Here's Hoping #19 and 20

In a perfect world, people would invest in solar panels, pour money into alternative fuel technologies, drive electric vehicles, and refrain from polluting the air and water of our planet.  The government would strictly regulate the carbon output of big businesses and incentives would be given to those that decided to go green.  Students would be educated on the ways of the world which would include how to care for and maintain it.  In reality, I am well aware that we are not living in this kind of world and I do not see us reaching that point in the projected future.
While I would like to hope that we can stop arguing over petty differences and realize what is truly important, many of the reading have taught me that politics will always win out over what is right and the desires of the interest groups will take precedent over the greater good.  It is disheartening to think that our system is so corrupt and failing us at this great time of need.
I do not mean to be a pessimist but I can't see modern society pulling out of this downward spiral in order to maintain itself.  I live in fear that I will see the decline of civilization as we currently know it and our children will look back at us and ask why we did not do anything sooner.  It seems that scientists are losing their voices trying to warn us about the impending danger and consequences of our actions but we continue to ignore their pleas.  People have known about global warming for decades but cognitive dissonance and ignorance has allowed the general population to view climate change as an opinion as opposed to fact.
I foresee a future where manners are replaced with survival instincts and communities are traded in for something that resembles more of a tribe.  Granted, I do not believe that people will start wearing loin cloths and beat each other over the head with rocks but I can see people killing over what little resources remain.  Then, when the dust clears from all the fighting, I envision humans returning to a more simplistic way of life.  The big farms will cease to exist and all produce will be grown by individuals or small communities.  I weep for my children and even myself.  I am afraid of that future and I honestly hope more than anything that I’m wrong.

Highs and Lows #18

I loved the field trips that we got to take. Also, while I never thought I would say this, I also enjoyed my service learning experience.  They were the rare opportunities that we got to venture outside of the classroom and see many of the things that we discussed in class be put to use.  While I grudgingly headed to my service learning, I truly did love my time there and have made plans to go back because I now truly believe in what they are trying to do.  Even if we find a way to correct global warming and our current food system is not destroyed, it would be good to have the skills to maintain my own sustainable garden.  It could be more cost effective and provide its own type of mental therapy.

One thing that I did find difficult for this class was the amount of work.  As I am a senior, my core classes took priority throughout this semester and I made the mistake of letting this one fall to the side.  Because this class is required for all students I did not expect the work load to be so great and was not prepared to balance this with everything else that I had to do for the college of education.

What it Means to Me #17

The major thing that I took from this class was something that we actually read about in the beginning.  I was fascinated when it came to the excerpt about ADHD and how an environmental education can actually help.  In an age where students are used to constant stimulation and instant gratification, a classroom setting can become intolerable.  This article helped me to realize how I can use the world around me to modify the behavior of my students in a mutually beneficial way.

One thing that I now do because of this class is monitor my power usage.  My roommate has a habit of leaving her lights and television on when she leaves the house and I am constantly running in there to turn them off. I unplug my phone and computer chargers when I am not using them and make sure to turn the air conditioning off if nobody is home.  I always turned things off if I happened to notice them just to save on the electric bill but now it is a conscious decision that I make to better the environment and limit my carbon footprint.  Likewise, my roommate and I take her car whenever we go out together because her gas mileage is better than mine.  It saves us both on the cost of gas and makes me feel like I'm taking that little extra step. I cannot expect others to care about the planet we live on if I do not

Service Learning Reflection 15 and 16

 

Heartland Gardens is a not-for-profit organization where I completed my service learning portion for this course.  It is a single acre located off of McGregor Blvd that you could not even notice if you didn’t know it was there.  Everything that is cultivated in this garden is organically grown and distributed locally.  The garden offers classes about anything from proper composting to fungi growth and sustainable gardening.  One great thing about this small business is that they exchange volunteer time for money toward their classes.  Every hour spent volunteering in the garden counts as five dollars toward a class.

The 10 hours that I volunteered spanned over two days; during which time my roommate and I completed the construction of a rather large spiral herb garden.  The garden was a mere patch of dirt when we were first told what we would be doing.  The men who worked at Heartland Gardens helped us with the measurements and drew out the lines in the dirt where we would need to begin digging.  With their help, we dug a spiral about 6 or 7 inches deep into the ground.  We then laid a relatively thin layer of shells in the spiral that we had just dug.  We spent the rest of the first day filling it to the brim with palms to create a cushioned walk way.  While the palms were a fabulous idea, there never seemed to be enough.  Every time we reached the top of the garden, we had to run around it and compact it down, then add more.

