Blog entry # 6

                My overall opinion of ECHO was that it is a great place for farmers to learn sustainable farming techniques. The thing that had stood out to me the most at ECHO was their focus on water purification, and the fact that they used the heat from the sun and moringa seeds to purify their water. The examples that were showcased such as water purification with the powder of crushed moringa seeds did not really compare with my view of American agriculture because Americans have more advanced ways of doing things. American agriculture is not necessarily sustainable but is done in a way to mass produce crops rather than focus on how to grow crops in a way that is good for the environment. I feel that ECHO’s work could be relevant to the developing world because America and some other countries are just now starting to question how sustainable our methods are and may be looking at some of these sustainable farming techniques in the near future. Appropriate technology is finding technology that is appropriate for a certain area, meaning they have the supplies to create these technologies and have the use for them in their current situation. I would possibly be interested in performing some of my service learning hours at ECHO because I feel like I could learn a lot there. I would definitely be interested in learning some farming techniques that I can use on my upcoming trip to Dominican Republic where some other students and I will be planting a vegetable garden.

     

Blog entry # 5

      The major elements of sustainable farming are managing water use, and preventing water pollution caused by pesticide residue. Water should be sprayed close to crops so that it does not evaporate into the air and to prevent water waste. Smart irrigation is the key to conserving water and farming sustainably. Pesticide use should be reduced or eliminated if possible because many pesticides may harm the environment. Ecological principles are woven into this framework by farming more sustainably being better for the environment. When sustainable farming is practiced, the amount of harmful chemicals in the water supply is minimized. I do not purchase foods that are labeled organic because they are usually more expensive and I do not believe that they are really pesticide free. I feel that organic fruits and vegetables are not much different from the ones that are not grown organically. I do not really feel connected to the current food system because I honestly don’t really pay attention to how the food I consume has been grown and I often neglect to read food labels. If there was a space on campus I might be interested in growing my own vegetables. I enjoy fruits and vegetables on a regular basis and I think it would be really cool to grow them myself and know exactly how they have been grown.

Blog entry # 4

         In my estimation, the most pressing global environmental issue that is facing us today is overpopulation.  Overpopulation will also cause un-sustainability and over consumption. The population continues to rise in number every year and with more people more resources will be used. If a wealthy benefactor like the Rockefeller foundation were to give me $100 billion to address a global problem I would use the money to promote education about abstinence, birth control, and safe sex in other countries as well as in the United States. I would also use the money to support programs that make birth control convenient and affordable and provide free condoms for community members.  I would also use some of the money to fund research on green energy in hopes that someone will discover a renewable energy source that can be made affordable and will not harm the environment.  Also, some of the money should be used to set up a system to monitor all the earth’s natural resources. Consumption of resources should be monitored so that we can better predict how much of our resources are being used each year and how much of the resources will we need in the future to sustain our growing population.

Blog Entry # 3

The fieldtrip to corkscrew was very educational and we saw allot of cool animals. When we entered corkscrew we learned about the Plume bird and how it used to be hunted for its feathers so women’s hats could be made. One of the ecosystems that we saw on the trip was the Pine Uplands where we saw allot of Slash Pine trees and Saw Palmettos. Allot of the trees such as the Slash Pines had burn marks on them from past prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are done every few years so that the vegetation on the floor doesn’t suffocate the trees and disturb their growth; it also allows new vegetation to grow. Another ecosystem that we walked through was the marsh. Then we entered a part of Corkscrew with allot of cypress trees and alligator flag known as the Cypress Forest. In this area the group I was in saw a family of raccoons and many white birds. Conservation is preserving land and stewardship is protecting, watching over the land and making sure that your actions are not doing harm to the land. The role of a private non-profit in these two endeavors is to help protect the land and preserve it by keeping it for the most part untouched by humans so that native plants and wildlife can live and grow. Like minded people can affect change by working together for the same cause to make a difference because they have similar ideas. Civic engagement factors into this because a group of people worked together and opened Corkscrew to protect the Plume birds and preserve the land and if they hadn’t the land would definitely be developed by now. We should not just bulldoze the land and put up condos because the Corkscrew sanctuary is a living machine where waste is pumped with the help of trees, plants, insects, and other animals, the water is reused and pumped into marshes. This is a great way to recycle water back into the environment.

Blog entry # 2

The campus trail walk was very long but I learned allot. Before we started the walk I was concerned about how flooded the trail would be. The flooding wasn't too bad, although my shoes did get wet. On the trail I learned about several plant species such as the cabbage palm and the saw palmetto. We also learned about a plant that could be used as aspirin and saw a few maple trees by the parking garage. We also learned about how the wood that the boardwalks on campus are made out of is imported and will last several years without having to be replaced .We saw a few animals such as a turtle and a caterpillar. We also saw a tree that had holes drilled into it by a woodpecker called a yellow bellied sap sucker. When beginning our walk we learned about how FGCU freezes ice overnight to keep the air conditioning cool throughout the day .The trail was perfect for FGCU and has a perfect location for students that live on campus and the trail fits perfectly with the eco-empowerment mission of the university because it shows that FGCU is trying to preserve some of the original land on which the campus was built. My background does not really predispose me to a certain viewpoint; however I really like the fact that there is a nature trail on campus for the students to enjoy. I think the campus trail is a great and convenient way to keep students involved with the environment without even having to leave campus.