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Journal # 9

1.      Introduction - What is a barrier island? Include a map of the barrier islands that you studied during this field trip. Why are the four barrier Islands given the name Lovers Key when they have other specific names?

·         A barrier island is a long, narrow sand island that is parallel to the mainland and serves to protect the coast from erosion. Barrier islands typically have dunes/beaches along the exposed outer side, zones of vegetation in the interior, and swampy areas along the inner lagoon. Lovers Key consists of 4 barrier islands: Black Island, Long Key, Inner Key, and Lovers Key. In the early 1900s the islands were only accessible by boat. People said/thought that only lovers made the effort to get to this romantic island to be alone, thus the name Lovers Key. Lovers Key is also known to be a shelling beach, people come here form all over to look for and collect various shells, which I think is pretty interesting. 

Map of Lovers Key

Seashells which can typically be found along Lovers Key

2.      Reflection of the Nature Trail and boardwalk

a.       Discuss the protective role of the three types of mangrove plants found in Lovers Key and Black Island. Specify significance of each type (red, white and black mangroves)

·         Three types of mangroves can be found in Lovers Key State Park: red, white, and black mangroves. Mangroves serve many purposes within an ecosystem. These plants are known to protect the coast from eroding due to natural disasters, such as hurricanes; they provide shelter for many small creatures, such as tadpoles, small fish, and other marine organisms; they also provide food and protection for these organisms. Red mangroves are easily distinguished from other species by tangled, reddish prop roots. These prop roots increase the stability of the tree as well as oxygen supply to underground roots. The red mangrove gives “live birth”. Red mangroves have adapted so that seedlings can germinate while still attached to the parent tree. The seeds are released as pencil-shaped propagules. When the seedling falls into the water, it either takes root next to its “parent” or is carried by the tides and currents to another location. One of the ways the black mangrove has adapted to live in a saltwater environment that would kill other plants is that they are able to take up saltwater, use the water, and put the salt out onto their leaves as a waste product. Another way the black mangrove has adapted to its environment is by having roots that poke up out of the sediment instead of growing into it, these roots are called pneumatophores and they are similar to the concept of a snorkel. The white mangrove is interesting because it excretes sugar. Each leaf has two glands, called nectarines, at its base that excrete sugar. Many insects feed on the excreted sugar. Also, white mangroves can have either pneumatophores or prop roots.

Mangroves

b.      What other plants and animals did you learn from the field trip

·         While on the field trip I learned about the yellow-bellied sap sucker, which is a wood pecker. These wood peckers tend to be in Florida in the winter time and they peck at trees all the way around, leaving holes completely around the tree trunk. There are many birds located throughout Lovers Key, I saw an Osprey up in one of the trees while on the trip, as well as a few pelicans flying above the water. I also saw several butterflies in the butterfly garden. I learned about the Firebush, which is a plant commonly used with butterflies and hummingbirds for its nectar. This plant is also edible for humans and it can help women with menstrual cramps.

Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker (Google)

Tree in Lovers Key which has Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker holes 

Butterfly Garden

3.      Reflection of the marine ecosystem of Lovers Key State Park

Discuss the Biodiversity and interconnectedness of the marine and land species in Lovers Key and Black Island? Include both the plant and animal species studied in the nature trail and in board walk.

·         While on this field trip, the diversity and interconnectedness of nature was made quite clear to me. One way that it was made clear was the impact that the red tide was having on the ecosystem. I saw an innumerable amount of dead fish and marine life washed up on shore due to a small bacteria which has reproduced and spread out. Such a small organism when it is alone, the bacteria which causes red tide has a huge impact on other organisms. Another example is the mangroves. The mangroves serve as ways to protect the shoreline, nurseries for small fish and invertebrates, shelter, food, and so on. Without this tree, many organisms would be without a home, source of food and/or protection. I also learned about the importance of the bugs, such as bees and butterflies, because they serve as pollinators, which is very important for life to continue on.

Sandy dunes and protected grasses

Several species of marine life, washed ashore

4.      Reflection of Red Tide activity -

a.       What I knew about Red tide before the discussion

·         Before discussing red tide with my group, I did not know much about it. I knew that it was caused by a bacteria, which feeds off of the nutrients/runoff from Lake Okeechobee. I knew that it caused fish and other sea creatures to die. I initially thought “thank you, Big Agriculture” because the people around me have always said they big agriculture was the problem and the main cause of the red tide.

Lovers Key Beach 

b.      What I learned from our group presentation - specify your group

·         I learned about an alternative perspective about the cause of red tide from my group’s (group 5) presentation. Taylor talked about her family and how she grew up in agriculture, so her perspective was different from mine. She pointed out that if we shift the water flow from Lake Okeechobee, the farmers down the middle of the state would be flooded and unable to provide food for all of us/the community. She also pointed out that big agriculture is really only a small percentage of the farmers. I learned that there is no one solution to this problem, and instead of placing blame on one another it is important that we all work together to come up with some possible solutions. Blaming each other does no good and does not solve the problem.

Dead fish washed ashore

c.       What I learned from other teams presentations - specify each team

·         From team 1 I learned about what exactly red tide is. Red tide is an algal bloom in the water, it has a strong odor and is not necessarily red. Red tide is caused by the nutrient runoff from the agricultural business around Lake Okeechobee, the extreme heat of the summer has exacerbated the issue which is why it has gotten as bad as it is now. As the wind blows, the red tide travels with it and that is one of the ways it spreads. From team 2 I learned about the effects of red tide on the marine ecosystems. Red tide can be harmful for mangroves. At the beginning the red tide seems to help these plants because the nutrients are absorbed and the tree’s branches and leaves grow rapidly, but the roots of the mangroves cannot keep up with the rest of the tree, so it dies. Red tide also kills various species of marine life. For example, I saw many types of fish wash up on shore. Red tide can kill seaweed, fish, whales, sharks, dolphins, turtles, horse shoe crabs, sting rays, and even coral reefs. From team 3 I learned about the harmful effects of red tide on humans. In people, red tide can affect the upper respiratory system, causing you to cough, sneeze, have a sore throat, or a tight chest. It can also lead to gastrointestinal issues if it is ingested, skin rashes, and even food poisoning if you eat contaminated seafood. Red tide can cause a decrease in quality of life because people are unable to go out and enjoy the beach because of the smell and possible hazards, or enjoy the seafood for fear of falling ill. From team 4 I learned about the socioeconomic consequences of red tide. Red tide affects us economically because Florida’s main industries are agriculture and ecotourism. Both of which are heavily affected by red tide, and they are essentially at odds with each other and trying to place blame. According to this team, profits from tourism have decreased by about $4.5 billion. A positive impact is that people are more aware of the issue now and we have learned that we should diversify our economy a little more so that something like this won’t impact us quite so much.

