Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Journal Entry 10: Final Impressions
I enjoyed University Colloquium, and think it is important. I think it must be understood that is important not just for people who love the environment, but for all people and continuation of resources that drive humanity, and business. I think some of the writings in the University Colloquium book were very biased, and contend very little factual information. I felt like several of the readings in that book were mostly peoples opinion, reflecting more of a blog entry, than a college level essay. It makes you not take the readings as seriously when they are so opinionated, and one-sided. Several of the readings in the University Colloquium green-colored book were very biased, one-sided, and extremely opinionated. This makes you not take them as seriously, and it almost makes people pick sides. Many people pick sides, they are for the environment, or they are for development and business. What I think University Colloquium could better address is that sustainability, and even the environment are relative, and necessary for the continuation of successful business. I think this university course should incorporate many other aspects, such as the business aspect, or political aspect since it is a course required for all majors, not just people interested in the environment. I think the notion that you are either a "tree-hugger" or you want to pretty much destroy the environment and build something should be dismissed. You can easily be supportive of the environment, and support development. In fact, development and business should be conscious of the environment, and sustainability. Also, environmental groups should also be conscious of the business aspect of things, and the importance of successful economies which can provide more resources for a wide variety of tasks. The field trips were fun, however the swamp trip was a little "thick," and you can easily roll your ankle pretty bad on all the sunken stomps underwater, and I think issues like that are more overlooked, because people are more worried about a gator, or snake. However, the people next semester must walk through the swamp. Everybody should walk through the swamp, including all the professors, administration, board members, and president. Everybody should have to walk through it and get their own opinion, and perspective on it. At least all the students for the next few semesters, but I think the president should do the same swamp trek at least once when the swamp is pretty thick, and should endure the full trip and make up his own mind, perspective, and opinion. I'd like to know what everyone else thinks, but I think the staff, administrators, board members, and president should have to take the walk through the swamp the same way as the University Colloquium FGCU swamp tour once at least in their career to better understand their local environment, ecosystem, and since it is a requirement. They should also evaluate the safety issues themselves and what they think.
Journal Blog Entry 9: Sense of Place Interview
The older generations describe a much different idea of sustainability due to the times they grew up in. However, today they are starting to understand the importance of sustainability, and appreciate their sense of place, and surroundings. Upon asking my grandma what she thought of sustainability, and what it meant, she did not know the true definition, but most people don't. However, my grandma thought her idea of what sustainability was using things in a way you can continue to have them, so they will not completely be gone, and so you can have them for the future, and future generations. I asked her about her sense of place, and you what she thought about her natural surroundings; she said everyday she talks a walk early in the morning in her neighborhood, and sometimes at dusk. She said she walks around the ponds in her backyard, and how much she loves it, and all the relaxing sounds. She told me about how she feeds the geese, and ducks that hang around the pond, and how they all come up to her as soon as she comes out with bread. My grandmother says it makes her very happy to feed, and see the geese and ducks, and that she loves having them nearby. She said she loves her natural surroundings, and how much she appreciates God blessing her to be able to still have it, and appreciate it. She definitely believes we should conserve the remaining natural environments, and that so much is developed that sometimes its sort of sad that people don't have as much of a concern for leaving somethings the way they are, especially since she thinks there has already been enough of everything built; she believes that with so much development already, what is the point of destroying more and more environments, and species that wont ever be able to be rebuilt, or come back.
Her upbringing differed way more then mine. Her, like my grandfather came to America during, or before the Great Depression. My grandmother came from Ireland in late 1920s as a young girl. Obviously her family did not come with much at all, and her family came and had to work extremely hard, not live in the best environments. My grandma has worked virtually her whole life, and didn't start going to college-type classes until much later in her life. Although very successful, because of the dreams that America can foster, she worked as a lunch lady for many years. This offered many benefits, and continues to benefit her some money, insurance, and many other benefits. I told her about University Colloquium, and how we learn about the local ecosystems around Florida Gulf Coast University, and I told her about how the course really stresses an understanding, and a striving for sustainability, and the safe practicing of using resources, and conserving many of the remaining natural areas. My grandmother found it very interesting, she thought that for her generation in it's time it might have not been that important, but especially now and for future generations, and with so many people in the world, that it is now more important than ever to conserve, and use the remaining resources efficiently, and sustainably so we can continue to have them for ourselves, but especially the future generations, and the generations after that. I think because of the time she grew up in she had a different perspective on sustainability growing up, and sometimes it was necessary to just try and survive. However, today she knows the importance and sees that it is important to use things sustainably, and that if we don't utilize our resources efficiently, then the resources can be completely depleted. She thought my course sounded very interesting, and that it was important, and good that I was learning about these issues. She thinks they are more important now than ever, especially for the people of the next generations to come. It is interesting, and good to me to know her history, and her perspective, and how it has changed. It helps me better understand my grandmother, and people in general. Sustainability is important, especially maybe not for us, but for the people of the generations to come; they are the ones who really have to deal with the consequences of our actions, for better or for worse.