During the second day we traveled with one of the Heartland Gardens Employees to a rock quarry to collect truck loads of rock.  The rock was then layered on top of the existing palm passageway to create and aesthetically pleasing and functional path around the garden.  As we only had one truck and it required a great deal of rock, this process took all day. We were informed by founder Ben Pino that they were going to build the soil up in the center and make it slowly decline down the spiral.  This would allow for a multitude of herbs to be grown in the same garden.  Water craving herbs would be kept closer to the ground while the drier weather herbs could be kept toward the top of the spiral.

This garden is doing so many great and innovative things that people from ECHO were actually there to exchange ideas and enhance both of their locations.  It was encouraging to see the collaboration between the two organizations and made me hope that more people would be encouraged to start backyard sustainable gardening.

El Laguno del Espiritu Santo #14

That is what the Spanish called the forbidding but awe inspiring Everglades. 
I loved the author's description of the area as, "vast, miasmic swamps, poisonous lagoons, huge dismal marshes without outlet, a rotting, shallow, inland sea, or labyrinths of dark trees hung and looped about with snakes and dripping mosses, malignant with tropical fevers and malarias, evil to the white man."  Perhaps this was my favorite depiction of the Everglades because that is what I used to assume it was like.  As I have stated several times before, I am no nature lover and I actually fear the idea of unknown living things lurking just out of sight.
The author does however offer the counter point of the beauty and majesty of the vast expanse that is the shining green emerald located on the oversize spit that we call home.

My only experiences through the Everglades have been driving down Alligator Alley, often during the unlit hours of the night.  I find the entire situation rather terrifying and it has deterred me from wanting to see what it is that other people love about the area. However, my views might change as I have been convinced to go on an airboat with a friend of mine and witness the splendor for myself.

In the Year 2000 #13

Saving the Everglades is something that should be important to every Floridian.  It is a designated national park but at the time of this article, it was falling to pieces.  There was a major push for an Everglades restoration project which, despite cost concerns, most politicians were behind.  It is difficult to justify not supporting the restoration of one of the mostly untouched areas of the state and conservationists were pushing the plan heavily.
The only issues was that the conservationists were concerned as to what was actually going to be done and, like every other environmental bill run at either the state or national level, politics got in the way.

While I understand that our government has a representative government in place to uphold the ideals of the constituency, I cannot grasp how this fell through the cracks at any point.  The interest groups in Florida believed that it would elevate the rights of the environment over the people and it seemed as though the action was dead in the water.  It is upsetting that people do not understand that the environment and nature determine the well being and very existence of the people that they are so concerned about.  It is easy to forget what is important in this world but preserving what little nature we have left should not slip through the cracks so easily.

Trial by Fire #12

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) was the first field trip that we took and I definitely feel that it was our most intense.  I honestly worried that all of our subsequent trips were going to be equally fast paced and overwhelming. There was a great deal of information to take in that day, the bugs were definitely out, and the heat was more than noticeable.
I love the idea and vision of the non-profit organization whose goal is to create a more sustainable food source for the third world and here at home. They provide various options for growing food as well as simple technologies to limit the need for coal and wood burning cookers.

My favorite part was definitely the urban garden options.  It made me want to go out and start growing herbs in a tire that instant.  It is easy to forget that many cities around the world house starving people and by teaching them to grow their own food withing the confines of their home or front porch eases this burden.  I also liked the idea of community gardens where they community as a whole comes together to grow food to feed the whole.  This not only encourages strong bonds and cooperation but solves the food issue.

Trapsing Through the Swamp #11

I actually enjoyed having the class split into two separate groups.  It allowed us to take in more of our surroundings without having to wait for an entire class of people. 
While I was well aware that various bugs were going to be prevalent, I was not expecting to see an alligator on this trip, never mind two.  It was absolutely hilarious to see DeAnna get so excited over the tiny gator that she discovered. I would have appreciated it more if I had not been panicking over the various bugs that continuously found their way onto my person; or even worse, my fellow classmates pretending to be bugs just to watch me squirm.
All in all, I actually enjoyed the trip considering that I am not the outdoorsy type. However, I could have lived without the torrential downpour. While it was a nice reprieve from the seemingly blistering heat, it put a damper on the experience and limited the time that we spent learning about the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Although I will most likely never visit this place again, I did enjoy the little excursion and would recommend it to people who enjoy this sort of activity.