Lovers Key bridge picture

Lovers Key Beach

Lagoon in Lovers Key, you can see the algae a little bit by the tree line on the right

5.      Summary

Summarize your overall learning experience from the Lovers Key field trip

·         Overall, I learned a lot from our field trip to Lovers Key. I am much more educated now about red tide than I was before. I am glad that I was exposed to other viewpoints and opinions about red tide and the “cause” because it allowed me to see it from someone else’s point of view, which I think is very important if you are going to be knowledgeable about a given topic. I enjoyed being at the state park and I plan to return again at some point in the future when the red tide is not so bad. I would love to follow the nature trails and spend time watching the butterflies in the butterfly garden, but I will not return until the red tide has “stopped” so that I can truly enjoy it. Seeing all of the dead animals washed ashore was disheartening and maddening for me. This field trip inspired me and made me want to take a stand and help find solutions for red tide.

Landscape in Lovers Key

Landscape in Lovers Key with some dead fish (white spots in water)

Sign of Birds found in Lovers Key

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Journal # 10

Pond Behind Whitaker Hall on FGCU Campus

Ford, Firestone, and Edison: Uncommon Friends

Read your Journal 1 again. Reflect on what you wrote down then and what you have learned. Discuss your learning experience in this course. How did your learning experience during the semester change your perceptions before taking the class?

          At the beginning of the semester I hoped that I would leave this class with a better understanding of the environment that I live in, as well as some tools for teaching my future students about our environment. I have learned both of those things, plus so much more. I am going to be leaving this course with a much stronger connection to my community and to the environment. The sense of wonder and exploration that I had as a child has been rekindled and I am thankful for that. I have learned how much students can benefit from group discussion and I plan to make discussion one of the consistent elements of my lesson plans going forward. I have also learned the value and importance of environmental education. I feel that it is more important today than it ever has been before that young people grow up learning about the environment and about sustainable practices. I also have learned that providing students with time in nature is quite important for their development of a sense of place and development of respect for the environment. One way I can ensure students’ access to nature is to avoid taking recess/outdoor time away from students as a punishment. I would avoid this because being outdoors is healthy and can help students to be more successful in school. I can also have field trips which are outside. Some examples of where we could go on a field trip are to a farm, a beach, a wildlife preserve, or a park. I could also take my students to places like ECHO where they learn about other cultures, ways of life, and sustainability. I found the ECHO field trip and the Lover’s Key field tip to be the most inspiring and most touching. The ECHO one was informational and it showed me many ways to accomplish the same task in several ways. I would love to take my students there on a field trip and I think they would enjoy it also. The Lover’s Key trip inspired me because it made me want to get involved in the effort to reduce the red tide issue. Seeing so many dead marine creatures was heartbreaking. I am generally not fond of fish or sea creatures, but they don’t deserve what it happening to them. I think this would be another great field trip because if there is reed tide, they can learn about what it is and what can be done about it, and if there isn’t red tide they can enjoy time at the beach and try shelling. Being out in nature on the field trips for this course helped me to learn the concepts because it provided me with a way to make real-world connections.

Bamboo Shelter at ECHO Farm

Dead Fish Washed Up On The Beach

          Some of the preconceptions that I had coming into this semester were that this course would focus only on the environment, that I would have to walk through muddy water, that I would be writing several papers, that I would have to complete a service learning requirement, and that I would most likely feel as though I am wasting time and money on this course because it “doesn’t pertain to my major.” Some of my preconceptions were true, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as people had made it out to be. For example, this course did focus on the environment but it also related to just about everything else too; I did have to walk through muddy water, but it wasn’t gross and there were no snakes or alligators; I have had to write several papers but it is not unmanageable; and I did have to complete a service learning project, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. My preconception that I would feel like I am wasting time and money proved to be untrue. I am much more connected to the environment now than I was before this course. Learning about the history and importance of the ecosystems around me has opened my eyes to the beauty that is so often ignored. I found this course to be interesting and inspiring, I am glad that it is a university wide requirement because I feel like everyone can benefit from this course. I have learned so much about where I live throughout the last 6 weeks, but I didn’t feel like I was learning in the standard way because we learned mostly through discussion and exploration of given topics. I liked the way that the course was designed. The repetition in the assignments was helpful for me because it helps me to retain information. I also have enjoyed the reflection and self-exploration aspect of the course. We have so many opportunities to explain how our learning correlates to our lives and we are able to put what we are learning about into action. I enjoyed learning about biodiversity through reading some of Vandana Shiva’s work and this section of the Colloquium Reader book was stood out to me. Biodiversity is so important because it is what sustains life and if it is destroyed many of the fishermen, farmers, and craftspeople in the Third World would suffer as well. Uniformity is not beautiful or excellent, it is naive and narrow minded because diversity is essential for all life.

Vandana Shiva (Google)

Sustainability (Google)

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Journal # 8

1. A brief history of the city - how it started, how it has grown, main functions, key people involved etc.

         People, specifically hunter-gatherers, have lived in the Fort Myers area for at least 14,000 years, dating back to the end of the last great ice age. Back then this area was cooler and much less humid and megafauna roamed here. Some of these large animals were mastodons, mammoths, giant sloths, etc. The sea levels were much lower than they are today because so much water was held in glaciers, and peninsular Florida was twice as wide as it is today, extending into what is now the Gulf of Mexico.  In the 16th century early Spanish explorers met the native peoples, who they called the Calusa Indians. When the Spanish were trying to land, they were met with hostility and anger, which resulted in deaths. The natives were most likely hostile because they saw how the Spanish treated their people the first time they came into the area. The Caloosahatchee River was named by the Seminole Indians who came into the area in the late 18th century. Downtown Fort Myers was actually home to a fort which was originally called Fort Harvie, and renamed Fort Myers by General Twiggs for his daughter’s betrothed, Abraham Myers. Fort Myers played a prominent role in the Third Seminole War. Later, during the Civil War, it was occupied by Black Federal Troops. Fort Myers used to be a cattle town, which is the reason that the roads are so wide. It was not until 1908 that the city of Fort Myers passed an ordinance requiring cattle be kept outside of city limits.  Prior to that, cattle were free to roam the streets of the city unbothered. The cattle industry remains a major component of Florida’s economy even today. The waterfront area of downtown Fort Myers used to be a bustling business area. The shoreline used to be at Bayshore Road, but in 1904 the land was extended when the railroad extended into Fort Myers. In the 1890s the Caloosahatchee canal was built, linking the Caloosahatchee River with Lake Okeechobee.  The city waterfront has a much different focus today, including Centennial Park, the Yacht Basin, walking paths, and a pier. This area became more popular when Ford, Firestone, and Edison came to town. Edison was searching for rubber alternatives in the area which could be used for Firestones tires, which could then be put on Ford’s cars.

Ford, Firestone, Edison

Comemoration statue for African American soldiers who fought in the Civil War

2. What did you learn from the field trip about:

a) How the city government has addressed environmental issues - parks, water, walkways, buildings etc.

        To address environmental issues, the city of Fort Myers has built parks, walkways, buildings, statues/monuments, and water filtration methods into downtown Fort Myers. Centennial Park is a beautiful 10-acre community park located in historic downtown on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. Some of the features of Centennial Park are that it is ADA accessible, it has benches, boat docks, and a fishing pier, a launching ramp for boats, pavilions, a playground, and a beach volleyball area. One of the issues they have addressed is emissions because they have bike racks and large/wide sidewalks for pedestrians so they can walk instead of drive. Our tour guide compared downtown Fort Myers to a livable city because everything can be reached fairly easily without using a car. They have also done their best to preserve the original features of the area. For example, the bricks in the street are the original bricks that were there when cattle roamed the streets freely and many of the buildings have been refurbished and repurposed. There is also the City of Palms located on the corner of Edwards Street and Lee Street and it was established in 1955. City of Palms exhibits palm trees from around the world.  The City of Palms is considered a “green space” where people can go outside to take a break from work to just be out in nature. The city of Fort Myers also built a water detention basin to help aerate the water using fountains and large grates. The purpose of the detention basin is to help prevent algal blooms be reintroducing oxygen into the water for various organisms (i.e. fish).