Her upbringing differed way more then mine. Her, like my grandfather came to America during, or before the Great Depression. My grandmother came from Ireland in late 1920s as a young girl. Obviously her family did not come with much at all, and her family came and had to work extremely hard, not live in the best environments. My grandma has worked virtually her whole life, and didn't start going to college-type classes until much later in her life. Although very successful, because of the dreams that America can foster, she worked as a lunch lady for many years. This offered many benefits, and continues to benefit her some money, insurance, and many other benefits. I told her about University Colloquium, and how we learn about the local ecosystems around Florida Gulf Coast University, and I told her about how the course really stresses an understanding, and a striving for sustainability, and the safe practicing of using resources, and conserving many of the remaining natural areas. My grandmother found it very interesting, she thought that for her generation in it's time it might have not been that important, but especially now and for future generations, and with so many people in the world, that it is now more important than ever to conserve, and use the remaining resources efficiently, and sustainably so we can continue to have them for ourselves, but especially the future generations, and the generations after that. I think because of the time she grew up in she had a different perspective on sustainability growing up, and sometimes it was necessary to just try and survive. However, today she knows the importance and sees that it is important to use things sustainably, and that if we don't utilize our resources efficiently, then the resources can be completely depleted. She thought my course sounded very interesting, and that it was important, and good that I was learning about these issues. She thinks they are more important now than ever, especially for the people of the next generations to come. It is interesting, and good to me to know her history, and her perspective, and how it has changed. It helps me better understand my grandmother, and people in general. Sustainability is important, especially maybe not for us, but for the people of the generations to come; they are the ones who really have to deal with the consequences of our actions, for better or for worse.
Journal Entry 8: Field Trip- Urban Area Fort Myers
The downtown Fort Myers trip was one of my favorite, and I thought most interesting. I never realized just traveling through, and near down town Fort Myers all the rich history that you experience. At the cemetery it was amazing to see all the old graves in general, but especially of the some of the founding people and families of Florida, and the rich history behind some. Some graves had the names Collier, and Hendry like the two surrounding counties. There was also people from the Koreshan group who were some of the first people in the Estero, Florida area, not too far from Florida Gulf Coast University. It was really neat, and amazing to hear about the story of somebody who was supposedly abusing, and sometimes killing his workers and also not paying them. He was actually shot by a violent mob of people, and was shot over 20 ties, yet nobody reported seeing anything to the Sheriffs. It was one of the first of the very few unsolved homicides in Lee County. Its crazy, yet understandable that nobody would have seen anything. Obviously, everybody knew what happened, including the people who pulled the triggers. However, since this man was known as being a bad, and pretty evil person, this was justice. There was so much history, and you see how important this region is, and was. Fort Myers is still a city, even if it is small, and it always has been a small city, or large town. Sort of like in Land Remembered , the family traveled to Fort Myers with their cattle, and for goods sometimes. Even today, Fort Myers and nearby Naples are utilized by many people all over, but especially the people more inland in between Lake Okeechobee, and the gulf. Some people all over especially inland in Hendry, Glades, parts of Lee, parts of Collier (like Immokolee), Highlands, Charlotte, Hardee counties and all over South-Central Florida, and more eastern areas of South-West Florida have to come to Fort Myers occasionally for the greater resources and options available.
Downtown Fort Myer's River District is really nice. It is great to see Lee County, and the City of Fort Myers taking steps to preserve and bring back our downtown areas. Nowadays with suburbs, and the wide variety of places like Wal-Mart, there is no reason for people to go to down towns like they used to, say 50 to 100 years ago. Many downtown places get forgotten about, and end up becoming sort of ghost towns, or crime havens. However, despite there being small pockets of places like this in Fort Myers, the River District is great. There are restaurants, and greatly preserved historic buildings. They kept up the traditional look, and even the newer buildings are designed in the reflection of the historical style, and surrounding buildings. Its great to see a city, and county taking steps to conserve, and preserve the down town area. It is also better for businesses to be able to operate in an area like this. Obviously, being in a nicer area, where people enjoy being it is more likely to be successful, and also if there are many business around that are open, it gives people more reason to be down there, like in downtown Fort Myers. I really enjoyed the trip a lot. I didn't know so much about the rich history of Fort Myers, Lee County, and the surrounding counties. There many famous people like Thomas Edison who had winter estates in South-West Florida, or called Fort Myers home. I liked hearing about all the rich history of Fort Myers, and experiencing how the county, and city has maintained their downtown, and created an incentive for businesses to open, and for people to travel to the downtown area. Perhaps, the city and county can implement some of their successful policies in some areas where their urban areas are blighted, and the down towns are being forgotten about.
Downtown Fort Myer's River District is really nice. It is great to see Lee County, and the City of Fort Myers taking steps to preserve and bring back our downtown areas. Nowadays with suburbs, and the wide variety of places like Wal-Mart, there is no reason for people to go to down towns like they used to, say 50 to 100 years ago. Many downtown places get forgotten about, and end up becoming sort of ghost towns, or crime havens. However, despite there being small pockets of places like this in Fort Myers, the River District is great. There are restaurants, and greatly preserved historic buildings. They kept up the traditional look, and even the newer buildings are designed in the reflection of the historical style, and surrounding buildings. Its great to see a city, and county taking steps to conserve, and preserve the down town area. It is also better for businesses to be able to operate in an area like this. Obviously, being in a nicer area, where people enjoy being it is more likely to be successful, and also if there are many business around that are open, it gives people more reason to be down there, like in downtown Fort Myers. I really enjoyed the trip a lot. I didn't know so much about the rich history of Fort Myers, Lee County, and the surrounding counties. There many famous people like Thomas Edison who had winter estates in South-West Florida, or called Fort Myers home. I liked hearing about all the rich history of Fort Myers, and experiencing how the county, and city has maintained their downtown, and created an incentive for businesses to open, and for people to travel to the downtown area. Perhaps, the city and county can implement some of their successful policies in some areas where their urban areas are blighted, and the down towns are being forgotten about.
