently passed away that was also ripped out of time. The person was my grandfather, an intellectual introvert at the best of times. He didn't say much, but he did express his ideas in the form of blueprints and painting. Alas, it was not to last, for he was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors had to administer medication that after removing his pain, had also removed his conscious mind from the order of time. At least I can say he died in a relatively peaceful fashion by simply falling asleep, to dream the dreams where time is irrelevant and unnecessary.
The only other “times” that I personally have come across the being removed from time, is that my family genes make it hard for me to age at the same rate as most others. Also, in meditation and in normal life, my mind leaves the confines of my body and searches itself without the hassle of worrying about time.
How does one deal with being, “out of time?”

Alumni Scholarship Essay

Alan Franklin
Mrs. Boresen
Per. 04/Expository Writing
Alumni Scholarship
12 January 2010

As a plant lover, I wish to pursue an extensive study in the field of Botany. I also wish to later, own my own greenhouse, work as a bioengineer, and own my own home. To achieve these goals I plan to go to college and get a Master’s in Botany. Getting to that point will only happen if I first go to community college, earn an Associate’s in Science, and then finishing in a University with a Bachelor’s in Botany, before moving on to my Master’s. I then must find a good paying job with my botanical education and earn enough money to own a greenhouse and a home.

The financial struggles that have consistently plagued my family have left me incapable of paying for college myself. I am expecting no financial aid to come from my parents, seeing as what little income they have they must put towards supporting the rest of my large family, and finding a job in my small town has proved futile. So I must ask the school for their support in my endeavor by awarding me the RHS Alumni Scholarship.

If I am awarded this scholarship I plan to do my best in my field and one day mentor later graduates of RHS who wish to continue their education.

Revision of Final College Essay

Alan Franklin
Mrs. Boresen
Per. 04/Expository Writing
College Essay
12 February 2010

The dark green leaves of the stoic basil bush, bursting forth from the dust-like earth, were full and vibrant. The odor emanating from the stiff, domed leaves was sweet, and intoxicating. Persistent, hungry flies came to drink the sweet nectar and pollinate the already flowering plant.
That was what I noticed just before I harvested the basil plants for drying and preservation. I grew the resilient plants in my cool basement with a grow light continually hanging overhead. The herbs were easily germinated and grown in modest earthen pots filled with a mixture of potting soil and peat. I was growing the plants for a family friend who is an avid fan of cooking with fresh herbs.
Moving upstairs to my converted drying room, I transported the intact stems with leaves attached to a large, open sorting table. The day was bright and sunny with a dry wind blowing in from outside; perfect conditions for drying and curing herbs. I then proceeded to tie off bushels, between 10 and 12 stems apiece, at their bases with twine. Upending the plants, I slipped the bushels into long, brown paper bags. Tying off the bags, making sure to not let the plants touch the bottom of their bags, I made a knotted loop at the top of each bag for hanging. Hanging the bags on hooks in the ceiling, to take full advantage of the warmth of the sun and breeze, I marked a calendar in my room with a big red X to remind me to remove and bottle the dry leaves 11 days later.
This was not the first time I had grown herbs for someone besides myself. Earlier I had experimented with different fertilizers and soil compositions, so as to discern the absolute best growth medium for the various botanical plant life that I grew. After experimentation with soil, I moved on to various methods of composting waste biomaterial and turning it into beneficial fertilizer. I had multiple success results in the process, and used some in my gardens. The gardens I attended brightened up my neighborhood, some neighbors even asked for my help with their gardens. The results of drying my herbs were positive in that they preserved my herbs, many for over a year. My grandmother helped me by just being there, and by letting me help out in her small garden by tilling the soil and testing that the soil had enough water. She is a sweet, but stern woman of mature age, that still loves to encourage me and my siblings in any endeavor that we choose to pursue.
Returning to and seeing the final product was worth all the work in the end. To witness something of value springing up out of the dirt thanks to my dutiful attendance to it and to reap the rewards of my efforts is what gives me a true and lasting joy. Furthering my education and attaining a Master’s in Botany will, above all else, enable me to do what I love and maybe even profit from it. So I will persistently strive to find a way to make that happen. The financial struggles that have consistently plagued my family have left me incapable of paying for college myself. I am expecting no financial aide to come from my parents, seeing as what little income they have they must put towards supporting the rest of my large family, and finding a job in my small town has proved futile. This leaves me to seek alternative ways of funding my necessary college expenditures and experience, such as scholarships, grants, and attending a community college. A bonus of my work was the pleasure my mother’s friend received from my gift of fragrant herbs. She has asked me to continue to supply her from my productive garden.
Student signature: ________________________________________________________ Date: ___________

Final College Essay

Alan Franklin
Mrs. Boresen
Per. 04/Expository Writing
College Essay
04 February 2010

