LAND REMEMBERED

1. In at least two or three paragraphs, describe Southwest Florida to someone who has never been to your area. If you live outside this area, write about your own area. What was this area like in the past? How has the area changed over the years? Include specific examples of both good and bad impacts of environmental change and development.

Southwest Florida is a beautiful place with much biodiversity.  For those who have never been to this area of Florida I would describe it as a peaceful paradise which is constantly being threatened by selfishness. By selfishness I mean the desire to exploit and destroy nature in order to turn a profit.  This is evident in such events as those depicted in A Land Remembered.  In the past southwest Florida was undeveloped and had much biodiversity.  Much of the area was a marsh, swamp, or flat forest.  

Today much of the forest remains however the swamps and marshes have been urbanized for desired land use. An extensive amount of urbanization has taken place over the past 50 years alone. Since I have lived in North Port I have seen multiple housing developments be built as well as massive infrastructure.  Not much has changed in regard to the mentality of development since the days of Solomon Maclvey. We are still destroying natural habitats to make room for more development.  However, there has been a large environmental movement in the past 50- 100 years as well. This also started with Solomon Maclvey when he willed his land be made into preserves. There are numerous preserves and nation/state parks in Florida.  I have also seen in my lifetime the start of restoring the everglades to their former glory.  So there have been good developments but also bad ones.

2. Reflect on these changes and make connections between what is happening in Southwest Florida and how this impacts you personally. Write about your own area if you live outside Southwest Florida.

The changes that have been made to southwest Florida in the past 50 years have affected my life in a few ways. As the area keeps being developed more and more people move to Florida which cause better infrastructure to be built thus causing more traffic issues. Road work probably has affected me the most as I commute to FGCU from North Port. I can recall when I started this commute three years ago and how there were far less cars on the road then. With more cars comes more air pollution. The air quality in southwest Florida is still fairly decent however if growth continues then it will not be long before we face issues such as low pH acid rain. Development also causes taxes to increase which is another way that I am personally affected by the changes. However on a positive note, because people such as Solomon Maclvey decided to preserve their land, I am able to enjoy its natural beauty.

3. Using insight from your readings, discussions, and field trips, focus attention on the future of Southwest Florida. Focus on your own area if you live outside Southwest Florida. Envision how place might look in years to come if no change is made. Compare this with how place might be if its people were to make decisions through an ecological perspective. Support your argument with references from the literature.

If we keep on our current trend then in another 50-100 years, what is left of the natural Florida will all but cease to exist. More development will take place and there will be more air pollution. At our current path money will be the key driver in our environmental decisions and ecosystems will be destroyed. It will be much like the development that took place during Solomon Maclvey’s day where hotels and developments were sprouting up like weeds and destroying the natural environment. However, if we change our course like Solomon did before he died, we can preserve what is left of natural Florida and develop land in ways that have minimal environmental impact much like the Seminole Indians did.  If people made decisions based on an ecological perspective then everyone would be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the area for years to come.

4. Conclude with what might happen if you as an individual were to make a few changes. What would these changes be? How would they impact the area and why? How likely are you to make these changes? What would prevent you from making changes and why? Reflect on this and conclude. There are no right or wrong answers - be authentic and truthful with yourself. This is a reflection, not a dictate.

If we as individuals were to make change such as using sustainable practices in everyday life then, the world could be preserved so that future generations may enjoy its beauty. These sustainable practices can be as simple as recycling reusable materials, composting waste, carpooling, and using energy efficient appliances and light bulbs. Small actions like this but implemented at a large scale can make a huge difference.  I already do all of these things except composting which I should do but have not had time to set one up. The only deterrent from doing some of these practices is time and money. If every house in Florida was powered using solar and tidal energy, the benefit to the environment would be great but the cost would be tremendous. Cost is usually main deterrent for most people when it comes to sustainability and until it comes down people are less likely to make simple changes.

Smith, Patrick D. A Land Remembered. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple, 2010. Print

Service Learning Reflection

For my service learning hours i had the pleasure of working with Lee County Extension Services' 4H program. During my time spent there i worked with Jennifer Sites who is the program assistant for the 4H program. I helped her grade recordbooks which is a compilation of what the youth in the program have done over the past year. This was in preperation for their awards banquet which is taking place next Tue. I also helped them make broshures for their upcoming workshop on composting and sustainability. This was a rewarding experience as it gave me the chance to give back to a program which has been infulential in my life.  I really enoyed my time working with the 4H program. It was a rewarding experience and i am gald i had the opertunity to serve.

FIELD TRIP: URBAN ENVIRONMENT

The last time I visited downtown Ft. Myers was several years ago and all I can remember from that visit was old buildings, overgrown weeds, a run down river front, and homeless people wandering around.  It was depressing and sad to see a historical area in such disrepair especially one that was once a thriving hub of business when Thomas Edison was alive.

What a surprise I encountered last week when I saw restored buildings, quaint antique shops, art galleries, law offices, outdoor cafés, boutiques, a breath taking marina, and beautiful manicured landscaping.  There was even a thriving farmers market where people were buying organic vegetables, honey, seafood, sunflowers, and goat’s cheese.  Once again Ft. Myers is a thriving hub of businesses.  The homeless people were replaced by European tourist, locals buying fresh produce, and business people who work and live in downtown Ft. Myers going to lunch.   