Journal Entry 7: Agricultural Area- ECHO
The Educational Concern for Hunger Organization is known better as "ECHO," and has a demonstration farm in North Fort Myers, Florida. The ECHO organization pools together information, and resources from a wide variety of people all over the world. The strive to end global hunger, especially by informing other regions with environments that are not good for agriculture. Also, they help to address issues with urban environments where many poor, and malnorished people live and don't know how to utilize an urban enviorment for successfully growing agriculture. On ECHO's website, they list their "vision" as being "to bring glory to God and a blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor." (http://www.echonet.org/content/whatWeDo). They are also a non-for profit and inter-denominational Christian organization (http://www.echonet.org/content/whatWeDo). However, what they do goes onto help everyone in the world, no matter what race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. What ECHO does truly affects the entire world, and takes a hands on approach to address the issues that continue to plague our world as we continue into the 21st century. Walking through the ECHO's demonstrational farm in North Fort Myers, you really get an idea at what it is they do to benefit the world. The organization shows people in different regions throughout the world that are poor, under resourced, and under privileged and show them similar agriculture techniques that are successful in other regions that are very similar in climate, temperature, and overall environmentally very similar. By showing these techniques for fruit, vegetables, and other vegetation that really benefit people in a wide variety of ways they can show people how to grow fruit and feed themselves, who once couldn't. Furthermore, ECHO also helps to provide seeds and many other resources including groups of people who travel to these extremely poor and underprivileged places to actually teach, help, and show these groups of people in these regions what, and how to successfully grow these farms where they once thought they couldn't. At the demonstrational farm you see all types of fruit from all over the world, and they include directions on everything on how to grow them. They also offer seeds with the same information such as what soil, how much light from the sun they prefer, how much water, and there preferred environment, and surroundings. Also, at the ECHO farm you see how people can make self-sustaining farms where every thing benefits, and continues the cycle of the farm. Since many poor people don't ever eat enough protein, and especially meet; the farm shows how to be able to eat healthy, while being extremely sustaining to be able to continue and provide the resources. At ECHO demonstrational farm, the utilize ducks who eat plants then go in Tilapia (a vegetarian fish) Ponds and use the bathroom and expel their waste, their waste then turns into algae, which feeds the Tilapia. The is very important, and best of all sustainable for people who are malnourished. It is self-sustaining and continues to give, the ducks provide eggs, and can eventually be eaten, the Tilapia are easy to grow, reproduce very successfully, and best of all one adult sized Tilapia can feed an entire family in some of these places. This was explained to us by our guide at ECHO.
The Sub-tropical environment of South West Florida is perfect for the demonstration farm. It is a great climate for agriculture, and can also effectively be used as sort of an experiment for ideas to try in other climates, and regions. They can test different ideas here, and find out what is successful and can be implemented in areas that need it most. It is awesome that ECHO helps people, yet does interesting, and cool stuff. It is good to know that people are this passionate and caring for other people who don't have nearly nothing at all. ECHO truly shows how successfully, and little it takes, but action to help people are throughout the world, right on the front lines. By actually fighting major global issues like malnourishment, and hunger, ECHO is being proactive in helping the world advance. Also, they implement sustainable practices, which in many of these areas is extremely necessary, or else there will be no more resources in these areas; so it is truly important to utilize only sustainable practices in these areas with little to no resources. It is great to learn first hand how people, and you can make a real difference in benefiting the world with a hands on approach that may seem simple, but helps so many people.
The Sub-tropical environment of South West Florida is perfect for the demonstration farm. It is a great climate for agriculture, and can also effectively be used as sort of an experiment for ideas to try in other climates, and regions. They can test different ideas here, and find out what is successful and can be implemented in areas that need it most. It is awesome that ECHO helps people, yet does interesting, and cool stuff. It is good to know that people are this passionate and caring for other people who don't have nearly nothing at all. ECHO truly shows how successfully, and little it takes, but action to help people are throughout the world, right on the front lines. By actually fighting major global issues like malnourishment, and hunger, ECHO is being proactive in helping the world advance. Also, they implement sustainable practices, which in many of these areas is extremely necessary, or else there will be no more resources in these areas; so it is truly important to utilize only sustainable practices in these areas with little to no resources. It is great to learn first hand how people, and you can make a real difference in benefiting the world with a hands on approach that may seem simple, but helps so many people.
Journal Entry 6: Field Trip Marine Area- Estero Bay Historic Cottage and Matanzas Pass Preserve- Conservation 20/20
The field trip to the Estero Bay Historic Cottage, and Matanzas Pass Preserve was amazing and interesting. When we first arrived we went to the Estero Bay Historic Cottage. A lady, who was actually a life-long resident, and had family here before her birth; gave us an amazing, and historical presentation on culture of the original inhabitants of Estero Bay, and Fort Myers Beach area. This area has completely changed from what it once was, it was not always a populated area for beach-goers, or tourists. At one point in time many of the people in this area worked as fisherman, or trapped different species of fish in the Estero Bay. Also, before that many Indians, such as the Calusa inhabited this areas, and also similarly fished, and trapped fish in the bountiful, and rich fish areas of the Estero Bay. However, much has changed over the years, and now Fort Myers Beach, and Estero Bay is much different due to the arrival of more people, and development. It was also really amazing to understand that Capitva, and North Captiva were actually one island at one point in a time, but a major hurricane came and swept North Captiva off of Captiva Island, and forced a small pass in between the two islands. Its amazing to know how powerful nature can be to do something like this, and it shows you that nature still has the power to completely change things.
Walking through the mangroves at Matanzas Pass Preserve was also amazing. Simply seeing nature mostly undisturbed, and all the sights, sounds, and smells that come with it is an experience in itself. The mangroves are everywhere, all types of mangroves. You really see how vital these mangrove ecosystems are to so many fish, wildlife, and vegetation. They help filter the water, and also provide a protective environment for juvenile fish, and acts as a nursery for fish. Also, some predatory fish utilize this environment for the bountiful bait fish that hang around the mangroves. It is truly a vital habitat for many animals, and ecosystems.