The dark green leaves of the stoic basil bush, bursting forth from the dust-like earth, were full and vibrant. The odor perspiring from the stiff, domed leaves was sweet, and intoxicating. Persistent, hungry flies came to drink the sweet nectar and dutifully pollinate the already flowering plant, while a small family of audacious mice ventured forth to sample the potent herb.
That was what I noticed just before I blatantly harvested the basil plants for drying and preservation. I grew the resilient plants in my cool basement with a grow light continually hanging overhead; even if my mother thinks the indoor garden is a waste of time, and energy. The humble herbs were easily germinated and grown in modest earthen pots filled with a mixture of potting soil and peat. I was tenderly growing the plants for a family friend, whom I only knew in passing, but being an avid fan of cooking with fresh herbs.
Moving upstairs to my converted drying room, I devotedly transported the intact stems with leaves attached to a large, open sorting table. The day was bright and sunny with a dry wind blowing in from outside; perfect conditions for drying and curing herbs. I then proceeded to tie off bushels, between 10 and 12 stems apiece, at their bases with twine. Upending the mouthwatering plants, I slipped the bushels into long, brown paper bags. Tying off the versatile bags, making sure to not let the plants touch the bottom of their bags, I made a knotted loop at the top of each bag for hanging. Hanging the bags on hooks in the ceiling, to take full advantage of the warmth of the sun and breeze, I marked a calendar in my room with a big red X to remind me to remove and bottle the dry leaves 11 lengthy days later.
This was not the first time I had grown lush herbs for someone besides myself. Earlier I had experimented with different profitable fertilizers and advantageous soil composition, so as to discern the absolute best growth medium for the various botanical plant life that I lovingly grew, mostly for my grandmother. After experimentation with soil, I moved on to various methods of composting waste biomaterial and turning it into beneficial fertilizer, this was quite easy because I have lived next to farmers/gardeners for most of my life. I had multiple success results in the process, and used some in my lavish gardens. The gardens I attended brightened up my neighborhood, some even asked for my help with their gardens to help the community’s status. The results of drying my herbs, as I found, were positive in that they preserved many of my herbs, for many over a year at a time. My grandmother helped me by just being there, and by letting me help out in her small garden by tilling the soil and testing that the soil had enough water. She is a sweet, but stern woman of mature age, that still loves to encourage me and my siblings in any endeavor that we choose to pursue, be it horse riding, botany, or explosives.
Returning to and seeing the final product, 11days later, is worth it to me in the end. To witness something of value springing up out of the dirt thanks to my dutiful attendance to it and to reap the rewards of my efforts is what gives me a true and lasting joy. Furthering my education and attaining a Master’s in Botany will, above all else, enable me to do what I love and maybe even profit from it. So I will persistently strive to find a way to make that happen. The financial struggles that have consistently plagued my family have left me incapable of paying for college myself. I am expecting no financial aide to come from my parents, seeing as what little income they have they must put towards supporting the rest of my large family, and that I cannot find a suitable job so far out of the city. And so, this leaves me to seek alternative ways of funding my necessary college expenditures and experience, such as scholarships. Through it all, my mother’s friend was ecstatic to receive such a fragrant and bountiful gift, and asked me to grow for her again in the future.
Student signature:____________________________________________________ Date: ___________

College Essay

Alan Franklin
Mrs. Boresen
Per. 04/Expository Writing
College Essay
January 28, 2010

The dark green leaves of the basil bush were full and vibrant. The perspired odor coming from the stiff, domed leaves was strong, sweet, and intoxicating. Hungry flies came to drink nectar and pollinate the already flowering plant, while mice ventured forth to sample the potent herb.
That was what I noticed just before I harvested the basil plants for drying and preservation. I grew the full, vibrant plants in my cool basement with a grow light ever-present overhead. The humble herbs were germinated and grown in modest earthen pots filled with a mixture of 60% potting soil and 40% peat. The herbs were being grown for a family friend who loved to cook with fresh herbs.
Moving upstairs to my drying room, I transported the intact stems with leaves attached to a sorting table. The day was sunny and a dry wind was blowing in from outside, perfect conditions for drying and curing herbs. I then proceeded to tie off bushels of 10 to 12 stems at their bases with twine. Placing the plants upside down, I slipped the bushels into long, brown paper bag. Tying off the bags, making sure to not let the plants touch the bottom of their bags, I make a knotted loop at the top of each bag for hanging. Hanging the bags on hooks in the ceiling to take full advantage of the breeze, I marked a calendar to remind me to bottle the dry leaves 10 to 12 days later.
This was not the first time I have grown lush herbs for someone besides myself. Earlier I had experimented with different fertilizers and soil composition, so as to discern the best growth medium for the various botanical plant life that I grew. After experimentation with soil, I moved on to various methods of composting rejected biomaterial and turning it into fertilizer, and had multiple success results in the process. I used both of these methods to make the growing medium for my established indoor and outdoor gardens (some of which brightened up the neighborhood considerably). The last step, drying, I learned not on my own, but from a local greenhouse. The results were positive in that they preserved many of my herbs for over a year at a time.
Back to my final Basil product (11 days later), I noticed that the fragrance of the leaves had not diminished during the drying time. I was doing this with little money and second-hand materials because my mother is unemployed, my grandmother uses food stamps, and my dad is a part-time truck driver. Though, I still loved to do the preparation, growing, and drying all the same. My grandmother was my biggest influence in pursuing Botany as a carrier in that she taught me how to grow and respect all forms of green life. A few days after handing my mom’s friend a jar of the dried basil, I received a call from her stating that she loved the quality (and price) of the home-grown herb.

Student signature:________________________________________________________

Date: ___________