A biosphere is a semi-contained system where life can exist. The earth is a biosphere made up of its surface (soil/rocks), the atmosphere (air), and the hydrosphere (water) . Today we are making a mini biosphere with a large mason jar, sand, charcoal, water, soil, moss, other small plants, and any decorative items you might want to add. If you do it correctly the little world you make, the microcosm inside the jar, should sustain itself indefinitely.
The plant we are putting front and center in this biosphere is moss. Moss is the first plant that figured out how to live outside of oceans and freshwater lakes. In turn moss made possible all the other amazing land plants that we are familiar with today. Moss solved the problem of reproduction, of producing more moss outside of lakes and the ocean, by living in a boundary area close to the ground, where sperm from the male part of the plant could swim in water trapped in the mosses’ leaves to the egg in the female part of the moss. When the sperm fertilizes the egg, or the egg receives the sperm, the moss sends up a shoot with a spore pod that is tall enough to get blown by the wind where the spores can find new places to live. As more moss grew and covered more of the earth it produced oxygen that combined with other elements to create the ozone layer that protects the surface of the earth from the damaging rays of the sun. The greater amount of oxygen and this layer of protection allowed all the other forms of plants to evolve, grow and develop.
Start with a large, clean mason jar. Find some sand and put about two inches in the bottom of the jar ( you can get most of these items at a pet store or a gardening center but I find it is more interesting to find them in your outdoor environment). The function of the sand is to serve as a water sink for the biome. Then put a layer of crushed charcoal on top of the sand. If you can find some charred wood it is a lot of fun to scrape and crush the wood into little bits of charcoal. The charcoal filters the water and maintains the cleanliness of the system. Then put 1-2 inches of soil on top of the charcoal. Then find a healthy, interesting tuft of moss and put it over the soil. Use a stick to adjust the placement of the moss. You can then add a small plant ( it needs roots, and gently push it into the soil), rocks or twigs. Then put the top onto the mason jar and place it near an open window, not in direct sun but a place where it can get indirect sun.
See how long you can maintain your own biosphere. If it seems to be drying out you can add some water with a spray bottle or small glass. If there is too much condensation, the sand, charcoal, and soil are saturated with water and the plants start to rot, take the lid off and let some of the water evaporate. If your biosphere appears to be dying either by drying up or rotting and you can’t save it, try again. Things are not as easy with our earth. As individuals, community members, citizens of different countries, people inhabiting different parts of the world, and people of the earth we need to each do our part to reverse climate change, support biodiversity, organize for environmental justice, and be respectful, wise and caring stewards of the earth.
Look closely at moss and a whole new world will reveal itself in front of your eyes, a whole ongoing conversation between rocks, moss, water, air and the sun . It is also interesting to explore how animal homes, habitats, ecosystems, biomes, the water cycle, carbon cycle, energy cycles, plants as primary producers, and food chains, are all part of one big biosphere. The big ideas to explore are biodiversity, sustainability and the interconnectedness of all things, living and non-living. See you outside.
Also look for Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock retold by Eric Kimmel