It is amazing to walk through the mangroves at Matanzas Pass Preserve. You get a great perspective of how this environment was before the tourists, development, and general masses of people. You also get an idea of how vital the mangroves are for a wide variety of species, and plants. It is an extremely rich, and bountiful habitat that is so vital to many species of wildlife, fish, and plants. It also greatly filters the water. Everyone should experience the Matanzas Pass Preserve, and the rich history of the surrounding Estero Bay Historic Cottage to get an understanding of the local ecosystem, and how our ecosystem was before people.
Walking through the mangroves at Matanzas Pass Preserve was also amazing. Simply seeing nature mostly undisturbed, and all the sights, sounds, and smells that come with it is an experience in itself. The mangroves are everywhere, all types of mangroves. You really see how vital these mangrove ecosystems are to so many fish, wildlife, and vegetation. They help filter the water, and also provide a protective environment for juvenile fish, and acts as a nursery for fish. Also, some predatory fish utilize this environment for the bountiful bait fish that hang around the mangroves. It is truly a vital habitat for many animals, and ecosystems.
It is amazing to walk through the mangroves at Matanzas Pass Preserve. You get a great perspective of how this environment was before the tourists, development, and general masses of people. You also get an idea of how vital the mangroves are for a wide variety of species, and plants. It is an extremely rich, and bountiful habitat that is so vital to many species of wildlife, fish, and plants. It also greatly filters the water. Everyone should experience the Matanzas Pass Preserve, and the rich history of the surrounding Estero Bay Historic Cottage to get an understanding of the local ecosystem, and how our ecosystem was before people.
Journal Entry 5: Corkscrew Swamp
Upon embarking in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed, also better known as the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a National Audubon Society Sanctuary; I was amazed by the natural state of the environment, the different wildlife, and all the different ecosystems you can travel through simply by walking along the boardwalk.
This place amazes me, and brings up some sensitive topics in me. It is amazing to see how our local ecosystems once were, and how perfectly intact we can keep something simply by conservation of it. Walking through the boardwalk along the swamp, you feel as if your in a completely different time. You see the local environment how it was before, before the huge migrations of people, and the subsequent development, and drainage of the wetlands to make them suitable for human's needs. You also get a feeling of how it was for the first people who came to this area, when it was a frontier. You get a feeling of really how hard it must have been to trek through this huge mostly submerged forest, and swamp. There was a sign about Audubon Feather hunters, who would go into this same swamp in search of valuable feathers on the birds. The sign described how sometimes they would just sit for days at a time, in this nearly inhospitable terrain, waiting for the perfect time to seize feathers from an exotic bird's nest.
The walk through the Corkscrew Swamp starts to give you an idea of all the different wildlife, and vegetation that call this sanctuary home. It helps you visualize how before all of this development, most of Florida, especially South, South-West, Central, and South-Central Florida encompassed mostly vast untouched nature areas, like this Corkscrew Swamp. It gives you an idea of how powerful nature once was over here, and still is. These areas like the Corkscrew Swamp used to cover much of the Florida landscape before the influxes of people, and development. There are all types of wildlife, and plants; Florida Panthers have been spotted, Florida Alligators, Bald Cypress Trees, Yellow-Crowned night Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, snakes like the dangerous Cottonmouth, and countless other creatures, and plants. It wasnt too long ago that a couple walking along the boardwalk in Corkscrew Swamp actually spotted a Florida Panther stalking prey along a marsh. This is just further proof how important this conservation is to wildlife, especially endangered, and threatened species. The Sanctuary was actually established to protect one of the largest remaining areas of Bald Cypress, and Pond Cypress.
Picture of Florida Panther walking along the Boardwalk at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, courtesy of http://www.wildflorida.com/articles/images/pantherMikeBarnes463.jpg
Simply walking through the Corkscrew Sanctuary Swamp is amazing. All of your senses are experiencing the wonders of the natural world. You hear all types of sounds of birds, and wind passing over the trees, and marshes, you see all types of beautiful animals, and trees; and smell all the different aromas of all the different vegetation, and of the natural landscape. It is truly amazing to experience something like this, and I believe everyone, especially people living in South-West Florida need to experience this natural wonder. It really gives you an idea of your local ecosystem before development, and great migrations of people. You also get an idea of how hard it must have been for the original settlers trying to trek through this natural maze, and how easily they could be lost, or hurt. It is truly amazing to know something like this still exist today, but it is even more amazing to see that this is how most of our landscape actually looked before us, humans, and our subsequent development of many natural lands.
This place amazes me, and brings up some sensitive topics in me. It is amazing to see how our local ecosystems once were, and how perfectly intact we can keep something simply by conservation of it. Walking through the boardwalk along the swamp, you feel as if your in a completely different time. You see the local environment how it was before, before the huge migrations of people, and the subsequent development, and drainage of the wetlands to make them suitable for human's needs. You also get a feeling of how it was for the first people who came to this area, when it was a frontier. You get a feeling of really how hard it must have been to trek through this huge mostly submerged forest, and swamp. There was a sign about Audubon Feather hunters, who would go into this same swamp in search of valuable feathers on the birds. The sign described how sometimes they would just sit for days at a time, in this nearly inhospitable terrain, waiting for the perfect time to seize feathers from an exotic bird's nest.