Upon researching why the positive change I discovered that Lee County invested in a 4 year renovation project to restore the old city and bring it up to date so that so that it would maintain historical buildings by updating them for today’s businesses.  The new downtown is pleasing to the eye and encourages one to take a walking tour to experience the beautiful sites and be humbled by the beauty of the river.

 I enjoyed visiting the old court house which is currently being used by Lee County Commissioners.  Their offices are located on the bottom floor of the building and the public chambers are located on the second floor.  The building is beautiful with its marble and wood carvings.  No city could afford to build a building like this today due to the high cost of the craftsmen’s work that was required to produce this building. The banyan tree in front of the old courthouse is a site to behold.  There was talk of cutting the tree down because its roots were destroying the road in front of the courthouse but the community lobbied to save the tree.  However, I was sad to see that the magnificent old oak tree has been cut down.  As a young boy, on my last visit to the downtown area, I was impressed with the huge oak.   The city is trying to remember the oak by carving an eagle on its trunk but it is not the same as seeing the tree alive.  At least the banyan tree survived.

Another building I visited was the old hardware store which has been renovated and is called the Shops of Franklin.  This new business rents space to producers of upscale boutique products.  The owner is a young 24 year old woman who is allowing local artist to sell products in her shop.  She employs six workers and is helping the local economy by creating this new business.

In summary I was impressed with the way the downtown area has kept historical landmarks and created a positive environment using the natural beauty of the river, trees, and plants to enhance the beauty of the old buildings. The economy appears to be thriving with the new businesses, a local farmers market, renovated marina, restaurants, and newly built and renovated condos along the river front.  The city of Ft Myers is a safe place to visit, work, and live just like it was when Thomas Edison walked the same streets.

FIELD TRIP: MARINE ENVIRONMENT

For my marine environment field trip I went to Estero Island’s Mantanzas Pass Preserve.  I wish I could say I thoroughly enjoyed this field trip but if I did it would be a lie. While I did enjoy the beauty of the area, Mantanzas Pass was infested with blood sucking creatures who I can only assume wished me ill will. You may know these creatures as mosquitoes. Before I entered the trail a family who I assume was on vacation from Germany (due to their accents), warned me that there were too many mosquitoes to walk the trail. Being from Florida I assumed that they just were not used to a few bites. I told them I would take my chances but I came to regret that statement. I’m sure the trail would have been much more enjoyable if I had come during the winter but there were so many mosquitoes it was unbearable.  I tried my best to get through the trail but after about fifty bites (no exaggeration) I could no longer continue and ran back to my car like a scared child.  I did manage to take some pictures and see some of the area. One of my pictures (the one of me under the sign) summed up my experience at the Mantanzas Pass Preserve (check it out it will make you laugh once you read the sign, it was completely unintentional).  I guess the thing I learned the most from this field trip is to always be prepared and bring bug repellant although I doubt it would have helped for this one. I will have to go back next time I am at the beach on Estero Island and see the wonders that nature has in store on the Mantanzas Pass Preserve trail. Hopefully history will not repeat itself the next time I go.

FIELD TRIP: FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENT

My visit to the Corkscrew Sanctuary was a pleasant one. I learned a lot about the ecosystem there. I was unaware that Florida was home to such large bald cypress trees.  I thoroughly enjoyed my walk along the boardwalk through the cypress forest. On my journey I saw a rabbit and a raccoon. I was unable to get a picture of either of them because they ran away once they noticed my presences but I am glad to have seen them. I find it sad that we cut down much of the cypress trees in Florida. They really are neat trees and the Corkscrew Sanctuary seems like something out of a book when you are standing among the cypresses. I was also impressed with the Sanctuary’s environmental initiative. The living machine is truly a refreshing concept and as an engineer it spiked my curiosity in natural ways of purifying water. I knew that we used microorganisms to treat waste water however; I was unaware that the water could be treated to such an extent without the use of modern equipment. The Corkscrew Sanctuary truly was a rewarding experiences and I am glad that I had the opportunity to go there.  Hopefully I will make it back there in the future.

READING # 17: Love It or Lose It: The Coming Biophilia Revolution

I found this last reading interesting.  I do believe that a biophilia revolution is coming. While I don’t believe that it will be to the extreme I do believe that people are starting to feel disconnected from the environment. It is only natural that we feel connected to the environment as we are a part of it. The more we urbanize and destroy the natural beauty the more we miss it. I had the pleasure of visiting the corkscrew sanctuary recently and as I was walking among the cypresses I was in awe and felt connected to the nature around me. This connection to nature is what people long for and why the go to parks or camping. I think biophobia is still going to be prevalent in our society but once people experience nature they will never go back to being afraid of it.

PERSONAL JOURNAL #5 - Exit Reflection on Accomplishment

As i walked around my neighborhood reflecting on my experience in University Colloquium, i thought about how much i have accomplished over these past 9 weeks. I would have to say that my experience in this class has exceeded my expectations. I have learned a great deal from this course and now have a renewed love for the environment. I think that this course is definitely a worthwhile endeavor and i would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the world we live in.

