Happy Thursday Everyone

This week Matt was able to buy my first batch of crickets for my first natural pesticide experiment using diatomaceous earth suspended in water. Luckily I had a friend with me who helped put 10 crickets in each of the 9 containers. I didn't think I would be squeamish around a bunch of crickets but turns out I freak out at insects that JUMP!! It took about 30 min just to get them in their habitat because I had to make sure I counted 10 crickets in each one. There are 3 control groups, 3 direct application groups, and 3 indirect application groups. After I had them properly dispersed I recorded the population after 1 hr, then again at 24hr. I noticed a decrease in population after a 24 hr period but not sure if it was from the pesticide or if crickets are cannibalistic. I think I will wait until 72 hr (tomorrow) to make an more legitimate assumption. Until then here are some pictures -

Peace, 

Jenni

AWW SHUCKS!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

So I have still not been able to start my pesticide project. Apparently crickets are pricey..who knew. Matt and I deciced to purchase crickets in bundles and not all at once to avoid any possible waste, like death, before I get a chance to use them on my experiment. We plan to buy first batch of crickets next Tuesday and I can start my first Natural Pesticide Test using Diatomaceous Earth. In the mean time I have been researching natural disinfectants to possibly research and experiment with... Until next time

Peace,

Jenni

P.S. 

This is my BIG PROJECT... coming to life:)

DEAD CRICKETS....

Happy Thursday Everyone :)

I am so excited to finally start my first project this semester! I am making my own pesticides and testing the effectiveness on crickets. Matt has been so helpful at getting the materials I need and giving me different ways to approach the research aspect. Thanks Matt! So far I have set up all the habitats I plan to use : I am using 3 control groups, 3 indirect application groups, and 3 direct application groups. Each group will contain 20 crickets. The goal is to apply my pesticide (one at a time) to both test groups and record the population at hourly increments up to a 48hr period. Theoretically my results should yield a decrease in population no matter which pesticide I use that I will have prepared. Unfortunately I still needed 2 items to start this project - Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) and more importantly CRICKETS! Matt ordered crickets through amazon and not only were they nearly microscopic but they were all DEAD ON ARRIVAL! I did not have any crickets to test :( Needless to say I'm more eager than ever to get this project rolling.. I cant wait to hear what the rest of you are doing. Here is what each habitat looks like: each has a small cube of sponge (water source), egg cartons (crickets like to hide), and each will contain a small amount of food.

  Peace

Jenni

HAPPY TO BE BACK :)

Happy Thursday Everyone~

I had a rough start this semester in making sure I was at full-time status to even be here but everything is squared away, I am taking 13 credits (including STEM), and I cannot wait to start my project! Over the break I found some more pallets and got more acquainted with recycling them. I made a few pieces that I'd like to share with all of you:

These are just a few, my goal for this semester is to construct a raised garden and vertical garden with pallets (you will find out why later). For now my first project for the semester is to test different types of natural/organic pesticides on crickets and see which ones yields the highest decrease in cricket population over a 48 time trial. I am creating pesticides that are household items and/or inexpensive alternative compounds that could be purchased at a grocery store. I will be using Diatomaceous Earth, Soap/Oil Spray, and Soap/Pepper Spray as my pesticides. I start next week on the DE pest test so I will keep you guys posted!

Good luck Everyone
Peace

Jenni

Presentation nightmare

Happy Tuesday Everyone

I woke up this morning tired, frantic and completely discombobulated. I had a dream that I lost all of my teeth during the presentation of my unknown bacteria! After I calmed down I went into the bathroom just to make sure I still had all 32 chompers...I did (haha). I am super excited to share my journey through my experiment. I hit a couple rough spots in the beginning but recuperated by the end and ended up with a successful discovery. I am looking forward to next semester, I cant wait to design my own experiment with protocols that I learned from Identifying an Unknown Bacteria. Keep up the good work everyone, almost done!

Peace Jenni

Never enough hours..

Happy Turkday Everyone

Is it just me or should there be more hours in a day? I think yes. I went to bio lab to day to crank out another piece to my puzzle (the report) and time just flew by bofore I could fiinish the procedure documentation for my first test I performed on my unkown bacteria. I was there for 2 hours! I hope you all are moving along faster that I am. I did reapply for next semester with high hopes of being selected again. I actually rearranged my schedule for next semester and enrolled in one less class so I can dedicate more time to STEM. I feel like I haven't let my total potential shine because of having a heavy load this semester and that I have been going through the motions this past week. I am a person that thrives on pouring passion, focus, and committment to everything I do especially in school. Hopefully I redeem myself next semester and really show everyone what I am capable of:)

Peace
Jenni

Happy Thursday Everyone

So as many of you know I ride my bike to and from school as often as I can. Today was a little different, I rode my scooter to my morning classes came home in the afternoon to play with my pups then headed back to school on my bike for my internship followed by my night class. I normally avoid riding at night because people seem to be less aware of their surroundings and tend to ingnore bicyclists. Anyways, after class I ride home (about a 25 min commute) only to find the SWAT team across the street from my house. Now, there has been some suspicious activity at the particular house they were at for a few months and there has been over 20 arrests according to a local police officer. We have also had an undercover police sit in a car on our driveway and the neighbors to watch the activity coming and going within that house. Tonight was the night! They must have found something worth breaking a door and shatterng a window to hold the people in that house accountable.

What happens to a person to go down that path? A path lead by drugs, theft, lies, and constant paranoia. I would love to study the brainchemistry involved that determines choices and the motives behind it. If only I could make a pesticide that repels those types of people...haha. As far as Im concerned- justice has been served. Thank you Phoenix Police Department for keeping our neighborhood safe.