The walk through the Corkscrew Swamp starts to give you an idea of all the different wildlife, and vegetation that call this sanctuary home. It helps you visualize how before all of this development, most of Florida, especially South, South-West, Central, and South-Central Florida encompassed mostly vast untouched nature areas, like this Corkscrew Swamp. It gives you an idea of how powerful nature once was over here, and still is. These areas like the Corkscrew Swamp used to cover much of the Florida landscape before the influxes of people, and development. There are all types of wildlife, and plants; Florida Panthers have been spotted, Florida Alligators, Bald Cypress Trees, Yellow-Crowned night Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, snakes like the dangerous Cottonmouth, and countless other creatures, and plants. It wasnt too long ago that a couple walking along the boardwalk in Corkscrew Swamp actually spotted a Florida Panther stalking prey along a marsh. This is just further proof how important this conservation is to wildlife, especially endangered, and threatened species. The Sanctuary was actually established to protect one of the largest remaining areas of Bald Cypress, and Pond Cypress.
Picture of Florida Panther walking along the Boardwalk at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, courtesy of http://www.wildflorida.com/articles/images/pantherMikeBarnes463.jpg
Simply walking through the Corkscrew Sanctuary Swamp is amazing. All of your senses are experiencing the wonders of the natural world. You hear all types of sounds of birds, and wind passing over the trees, and marshes, you see all types of beautiful animals, and trees; and smell all the different aromas of all the different vegetation, and of the natural landscape. It is truly amazing to experience something like this, and I believe everyone, especially people living in South-West Florida need to experience this natural wonder. It really gives you an idea of your local ecosystem before development, and great migrations of people. You also get an idea of how hard it must have been for the original settlers trying to trek through this natural maze, and how easily they could be lost, or hurt. It is truly amazing to know something like this still exist today, but it is even more amazing to see that this is how most of our landscape actually looked before us, humans, and our subsequent development of many natural lands.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sense of Place-Your Neighbor
I believe home is where you make it. No matter where, when you are with people you are close to, such as family and friends; it gives you a connection. A connection to a place you feel comfortable, you feel relaxed, you feel in your environment. A home can be whatever you make it; your environment. It does not have to be the house you grew up in, or where your mom and dad live; its what you make it. You create your sense of place. By making your location comfortable, relaxing, and most of all, appealing to you; you give yourself a sense of place. For some it might be mimicking aspects of your childhood home, or a location you remember fondly and have many great memories of. To create a sense of place, you do not necessarily need possessions, or even for that matter an actual home. For some people home can be a town, a city, a nation. For some it can be outdoors, or a combination of where you are and the environment around you. Wherever home is for you, it must not be forgotten home is what you make it. No matter where you are, or by what methods, you can incorporate a sense of place, a feeling of home. It can be anything from the placement of objects or plants, familiar smells and sounds; you make your home what it is, and give yourself a sense of place. It must be understood a sense of place is what you make it, or choose to remember it as.
As Wendell Berry stated it summed it best: "You cant know who you are are until you know where you are," you really cannot understand your true identity until you understand where you are, the environment surrounding you, or perhaps even where you come from. All of these senses of place help to give you a true identity about who you really are. So it can be said that without truly knowing your sense of place, the environment around you and how it was before you, and where you come from; you can never really know yourself, and who you really are.
Everything can give you a sense of place, and help you understand who you really are and where you came from. Everything, and this must not be forgotten. It can be new or old; man-made or natural; existing or not. This can be complex to really understand, but simplified, take for example dinosaurs. Everybody likes dinosaurs or thinks something about them is "cool" or interesting. Yet, even something like dinosaurs can help give you a sense of place. It is understood that dinosaurs existed in our world before us, human beings. Dinosaurs roamed many of the same lands that we do today, and yet we know they lived completely different lifestyles in some of our same encompassing natural environments; they left their mark in the world, and as we do ours. It also understood by most, some dinosaurs, and other creatures of our natural world that even still exist today are individually more powerful than any human could ever be on their own. Things like this help give us an understanding of our place in the world, where we come from, fit in, and who we really are. However, it must not be forgotten that everything can give you a sense of place, and even a deeper understanding of who you really are, and again where you come from. Interstates, televisions, paintings, power lines, cars, shoes, soda, anything can give you a sense of place, and understanding of yourself.
Exit 128 on Interstate 75 San Carlos Park, my exit and one of Fgcu's exits. courtesy southeastroads.com
The interstate that runs through my town of San Carlos Park in South Myers, Florida and throughout the country reminds me of the interstate in my childhood home, and gives me a deeper understanding of people, and even my identity. I know that people built these massive arteries of our nations to connect people, goods, technology, food, ideas, and all types of other things all throughout the United States, and even the rest of the world. Even, the planes flying over my house every 5 minutes help to give me a sense of identity and place. It shows me that people have the power to join together and advance, and that even though I might love where I'm at at the time, that I'm tiny in the global spectrum and compared to the Earth, and there is so much more in the world out there. It also helps me understand humanity, and their ideas in the power they can have for change, and responsibility they carry for pretty much controlling the fate of ourselves, and our world. I notice everything off the highway it seems. When I drive up the Interstate 75, to highway 301 in Ocala, to interstate 10 near Macclenny, Florida, to sometimes Interstate 95 in Jacksonville, or to the roads of my childhood home in Jacksonville; I notice all the different changing scenery, elevation, and especially the trees and their respective levels and treeline. Especially going Northbound on the interstate you watch it change from Swamplands, to forest, to higher different type of forest, different types of lowlands, and even back to huge swamps, and grassy plains looking marshes near Gainesville, Florida. This all help to give me my sense of place, and where the people and animals before me came in, and how my people have changed that. It also helps me appreciate though our power to help preserve much of this, and how it is our responsibility with the power to change it for our benefit, to maintain it for the environment for it's benefit which will in turn return us.
