Kiddie Science: Planting the seeds of science

Introducing....

4/8/2021

The recent unexpected passing of Sweet meant that Sour underwent a one week quarantine to be sure there wasn't a communicable illness responsible. It was a quiet and boring week, though we did our best to entertain Sour and provide her with daily company. At the same time, we were actively seeking out and vetting another local hen to keep her company.

After a successful quarantine period, a Black Australorp has joined us at the Kiddie Science Lab!

We're all still getting to know each other, and it's certainly been a new experience all around. The new hen is quite vocal! Check out the video below to meet her.

As with all the animals at the Lab, we need your help naming her! We surveyed some of our young scientists for suggestions and now it's your turn to decide!! VOTE HERE until May 10th then stay tuned for the big announcement!

Two Days Later...

4/4/2021

After moving the aquaponics set-up away from the turtle habitat, we noticed significant growth happening and decided to document it. In addition to having easier access to the needed nutrients, the plants are also closer to natural sun so we're no longer using the grow lights.

This is exactly two days later...

Can you see the growth?

Images by GB

She Really Was Sweet

3/28/2021

Unfortunately, this is not a post with good news, but one which hopes to capture the sheer joy that it has been to be Sweet's caretaker. I'm saddened to share that on Tuesday, March 23rd, the Lab hen, Sweet, passed away. She spent the majority of her final hours with me at my home, swaddled like a baby, as comfortable as can be given the circumstances. I'm grateful for the support of Heart of Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital during her final moments with me.

Sweet was a Rhode Island Red Hen, who arrived to the Lab under my care during summer of 2018. She and her partner Sour, arrived as pullets (teenage chickens) and quickly transitioned to the VIP life in the Lab backyard. Sweet was always the more social chicken, curious about the young scientists, and quickly learning that pets equals treats.

With our physical doors closed, the chicken care this last year has included creative ways to keep them entertained, like letting them explore the Lab and seeing what a bathroom looks like.

Sweet was....sweet. She was a surprisingly lovable and interactive chicken, who much too often climbed onto the window ledge to see what was going on inside. She actually laid her very first egg there, then screeched the most horrible sound in order to get my attention. I often wonder if that's what dinosaurs sounded like. Ultimately I had to teach her where to lay, which was an unexpected but rather hysterical responsibility.

That pretty much sums up what my experience has been caring for Sweet, unexpected but rather hysterical. There was always something with that chicken!

I'm thankful for the support and advice I've gotten over the years with the hens. Throughout this entire adventure, I've had people I can count on to help ensure they receive the absolute best care possible. Everything I've learned about hens (and know about living things in general) came to a head that morning, and despite how much it hurt my heart, I will forever be grateful that I fulfilled my responsibility to Sweet to the very end.

~ Ms. Carmen

2021 Plant Sale Fundraiser

3/19/2021

Get your green thumb ready for the Kiddie Science Lab Plant Sale Fundraiser!

This annual event supports our mission to help engage and inspire our future scientists by planting the seeds of science far and wide. Order and pay for your plants online, and select a pick-up time on 5/1 or 5/2 from the Kiddie Science Lab. This year, the following plants are for sale:

Basil “Sweet Genova” *limited quantities*
This popular strain has large, dark green leaves with a pleasant sweet flavor, and is used for flavoring many foods, especially tomatoes and peas. Both leaves and flowers are also used fresh or dried in salads. A great choice for pesto; plants grow to about 2 ft. high.

Cucumbers *limited quantities*
This uniformly dark green beauty holds its shape and quality through several picks. Solid reputation as a dependable open-pollinated slicer. These are the "Marketmore" variety.

Eggplant *limited quantities*
These large, glossy fruits are a deep purple so intense it looks black. They arise in great numbers on plants 21 to 30 inches high -- you can expect a dozen or so fruits per plant.

Tomato 'Sweet 100 Cherry' *SOLD OUT*
This large plant yields an incredible number of the best tasting bite-sized cherry tomatoes! They’re produced in grape-like clusters, bear all season long, and get high praise for their sweetness.

Begonia *SOLD OUT*
This series is a grower’s delight. It offers a clean, compact habit that is uniform across all colors. Very early to bloom in the pack. Height: 12", 10-12" spread. Shade tolerant.

French Marigold *SOLD OUT*
Very tolerant of compacted urban soils. These dwarf sun-loving annuals thrive in poor to average soil and love full sun. Remove faded flower buds for continued flowering. Height: 10-12”.

Snapdragon (small) *SOLD OUT*
This delightful dwarf strain makes a lovely display in annual borders. Height: 8-10". A good plant to attract pollinators.

Peppers 'Lady Bell' *SOLD OUT*
The rich green fruit that ripen red have a uniform deep bell shape with 3-4 lobes and medium thick walls. Lady Bell is prolific, even in cooler weather and is one of the most dependable producers of sweet peppers.

Coriander / Cilantro *SOLD OUT*
A a dual-purpose herb, providing both deliciously pungent leaves (what we know as Cilantro) and later, citrus-scented fruits (what we know as Coriander seeds). Cilantro grows best in full sun to light afternoon shade and well drained soil. The plants adapt well to containers and windowsills.

PLANT SALE FUNDRAISER ORDER FORM

What Is A Vaccine Trial?

3/18/2021

Thank you for joining us for an informative exploration into how a vaccine trial works! Below is a recording of the family friendly forum.

In addition to learning about vaccine trials, we also got a sneak peek into a real science lab where scientists work right here in New York City as Dr. Andie gives us a brief tour of Harlem Biospace.

Cheers to science!

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Introducing....

Two Days Later...

She Really Was Sweet

2021 Plant Sale Fundraiser

What Is A Vaccine Trial?

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