Qimin Yaoshu is the most completely preserved of the ancient Chinese agricultural texts. It     1    (write) by the Northern Wei Dynasty official Jia Sixie. The book is believed to have been completed in the     2    (two) year of Wu Ding of Eastern Wei, 544 C.E., while another account gives the     3    (complete) between 533 and 544 C.E.

The text of the book is divided into 10 volumes and 92 chapters, and     4    (comprehensive) records 1,500-year-old agricultural science and technology in the north of China. The book quoted (引用) nearly 200 ancient     5    (source). Since the publication of the book,     6    (history) Chinese governments have long attached great importance     7     it. Since the book spread overseas, it has been considered a classic text     8    (study) changes in species. When Charles Darwin was researching the theory of evolution, he made reference to (参考) an Encyclopedia of Ancient China,     9     is said to be the book Qimin Yaoshu. The book’s name “Qí mín yào shù” can be explained as either “techniques by which common people make their livelihood”     10     “techniques to harness (利用) the people’s livelihood”.

6 . From the deserts of Southern California to the forests of Alaska, the U.S. possesses an incredible diversity of nature. For most of her life, Joy Ryan never saw the landscape beyond her home state of Ohio. Then, when she was in her mid-eighties, her grandson Brad Ryan decided to take her on a journey to all of the U.S. National Parks — a mission that took eight years to complete. At the age of 93, Grandma Joy has finally seen all 63 parks, ending the monumental feat in the National Park of American Samoa.

“When I learned she had never seen the great wildernesses of America — deserts, mountains, oceans, you name it — I thought that was something that would trouble me if I didn’t take action in some way,” Brad says. This idea sparked their first trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. However, once they were on the road, Brad realized that they could visit more parks nearby, and their trips multiplied. Over the years, they managed to see all the famous sights at Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, the Redwoods, and so on.

Despite Grandma Joy’s older age, she could hike mountains and do white water rafting. Brad praises her enthusiasm for life as the key to her good health. She expresses gratitude for each new day and is always excited about the next adventure. Finally, their long journey across the U.S. ended with American Samoa. “It’s about 6,700 miles from Ohio, where we live. It’s the only U.S. National Park south of the equator. It’s a long trip, but we’re excited to go,” Brad explains. “We can enjoy the beach and the beautiful tropical paradise. But as we’ve learned from the rangers that work there, American Samoa is an island community firmly rooted in family. And I think that there’s a bit of a poetic beauty to ending it there, too.”

7 . The Natick Community Organic Farm (NCOF) offers a unique work experience for teens. Through farm work, they learn new skills, solve problems, and become good citizens and leaders.

The LIT position is an unpaid volunteer opportunity for motivated teens to assist in one or more weeks of our ten-week summer program with children ages 3—11. LITs learn from and work alongside our summer staff as we educate kids about farming, food, the environment, and sustainability. If you would like to explore the field of farm work, outdoor education, or teaching, you might be a great fit as an LIT!

Our TWC program offers paid, mentored work experience for teens. Teens work 24 hours per week and are scheduled for 2—4 weeks in a ten-week summer. TWC tackles the “big jobs” around the farm, such as fencing, mowing, splitting wood, rebuilding animal enclosures, and more.

This program provides year-round job training and paid work experience to teens who wish to master the wide range of skills it takes to run a diversified farm. Candidates are selected by farm staff based on participation in other farm programs for their skills and “can do” attitudes. By working closely with farm staff, apprentices tackle independent projects, building confidence and leadership abilities while forming life-long friendships.

9 . The climate emergency demands action from all of us. We need to get to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and everyone has a role to play.     1    .

Transform your transport

Transport accounts for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions globally. Many governments are implementing policies to decarbonize travel. You can get a head start: leave your car at home and walk or cycle whenever possible.     2    . If you must drive, offer to carpool with others so that fewer cars are on the road.

Reduce your power use

If you can, switch to a zero-carbon or renewable energy provider. Install solar panels on your roof.     3    . Switch off appliances and lights when you are not using them. Better yet, buy the most efficient products in the first place.

Don’t waste food

    4    . People globally waste 1 billion tonnes of food each year, which accounts for around 8–10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Avoid waste by only buying what you need. Take advantage of every edible part of the foods you purchase. Be creative with leftovers, share extras with your friends and neighbors, and contribute to a local food-sharing scheme.

    5    .

Every year, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed. This deforestation, combined with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly 25 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We can all play a part in changing this trend by planting trees, either individually or as part of a collective.

10 . 4 Summer Programs in Alaska for High Schoolers

Brown University          Grades: 9th, 10th and 11th   Program Cost: $5810

Application Deadline: March 25th

Eligibility(报名资格): All 9-11th grade students are encouraged to apply.

This two-week program is a great way to learn how you can be socially and environmentally responsible in your own neck of the woods.

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Grades: 9th and 10th     Program Cost: $1508

Application Deadline: March 1st

Eligibility: To apply, the minimum pre-condition is Intermediate Algebra, but the preferred placement is Calculus(微积分)or higher.

Spend five weeks diving into your future STEM degree on UAA’s campus.

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Grades: 11th             Program Cost: $0

Application Deadline: March 1st

Eligibility: Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria: Member of an ethnic minority background, non-native English speaker, and member of a low-income household.

In this intensive(强化的)four-week course, you will take a tour of healthcare careers you can pursue at UAA. If making a lasting impact in medicine is your dream, visit the program’s website today to learn more.

The Wrangell Mountains       Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th   Program Cost: $5850

Application Deadline: March 31st

Eligibility: All 9-11th grade students are encouraged to apply.

Work and live at the base of the Wrangell Mountains in an Athabascan Native village for three weeks. In this program, students will learn carpentry and power tool skills to participate in construction projects, ranging from home repair to woodshed building. You will live off the land and witness the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.