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Sundials: A way to connect with history, ancient science and time

Posted by gnite721@gmail.com | August 10, 2023

MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM — MGs in the News

Published in: The Reflector • August 7, 2023

By Cade Barker  / cade@thereflector.com

Excerpt from the The Reflector article:

While Master Gardener and sundial enthusiast Bryan Preas wears a watch, when he’s at the 78th Street Heritage Farm or carrying a pocket sundial from his collection, he doesn’t need a modern time-keeping device. He can turn to any number of sundials to get an approximate reading of solar time that can be compared to standard time.

Preas said sundials are a way to utilize ancient technology and a great way to connect with history and science. He added that public sundials can be found at Fort Vancouver, Clark College and the 78th Street Heritage Farm, which the Clark County Washington State University Extension uses for research and experimental farming. In 2015, Washington State Master Gardeners built a human sundial at the property. The human acts as the gnomon, the part of the sundial that casts a shadow, by standing on a middle section that faces true north. The middle section tells the months of the year for the human gnomon to stand on for a more accurate reading of time.

Read the entire article online.


The Washington State University Extension Clark County Master Gardener Program can be reached at (564) 397-5738, or by email: erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu