Food Waste & Composting
What percent of all food harvested in the United States is never eaten?
31-40%
Identify three (3) benefits of propagation.
Possible answers:
Increases plant stock
Allows growers to increase their plant stock (i.e., How many plants they have) quickly and efficiently, and produce multiple plants from a single parent plant at little to no cost
Maintains plant genetics
Reproducing plants through propagation allows for growers to preserve the genetic traits and characteristics of the parent plant
Produces uniform plants
Propagation results in plants that are identical to the parent plant
Allows for experimentation and breeding
What is the difference between hydroponics and aquaponics?
"Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants..."; "Aquaponics is a combination of fish and plant production"
What common weed is related to the cashew nut and causes a red, bumpy, and itchy rash if brushed against?
Poison Ivy
What day is the 2025 Spring Plant Sale?
Possible Answers: Tuesday, April 29th; April 29th
Identify one (1) example of an Organic Residue, one (1) example of a Primary Consumer, one (1) example of a Secondary Consumer, and one (1) example of a Tertiary Consumer.
Tertiary Consumers: Organisms that eat secondary consumers (e.g., centipedes, predatory mites, rove beetles, pseudoscorpions)
Secondary Consumers: Organisms that eat primary consumers (e.g., springtails, feather-winged beetles, some types of mites, nematodes, protozoa)
Primary Consumers: Organisms that feed on organic residues (e.g., actinomycetes and other bacteria, fungi, snails, slugs, millipedes, sowbugs, some types of mites, nematodes, protozoa)
Organic Residues (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, other plant debris, food scraps, fecal matter and animal bodies including those of soil invertebrates)
What propagation method grows new plants by encouraging roots to form on a branch while it is still attached to the parent plant?
Air Layering
Explain the mechanism of the Wick System in hydroponics.
Wick System: Utilizes a wick to passively transport nutrient solution from a reservoir to the growing medium.
Why is the Spotted Lanternfly problematic?
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF): Suck out sap, excreting honeydew (sugary substance) that causes the growth of mold which weakens the plants and prevents photosynthesis
Where is the 2025 Spring Plant Sale during school hours? After-school hours?
During school hours: Library Media Center
After-school hours: Room 106/Greenhouse
How do landfills contribute to climate change?
Landfills cause harm to the environment by emitting greenhouse gases (e.g., methane, carbon dioxide (CO2), etc.), which trap heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere, preventing it from escaping into space. This causes the Earth’s temperature to rise--a key facet of climate change.
Identify three (3) examples of propogation tools and supplies.
Possible answers:
Hand Pruners (or Scissors): Scissor-like, provides a clean and precise cut
Propagation Trays: Trays used for starting seeds or root cuttings
Glass Jars: Jars of any shape or size will also work–just fill them with water and place your cutting into the jar!
Rooting Hormone: Powder or liquid substance applied to the ends of plant cuttings to stimulate root growth; Helps increase the success rate of propagation by promoting faster and healthier root development.
Water or Potting Soil: Growing media used for planting seeds or rooting cuttings
Heated Mats (for Seed Germination): Electrically-heated pads placed under propagation trays to provide consistent heat to seeds or cuttings.
What is the appropriate pH level range for hydroponic and aquaponic systems?
5.5 - 6.5
Identify and explain one (1) example of damage caused by insect pests.
Possible answers:
Feeding Damage
Many insect pests feed directly on plant tissues, causing physical damage to leaves, stems, fruits, and roots
Feeding damage can manifest as holes, notches, skeletonization, or complete defoliation (loss of all leaves)
Severe feeding damage can weaken plants, reduce photosynthetic capacity, stunt growth, and ultimately lead to crop yield losses
Transmission of Diseases
Some insect pests act as vectors (carriers) for plant diseases, transmitting pathogens (i.e., viruses, bacteria, fungi) from infected plants to healthy ones
When feeding, infected insects can introduce pathogens to plant tissues
Diseases transmitted by insect vectors can cause symptoms such as wilting, yellowing, leaf spots, and necrosis (death)
Identify one (1) fruit or vegetable, one (1) herb, and one (1) flower being sold at the Spring Plant Sale
Fruits & Vegetables
Tomato (Variety: Artemis)
Tomato (Variety: Beefsteak)
Tomatillo (Variety: Grande Rio Verde)
Pepper (Variety: Snack Belle)
Pepper (Variety: Liberty Belle)
Cucumber (Variety: Pick a Bushel)
Squash (Variety: Dixie)
Watermelon (Variety: Mini Love)
Herbs
Basil, Parsley, Dill, Cilantro, Lemon Balm, Cat Grass
Flowers
Daisy (Variety: Gloriosa Single Mixed)
Marigolds (Variety: Petite Mixed Colors, African Antigua Orange)
Zinnia (Variety: Cut and Come Again Mixed Colors)
Cosmos (Mixed Varieties)
Identify three (3) foods that are (USUALLY) Okay and three (3) foods that are NEVER Okay to put in a vermicomposting system.