Water Fountain & Aeration

Large walkway

b) The conflicts between efforts of environmental, historical and economic forces in the decision making about the city functions

       While on the field trip we learned about some of the conflicts in the area about what should be done environmentally, historically, and economically. One example of this is Pleasure Pier. There was a debate surrounding Pleasure Pier about what should be done with it. Pleasure Pier used to be a place where people went to drink, gamble, and dance. Some people think it should be left as is as a historical landmark, others think it should be torn down and something new should be built in its place. I personally think they could fix up the building, maybe build the second floor back on, and turn it into something new but it should also be as eco-friendly as possible. It could be turned into a small coffee shop because it has a great porch and incredible view of the river. In our society everything comes back to money and economics. The land in downtown Fort Myers is very expensive because it is heavily trafficked and right on the water. Many of the monuments and statues are beginning to fall apart because the city feels it is too expensive to take care of the art. I think this is really sad because it is so beautiful and it is important for future generations to be able to see and learn about the history of Fort Myers.

Pleasure Pier

Broken Statue of a Panther Cub

3. How can you apply aspects of biophobia, biophilia and topophilia in the city?

        You can apply biophilia to the city because throughout the city there are patches of green space, trees, and nature. People are provided with plenty of opportunity to interact with the natural world throughout the day. Also, this are of town is really pretty and there are plenty of areas people can explore so I think more people are inclined to give into their innate desire to be in nature. Biophobia is fear of life, or fear of the natural world. There are too many people who stay cooped up inside the same 4 walls day in and day out. People are indoors when they work, when they eat, when they sleep, when they read, when they socialize, and so on. Having green areas where they can escape from the day-to-day is important for the people who live and work in this area. Topophilia is a strong sense of place, which often becomes mixed with the sense of cultural identity among certain people and a love of certain aspects of such a place. I can connect topophilia to this city because when visiting downtown Fort Myers on our field trip I felt prideful and proud to live in the area. I felt as if I belonged and it was one of my places. There is so much history in this city and I think it is important that people continue to be exposed to it and learn about and from it.

Biophilia- People In Centennial Park

Beautiful Tile Mural Depicting Fort Myers History

Incredible Banyan Tree in the Middle of the City

4. How does the learning on the city relate to the readings and the course objectives?

       My learning about Fort Myers relates to the course readings and course objectives in a couple of ways. One way it relates is sustainability because we have learned a lot about sustainability in this course. The city of downtown Fort Myers has kept many of the original structures and roads and found ways to reuse and/or repurpose them. Therefore, they didn’t have to use all new materials and resources when expanding and building the area up. We have also learned a lot about the human desire and love for nature, biophilia. It is critical that people have chances to be outside with nature and interact with it because it can help with stress, anxiety, mood, and even physical health. Areas such as downtown Fort Myers can help people develop an ecological perspective and raise community awareness because there is so much information available about the area. Most of the statues I saw had some kind of plaque which explained the meaning/purpose for the art. One example is the sign by the Water Detention Basin which explain what the basin is, how it works, and why it works. This area can develop people’s sense of place because it is beautiful and there are many areas that are green within a city which is otherwise very busy and developed. We have also learned about interdependence and diversity in this course. Everything is connected and it is important to know that everything plays a role in the ecosystem. Everything relies on everything else. For example, there are mangroves lining the shoreline of the Caloosahatchee River. These mangroves help to hold soil in place, protect the land during natural disasters, provide food and shelter for small fish and other aquatic animals, as well as help aerate the water using their roots, which can grow out from basically anywhere on any of the limbs. Mangroves are a native species; there are red, black, and white mangroves. Mangroves are one of only a very small number of plants which is able to survive in brackish water (mix of freshwater and saltwater).

Red Mangrove

Water Detention Basin Sign

Green Space

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Journal # 7

1. Think about the reading by Vandana Shiva. Why is diversity so important? Diversity/biodiversity is important because it is the fabric of life and it is what formed our planet. Biodiversity provides the conditions for life’s emergence and maintenance. According to Vandana Shiva “the destruction of biodiversity translates into the destruction of the diversity of the livelihoods of the large majority of Third World people who make their living as farmers, fishermen, craftspeople, and healers” (F., 2011, 39). Everything in life is connected in some way, everything is interdependent. When one thing is altered it affects more than the immediate “thing”, it also affects the other organisms which rely on that “thing”. For example, if a tree dies or a species of plant goes extinct, not only is that plant gone, but it could also negatively impact the 30-50 other species which rely in that tree for survival. “The extinction of a species means not just the loss of that particular species, but also a threat to the other species that are supported by it through ecological processes” (F., 2011, 45). The diverse species and organisms on our planet work together to make our planet livable, if humans continue to try and control the environment more of these important organisms will begin to disappear and we will eventually feel the impact of our decision to make everything uniform. Shiva expresses the importance of cooperation amongst and between species because we all rely on one another in some way. When we lose diversity, we end up in situations with genetic uniformity. Genetic uniformity can cause disease and it can be prevented fairly easily. An example is the potato famine in Ireland in 1845-1846. This famine caused approximately two million people to die between 1841 and 1851.

2. According to Shiva, what is the real wealth of the poor? According to Shiva, the real wealth of the poor is agricultural biodiversity. Agricultural biodiversity is the basis of economic life for two-thirds of the world’s population, the people who live in rural economies in the Third World. These people rely on the diversity of crops and animal breeds because they have to find organisms which can thrive in their given ecosystems. For example, there are strains of rice which grow in flooded areas and there are some which grow on mountain slopes. People can choose to grow or raise the strain which is most likely to do well in the local ecosystem, which is incredibly important. In India livestock “breeds adapted to the specific local environmental and climatic conditions are indispensable to the rural economies of their regions” (F., 2011, 51). In biodiversity-based economies the growth of biodiversity is the measure of progress and it is a necessity for survival.

3. Relate your reading to societies you know well and more specifically to your own life. Reflect on it think about tomorrow’s biodiversity. I have never left the United States or even left the eastern coast so I don’t know very much about other regions of the world. I do know that in the U.S. there are way too many people who don’t really seem to care about how they affect the environment around them, they don’t care that they are destroying the Earth for the children. I care about my impact on the environment and I am aware of my impact. I know that I can over-consume at times, both when shopping and when eating, simply because I can. While I know I shouldn’t do this all the time, I feel it is okay to do it occasionally. I think diversity is very important and it should be respected. There are too many people in this country who are “followers” and they do things just to seem like they are the same as everyone else, but I believe that people’s true beauty comes from people’s differences and individuality. Everything does not need to be perfect and uniform, diversity is beautiful and essential for human survival. If we, as humans, destroy all of the organisms we don’t like or think we don’t need, we will die because those organisms play vital roles in our world and ecosystems. I want my children and my children’s children it be able to experience and see the same incredible things that I have. I want the human race to exist on Earth. People, as a whole, need to make changes so that Earth can continue to live and thrive, and maybe even fix some of the damage that I believe we have caused by taking over the natural world.