The sawmp you see from Intestate 75 South of Gainesville courtesy of cdn.wn.com
It also helps me understand how small we are, but how we all change the world. Just by riding on an interstate in going one exit 5 minutes away you are like an ant in a global spectrum of goods, people, ideas, technology, and all types of other things going all around the world, and being exchanged for other things all throughout the world. It also makes me never forget that I'm still in the South in the United States, and especially in Florida and whatever other people make it, it is what make it. Its where I call home, where I know my place, where I'd rather be and therefore be more comfortable, relaxed, and at home.
Even though I cannot see the interstate just from walking around my house on my street at my current house, fortunately; I still know it is not far and where I'm in in the spectrum of the world, especially with the loud sound of airplanes landing every couple minutes, or the occasional helicopter circling around. Still, as I walk through my neighborhood I see so much more. I see the lands, all the cypress trees, and the little creek that runs between them. I know that before all this; that is what this looked like but completely different because it was undisturbed, like it utilized one of those signs we all so often desperately put on our hotel doors: "Please do not disturb." Just like us, Earth , these lands and animals did not want to be disturbed. However, we still had to utilize the precious not so wet lands for affordable housing, so it therefore our job as the people that did this, whether we did it directly or not, to try and preserve, or keep in tact some of what the environment was before, especially and because it so greatly benefits us.
Still, walking through these lands that nature once completely ruled, I still have a strong sense of place from nature. I always hear the birds, especially walking through my neighborhood, even just opening my window. I hear all the birds, sometimes I see the schools of white and brown Ibises that run throughout the yard looking for food. I enjoy seeing this, and I never want this to end.
Picture of birds at nearby Big Cypress Swamp, reminds me of what the small Cypress Creek near my house, and the birds that hang around the neighborhood may have had as their complete enviornment before development of San Carlos Park. courtesy of lonelyplanet.com
So many different things give me a sense of place. Everything, whether man made or natural can give you a sense of place. For me, different objects and animals give me a perspective of where I'm, what it was like before me, and how people have changed that both for better, and for worse. Just walking through my neighborhood, or riding in a car I get an understanding of where I'm, and familiarize with it and create a sense of home, and place. I also get an understanding of Earth, and my same lands were before me, and how people, even though maybe not me directly, have completely altered that in good, and bad ways. I never forget though that while we must do things for our benefit, and survival; it is necessary to always remember to have some concern, and need for the preservation, and conservation of whats left of my surrounding natural lands, and the wildlife these lands have always encompassed.
As Wendell Berry stated it summed it best: "You cant know who you are are until you know where you are," you really cannot understand your true identity until you understand where you are, the environment surrounding you, or perhaps even where you come from. All of these senses of place help to give you a true identity about who you really are. So it can be said that without truly knowing your sense of place, the environment around you and how it was before you, and where you come from; you can never really know yourself, and who you really are.
Everything can give you a sense of place, and help you understand who you really are and where you came from. Everything, and this must not be forgotten. It can be new or old; man-made or natural; existing or not. This can be complex to really understand, but simplified, take for example dinosaurs. Everybody likes dinosaurs or thinks something about them is "cool" or interesting. Yet, even something like dinosaurs can help give you a sense of place. It is understood that dinosaurs existed in our world before us, human beings. Dinosaurs roamed many of the same lands that we do today, and yet we know they lived completely different lifestyles in some of our same encompassing natural environments; they left their mark in the world, and as we do ours. It also understood by most, some dinosaurs, and other creatures of our natural world that even still exist today are individually more powerful than any human could ever be on their own. Things like this help give us an understanding of our place in the world, where we come from, fit in, and who we really are. However, it must not be forgotten that everything can give you a sense of place, and even a deeper understanding of who you really are, and again where you come from. Interstates, televisions, paintings, power lines, cars, shoes, soda, anything can give you a sense of place, and understanding of yourself.
The interstate that runs through my town of San Carlos Park in South Myers, Florida and throughout the country reminds me of the interstate in my childhood home, and gives me a deeper understanding of people, and even my identity. I know that people built these massive arteries of our nations to connect people, goods, technology, food, ideas, and all types of other things all throughout the United States, and even the rest of the world. Even, the planes flying over my house every 5 minutes help to give me a sense of identity and place. It shows me that people have the power to join together and advance, and that even though I might love where I'm at at the time, that I'm tiny in the global spectrum and compared to the Earth, and there is so much more in the world out there. It also helps me understand humanity, and their ideas in the power they can have for change, and responsibility they carry for pretty much controlling the fate of ourselves, and our world. I notice everything off the highway it seems. When I drive up the Interstate 75, to highway 301 in Ocala, to interstate 10 near Macclenny, Florida, to sometimes Interstate 95 in Jacksonville, or to the roads of my childhood home in Jacksonville; I notice all the different changing scenery, elevation, and especially the trees and their respective levels and treeline. Especially going Northbound on the interstate you watch it change from Swamplands, to forest, to higher different type of forest, different types of lowlands, and even back to huge swamps, and grassy plains looking marshes near Gainesville, Florida. This all help to give me my sense of place, and where the people and animals before me came in, and how my people have changed that. It also helps me appreciate though our power to help preserve much of this, and how it is our responsibility with the power to change it for our benefit, to maintain it for the environment for it's benefit which will in turn return us.
It also helps me understand how small we are, but how we all change the world. Just by riding on an interstate in going one exit 5 minutes away you are like an ant in a global spectrum of goods, people, ideas, technology, and all types of other things going all around the world, and being exchanged for other things all throughout the world. It also makes me never forget that I'm still in the South in the United States, and especially in Florida and whatever other people make it, it is what make it. Its where I call home, where I know my place, where I'd rather be and therefore be more comfortable, relaxed, and at home.
