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Gomie's Farm Fact #1:
Trees must never grow in space.
Trees operate by converting their surrounding atmosphere into oxygen. Formations like Crater Lake occur when a tree falls into the water and converts it all to oxygen. Space is far more dangerous: There is nothing in space! An empty vaccuum! Should a tree ever fall into space, it would convert nothing into oxygen. This would violate all of our known laws of physics and probably cause a really big explosion.
Unfortunately for us, trees are malevolent: This is why they grow up.
Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:06 am 
Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:15 am
Never have I so deeply feared for my life.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:45 pm
I try to avoid Wikipedia, but it's just so difficult sometimes.
[adjective] [adjective] [adjective] Fun Farming Fact #4:
Rice fields are flooded with only five inches of water in preparation to grow the rice. Modern methods of Californian farming include planting the rice by plane, dropping the rice into the paddies below. The rice will then spend four to five months growing to a height of about 3 feet before being harvested. Harvesting the rice requires the field to be drained of the five inches of water.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
[adjective] [adjective] [adjective] Fun Farming Fact #4:
Rice fields are flooded with only five inches of water in preparation to grow the rice. Modern methods of Californian farming include planting the rice by plane, dropping the rice into the paddies below. The rice will then spend four to five months growing to a height of about 3 feet before being harvested. Harvesting the rice requires the field to be drained of the five inches of water.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Fri Aug 07, 2015 11:10 pm
Fun Fibonacci Farming Fact #5:
Pumpkins have a very low resistance to cold, making their growth period begin from May to July and end in October, depending on location. One important practice worth noting involves the use of insecticides. If and when insecticides are used, they should be applied only late in the day after the blossoms of the pumpkin have closed. This is because it is necessary for bees to be able to pollinate the blossoms of the pumpkins while they are open in the day, and insecticides will interfere with a bee's ability to suckle those sweet juices.
The connection of pumpkins to Halloween actually comes long after the birth of the celebration. Jack-o-Lanterns were originally made from turnips and potatoes in Irish and Scottish communities. The myth involves a man named Stingy Jack, who played tricks on the Devil and ended up being cursed to wander the land for all eternity, with a burning coal inside a carved out turnip to light the way. People began carving faces into turnips and potatoes themselves to ward off spirits such as Stingy Jack from their windowsills. The English used large beets because they aren't as Celtic. Pumpkins are native to America, and once immigrants from Ireland and Scotland came over, they discovered the pumpkin was perfect for carving Jack-o-Lanterns.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Pumpkins have a very low resistance to cold, making their growth period begin from May to July and end in October, depending on location. One important practice worth noting involves the use of insecticides. If and when insecticides are used, they should be applied only late in the day after the blossoms of the pumpkin have closed. This is because it is necessary for bees to be able to pollinate the blossoms of the pumpkins while they are open in the day, and insecticides will interfere with a bee's ability to suckle those sweet juices.
The connection of pumpkins to Halloween actually comes long after the birth of the celebration. Jack-o-Lanterns were originally made from turnips and potatoes in Irish and Scottish communities. The myth involves a man named Stingy Jack, who played tricks on the Devil and ended up being cursed to wander the land for all eternity, with a burning coal inside a carved out turnip to light the way. People began carving faces into turnips and potatoes themselves to ward off spirits such as Stingy Jack from their windowsills. The English used large beets because they aren't as Celtic. Pumpkins are native to America, and once immigrants from Ireland and Scotland came over, they discovered the pumpkin was perfect for carving Jack-o-Lanterns.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Sat Aug 08, 2015 10:40 am
Humor-Attempting Fun Farming Fact #6:
Today we'll be talking about hoes. And no, not THAT kind of hoe. No, I mean the kind that pertains to farming. I try to be at least slightly appropriate. Anyway, a hoe is a common tool used in farming, typically to remove weeds or loosen the soil. The tool itself, including a simple, 6-inch wide metal plate, may not seem that innovative, but this simple tool serves a vital purpose in farming. A plow is typically and historically used to loosen the soil, but a hoe provides a more portable and precise method of clearing weeds, etc.