(USUALLY) Okay - Fruit, vegetable, and some grain scraps
NEVER Okay - Fats, oils, dairy and animal products (e.g., meat, dairy), Citrus, Onions and garlic, Bread or yeast products, Spicy foods and Spices, Cat or dog feces, Diseased or infested plants)
Pruning increases air circulation and sunlight penetration. Increased sunlight penetration ensures that more leaves have the ability to ___.
Photosynthesize; Make energy using light
Identify the five (5) components all hydroponic systems should have.
Reservoir: Holds water and nutrient solution
Grow Tray and Medium: Provides support to plant roots (e.g., perlite, rockwool, coconut coir, water)
Nutrient Solution: Contains essential nutrients required for plant growth (e.g., Macronutrients (N, P, K) and Micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Fe, etc.))
Pump and Tubing: Facilitates even, nutrient circulation
Lighting (if indoors): Provide artificial light if the system is not outdoors to ensure that plants can perform photosynthesis
Identify one (1) example of a Cultural Control, (1) example of a Mechanical Control, (1) example of a Biological Control, and (1) example of a Chemical Control with regard to Integrated Pest Management practices.
Cultural (e.g., Crop Rotation, Cover Cropping)
Mechanical (Row covers, sticky traps)
Biological (e.g., Beneficial insects, beneficial pathogens)
Chemical (e.g., Proper use of herbicides or pesticides)
Fruits and vegetables should typically be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. However, three (3) exceptions are...
Cucumber, Watermelon - Start indoors 4-6 Weeks before last frost date
Squash - Start indoors 3-4 Weeks before last frost date
Identify and describe the six (6) points on the Food Recovery Hierarchy.
1. Source Reduction: Reduce the volume of surplus food generated
2. Feed Hungry People: Donate extra food to food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters
3. Feed Animals: Divert food scraps to animal food
4. Industrial Uses: Provide waste oils for rendering and fuel conversion, and food scraps for digestion to recover energy
5. Composting: Create a nutrient-rich soil amendment
6. Landfill/Incineration: Last resort to disposal
Heading Cut
Removing the terminal portion of a branch or stem by cutting back to a node, bud, or lateral branch to stimulate new growth and encourage branching
Commonly used to shape shrubs, hedges, and trees
Thinning Cut
Selectively removing entire branches or portions of branches from a plant to improve airflow, reduce density and enhance light penetration
Commonly used in fruit tree and ornamental plant care
Explain the symbiotic relationship between fish and plants in aquaponics.
In aquaponics, fish and plants work together in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Fish produce waste in the form of ammonia and plants use the ammonia as a source of nutrients. They do this by converting the ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates, which are usable by plants as a source of nitrogen.
As the plants’ roots absorb these nutrients, they filter and purify the water, creating a healthier environment for the fish
Explain how (herbicide/pesticide) resistance works.
Resistance occurs when repeated exposure to herbicides/pesticides selects for individuals within a weed population that can survive and reproduce despite herbicide/pesticide treatment
Resistant weeds/insect pests can reduce the effectiveness of herbicides/pesticides > increase weed/insect pest pressure > decrease crop yield > increase management costs
What is the "Why" of the 2025 Spring Plant Sale?
Plant Sales are a key component of agriculture and agricultural education--providing students with the opportunity to not only cultivate plants from seed, but bring them to market! All of the funds will go back to the Wilby Agriculture program and used for classroom-related purposes and future events (like field trips and Farm Day)!