4. How does this connect to our learning about individual and society consumption and pursuit for happiness? Our readings about Vandana Shiva connect to our learning about consumption and the pursuit for happiness because people are always looking for more and nothing is ever good enough. Once we achieve one goal, there are 3 more taking that one’s place. Individuals and society as a whole over-consume just because we can. We buy way more food than we need at the grocery store and then throw it away because it expires before we get to it. We over-serve our plates when eating, then throw away the leftovers. We overuse the water and energy sources we have, to the point that we are depleting our resources at an unprecedented rate. If people continue to try and take over the planet and overrule nature, we will never be happy. We need the organisms that we are destroying in order to be happy. For example, trees and plants create oxygen as a waste product. Humans are determined to cut down trees and industrialize areas where we should instead have a forest or conservation area. By taking down the trees and plants and laying concrete and building buildings we are losing organisms which create one of the most important elements to us. To me, this seems asinine. To be happy we need to embrace nature and the environment, and the diversity which comes along with it.

5. In which archetype of happiness would you place yourself? Explain. I would place myself in the rat race archetype of happiness at this point in time. People in this archetype focus on working now so that they can be happy at some distant point in the future, they are minimalist because they want to preserve the environment for future generations. I placed myself in this archetype because I am very focused on school right now as I am finishing up my degree. I have about 9 months left before I get my Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and I am impatiently awaiting the day I graduate so that I can begin my career as an educator. I currently am enrolled in 3 summer courses and I work full time. In the fall I will have a full time course load, full time work, plus a part time internship and volunteering. I know I am not truly happy right now because I am very focused on my future and that is all I think about. I don’t work in a job I am passionate about, but it pays the bills. I don’t like school but it is necessary for me to get to the next goal in my life. I am hoping that once I am about 3-5 years into my career I can begin thinking about being happy now because I will have paid off my loans, started my career, and hopefully my family.

6. If you were to change your food consumption to increase your present and future happiness, what would you need to do? If I was to change my food consumption to increase my present and future happiness I would need to begin transitioning to a plant-based diet/vegetarian diet. I want to impact the environment negatively as little as possible and I know that a plant based diet is one way to do that. Not only will my ecological footprint be smaller, but I will also be happier with myself because I will be eating healthier foods and thus feel better about myself. I would also have to be careful not to over-shop when I go to the store and not over serve myself at meal times.

References F. (2011). University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA: Copley Custom Textbooks.

Photo credit: Google Images

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Journal # 6

 1. Echo:

Reflect upon your ECHO Farm experience. Why are organizations like this one important to the world and to you? Use specific examples of activities carried out in ECHO that have a profound impact in the world. What did you learn about sustainability? Describe an example of adaptive technology. Did you discover something in ECHO farm that you might apply to your own life? Explain.

·         I had a lot of fun on our trip to ECHO Farm. I learned a lot about appropriate technologies and about various farming techniques. It is important for organizations like ECHO to exist in this world because they help teach people the skills that they need to survive and live more sustainably. ECHO’s primary focus is providing agricultural technical support to small scale farmers and helping people so they can help themselves. ECHO has internship programs where people who are interested in traveling and helping people to receive hands on training about innovative farming practices. ECHO does many things to help people learn how to grow crops in their region and fight hunger. One of the things that ECHO does that has a wonderful impact is that they have seed banks and send seeds (for free I believe) to small scale farmers so they can feed their families and communities. Appropriate technology is technology that is appropriate for the people that they can use and make out of what they have available to them. Our tour guide stressed the importance of sustainability using the phrase “using what you have to make what you need.” Sustainability means using the resources you need to, but also thinking about the future and what may be needed then. The whole idea is that someone from ECHO will teach the other person how to build the appropriate technology and how to use it so that if it breaks they know how to fix it and don’t have to pay someone else to.  I think that teaching people around the world how they can use the water near them as drinking water by using various filtration techniques. For example, grinded up Meringa tree can be used to kill bacteria in water, but not viruses. The three main things that ECHO tries to teach people are how to have food, water, and shelter. These things are basic needs that everybody should have equal access to. I learned that there are 2 kinds of water, surface water and ground water. Surface water is untreated and may people will drink it, but it is not as safe as ground water. Ground water is the water below the soil, and it can be attained by digging a well of some kind. An example of appropriate technology is lifting wells. Lifting wells are typically about 20 feet deep into the ground and 60-80 people could get water from one of these wells. We also learned about bore hole wells, which go down about 100 feet or more. This water is filtered more and better quality than the water from the lifting well because the water has to travel further through the ground, which acts as a filter. These wells also require a structure with a large container for the water at the top so it is more expensive than the lifting well also. Choosing which well to use depends on the people you are helping because they have to be able to maintain the technology that they are provided with. I also learned about the rocket stove. Rocket stoves use 50% less fuel when cooking and there won’t be smoke. All of the heat is focused on the bottom of the pot/bowl you are cooking with, instead of escaping from the sides of the fire on a three stone stove. We also talked about bamboo a lot on this field trip. Bamboo is a very strong plant and if it is treated correctly it can be used to build a home that will last up to 20 years. It can also be used in making tools, and it is a good source of water and sugar if you have nothing else around. I thought the idea to use a tire as a “flower pot” essentially was very creative. Instead of throwing away/wasting old tires they can be used as a sort of “pot” to hold soil in where you can plant a flower, herb garden, or other plant. This is a technique I would consider using if I ever moved into the city because I like to grow and cook with fresh herbs.

2. Food Footprint:

After your experience with ECHO Farm, it is important to focus specifically on the food footprint. Read and do the calculation below before your reflection. Use the questions to reflect on your own consumption habits.  

http://www.greeneatz.com/foods-carbon-footprint.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. 

·         My score on the food carbon footprint calculator was 1.9. I don’t eat beef at all so that makes my carbon footprint lower than average. Most of my carbon footprint comes from me eating chicken, cereals/breads, vegetables, fruit, snacks, and drinks. I know that most of the food that I eat is imported from other countries (i.e. bananas, kiwi, and pineapple). I think that most of the food I eat probably has pesticide residues in/on it. I usually shop at Publix and I am sure that they buy the produce and such without caring whether or not it has been treated with pesticides. I have not had much experiences growing plants or gardening, but my mother has a green thumb. Also, most of the food I eat is whole food, but I do also have processed foods in my diet. I recently started growing herbs in my back yard because I like to use fresh herbs when I cook, rather than the store bought ones. If I had to grow or scavenge for my own food I think my life would be very different. I would not eat as much as I do because I would not want to waste the food I worked so hard for. I would also have more respect for the food that I eat. I think that it is important to grow a biodiversity of foods because when there is only one type of a crop it can cause uniformity and monocultures which can cause issues such as food scarcity down the line. An idea for eating better/more sustainable food is to shop for fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets where the food is locally sourced and grown sustainably. I am willing and able to start doing this now because I know that there are several farmer’s markets in the area. Another idea is to grow and/or raise some of your own foods, but I am not able to do this right now.

