Written By Felix zheng
On October 19, the Syosset AYLUS Organization attended an event at Long Island Native Plants, where we completed various tasks assigned to us by Pam, an assistant at the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. Their goal is to maintain biodiversity on Long Island by using native plants to reduce the spread of invasive species. As winter approaches, chipmunks and squirrels often dig up the soil to bury their acorns and nuts, which can disrupt the root structure of plants and sometimes uproot them entirely. To prevent this, we used a special sand called Rice Sand, which serves as a soil amendment. This sand improves drainage, aeration, and water retention capacity within the soil, creating a better growing environment for plant roots by providing air pockets while effectively holding moisture. Additionally, it is considered a sustainable option since it is a byproduct of rice processing. Another group of AYLUS members worked on sifting seeds to clean them. This process helps remove chaff and other non-seed material, improving the quality of the potting mix. Separating seeds from chaff enhances storage, reduces the risk of disease, and makes it easier to assess the quantity and viability of the seeds. Overall, the Syosset AYLUS Organization was very successful in assisting the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, with Pam’s guidance, in maintaining biodiversity on Long Island and at the greenhouse.
Members Who Participated: Felix Zheng (2hrs) , Justin Lin (2hrs) , Kayla Fu (2hrs) , Lucas Fu (2hrs) , Miles Chen (2hrs) , Darren Zhang (2hrs) , Vincent Ye (2hrs) , Tyler Huang (2hrs) , Courtney Huang (2hrs) , Mia Qiu (2hrs) , Ava Qiu (2hrs)
