The Great Conjunction on Winter Solstice 2020'

https://www.space.com/great-conjunction-jupiter-saturn-2020-fun-facts?fbclid=IwAR2YHeMTFmk4EqVnc2oLBqkNsuac_ou6RnpkanN63NIE9g2XhUweKxv0xX0

Bridging Ceremony and Court of Awards 11/16/20

Last Monday, Dr. Eric D. Brown, gave us some guidance on how we could proceed safely with our Bridging and Court of Awards ceremony.  So certificates will be delivered to each girl and on Monday, November 16, 2020 parents may pick up a bundt cake and balloon for our COVID-19-safe at home Court of Awards ceremony at our regular meeting time, 5:30 p.m.  (or if girls can come to La Loma Bridge at 4:40 p.m. before it gets dark, they can do their ceremony there).  Included with the certificates will also be a Fava Bean Packet that contains 2 envelopes that have 8 Vroma fava beans in one and 8 Windsor fava beans in another.   Those will be for the Fava Bean Planting Kickoff for next Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 9am (live via Zoom). 

At our regular Girl Scout meeting on Monday, November 2nd at 5:30pm, we will have Akira and Cali's dad, Dr. Eric Brown, to talk about gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.  There has been a rapid and sharp increase of coronavirus cases all around the country, some states having the highest number since the start of the pandemic in March.  As we continue to plan activities and events, Dr. Brown will give us guidance on COVID-19 preventative actions and risky behaviors.  Also, because we are meeting the day before the 2020 Election Day, Dr. Brown may also share his thoughts on several of the propositions that deal with health care.  

More about Dr. Brown: 

Eric D. Brown, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and the Medical Director of Integrative Urgent Care in Glendora, California. 

Born and raised in Altadena, California, Dr. Brown attended Loma Alta Elementary School (which is now Rosebud Academy), Elliott Middle School, and John Muir High School (class of 1990).  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the prestigious HBCU, Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia (where Dr. Martin Luther King attended), and then moved back to the west coast to graduate from the UCLA School of Medicine in 1999. He completed training in emergency medicine at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, a level 1 trauma center in Willowbrook, California--located between Watts and Compton.  

MLK Hospital, also known as King/Drew Medical Center was founded in 1972 after the Watts riots, and has stood for a symbol of justice and political power to many black people in South Central Los Angeles and beyond.  The hospital was established by and for African Americans; and the majority of its staff has always been black.  Back in the day, for many people, it was the only local hospital within a 15-mile radius.  The hospital is located near high crime streets and has historically had a very active trauma unit. During Dr. Brown's residency, the hospital was responding to over two thousand life-threatening injuries per year. As a result of the large number of gunshot wounds the emergency unit saw, the US military sent their trauma teams to MLK Hospital for training.  

Dr. Brown not only completed his residency there, but when he returned to California in 2017, he came back to MLK Hospital to embrace and give back to the community, while many others rejected it.   Dr. Brown's service honors Dr. King's life and teachings and also contributes to his notion of the Beloved Community, a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one's fellow human beings. 

Given that there are racial disparities in nearly all areas of health, with Black people faring lower than any ethnic group in the US, African American physicians are important for people to see.  However, among active physicians, only 5% identify as Black or African American.  Nevertheless, research suggests that Black people are more comfortable with and more likely to adhere to preventative measures from Black doctors.  So Dr. Brown's presence at MLK hospital not only demonstrates his dedication to social justice and health equity and to underserved and under resourced communities, but also signifies a positive correlation to black wellness.      

In 2007, Dr. Brown decided to explore options outside of traditional Western medicine and began a fellowship in integrative medicine with Dr. Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona. After completing this fellowship, he felt he was able to offer patients more valuable information and that it allowed him to become a better clinician. He learned the importance of diet, exercise, and mental and spiritual health and how they influence one's overall wellness. In 2014, Dr. Brown began to explore how to combine his passion for emergency medicine with his interest in integrative medicine. He soon realized that the urgent care setting was a natural fit and opened Integrative Urgent Care in 2017 in Glendora, California.