Sloping Agriculture Land Technology Sign

Clay Hut/Shelter

PVC piping is a common and versatile tool used by ECHO

Using bottles filled with trash work well as bricks for building shelters. 

Aquaculture

Plants fertilized by aquaculture waste product

Bamboo Shelter

Tropical Highlands Sign

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Journal # 5

Prompt: Summarize your reflection on what you have learned from each video. Thereafter, discuss your learning experience from your readings and the videos particularly on the two sections of Margaret Robertson's Book (Sustainability: Principles and Practice) assigned to you or any other section that might be of interest to you. Discuss the salient aspects that you read and discussed in your group and that of other groups. Connect your learning with any other sources including Pachamama Alliance's Awakening the Dreamer.

Margaret Robertson [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

Video Summary & Reflection:

·         The introduction video was very informative and discusses the main points of all of the chapters we covered in class. She spoke a lot about the interdependence and connectedness that exists in our world. Through taking this course and reading some of the course materials, I am realizing how connected and dependent I am on nature. I know that I may not be here if/when the Earth dies, but my distant relatives could be; and I want to be able to say that I know I tried my best to do something about the issues we are facing. She also explained how the concept of resilience is central to sustainability, and the key to resilience is diversity. Diversity is such an important thing, people don’t realize how we are causing uniformity in our agricultural practices and this could actually lead to the food scarcity we are “trying to prevent”. Robertson discusses the biosphere and its importance in the introduction video. She explains that nothing in the physical world is static; everything is constantly evolving, changing, and moving. The four major systems in the biosphere are rock, water, air, and life. These systems are self-regulating and evolving systems which work to keep Earth as the perfect place for life. For example, regulating temperature, light, water, and so on. She also explains that all life is made from networks and everything is connected in some way.

·         The issues video was also very informative. This video focused mainly on ecosystems and habitats. We are currently in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, and by the year 2050 up to 50% of the current species on Earth could be extinct. She talks a lot about the climate in this video. Robertson explained that the changing climate is nothing new, but the speed of the changes is what is unprecedented. The Earth’s temperature has never spiked so quickly and some of the causes of the spike are a rapidly growing population, economic growth, and an industry which is built on fossil fuels. Even if we somehow stopped emissions right now, we would still feel the effects for 100s or 1,000s of years and it will take centuries for the Earth to reach stability once again. The temperature will continue to increase, and then eventually level off. The Earth will be warmer, no doubt about it. The question is whether or not the human race will be able to cope and adapt to the increasing temperature changes. She also expressed the importance of ecological economics and of considering the amount of natural capital we use and/or consume.

·         The solutions video was informative and gave more of a sense of hope for the future when compared to the other videos. I think this video gives more hope because she is talking about the various things we can do to fix the problem, rather than discussing the problem. However, I do understand the importance of people understanding what the issues really are before they try to fix them. Robertson discussed green buildings and their attributes. She explained that green buildings don’t have a set style, a green building is based on how it functions. Green buildings are adapted to their local place and utilize the immediate resources to their advantage (i.e. sunlight, water, soil, materials, etc.). She also discussed biophilia, which we have talked about a lot in this course. She explained that livable cities are ones in which you can get just about everything you need by simply walking or within a short distance. These cities tend to have features such as green roofs and green cemeteries which allow for more natural areas near and in the areas where humans exist. Robertson also talked about how important having healthy soil is. Soil is the foundation for just about everything and the food we eat needs soil to grow. Soil is a renewable resource, but it is a very slow process. She said that it takes about 1,000 years to make 1 inch of soil. She also discussed how people should become agents for change and explained what exactly it means to be an agent for change. People should strive to live more sustainable lives so that we can live in a healthy, fair, and just society.

The Biosphere [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

Learning Experience from Reading & Videos:

·         My group’s first presentation focused on the biosphere. I learned that the four spheres are the lithosphere (solid Earth), the atmosphere (gases /the air), the hydrosphere (all water), and the biosphere (all life). The biosphere includes all the living and nonliving parts, the organisms and the rocks, water, and air with which they interact as materials are interchanged in the biogeochemical cycles. One of the focuses of my section was that all life is made up of networks and everything is connected in some way. I learned that living systems operate at a state of non-equilibrium and when an organism is in a state of equilibrium, it is dead. Equilibrium means the exact same amount of energy going in is also coming out. I also learned that cooperation is critical for life but competition does play a role in determining which organisms survive long enough to reproduce. Symbiosis is a relationship which occurs when two different organisms live with and interact with each other, and they both benefit. All life is made of connections and one of the features of life is that there is a lack of a sharp distinction between individuals and communities. Everything, including people, rely on everything else in some way, even the tiniest of organisms. My group’s second presentation focused on energy and green buildings. From completing this presentation, I learned that most of the energy used by humans today comes from fossil fuels, which is a nonrenewable resource. “Fossil fuels may eventually be replenished, but regeneration takes place over a time scale of hundreds of millions of years, a duration that is not relevant for human civilization. That means that, unlike sunlight, there is a finite supply. Once it is gone, it is no longer available” (Robertson, 156). I learned that biofuels are made from plant matter and biodiesel is made from oils, usually vegetable oils. These fuels are used as a partial replacement or replacement for traditional fossil fuel, such as gasoline. I learned that energy efficiency is the lowest-cost alternative to fossil fuels. Energy efficiency measures can address the end uses of energy (i.e. plug loads, lighting, water heating, etc.) and it can include changing a behavior (i.e. turning of the lights when leaving a room. We live at the beginning of an energy transition, from a world powered by fossil fuels to one powered by alternative power sources (i.e. solar, wind, hydroelectric, etc.).  Margaret Robertson wrote that “the greenest energy source of all is the one not used” (174). The point of this statement is to make it clear that simply using another nonrenewable resource is not good enough, we need to find a way to live our lives without taking away Earth’s life. We cannot continue to use the Earth’s resources the way that we have been because it could be detrimental, not only to us, but also to every other species on Earth as well. We also learned about waste in our section. I learned that 40% of landfill waste in the U.S. each year comes from construction and demolition debris. To me this sounds crazy. 40% is a huge amount of waste to be coming from one category. Green buildings, which I discussed above, support the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the organisms who reside in the area. These buildings do no harm to the environment and might even regenerate the health of the air, water, and biosphere. The videos we watched for this assignment focused a lot on the sections that my group covered so it was a bit of a refresher for me, but I also gained a lot of knowledge and hearing the reading helped me to understand the content a little bit more. The readings, presentations, and videos we had covering Sustainability Principles and Practice reminded me of the Pachamama Alliance. It specifically reminded me of their vision/goal. The Pachamama Alliance’s vision is as follows: “The vision that informs the Pachamama Alliance’s work is of a world that works for everyone: an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet” (Pachamama, n.d.). Margaret Robertson’s discussion on sustainability sounds very similar to me because she wants people to live more sustainably so that the Earth can continue on for generations to come and in a way that is fair and just for everyone and everything involved. I have enjoyed these assignments because it is interesting to me how they all line up and correlate with one another.