Personal Journal #4 - My Personal Land Ethic

I think my awareness of the environment has changed since i started taking Colloquium. I used to never really give much thought to the nature that surrounds me but now i find myself asking more questions about this nature. My attitude towards the environment hasn't really changed as i have always believed that it needs to be preserved. I guess if i had to sum up my personal land ethic it would be this, to preserve the natural environment as much as possible while meeting the needs of the many, to partake in sustainable practices, and to cherish our world as our greatest treasure because we only have one earth.  While i do believe that human life is more valuable than that of animals, i do not think we have to destroy nature to accommodate it.  Instead we can live in harmony with nature.

Personal Journal #3 - The Wonders and Realties of the World

I decided to go for a walk around my neighborhood. It had just finished raining and was around dusk. As i walked i could hear the birds chirping and the frogs croaking.  It was a pretty relaxing time. Nothing really eventful happened. I saw a few birds that managed to get away before i could snap a picture but other than that no interesting animals. I did find the walk relaxing and enjoyed my time in nature. I reflected on how i take for granted the area in which i live. Parts of my neighborhood are fairly uninhabited which makes for some interesting creature sitings.  Below are some pictures from my walk.

READING #16 - The Earth Charter

I would not sign the Earth Charter. While I do believe it has many wonderful ideas and perspectives, it verges on the border of socialism. This is evident in such statements as, " a. Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations. b. Enhance the intellectual, financial, technical, and social resources of developing nations, and relieve them of onerous international debt." Such action as these are what America is already doing and is partially the reason the global economy is in the state it is.  The document is also too ambiguous. It states goals with no means of obtaining them because they are impossible to obtain.  While I believe protecting the environment is important I do not believe this charter would be the best course of action. Some of the items are contradictory as well. The charter wants to protect the rights and practices of indigenous peoples however, it also wishes to protect animals form forms of hunting that cause "prolonged suffering." In some communities such as the Eskimos in Alaska, they still use primitive forms of hunting that is tradition in their tribe .   While these forms of hunting may be tradition they are not as effective as newer technology which would not cause the animals as much suffering.  Overall I think this charter has some decent items in it however, in its current state i would not sign it as it is contradictory and opposes some of my personal beliefs.

#15 - The Land Ethic

A Land Ethic, " Enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land".  Before I read this excerpt the idea of a land ethic to me was one of sustainable practices. However, after reading this excerpt I realized my idea of what a land ethic really is, was a little bit off. In my previous idea of a land ethic I did not take into account the entire scope of what a land ethic really was. I was under the impression that if we recycle and not pollute the water and air then we had a good land ethic.  After reading this excerpt and referring to the definition of a land ethic I realize that a good land ethic encompasses all aspects of the land such as, soils, waters, plants, and animals. So by just recycling and not polluting we are only partially meeting the requirements of a good land ethic. It takes conservation to have good land ethic not just sustainable practices.  In the excerpt "Land Ethic" Aldo Leopold states that, "Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land." I take this sentence to mean that true conservation of the land only comes when man utilizes the land without changing it to a point that negatively effects soils, waters, plants, and animals. While the idea of a good land ethic sounds wonderful on paper,  it is much harder to implement it than talk about it. Man has always been a selfish species that looks at our needs before considering the effects our solutions may have. While I do not believe that nature should have priority of the needs of human beings, I do believe that we can do a much better job at preserving nature while meeting our needs and this to me is what a good land ethic is.

READING #14 - Reason to Hope

I believe children in my community do have reason to hope because of my youth, energy, intellect, and indomitable spirit.  They can hope for the environment and sustainable practices as my future profession as an environmental engineer is built on  such things. There are many reasons for children to hope. Every day we learn something new and every day more sustainable practices are being implemented.  If children cannot find hope in something then we as a species are doomed. The main point I took away from the readings by Jane Goodall was that it is not too late to change or make a difference. If I can make a difference in my community for the betterment of society and the environment, then children will have a reason to find hope in my  youth, energy, intellect, and indomitable spirit.

Reading #13 - Rachel Carson

I found the reading interesting. I can see the benefit to much of what she said however, I believe we have come a long way since "Silent Spring" was published in 1962. I think the human race has been learning from its mistakes as it pays the cost for such mistakes each day. However, we still haven't learned enough.  Take for example agent orange, while it served its purpose the ecological impact and the impact on human life has been far from acceptable. The strangest part is we still use 2,4-D which was an active ingredient in agent orange.  2,4-D is commonly found in weed killers such as roundup.  It is believed by some to be "cancer causing"  however definitive proof has not been provided.  2,4-D is just one example of our failure to learn from our mistakes but I can site numerous examples of where we have learned from them. If you take into account the improvements we have made in waste-water treatment and water treatment in general, you will see numerous regulations dictating what is acceptable as pollution limits. If we had not learned from our mistakes these regulations would not exist. We have also come a long way in repairing our environment with advancements such as bio-remediation.  While I believe we have come a long way from where we were, I still believe we have a long way to go before we are at a sustainable place for our race and planet.