Dr. Brown was awarded the Mecklenburg Physician of the Year in 2011 and received recognition for patient satisfaction and physician practice. He also holds a variety of professional certifications, including ACLS, ATLS, and PALS. 

Dr. Brown's hobbies are reading, basketball, and yoga.  As a physician, business owner, and entrepreneur, Dr. Brown relishes spending quality time with his family. 

We are always grateful that Dr. Brown finds the time in his busy schedule to share with us.  We want to keep him in our prayers as he is not only a frontline worker risking his and other's safety during this pandemic, but he is also working in an ER, which is physically and emotionally demanding. 

Each year, we plan to have Dr. Brown  to come and share with us.  It is important for the girls in our troop as well as others in the community to regularly see him and know that his profession as a physician is a possibility for them as well. 

This year we didn't get to exchange all of our tips for fall festivals and activities.  If you looked at our past lists, the same churches were still having drive through trunk or treats, virtual fall festivals, namely First AME and perhaps, also PazNaz.  But what's exciting is that the full blue moon was on Halloween 2020!  Every girl had a chance to earn a patch by simply going for a walk outside (with a parent) and doing the tasks listed below, and sending in everything by the end of the weekend:

1.  Take a Blue Moon walk (even if it's in your back yard).

2.  Snap a picture of the Blue Moon.

3.  Answer the question, "Is tonight's moon really blue?" Yes or No

4.  Explain what "once in a blue moon" means.

5.  Send everything in by Sunday night.

Here are some interesting and easy to read articles on the Blue Moon:  Everything You Need to Know About the Halloween (Boo!) Moon – Moon: NASA Science, This week’s full Moon will deliver more than just Halloween ambience.

The morning of Halloween 2020, some of the Juniors, Cadettes, and a Senior cleared our the area and began preparing the soil for our community science project.  We got most of it done; however, this week, we have to finish preparing the garden beds, smoothing and staking out the beds and corners, and creating mulch paths.  Next Saturday, we are going to plant.  We will be reaching out to you for help.   But for now, here is a recap from yesterday.  

First, it was a beautiful morning.  Our leader, Lydia Breen was there bright and early with a table set up very nicely for inquisitive neighbors.  Next door, there was a garage sale, so it was nice foot traffic.  The house is owned by our partner, Kristi, and located on the street right behind the Walgreens on Lake (the parking lot where the Rodney's Ribs food truck is located).  

The 9am slot was occupied by mommy and me duo, Shauna and Daryn Bigby.  During this time slot, we learned a lot about the plants and greenery that we were were going to remove, such as the ground covers like common lippia (a phyla not a flora) and plants that were in the yard, like the blue sage and the matilija poppy that Kristi cut back. 

During the weeding and removal, we talked about all sorts of things like politics, COVID vaccine and more.  Daryn found all sorts of things in the soil--plastics, and a green netting.  All of these things we were removing.  Also, we noticed a beautiful oak tree in the front.  We learned that it is a cork oaks that takes 10 years to grow and then they shave them back.  Lydia said that Whole Foods is recycling the corks because of the changing climate, we are running out of the trees. 

As we were weeding, Lydia found a big, fat, moving worm.  "Worms are fabulous!" says Lydia. "It's a sign that the soil is healthy."  "They don't like the sun, though," she added.  "When they go down in the soil, they create pathways for the water to go down...  The soil is not sandy, it's breaking down.  It's dark, and there are worms in it.  There's life in it.  Kristi said that the worms came because the soil is being regenerated. 

Daryn has a lot of knowledge about science and horticulture, and although she doesn't particularly like worms, she was very interested in analyzing the decomposed leaves and contributing to the conversation about what makes healthy soil.  Lydia showed us what healthy soil looks like and told us that there billions of microscopic living things in the soil.  Kristi directed us to look a the mountains where she says water runs year around.  "In those springs, there are big boulders and rocks," she said, and "the years of erosion, breaking the rocks into sand is why we probably have sandy soil."   Lydia said, "Almost half of our soil should be sandy," and gave us a handful of sand to massage feel and analyze.  "The other half," she said, "has to be water and air; and a small 5% should be compost, mulch, and leaves."