Although there does not appear to be much to a hoe, there are actually several different variations on the tool that provide more specific uses or provide the same service with a different method. For example, the Dutch Hoe is built to be pushed rather than pulled, like a traditional drag hoe. The head of the tool is separated in order to get significantly underneath the soil to sever weeds from the bottom. The Scuffle Hoe, or the "winged hoe" is designed to alternate between pushing and pulling. In essence, all of these tools serve the same basic function, but as a farmer, the details of how you approach the job make a large difference, considering the taxing physical labor.
EDIT: I never thought I'd do so much research on hoes. I'm going to write a rap.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Today we'll be talking about hoes. And no, not THAT kind of hoe. No, I mean the kind that pertains to farming. I try to be at least slightly appropriate. Anyway, a hoe is a common tool used in farming, typically to remove weeds or loosen the soil. The tool itself, including a simple, 6-inch wide metal plate, may not seem that innovative, but this simple tool serves a vital purpose in farming. A plow is typically and historically used to loosen the soil, but a hoe provides a more portable and precise method of clearing weeds, etc.
Although there does not appear to be much to a hoe, there are actually several different variations on the tool that provide more specific uses or provide the same service with a different method. For example, the Dutch Hoe is built to be pushed rather than pulled, like a traditional drag hoe. The head of the tool is separated in order to get significantly underneath the soil to sever weeds from the bottom. The Scuffle Hoe, or the "winged hoe" is designed to alternate between pushing and pulling. In essence, all of these tools serve the same basic function, but as a farmer, the details of how you approach the job make a large difference, considering the taxing physical labor.
EDIT: I never thought I'd do so much research on hoes. I'm going to write a rap.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:36 pm
But... what's the link between pumpkins and Pascal's triangle? And what do Fibonacci number have to do with either?
(I don't have time to enter this contest)
(I don't have time to enter this contest)
Sat Aug 08, 2015 8:00 pm
There is no connection until you make it. I get bored when I do this, I wouldn't look to deeply into it.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Sat Aug 08, 2015 11:44 pm
Weird thing is, when we learned about the sequence in math class, we learned it at Halloween and the worksheets we were handed had pumpkins and stuff on it. I always thought there was a connection!
Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:30 pm
I got my idea and I'm gonna try to run with it. Details following as they develop. Gomie out.
Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:03 am
Gizmog wrote:
I got my idea and I'm gonna try to run with it. Details following as they develop. Gomie out.
Good luck and I look forward to seeing it.
Sorry I didn't post a fact today, I didn't end up going to bed until 10 am so my awakeness is not super powerful right now. I'll get one posted in a minute to make up for it.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:49 am
Exhaustion-Fueled Fun Farming Fact #7:
Irrigation has been historically vital to the survival of a civilization. Those who establish quality irrigation will be much more capable of supporting the agriculture required to feed a people. Irrigation dates back to at least 6000 BC when Egyptians and Mesopotamians used the flooding waters of the Nile or Tigris/Euphrates rivers. They drew the water into the farmland, then drained it back into the river at the proper time in the growth period.
In hot, dry climates irrigation can have detrimental long-term effects. As water flows from one place to another, the liquid water may evaporate and leave mineral deposits behind. After enough time, this now-salty water can layer these deposits into a field, eventually making it infertile. This adds a complication to irrigation that requires extra attention and makes irrigation more difficult to maintain. Proper drainage of an area therefore does not only affect the crops themselves but the soil they live in. However, draining the salt from the soil can also take with it other necessary minerals in the soil. For this reason, plentiful fertilizing is also a vital practice. Irrigation is complicated and finicky, but there are some factors to look to.