Downtown and All Around

Exploring Downtown Fort Myers was definitely a new experience for me.  While I had attended my sorority's semiformal at Harborside in 2010, I never really appreciated my surroundings.  At the time, I did not even notice that there was an Olympics museum only a couple yards away.
I truly enjoyed the scavenger hunt and it forced me to look at the area in a way that I never would have before.  In its own way, it forced me to appreciate the thriving independent businesses as well as inform me of the history of this area that I have called home for the past two years.
I think my favorite part was having to look at the details of every little thing to find the answers. For example, I not only read every sign that I crossed but I also paid attention to the graffiti and stickers that people have left throughout the years.  When you take the time to truly look around and appreciate the beauty and personality of the downtown streets, you have a whole new respect for it.  I definitely plan to revisit the downtown area both in the day and at night to take in all that it has to offer.

Politics and the Environment #9

I honestly was never aware of the various things that the government had tried to do in order to control climate change.  I had no idea that Lieberman had been attempting to promote greener practices since the 1980's. Perhaps this is because there has been almost no push toward it until recent years.  I don't understand why we have to wait until things are already bad before we are willing to sit up and listen. It brings to mind the Winston Churchill quote, "Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing...after they have exhausted all other possibilities."
The one major thing that I learned from this article is that our country seems to be more concerned with short term goals as opposed to long term sustainability.  I cannot fathom how politicians can justify ignoring climate change in exchange for a seat in the senate for the next term.  If they continue to pay no heed to the impending crisis, there will no longer be a senate for them to be elected to.
Perhaps, as constituents, we are to blame.  It is not fair to expect politicians to do the right thing if we do not demand it from them

One Degree Changes Everything #8

It is terrifying to know that just one degree Fahrenheit can change absolutely everything in this world.  This is the only planet we have and it is being destroyed because of human dependance on fossil fuels.  While I was saddened by the various animals being pushed to extinction and the dwindling number of caribou, what concerned me the most was how cholera can now spread more easily due to the changing weather patterns.  Likewise, a 2003 heatwave in Europe is said to be responsible for the death of nearly 15,000 people.  If for no other reason, humans should be concerned with their health and how our actions can negatively effect it.  Our drinking supplies, air quality, and overall quality of life is already diminished already so why let this continue and potentially lose it all?
If for no other reason, people should care about the sports that they love.  There will be no more Breckenridge to ski on and no freezing days for the Polar Bear Club (assuming that there will even be polar bears). It will be too hot for America's pass time and fantasy football doesn't hold much weight when there is no actual football being played. 

That Panicky Feeling #7

As strange as it may be, the collapse of modern society frightens me more than the idea of a “zombie apocalypse” that everyone so loves to talk about.  Perhaps that is because society’s collapse is a potential reality and could occur in the foreseeable future.  This article paralleled the occurrences and circumstances in the United States with failed civilizations so poignantly that I found myself stressing by the time I reached the end.  It almost makes me feel like civilized life is some ridiculous social experiment doomed to fail.

However, I do understand the author’s point that a society writes its own fate.  In a certain sense, I feel like people refuse to learn from their own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others.  The example that pops into my head right now is Pompei.  The inhabitants are aware that there is an active volcano there.  They know that it has erupted and literally stopped people in their tracks and preserving them in lava rock. Yet, despite this knowledge, people still continue to inhabit the area. Granted that is an extreme example but how does that really differ from farms in the northern United States comparing to those in that failed in Greenland?

(Pictured above are ruins from a Norse farm in Greenland)

I am Not a Tree Hugger #6

After reading this selection, I guess that I could be considered a biophobic.  I really do not enjoy "the great outdoors."  I hate getting sweaty and dirty unless it involves playing a sport, I don't like bugs, and walking through any kind of plants usually makes me itchy (even if it is just unmaintained grass).  I feel much more comfortable walking the pavement of a big city and enjoying an overpriced cup of coffee while people watching.  I enjoy nice cars and beautiful houses almost as much as I enjoy designer heels. There is nothing really natural about these things other than the leather that potentially contributes to their creation.
Despite my great protesting, I was forced out into nature when I was younger as my brother was part of the Boy Scouts of America.  I went on family camping trips, I slept on the ground, I cooked over an open fire, I kayaked; I was miserable! There was no amount of bug spray that would make that situation enjoyable for me.  I often spent the whole time staring at what I liked to call tree huggers, but this reading has provided me with a more proper name for these people.  I just could not seem to understand how the biophilliacs could be so in tune with nature and embrace it so openly.  The only thing that I gained from the experiences was the ability to use a bow and arrow.
My roommate on the other hand fits in with that group rather well.  She enjoys hiking, biking, and all of the other general outdoorsy experiences.  She likes fishing, and while her family does eat some of them, she often names them before throwing them back.
As I read along, and looked at the life she leads, I realized that I can find a happy medium between the two extremes described in the article.  There is no need for me to despise the outdoors the way that I do but I could also learn to coexist with the world around me and respect nature.  While I realize this is silly, I actually didn't squish an ant today just because I wanted to be that much more environmentally conscious.