Sustainability [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

Sources

Pachamama Alliance | Our Mission & Vision. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2018, from                https://www.pachamama.org/about/mission

Robertson, M. (2017). Sustainability Principles and Practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

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Journal # 4

Six Mile Cypress Sign [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

1. Divide up your learning experience from the Six Miles Cypress Slough field trip into the five sections. In each section, discuss its unique characteristics and what you learned from it. Discuss the biodiversity of this park by identifying the various fauna and flora species that you saw or heard about on this trip.

Amphitheater/Pavilion:

 Due to unfortunate weather circumstances my class spent most of the field trip at the amphitheater. I learned that the boardwalk is raised to allow water to flow easily and so that the visitors have as little impact on the environment there as possible.  I learned that the slow moving slough is helpful with flood control. Water hits the area and instead of flooding into local neighborhoods it moves slowly through the slough allowing the plants and the ground to absorb/consume the water. I learned that the slough is beneficial for people because it allows the water to be reabsorbed into the ground and refills the aquifers. The slough is a forested wetland with slowly flowing freshwater. The water in Six Mile Cypress Slough eventually flows into Estero Bay. The Slough is important because it can store water during heavy rains and clean pollutants from the water.  The only animals I saw in this area were a couple of turtles floating near the top of the water in Gator Lake. There were several plaques/signs in this area about the wildlife and the best ways to see it.

Smith, K. (2018, July 10). Slough Interpretive Trail [Photograph]. Journal 4, Fort Myers.

Gator Lake:

 Gator Lake is a large and beautiful lake. The sights that you can see are incredible and the area is very picturesque. Gator Lake is home to various fish and turtle species. Of course, there are also some alligators which live in the lake. This lake is also a stopping place for many species of bird. Great Egrets and White Ibis are a couple types of birds which are commonly seen around Gator Lake. In fact, these 2 species of birds can be found nesting and roosting around the perimeter of Gator Lake in the spring months. I saw a couple of turtles swimming in Gator Lake. I also saw a couple of ducks (I’m not sure what species) swimming in the lake. Between Gator Lake and Wood Duck Pond there is a transition area where there is often a greater diversity of plants and animals. One of the trees I saw a lot in this area is the Slash Pine Tree. Slash pine trees are frequented by the Pileated Woodpecker, which glides from tree to tree to flick off pieces of bark and peck into the wood in search of food.

Smith, K. (2018, July 10). Gator Lake [Photograph]. Journal 4, Fort Myers.

Wood Duck Pond:

 Wood Duck Pond is one of the natural ponds found within the slough. This pond is at a lower elevation, so water can continue to collect throughout the dry season. Wood Duck Pond is also known as a “flag pond” because of the presence of a plant called alligator flag, which grows in areas of deeper water, including in alligator holes. I learned that if I see these plants moving it can mean that there is an alligator moving around nearby. This pond is called Wood Duck Pond because it is home to many wood ducks. There are some slash pine trees, some sabal palms, and some saw palmettos in this portion of the trail.

Male Wood Duck [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

Otter Pond:

 The otter pond is home to animals such as otters, turtles, and diving birds. I learned that many animals that live in the slough possess characteristics that help them live in the water. For example, webbed feet act like scuba flippers and protective, clear eyelids act like swim goggles. This pond may be called Otter Pond, but it is not the only place in the slough where river otters could be. The otters could be anywhere in the swamp at any time. There are also resurrection ferns in this area. This fern is unique to the area and it is an example of how plants adapt to the environmental conditions. When this type of fern does not get enough water it turns brown and crinkles up. It can go about a hundred years without water until rain comes and then it resurrects back to life.

Smith, K. (2018, July 10). Otter Pond [Photograph]. Journal 4, Fort Myers.

Pop Ash Pond:

 There are so many pop ash trees in this area of the trail. On many of the pop ash trees there are airplants growing. The bark of the pop ash tree is a perfect place for an airborne seed to land and grow into an airplant. Although they need more than air to survive, the airplants do not harm the trees.  Pop Ash Pond is popular with many of the wading birds in the slough. There is also lichen in this area. Lichen is a combination of two living organisms, algae and fungi, working together in a symbiotic relationship. The fungi provide the “housing” while algae make food using photosynthesis. Lichen is not harmful to the trees.

Pop Ash Pond [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

2. What is the importance of its preservation? What are the threats to this park?  

 It is important to preserve the Six Mile Cypress Slough because so many species rely on this ecosystem for their survival. Without the slough, the aquifers would not refill as quickly, the areas around the slough would flood, and many species would be displaced. For example, the birds (i.e. White Ibis) who continually roost in this area would have to search and hope they find a new place for them to roost and nest. It is important to preserve this area and others like it because they are a great way to expose the future generations to what the world can be like and how beautiful the outdoors are. The slough is a place that people can go to relax and reflect and feel truly connected to nature, and it is important to preserve this area so that it can continue to feed our biophilia. While this place is breath taking, it still has threats. One of the threats to the slough is urbanization and industrialization. There are some people who think it would be more beneficial to drain the slough so that they could clear the area and develop on the land. Another threat to this park is pollution. Everything in nature is connected, so when people throw trash on the ground or pour toxic chemicals on the ground, or spray pesticides; those things travel and affect areas which aren’t necessarily near the point of origin. For example, car oil can absorb into the ground and travel into a stream and end up in the slough and cause issues for the plants and animals.

Smith, K. (2018, July 10). Map of Six Mile Cypress Slough [Photograph]. Journal 4, Fort Myers.

3. How does this trip help in your understanding of sense of place, ecological imprint and sustainability?

This field trip helped me in my understanding of sense of place because it helped me to remember that there are still areas that we can go to feel like we are a part of nature, rather than separated from it within four walls. It helped me to feel more of a connection with the environment we live in and made me want to do my part to preserve areas like this one. I want my children, and my children’s children, to be able to go to places like this and experience that connection to nature. It is refreshing and peaceful to be out in the slough, and it made me feel that connection like I do when I am in my special place. This trip helped my understanding of ecological imprint/footprint because it highlighted the difference between areas which are relatively untouched by humans and those areas which have been completely taken over by humans. To me, it showed how much more beautiful the world would be if people didn’t try to change it to meet their needs by cutting down trees and pouring concrete. It helped my understanding of sustainability because it made me want to save this area for future generations to see.

Quote Sign [Photograph]. (n.d.). Google, Google Images.