Kristi said, "We have a lot of variables going on already with the yard itself. because this is not part of the experiment.  People typically grow a garden bed in their front yard, so it is isolated. But we are going into soil that we know its history as a lawn.  We don't know what was put on it for 40-something years, but it is clearly not hampering the plants that I have in my yard now.  And there are plants that regenerate well.

For the next time slots, Alina and Alicia worked together and removed a giant, deeply rooted bush.  Next, there was Naomi and Jordan who put in a lot of work continuing to weed and till the soil.  In the last time slot, there was Kayleen who finished off our Saturday work day.

Questions to Ponder and Write About in Your Journal:

Lydia said, "People are putting natives in their front yard, but we are saying, 'Why not food?'"  She goes on, "Obviously the native plants are doing fine in this soil.  How are the edible plants doing in this soil?  They usually have different requirements.  Do you have some ideas?

Lydia reminded us to start thinking about root structure.  She said, "Just get roots in your mind."  Kristy held a dandelion weed, and said, "Look at the root system."  Lydia added, "Why would roots be deeper with native plants?"  We had a great discussion about it.  Share your thoughts in your journal.

Recap and Next Steps:

We are making 4 different plots of equal size with a foot and half pathway in between each.  We are planting the fava bean 3 different ways, under different conditions, and in one plot there will be just plain fava beans.  We want to find out which treatment bed improves the soil to grow the most corn.  We have to have enough space between them so they don't contaminate each other.  

In planning the size of the beds, we have to take into consideration planning how wide they grow, space for a walkway and a perimeter, and the location of stepping stones.  This week we will continue loosening the soil (5 inches down), and raking and weeding.  We will rake it out and decide if we want to mulch.  (Note:  Kristi's yard was started with regular, no color cardboard on the grass and then mulch on top.  The cardboard breaks down over time.)

Next, we will plan teams to water, weed, observe and document data, track weather data, make signs, produce art, and coordinate social media.  Each girls should participate in some way.

Lydia wants girls to bring their journals next week.  Kristi may give a Zoom lesson on creating fun and creative journals.

Notes:

Girls received a Blue Moon goodie bag filled with treats, a Dia de los Muertos face mask, and a participation patch.   Girls who will receive volunteer hours:  Daryn Bigby, Alina Rodriguez-Gould, Alicia Randall, Jordan , Naomi Lambert, and Kayleen Lee.

We have partnered with Planet Earth Observatory and in short, we are growing soil while we grow community--incorporating edible and native plants in a front yard for neighbors to learn about soil health, food justice and climate change.

Last weekend, October 24-25, 2020, Daisies, Juleza and Hampton were busy worker bees, along with their families.  They packaged over 400 fava beans!  The picture above is of Hampton showing the completed packages that are ready for distribution.  Note:  She already signed up 5 of her family and friends to join in on this community science experiment.  

The working title of the project is, “Healthy Soil: It’s Alive!”.  The girls will learn how to mitigate the effects of climate change in our neighborhoods by growing healthy soil.  We will start by growing a cover crop of fava beans under various conditions followed by a crop of corn to determine if the fava beans:

1. Improved the health of the soil

2. Saved water 

3. Increased corn crop yield

Goals

1. Conduct an outdoor, front yard science investigation

2. Collect and analyze data

3. Observe an ecosystem

4. Gain skills for growing healthy soil

5. Gain skills to learn how to save water in gardens

6. Increase community awareness about the importance of soil

7. Use art to grow community and soil health awareness

8. Grow community

9. Learn about a neighborhood

10. Learn how to engage neighbors

This Saturday, October 31, 2020, a team of scouts from our troop will:

• Prepare soil

• Stake out beds

• Create mulch paths

• Water

This year we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring the dance of Cumbia,   The origin of cumbia music comes from the days of slavery in the late 17th century and is derived from the African word cumbe which means dance. Another word was derived later in the Antioquia region of Colombia called caracumbe and was coined by African slaves who worked in the mines. 

To receive a fun (participation) patch, your girl must submit the following 2 things:

1.  A short 10-15 second video of your girl dancing cumbia (to cumbia music) by herself or preferably with a family member who lives in the same household.