A Whole Lot of Crazy #5

I really don't see how the hanging of twelve people is the same thing as misusing land. Although I do feel that the author was a little dramatic and used some rather vivid imagery, I do get his point.  While I highly doubt that anybody will stop referring to land as property, I do believe that we have to stop the over development.
In any developed nation, we use and abuse our land but expect no consequences.  Lakes and rivers are polluted with runoff, land is starved of nutrients, animals are disappearing at an alarming rate and yet we continue to expand.
I have no problem with people owning land, or even corporations owning land.  However, they need to know how to use their land and respect it.  While we still have a long way to go, FGCU is really doing something amazing.  This is the only campus where I have ever seen recycle bins as prevalent as trash cans.  I love that we are only allowed to develop on a certain percentage of the land and even that colloquium is a required class.  It exposes students to the hardships and concerns of the world and the ways that we can help prevent or improve them.
This article has made me look at my own life in a strange way.  It makes me wonder how keeping a light on when I walk out of the room or throwing away a plastic bottle instead of recycling affects the world. If every person mad a conscious effort just to care about the way we use land, maybe we could reverse some of the damage and prevent that of the future.

Nature Cures ADD/ADHD #4

Being an education major, I found this article fascinating.  Doing my internships in the schools, I have seen the way that children lose their ability to focus during the day.
This does not just apply to the children with ADD and ADHD but all students.  In the college of education, the common idea is that no matter the age of the student, the average person can only focus on one subject at a time for a maximum of 20 minutes.
To know that simply providing students with an outdoor experience allows them to focus longer and perform better is an exciting concept. I can't believe that so few children are required to take physical education or any sort of class that keeps them active and engaged in their schooling.
However, with the pressure on test scores there is no way that schools will adapt this as an educational practice.  Even if it does mean that students will probably do better in the long run.
As it currently stands, schools are only concerned with making the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) which is highly represented by test scores.  According to an article I recently found, 82% of schools weren't going to make AYP by this year unless Congress made serious changes to No Child Left Behind anyway.
Article used: http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/adequate-yearly-progress/

Sense of Place #3

According to the Oxford English Dictionary of Geography, sense of place is, "either the intrinsic character of a place, or the meaning people give to it, but, more often, a mixture of both." This is the best definition I could find but still did not provide me with a comfortable basis to make an assessment of what this means to me.
For the most part, I see sense of place as the attachment that someone has to a certain location or the feelings and images that they connect to it.  As it stands right now, I look around this area of SW Florida that I have just begun to consider home and view it as significantly more rural than I am used to.  I was born in New York and mostly raised in Tampa so I grew up accustomed to heavily populated areas.
When I was younger, the most contact that I had with the outdoors involved the beach, a cooler and a radio.
However, this is a completely new experience for me.  I now jump in a car with my friends and drive out to the middle of nowhere which is surprisingly not that far away. The lack of streetlights make it possible to see a multitude of stars that I never before saw when drenched under the city lights and it is amazing.  It is a completely new experience that I never appreciated until now.

Now I think of these secluded areas as untouched and beautiful as opposed to boring and lacking.  It is amazing how being here for just over a year has completely changed my opinion.  While I do miss the hustle and bustle of urban areas, this has become my escape. Laying on top of a car and listening to crickets and frogs while staring up at stars is an experience that has no equal.  Of course, living in FL this depends on whether or not the mosquitoes permit it.

When the Earth Hurts #2

Jane Goodall is well known for her work and in this excerpt, she discusses how to save species through the recreation of habitats.  It's a simple question; what is the point of saving endangered animals if they are going to have no home?  Goodall believes that there are four things that can allow us to recreate the habitats for these desperate creatures. Her four reasons for hope are, "our quite extraordinary intellect, the resilience of nature, the energy and commitment of informed young people who are empowered to act, and the indomitable human spirit."
I do believe that these are somewhat ideal, however, she does provide me with hope of my own.  The story of the Kenyan Coast was inspiring.  When a small section of Africa was turned into a barren wasteland by the Bamburi Portland Cement Company, many thought that was how it would remain.  However Dr. Felix Mandl helped turn it back into a thriving forest.  The most impressive part of this story is that Dr. Mandl was not a activist or environmentalist but instead belonged to the cement company itself.  It is responsible business practices like these that should encourage other business owners.
Another story that stood out to me was the Loess Plateau in China.  When I think of China, I get the image of smog covered cities and people bustling around in crowded streets.  Amazingly, these people have restored the Loess Plateau which was considered the most eroded place on the planet.  If they can do that, I have hope that anybody anywhere can help bring the earth back to a more beautiful and livable place.