Eco system in a jar

The Basics of Closed Jar Terrariums: I've been creating closed jar Terrariums for about a year. It was something I wanted to learn and finally decided to give a try. Since then I have picked up a lot of info about making Terrariums, and also teach workshops on making them.&…

Get creative this Earth Day with How to Make an Ecosphere in a Jar using Crofter's Organic Fruit Spreads jars! Engage kids in hands-on activities and foster a love for nature with this dream garden project.

In a beautiful example of a closed but functional ecosystem, David Latimer has grown a garden sealed inside of a giant glass bottle that he has only opened once since he started it almost 54 years ago. He placed some compost and a quarter pint of water into a 10-gallon glass carboy and inserted a spiderwort sprout using wires. In 1972, he opened the garden again to add a bit of water. With that one exception, the garden has remained totally sealed – all it needs is plenty of sunlight!

Closed Aquatic Ecosystem: This aquarium is not technically completely closed. I made a decision not to cork it shut so gases can still be exchanged with the air. However, otherwise it is completely self sustaining except for the evaporation of water which requires the occasi…

Background: The goal of our project was to design a self-sustaining ecosystem, then test and measure the effects of human impact on the ecosystem. A self-sustaining ecosystem requires several components in order to keep a balanced environment. This means ensuring that the natural chemical cycles embodying the ecosystems flow at a natural rate. We…