2.  Video captured answers to the following questions (Daisies and Brownies only need to answer the first 2 questions): 

• • • • • • • What is the name and country of origin of the cumbia dance?

            • Show where that country is on a map.

            • What are the main instruments played in traditional Cumbia music?

            • What cultures influence Cumbia?

            • What is the origin of Cumbia? 

A handout and videos were also emailed to parents to help girls respond to each of the requirements.

This activity had to be completed by October 15, 2020 (last day of Hispanic Heritage Month), but a3-day extension was given.  Girls will receive a fun patch (that goes on the back of their tunic, vest, or sash), so there is no need for deep learning.  It's about fun, appreciation and celebration through exposure to and participation in activities. 

Girls who earned the patch:  Alicia, Anala, Naila, Peyton, and Valentina

We have partnered with the Global Impact Committee of the sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), Inc. (Tau Beta Omega Chapter) to sew and donate 30 pillowcase dresses for girls in Haiti. Our goal is to have these dresses finished by November 21, 2020.

On Monday, October 19, 2020, we had special guest, Annette Story, with us to take us step-by-step through the process of making pillowcase dresses for girls in Haiti.  We sang songs and then headed back to our home routines.  Thanks to all of the families who made it!  

All girls can sew a dress, either by hand or with a machine, alone  or with a parent, relative, or family friend.  Also, girls can hand sew the decorative buttons, trim, or embellishments on the bottom of the garment.

We should have all of the sewing materials packets delivered by Sunday.  Each packet includes nearly everything you need to make a dress.  The items italicized in green are materials that you must have (thread, sewing machine or needle, scissors, tape measure).  If you are missing items from your packet, please let me know, and we will deliver them to you or you can pick them up from the gray bin from my house.  Also, if you have these items at home, feel free to use what you have.  

Materials List:

• • • standard or king-size pillowcase

    • 1/4 inch-wide elastic

      1. two 6-inch lengths

    • double-fold bias tape

      1. two 38-inch lengths

    • thread

    • sewing machine (or needle, if sewing by hand)

    • straight pins

    • scissors

    • tape measure

    • safety pin

    • optional:  lace or rickrack for trim 

After the materials are delivered, we will have three to four 45-minute Zoom sessions to begin sewing one part at a time.  For example, we will have a Zoom for sewing the right armhole on on a particular day, and later that week, we have another meeting to do the left armhole, etc.

Dressmaking Directions:

• Handout with Step-by-Step Directions:  https://littledressesforafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019-LDFA-dress-pattern-with-Woodruff-address.pdf

• Video of Ms. Annette Giving Overview:  Soles 4 Souls & TBO Dress Making

Hand Stitch Used to Make the Pillowcase Dresses:

The hand stitch that we are using is called the "backstitch," very easy to learn.  Click on the video below to learn more.

Backstitch

Sewing Tips: 

• Daisies and Brownies can hand sew, but will need to use needles that are a little bit thick (yet still sharp). 

• Girls can practice their measurement, estimation, and pattern making by sewing on 2 decorative buttons every 5 inches around the bottom of the dress. 

• The channel for the elastic will be a battle if it's not wide enough. The video says 3/8", but we are recommending 1/2". 

• The bias needs to be carefully pinned prior to sewing, and the bias armhole may take a while to sew.

• For beginning sewers, it may take:

  • 30-45 minutes for each armhole

  • 45 minutes to 1 hour for the front/back/elastic

  • So, 2.5 hours from start to finish (by hand) 

• For experienced sewers, it may take 30 minutes to 1 hour by machine 

One you complete one, the others will be easier to do.  So if you want to do more than one, let me know.

All girls will receive a patch for completing a dress.  All hours will go towards your girl's community service hours.

Thanks to Annette Story for coming to our October 19, 2020 meeting to give our girls and parents a how-to workshop.

Soil Vocabulary:

Ammendment:  A soil amendment is any material added to a soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration and structure. The goal is to provide a better environment for roots. To do its work, an amendment must be thoroughly mixed into the soil.