Even though I cannot see the interstate just from walking around my house on my street at my current house, fortunately; I still know it is not far and where I'm in in the spectrum of the world, especially with the loud sound of airplanes landing every couple minutes, or the occasional helicopter circling around. Still, as I walk through my neighborhood I see so much more. I see the lands, all the cypress trees, and the little creek that runs between them. I know that before all this; that is what this looked like but completely different because it was undisturbed, like it utilized one of those signs we all so often desperately put on our hotel doors: "Please do not disturb." Just like us, Earth , these lands and animals did not want to be disturbed. However, we still had to utilize the precious not so wet lands for affordable housing, so it therefore our job as the people that did this, whether we did it directly or not, to try and preserve, or keep in tact some of what the environment was before, especially and because it so greatly benefits us.
Still, walking through these lands that nature once completely ruled, I still have a strong sense of place from nature. I always hear the birds, especially walking through my neighborhood, even just opening my window. I hear all the birds, sometimes I see the schools of white and brown Ibises that run throughout the yard looking for food. I enjoy seeing this, and I never want this to end.
Picture of birds at nearby Big Cypress Swamp, reminds me of what the small Cypress Creek near my house, and the birds that hang around the neighborhood may have had as their complete enviornment before development of San Carlos Park. courtesy of lonelyplanet.com
So many different things give me a sense of place. Everything, whether man made or natural can give you a sense of place. For me, different objects and animals give me a perspective of where I'm, what it was like before me, and how people have changed that both for better, and for worse. Just walking through my neighborhood, or riding in a car I get an understanding of where I'm, and familiarize with it and create a sense of home, and place. I also get an understanding of Earth, and my same lands were before me, and how people, even though maybe not me directly, have completely altered that in good, and bad ways. I never forget though that while we must do things for our benefit, and survival; it is necessary to always remember to have some concern, and need for the preservation, and conservation of whats left of my surrounding natural lands, and the wildlife these lands have always encompassed.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Steven's Journal Blog Part 1: 3. Calculate your Ecological Footprint
After taking the "Consumer Consequences" quiz to help determine my Ecological footprint. I was a little surprised. I'm aware that I don't do too much, however I did not expect to get such a high score. The consequences of my consumption would be 7.0 Earths to sustain all the people on the planet if they lived exactly like me. This means that my family and I do not do near enough to try and conserve resources, and energy. This means we really need to make more drastic measures to try and conserve resources, and energy. Especially non-renewable energy sources, like gasoline, which comes from fossil fuels. My family and I's lifestyle might do some small scale things to try and conserve, and recycle; however, we need to do much more to make the Earth more sustainable. Changes do need to be made, and they need to be drastic. There needs to be drastic changes to preserve the energy and resources of our planet. The main reason is not for our generation, but for the generation of our children. If resources, and energy is expensive, and already somewhat difficult to attain now, imagine how it will be in 20 years? 50 years? What about 100 years? Non-renewable resources are exactly that, non-renewable, or they take an extremely long time to renew. This results were definitely a little surprising, and they are important in that they show that drastic changes need to be made to my lifestyle, and the lifestyles of the people around me.
In a typical day, over 24 hours, my family and I use lots of resources, and copious amounts of energy. During the day, we run the energy a lot more then it should be. Sometimes we run the Air Conditioner very low, while the windows are open a little, which continues to make the A/C work at full capacity, and use lots of energy. Also, many times during the day all the lights are on in the house, even though we have windows everywhere, and the windows during the day offer plenty of light themselves. When it comes to fuel, even though I have a pretty fuel efficient car that gets 27 mpg city, and about 33 mpg highway; I drive around a lot. Many times I give my friends rides, and I hardly ever ride with anyone else. Many times I like to drive my own car regardless if I can ride with someone, simply due to the fact that I like having my own car around, and not having to rely on anyone else. When it comes to Food I really need to buy more vegetables, and fruits. My diet pretty much consist of meat, and almost never has anything organic, or locally grown, besides an occasional watermelon, or something. My food intake pretty much consists of meat, and the most inexpensive stuff, regardless of where it comes from, and how it got there. I would buy way more organic, and green stuff, but I'm constantly on a budget, and green and organic goods are ALWAYS WAY more expensive. As for water, I don't use too much, but I could definitely run the sink, dishwasher, and laundry way less. I need to do less loads in both the dishwasher, and laundry. I use water everyday to feed cats, and a dog, run the dishwasher, clean the dishes, clean the house, and run the washer machine. Also, I utilize the water for gardening, and washing the family cars. Packaging is also a major issue. Although I recycle almost everything I can. There is still so much that is too nasty, or dirty to recycle, or just looks like garbage, and therefore ends up in the garbage and not recycling bin. I open food, and drinks, and usually throw away the wrappers, and cardboard and other packaging. Although I recycle a lot, I could easily recycle many more things. Just because they are a little dirty, or nasty looking does not mean they could not be easily recycled.
This really opened my eyes to showing me that how I, and the people around me live is not sustainable at all. Even though it may not hurt me very much one day, the generations of my children, and especially their children will constantly suffer, and deal with the consequences of how I, and the rest of the world lives our lives, and most of all how we use our resources, and energy, especially non-renewable resources.
