Reflection on the window farm project by Robert

Reflections on window farm

Each individual needs to reflect on how the group worked and state 2 ways in which group worked well and 2 ways in which the group did not work well.

We worked well when it came to watering the plants during term 1 and doing the blog.

But we did not do well when it came to watering in the holiday and communicating to organise it.

Design and building of the window farms and any modifications that have been made before and after the holidays. 

We are going to get a plastic box instead of our cardboard one.
 
Choice of plants and growth of plants in window farm – did you make the right choices? Did everything grow? Any problems with pests? Explain these and other factors and how they affected the growth of the plants.

Yes we did make the right choices as the plants we had were suited for shady places like our side of the lab.

We had problems with our plants because we couldn't water during holidays.

What additional information do you know now about window farms that may have helped you in the beginning of the project?

It helped that I knew about the basic design and concept before this project. Also I knew how gardening worked from my last school.

 

REFLECTIONS ON GROUP WORK.

I think Tom and I work well in a group and were able to pull this project together pretty quickly.

Things I think need to be improved are handing in and communication. 

REFLECTIONS ON CHOICE OF PLANTS.

The plants that I chose were for the shady part of the lab but I should have thought about watering, I did not water the plants often enough.  I think I should have looked for plants that could survive only being watered every few days.

REFLECTIONS ON HUMAN INFLUENCES.

I think we had a large influence on this project because we had to take care of all  the needs of the plants which I failed terribly at. 😞

REFLECTIONS ON DESIGN AND BUILDING.

I liked building the window farm, but I thought the design part was hard because I thought we were wasting too much time on it.

During building my favorite part was testing the watering system, it was awesome.

Abiotic and biotic factors that affected our window farm during the holidays

Abiotic and biotic factors that affected our window farm during the holidays


Which abiotic factors were difficult to control over the holidays?

1. Water because we forgot to water our plants. There was no reservoir for storing water.
2. Our soil might not have been able to hold enough water and did not have enough dead organic matter e.g. humus or mulch .
3. Not enough light. 

What arrangements or modifications did you make for watering the window farm during the holidays?

We made an arrangement that Robert would take the window farm home for the two week holiday. We had discussed the fact that as the garden portabgle, it would be better to manage it at home.  We neglected to ensure this happened, and because the plants were uncared for they all died and shrivelled up. We could have alternatively designed a water feed system that would have watered the plants in our absence.  A simple 2L coke bottle filled with water suspended with a rope from its lid might have been sufficient to water the plants for the two weeks.  Alternatively we could have visited the plants to water them when the class was open during the holiday.  We should have ensured the plants were well watered before the holidays and perhaps put some water retentive soil or moss or mulch to prevent evaporation - this might have saved our plants from dehydration. 

Did the watering system work properly? Explain your answer
We did not have an adequate system for watering our plants despite initial plan or intention. Therefore our plants did not survive the two week hydra - deprivations.

State 3 abiotic factors that influenced the growth of plants in your window farm and state how they influenced the plant growth

Light- the plants got too much sun and shriveled up and died.
Water- the plants didn't get enough water as they were dehydrated.

Biotic Factors: Plant Growth


Include evidence of plant growth in the window farm in pictures/data since you planted it and describe the changes you observe.
There was no plant growth
No evidence of bugs.
Dehydrated e.t.c

AFTER

BEFORE

Reflection by Thomas Mudge

Each individual needs to reflect on how the group worked and state 2 ways in which group worked well and 2 ways in which the group did not work well together. 


I,Thomas Mudge think that the my group consisting of Robert and I are an effective group even though that we left the window farm at home.

What our group did that worked well:

• Working on the blog
• Watering our window farm during term 1.

What our group needs to improve on:

• Communication with each other about who should of taken the window farm home
• A better watering system so that our plants could of lasted longer.

Design and building of the window farms and any modifications that have been made before and after the holidays.


Modifications that have/are going to be made:


A   black plastic crate is going to be used to hold the water reservoir instead of the decaying cardboard box that has been used.



Choice of plants and growth of plants in window farm – did you make the right choices? Did everything grow? Any problems with pests? Explain these and other factors and how they affected the growth of the plants.

As our presence was unavailable our plants perished as they didn't get enough water.Therefore we should of chosen more hardier plants

What influences have we (humans) had on the window farms?  Describe these.
The influence that,we humans have had on the window farm caused the plants to shrivel up 
 and die as we did not water them and never got to the classroom to water.

·         What additional information do you know now about window farms that may have helped you in the beginning of the project?                                                                                                                                                                                                      I know that it is better to use seedling than seeds.
       That window farms don't need a lot of water.
c      Mint can resprout again if it has died.


    
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