private void initializeGrid() {
		endSim = false;
		gridInitialized = true;
		
		//Clear list of colony ants and bala ants
		activeAnts.clear();
		balaAnts.clear();
		
		//Initializes the turn counter to 0 and resets the time
		turn = 0;
		time = "Turn: 0  Day: 0  Year: 0 ";
		simGUI.setTime(time);
		
		// Sets up nodes with all nodes containing zero ants or food
		for (int x = 0; x < 27; x++) {		//loops through x coordinates
			for (int y = 0; y < 27; y++) {	//loops through y coordinates
				//Sets the current nodes id to the x,y location on the grid
				currentNode = node[x][y];
				currentNode.setID(x + "," + y);
				
				//Stores x and y coordinates for the node
				currentNode.setXLoc(x);
				currentNode.setYLoc(y);
				
				//Sets the current number of ants in the node to 0
				currentNode.setQueen(false);
				currentNode.setForagerCount(0);
				currentNode.setScoutCount(0);
				currentNode.setSoldierCount(0);
				currentNode.setBalaCount(0);
				
				currentNode.setPheromoneLevel(0);
				
				//Sets nodes surrounding queen to visible and hides all other nodes
				if ((x >= 12 && x <= 14) && (y >= 12 && y <= 14))
					currentNode.showNode();
				else {
					currentNode.visible = false;
					currentNode.hideNode();
				}
				
				randNum = RandomNumGen.randomNumber(0, 3);
				
				// 25% chance food in the node, amount set between 500-1000 units
				if (randNum == 0)
					currentNode.setFoodAmount(RandomNumGen.randomNumber(500, 1000));
				// 75% chance of no food in node
				else
					currentNode.setFoodAmount(0);
				
				//Hides icons from previous colony simulations
				currentNode.hideForagerIcon();
				currentNode.hideBalaIcon();
				currentNode.hideScoutIcon();
				currentNode.hideSoldierIcon();
				
			} 
		}
	}