Overall, a long term irrigation system must have:
I feel it's worth noting the Archimedes Screw. You may be familiar with the device as it is used today. It is a large screw inside of a tube which is often used to transport granular materials like cereal grains. However, it was initially invented by Archimedes in 250 BC to transport water. Although it is an ancient invention, it is still used today, although not for its intended purpose. I find that interesting.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Irrigation has been historically vital to the survival of a civilization. Those who establish quality irrigation will be much more capable of supporting the agriculture required to feed a people. Irrigation dates back to at least 6000 BC when Egyptians and Mesopotamians used the flooding waters of the Nile or Tigris/Euphrates rivers. They drew the water into the farmland, then drained it back into the river at the proper time in the growth period.
In hot, dry climates irrigation can have detrimental long-term effects. As water flows from one place to another, the liquid water may evaporate and leave mineral deposits behind. After enough time, this now-salty water can layer these deposits into a field, eventually making it infertile. This adds a complication to irrigation that requires extra attention and makes irrigation more difficult to maintain. Proper drainage of an area therefore does not only affect the crops themselves but the soil they live in. However, draining the salt from the soil can also take with it other necessary minerals in the soil. For this reason, plentiful fertilizing is also a vital practice. Irrigation is complicated and finicky, but there are some factors to look to.
Overall, a long term irrigation system must have:
- 1. An abundant supply of good water.
2. Well-drained soil.
3. Good regional drainage.
4. A supply of fertilizer for the soil.
I feel it's worth noting the Archimedes Screw. You may be familiar with the device as it is used today. It is a large screw inside of a tube which is often used to transport granular materials like cereal grains. However, it was initially invented by Archimedes in 250 BC to transport water. Although it is an ancient invention, it is still used today, although not for its intended purpose. I find that interesting.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:04 am
Well I've decided to make my own game for this contest, so I ended up spending a bunch of time on that today and forgot to put a fact. So sorry it's late, but here it is.
Brief Fun Farming Fact #8:
Trees are surprisingly hearty when it comes to growing conditions. They technically do not require a real soil bed in order to grow and can find some interesting and unlikely places to spread their roots. For example, due to the volcanic activity in Oregon, there are many locations which feature extensive lava flows. The Dee Wright Observatory at the top of Mckenzie Pass near Bend, Oregon overlooks a massive lava flow consisting of nearly nothing but lava rock. Despite these conditions, periodically you can still find a tree growing seemingly out of the rocks. The rocks erode over time in the snow and rain and create a soil that is sufficient to house plant life.
If you find yourself in Bend, or anywhere in Oregon and you've never been to a lava flow, I highly recommend paying a visit to the Dee Wright Observatory. It will no doubt be out of your way, regardless of what you're doing, but it's a sight to see. (I have personal experience there so I found it easier to write about.)
No picture really captures what it's like, but it can give you an idea.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Brief Fun Farming Fact #8:
Trees are surprisingly hearty when it comes to growing conditions. They technically do not require a real soil bed in order to grow and can find some interesting and unlikely places to spread their roots. For example, due to the volcanic activity in Oregon, there are many locations which feature extensive lava flows. The Dee Wright Observatory at the top of Mckenzie Pass near Bend, Oregon overlooks a massive lava flow consisting of nearly nothing but lava rock. Despite these conditions, periodically you can still find a tree growing seemingly out of the rocks. The rocks erode over time in the snow and rain and create a soil that is sufficient to house plant life.
If you find yourself in Bend, or anywhere in Oregon and you've never been to a lava flow, I highly recommend paying a visit to the Dee Wright Observatory. It will no doubt be out of your way, regardless of what you're doing, but it's a sight to see. (I have personal experience there so I found it easier to write about.)
No picture really captures what it's like, but it can give you an idea.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:35 am
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:22 pm
I love these farm facts.
Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:08 pm
I'm reading new information that suggests the Mesopotamians began irrigating in 7000 BC rather than 6000 BC. No source seems to be certain of this date, so there is a discrepancy there.
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife
My pronouns are they/them
Ps. I love my wife