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ECHO Virtual Tour

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ECHO: Educational Concerns for Hunger Organizations 21 April 2020 Just one word… WOW! I’m equally saddened that we did not get to have our field trip here and at the same time, i’m disappointed in myself that I never went to go visit it!! Oh now i’m more sad… I just went over to their website to read their “About Us” section and found out they’re a Christian-based organization!!! That makes my heart SO happy, I cannot even tell you!!! Funny enough I had that feeling watching Stacey give the video tour :)  They really live out the calling to help others; the poor and impoverished, those who are less economically advantaged. I read something the other day that we are fortunate enough to fight against the injustices of the world, but those who are just trying to provide for their families won’t prioritize sustainable practices or species conservation. But that’s where ECHO has filled that need of educating farmers around the world how they can use what they have to make w
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Food Forest Virtual Tour

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FGCU Food Forest Virtual Tour 8 April 2020 Food Forest History The idea to build this 1/2 acre self sustaining garden on FGCU's campus was brought to the Florida state senator, Kolve Byrd at the time, on March 22nd, 2011. The bill was passed on March 29th, although after much debate, and now 9 years later it holds hundreds of native tropical plants and fruits and vegetables that students can see the biodiversity they add to the area as well as pick and take home some of the edible foods to eat and cook. No time was wasted to get this literal earth moving movement into action and construction because the students who got this idea together knew how beneficial it would be to not only the campus, but the area! The initial phase of the Food Forest began on April 22nd and was completed on September 18th with the help of the student body that contributed over 1275 service learning hours from March-August! Today it is now managed by the Food Forest Advisory Council and according
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Lovers Key

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Lovers Key  (Carl E Johnson)  State Park   25 February 2020 Today we spent the morning at Lovers Key State Park. This protected state park encompasses 4 barrier islands, Long, Inner, and Lovers Key and Black Island. Many of the islands have a history behind their namings that related to the people who established or frequented the island. Carl E Johnsons’ name lives on as the joint naming of the park for his contributions to the founding and protection of it. But that protection only extends locally, as this area is connected to the Caloosahatchee River which feels the direct effects of freshwater release from Lake Okeechobee during the summer months. This unnatural connection of waterways has drastically altered the biological ecosystems along our coastlines.  A picture of a beautiful spider web woven between the branches of the mangrove trees just off the boardwalk. And a reminder to slow down and notice the little things around you. Evidence of human presen
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CREW Trail Walk

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Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (C.R.E.W) 2 hour trail walk on 11 February 2020 This 60,000 acre area was protected in 1989 to preserve the natural filtering capabilities of our Florida landscape to produce clean water. Over time as the water carved through the land, it created different ecosystems that provide habitats to thousands of plants and animals. Each of those organisms then plays an important role in sustaining the area. Our guide has us pause and listen for the frogs in the marsh, the hawk in the air, and the bees in the oak tree. ENVIRONMENT , check The Roberston text had a great quote that has really stuck with me for the past couple days, "the work we do now is for a future we will never see and for an Earth that will not be the same as it was before." I think this perfectly explains the important and urgent work the CREW Land & Water Trust is accomplishing for this region of Florida. Joel Kuperberg didn’t see the intrinsic value th
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FGCU Campus Tour

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FGCU Campus Tour 28 January 2020 I was blown away by the wealth of new knowledge I gained just from a simple guided 2 and a half hour tour around my own campus… the very campus I have lived on, walked on, and looked at for the past 4 years of my college career. I was delighted to find out that our buildings are held to LEED standards and have their respectable certifications. I must have been told this at some point in my college career, but I wish I had learned more about the ways in which the buildings meet these standards and why it is important! The point you made is absolutely valid, we only notice what we’re paying attention to and as much as I thought I was paying attention and taking in what my surroundings had to show and tell me, there were still things I missed! For a long time I kind of scoffed at the fact FGCU called themselves a “sustainable school,” and still do at times, but you’ve reminded me that I need to maintain an open and none accusatory mindset. Th
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