[kaileejosmith-blog]

Journal # 3

Section 1. FGCU focus on Environmental Sustainability:

     I learned that FGCU has several sustainability efforts in place. I learned that the trash cans around campus aren’t just trash cans, they are actually trash compactors which cost around $4,000. This was news to me, I thought they were just designed to keep critters, like raccoons, out of the garbage cans to prevent messes. I learned that these trash compactors contribute to the sustainability efforts because they make the trash take up less space in a truck, which means less trucks are needed for transporting the trash. Therefore, less fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource, are used to run the trucks and less emissions are created because there are fewer trucks running. I also learned that if a recycling bin on campus has 15% or more trash in it, it goes to the trash automatically. This was shocking to me because 15% doesn’t sound like very much and I know that many people aren’t sure what can and can’t be recycled. For example, before this field trip I had no idea that plastic straws weren’t recyclable. I also learned that rocks can be used as a way to prevent erosion by displacing the energy from rainfall. FGCU also had bike racks located throughout campus so people can ride bikes to class knowing they have somewhere to put it, rather than driving a car. I also learned that all of the plants that are found around on campus are native to Florida which makes it easier to take care of them and the plants are happy. FGCU also has a Chiller Plant which uses ice to cool the academic buildings on campus. There are also conservation areas all over on FGCU’s campus. In my opinion, the fact that FGCU has all of these sustainability efforts in place shows that our university respects the environment. Within the university’s mission it says that FGCU “…promotes and practices environmental sustainability, embraces diversity, nurtures community partnerships, values public service, encourages civic responsibility, and cultivates habits of lifelong learning and the discovery of new knowledge.” I am glad to learn that those words are not empty, but FGCU actually has several programs in place to make our school more sustainable. This connects to group four’s Sustainability Principles and Practice introduction presentation. They focused mostly on the economic aspect of sustainability and I know that some of the sustainability efforts on campus have cost millions of dollars, but in the long run it will be worth it because the environment will be better off and the university doesn’t have to pay as much to cool the buildings.

Plaque representing Seidler Hall’s LEED Platinum Certification

Sign explaining heat island, posted near Seidler Hall

Rock bed which helps to prevent soil erosion

Section 2. Learning from the Nature Trail:

FGCU Nature Trail Sign

    Pine Flatwoods

o   I learned that the pine flatwoods ecosystem was at the highest elevation compared to the other two ecosystems we visited. I learned that the soil in this ecosystem is usually sandy and pretty dry. I knew that some of the common trees in pine flatwoods are pine trees and sabal palms because I learned it in my Environmental Humanities class last fall. During the part when we discussed palm trees, I learned that the spikes that stick out of the palm tree’s trunk are called boots and that they help the tree and other wildlife to survive. For example, if there is a fire then the boots get burned first and not the actual tree. I also learned that the melaleuca tree, an invasive species, can be found in the areas around campus. This tree is very difficult to get rid of because if you cut it down or burn it releases up to ten million seeds. The most interesting thing I learned about this ecosystem is that the melaleuca tree is where tea tree oil comes from. Another new thing that I learned about this biome is that it can benefit from prescribed burns (every 5-8 years) because it prevents the fire from spreading as rapidly as it does when it is unkempt. It also benefits because slash pine trees can spread their seeds when the pine cones are burnt.

Looking up from the ground at a pine tree on FGCU Nature Trail

Pine Trees

Sabal Palms  

 Ecotone

o   The ecotone was the transitional area between the pine flatwoods and the cypress dome. This ecosystem is at a slightly lower elevation than the pine flatwoods. There soil went from being very dry to noticeably more moist and there were some large puddles that had formed. I learned in this section that the white specks on certain trees is liken, which is a mix of fungus and allege, and that it is actually an indicator that the air quality in that area is good.

One of the large puddles I saw in the ecotone     

Cypress Dome

o   This ecosystem has the lowest elevation out of the three that we went to, which made it the wettest one by far. The ground went from being simply muddy with a few puddles to being submersed in brown, murky water very quickly. Despite its brown, unappealing color, I was surprised to find out that it was actually quite clean from all of the plants and mud. I was expecting the water to be there, but it was unfortunate that it began raining before we were able to finish the field trip because we all got soaked head to toe.

FGCU Nature Trail beginning to become submerged in murky water

Greenery on the side of the trail in the cypress dome

Section 3. FGCU Campus and Sense of Place:

My favorite place on campus is on or by the boardwalk behind Seidler Hall and Whittaker Hall where the bridge crosses the water. I feel like this area exemplifies how FGCU strives to conserve and protect our natural habitats. I think the view there is outstanding. There usually isn’t too much foot traffic in this area either, so it is a nice and relatively quiet place to take a minute to relax. Something about this place makes me feel very calm and at peace. Being able to visit such a beautiful place on a regular basis is a gift and it helps to remind me that I need to get out of my head and take the time to really see the world around me. I love seeing the birds fly around near the tree line and hearing the occasional fish jumping. Having a place like this on campus is amazing and makes me think about nature and what I can do to help protect it. This relates to my sense of place because both of these places (the boardwalk by Whitaker Hall and the beach) help to keep me grounded and get me out of my head, even if it is only or a short while.

Beautiful view by the boardwalk behind Whitaker Hall

Section 4. Calculate your Ecological Footprint:

        A little over a year ago I calculated my ecological footprint on this website, but I didn’t use the more precise options to calculate it like I did this time. Last time I calculated it, my ecological footprint indicated that we would need about seven and a half planets if everyone lived the way I did. Now that I have done it again using the more detailed options it says that we would only need two and a half Earths. My results have decreased drastically in one year. I now carpool almost everywhere I go and we try to recycle and be as energy efficient as we can. We also have been going shopping less for things like clothes and furniture. Another factor that has changed is that we have been eating a lot more fresh food because we have been attempting to lose weight and eat healthier. I am glad to see that my family’s impact on the environment has lessened and I am hoping it continues to do so. My ecological footprint is 4.2 global hectares, my carbon footprint is 7.6 CO2 emissions in tons per year, and my carbon footprint is 62% of my total ecological footprint.

Ecological footprint diagram found on Google

Section 5.  My Ecological Footprint reflection:

        The area that needs the most improvement is my mobility because this category alone makes up 1.6 global hectares. While I do usually carpool, I am still travelling pretty close to an average of 300 miles per week in a car. My car only gets about 20-22 miles per gallon and the other car I ride in when carpooling gets about 14 miles per gallon. So, clearly our cars aren’t the most fuel efficient, but we definitely cannot go buy new eco-friendly cars right now. In order to make a change in this area, we can use my car as much as possible when driving and carpooling because it gets more miles per gallon so less fossil fuels are needed and less CO2 emissions are released. I could also invest in a bicycle and ride that to places that are close to my home, rather than driving my car. Another area which needs improvement is my food and food waste. This was my second highest category as far as global hectares used. While lately my diet has consisted largely of fresh produce and chicken, in the past I ate a lot of packaged foods and some of my family members continue to do so. I can encourage my family to eat healthier with me so that they won’t eat as much of the processed foods and start eating more fresh foods to reduce our impact. Chicken is pretty much the only meat protein I eat, so I can work on cutting that out of my diet like I did with beef, pork, and seafood by replacing one meal with chicken per week with a vegetarian substitute. I can also shop smarter and buy the things I know will get used before they are wasted. I could also pay attention to the packaging labels and purchase things which have packaging that can be recycled or reused in some way. I am hoping to continue to improve my lifestyle and decrease mine and my family’s ecological impact.