In a typical day, over 24 hours, my family and I use lots of resources, and copious amounts of energy. During the day, we run the energy a lot more then it should be. Sometimes we run the Air Conditioner very low, while the windows are open a little, which continues to make the A/C work at full capacity, and use lots of energy. Also, many times during the day all the lights are on in the house, even though we have windows everywhere, and the windows during the day offer plenty of light themselves. When it comes to fuel, even though I have a pretty fuel efficient car that gets 27 mpg city, and about 33 mpg highway; I drive around a lot. Many times I give my friends rides, and I hardly ever ride with anyone else. Many times I like to drive my own car regardless if I can ride with someone, simply due to the fact that I like having my own car around, and not having to rely on anyone else. When it comes to Food I really need to buy more vegetables, and fruits. My diet pretty much consist of meat, and almost never has anything organic, or locally grown, besides an occasional watermelon, or something. My food intake pretty much consists of meat, and the most inexpensive stuff, regardless of where it comes from, and how it got there. I would buy way more organic, and green stuff, but I'm constantly on a budget, and green and organic goods are ALWAYS WAY more expensive. As for water, I don't use too much, but I could definitely run the sink, dishwasher, and laundry way less. I need to do less loads in both the dishwasher, and laundry. I use water everyday to feed cats, and a dog, run the dishwasher, clean the dishes, clean the house, and run the washer machine. Also, I utilize the water for gardening, and washing the family cars. Packaging is also a major issue. Although I recycle almost everything I can. There is still so much that is too nasty, or dirty to recycle, or just looks like garbage, and therefore ends up in the garbage and not recycling bin. I open food, and drinks, and usually throw away the wrappers, and cardboard and other packaging. Although I recycle a lot, I could easily recycle many more things. Just because they are a little dirty, or nasty looking does not mean they could not be easily recycled.
This really opened my eyes to showing me that how I, and the people around me live is not sustainable at all. Even though it may not hurt me very much one day, the generations of my children, and especially their children will constantly suffer, and deal with the consequences of how I, and the rest of the world lives our lives, and most of all how we use our resources, and energy, especially non-renewable resources.
Journal Blog Part I: Entry 2, Campus and Trails
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was an eye opening event for me, as was the Florida Gulf Coast University Swamp walk. Upon arriving at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, I knew this was something very different, and awesome. It has an awesome wooden walkway that is made of a long lasting, fireproof, and swamp(water) proof wood from Brazil. The wood was also cut from a sustainable tree farm, and company that considers the environment, and resources when cutting down the trees. It is not like the wood was just bought from some organization that just ravaged the forest, and all the wildlife in it for the sake of profiting. Walking on the walkway through the different natural ecosystems of SouthWest Florida, I felt like I was witnessing God's work in real life. I had this realization that this is how this land has looked for millions and millions of years. This is probably what the land looked like when the earth was first created, before human beings. This is Florida in it's most natural form, how it is supposed to be; unaltered by mankind. It was amazing to see how important the wetlands are, and how every part of it contributes something to the functioning of the ecosystem. This gives a strong realization that every plant and animal has an important purpose, and job. Every plant and animal needs each other to make the ecosystem function properly. The plants and animals filter the water, that is drank by the animals, and used by the plants. All things must coexist in order to be successful. Although some animals might eat, and kill other animals; it is just part of nature. I spotted a small American Alligator among numerous other species of wildlife, and plants. It was a juvenile, and still had spots on it's body that made it recognizable as a young American Alligator (they lose their spots when they get to certain age).
The campus swamp walk on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus was awesome too. We got to experience first hand how the environment around the university is naturally, and most of all what it was like before Florida Gulf Coast University was built. We also got to see first hand how vital the wetlands are to our aquifer, and overall to filtering and holding water. It was a little difficult at certain points walking through the swamp since many times there were sunken logs, and branches that would almost trip you when you stepped on them. Since they were submerged in the swamp, they were almost impossible to detect unless you stepped on them, so sometimes you would find out too late as you stumbled across the swamp. It was really an eye opening experience to see how our environment, and ecosystem is naturally, and how vital it is to all animals, plants, and especially humans. Again, it was a great feeling to know this is probably what these lands have looked like since the beginning of time. Everything was in it's natural state, how it has been for millions, if not billions of years. I enjoyed everything probably because I have always been intrigued, and continue to be amazed by Mother Nature, and God's natural works of art.
Before attending University Colloquium, I had no idea how vital the wetlands, and swamps of Southwest Florida, and Florida in general were. I had some sense that they were important, but I did not have any idea before of the extent the wetlands, and swamps have in purifying and filtering our water, and our aquifer.
The walkway at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Wetland at Florida Gulf Coast Univeristy
Deer in Swamp at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
The campus swamp walk on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus was awesome too. We got to experience first hand how the environment around the university is naturally, and most of all what it was like before Florida Gulf Coast University was built. We also got to see first hand how vital the wetlands are to our aquifer, and overall to filtering and holding water. It was a little difficult at certain points walking through the swamp since many times there were sunken logs, and branches that would almost trip you when you stepped on them. Since they were submerged in the swamp, they were almost impossible to detect unless you stepped on them, so sometimes you would find out too late as you stumbled across the swamp. It was really an eye opening experience to see how our environment, and ecosystem is naturally, and how vital it is to all animals, plants, and especially humans. Again, it was a great feeling to know this is probably what these lands have looked like since the beginning of time. Everything was in it's natural state, how it has been for millions, if not billions of years. I enjoyed everything probably because I have always been intrigued, and continue to be amazed by Mother Nature, and God's natural works of art.
Before attending University Colloquium, I had no idea how vital the wetlands, and swamps of Southwest Florida, and Florida in general were. I had some sense that they were important, but I did not have any idea before of the extent the wetlands, and swamps have in purifying and filtering our water, and our aquifer.
Steven's Journal Blog Entry One: Incoming Reflection
Water in Florida
The hill I used to live on in Panama where I would play in rain forest.
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