Gas meter: Photo credits to Google

Fresh produce photo found on Google

[kaileejosmith-blog]

Journal #2: Louv & Orr

1. What did you learn from the readings and group presentations on Louv and Orr?

I learned a lot from the reading and presentations covering this material. I learned that there is a lot of research which indicates that more time in nature could be a way to help children and adults who have ADHD, rather than using medications. I also learned that biophobia is an aversion to nature and biophilia is the urge to be around other living things. I also learned that people are growing more and more biophobic, largely due to the urge to control nature, to modernize and surround ourselves with manmade things. I learned that topophilia is a sense of habitat and knowledge of the biology and topography of a particular place. I learned that the Greeks had 3 kinds of love: eros (love of beauty), agape (asks nothing in return), and philia (love between friends). I also learned that the medications which are often prescribed for ADHD “…are overprescribed, perhaps as much as 10-40 percent of the time” (Louv, 3). In my opinion, being overprescribed up to 10-40% is astronomical. It seems to me that the number of people who have disorders such as ADHD and ADD increased dramatically in the generation right after mine. I think part of the reason that so many people have these disorders is largely due the modern world’s dependence on technology. Children these days have cell phones at 6 or 7 years old and they start watching television as babies. My generation on the other hand, grew up playing with other kids, going outside, playing with toys, and disappearing in the woods after school until the street lights came on. Children are growing up in a technological age and it is a shame that children are losing their connection to nature, to earth. Another thing that I learned was that humans have an innate urge to connect with nature and other living things. I found this interesting because I do find myself feeling inclined to be around other living things, especially animals.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1LOQA_enUS643US643&biw=1093&bih=469&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=2X45W7brFoK55gLU7KvYAw&q=richardLouv&oq=richardLouv&gs_l=img.3..0i7i30k1l4.13788.14702.0.14842.7.7.0.0.0.0.97.525.7.7.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.7.523....0.tvQ4J1C_7do#imgrc=gAtgFv0QtYmphM:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1LOQA_enUS643US643&biw=1093&bih=469&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=MX85W7PuL4zv5gLK0IfADg&q=david+w+orr&oq=david+w+orr&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i8i7i30k1j0i24k1.36911.37453.0.39053.2.2.0.0.0.0.88.162.2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.2.162...0i67k1.0.Kq0qSDE-Eis#imgrc=674SXNNkR95sWM:

2. How can your learning be applied to real life? Use specific examples.

My learning can be applied to real life in many ways. One way that my learning can be applied to real life is because I know I don’t have to wait to make a change. As Albert Einstein said “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” To me, this quote means I don’t need to wait for scientists, the government, or the media to tell me it is important to do my part to protect the environment. I learned that I should take it upon myself to do what I can to do what I know needs to be done by reading this quote. I have learned that biophobia is increasingly common among people raised with television, video games, and other manmade things. I can apply this knowledge in real life by encouraging my future students to spend more time playing outside and being in nature. I will get my students out of the traditional classroom setting as much as I can. I learned that proper use of the earth “…requires gratitude, humility, charity, and skill” (Orr, 192). I can apply that knowledge by exhibiting those characteristics myself, as well as by teaching my students, family, and friends what it means to use the earth properly.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1LOQA_enUS643US643&biw=1093&bih=469&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=bH05W4ifCrKA5wKixJGgDg&q=teaching+in+nature&oq=teaching+in+nature&gs_l=img.3..0i24k1l2.28065.29938.0.30029.10.8.0.2.2.0.125.698.6j2.8.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.10.709...0j0i67k1j0i30k1j0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1.0.1-1dWU6iue8#imgrc=wfPRS9u-iPtC_M:

3. How does reading about nature-deficit disorder and the restorative environment by Richard Louv and the coming of Biophilia Revoltion by David Orr connect with your Sense of Place?

 Reading about nature-deficit disorder and the restorative environment by Richard Louv and the Coming of Biophilia Revolution by David Orr connects with my sense of place because I feel that I might have slight nature-deficit disorder. I remember loving being outside when I was a kid. I was always outside playing with the neighbors or on the swing set, I watched the birds fly and I helped in the garden. As I grew up my love for the outdoors dwindled and I no longer feel as connected to nature. I have noticed that I don’t like going outside as much over the years, but I am hoping that this class will help me to reconnect with nature. I learned from the readings that being outside for just 20-30 minutes a day can be helpful for reducing anxiety and improve moods. My sense of place is generally wherever my loved ones are. Initially I said it was my bedroom, but upon further consideration I think my sense of place is at the beach. I have so many fond memories at the beach with everyone that I have ever loved, extending back to when I was a toddler and almost drowned in Ocean City, Maryland. I love the feeling of the sun hitting my skin and the smell of the salty seawater. I remember digging my feet into the sand and wiggling my toes. I remember countless long walks on the beach, fishing trips, and girls’ days. The beach used to be my favorite place before I became uncomfortable with myself and with being in nature. We also discussed that biophilia means taking care of the earth (i.e. keeping beaches clean, recycling, reducing waste, etc.) and I would like to keep my place clean and preserved so that I can continue to return there.

https://www.google.com/search?q=beach&rlz=1C1LOQA_enUS643US643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiF5PWpoP_bAhXhqFkKHQyEDNAQ_AUICygC&biw=1093&bih=469&dpr=1.25#imgrc=A0NMfCg5yyqtLM:

[kaileejosmith-blog]

Journal # 1: Intro & Sense of Place

My name is Kailee-Jo and I am majoring in Special Education. I am a senior at FGCU and I chose to take this class in the Summer B semester because I start an internship in the fall. I am hoping to leave this class with a better understanding of the environment that I live in, as well as some tools for teaching my future students about our environment. I had many preconceptions about this course based on things I heard from other students. Some of the preconceptions that I had coming into this semester were that this course would focus only on the environment, that I would have to walk through muddy water, that I would be writing several papers, that I have to complete a service learning requirement, and that I would most likely feel as though I am wasting time and money on this course because it “doesn’t pertain to my major.” Based on the first class meeting, I know that some of these preconceptions are true, but it doesn’t seem as bad as people have made it out to be. Through the discussion on the first day of class, I learned that the topics covered in this class are important no matter what field you are going into. I know that Colloquium means conversations or “a conference of scholars” because I have attended the first day of this course with another professor in a previous semester. I know that this course will cover many topics related to the local environment and a large part of our learning.

I never thought about my sense of place before this class so it was hard to figure out what exactly sense of place means to me. The best answer I could come up with was that my sense of place is where my loved ones are. Family and animals have always been the most important things in my life. My sense of place is in my bedroom at my childhood home. This place is so inviting and peaceful for me. There is this red glow in my room every morning around 8 a.m. from the sun hitting the curtains just right. The air feels warm but the ceiling fan moves it around so the temperature is just right. My springer spaniel, Snoopy, sleeps by my feet and my Chihuahua, Jazmin, curls up by my belly. I can hear the hum of the filter in my turtle’s tank and the birds chirping in the tree outside my bedroom window. I can always smell my mom brewing a fresh pot of coffee in the morning before I hear her leaving for work. My mother is my best friend and we have been through a lot together, so for me to feel as though I belong somewhere my mother has to be there too. I also share my room with my boyfriend, Stephen, and we have been together for 5 years. My sense of place comes from my loved ones much more than it comes from the place we are in, but if I have to pick a place it is definitely in my childhood bedroom at about 8 a.m. every morning because everything and everyone I love comes together for just a few minutes.

Below I have included images of some of the most important people and animals in my life.

-Snoopy and I

-Jazmin

-My mother and I

-Stephen and I