University Colloquium: September 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

ECHO

What was your overall opinion of ECHO? Did anything in particular stand out? How do the examples that were showcased compare to your view of "American" agriculture? Do you feel that their work is relevant to the developing world? What is "appropriate technology"? Would you be interested in performing your service learning with this agency? Why or why not?

I thought ECHO was very interesting, much more different than what I originally thought. I really liked the urban planting scenarios. It gives people ideas on how to grow their own produce in a small area.

I really don't think that ECHO embraces the true "American" agriculture, nor do I think it is trying to. It is about diversification of crops in a small area with different techniques and different climates all around the world. Americans have a totally different way of farming (at least the ones who sell commercially), they plant large fields of single crops and hope to harvest them to make a profit.

I really do think what they are doing is noble and very useful. As the world is changing with people encroaching on areas once uninhabited and no dependable forms of transportation it is becoming more and more necessary for them to learn to grow certain crops.

Appropriate technology was my most fascinated item I learned from ECHO. I have seen similar things done in say downtown Chicago on educational programs but seeing it put to work was pretty interesting. It is going to make me think more when I pass things when I am driving, hey maybe that could be a planter, or turn that into a rain barrel. To use such mundane "trash" to be useful is something we should all do, but this takes it a step farther by using them to create food for their families.

I would LOVE to perform my service learning with this agency, I always like to learn more about farming. The only issue I have is the distance from my house, such a long, long drive. However I did meet a gentleman in my group who lives in Labelle and used to work for Conservation Resources, and he is working with my father-in-law to develop a community garden. I told him I would love to help get it started (with my father-in-laws help of course). So hopefully soon I will be able to volunteer at something similar.

Movie time!

Let's go!

Diversification people!

Garden ideas :)

Loved the urban garden!

So many different techniques!

Cool rooftop techniques

Seth (our tour guide) area! Very interesting

We were debating the difference between a yam and a sweet potato

Creating a new planting while in the tree

Chloe had a meltdown at this stage because she wanted to take the goat with us :(

Bamboo

How to water with a pulley system, very wet!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Sustainable Farming

What are the major elements of "sustainable" farming? How are ecological principles woven into this framework? Do you buy organic or "naturally" labeled foods? Why or why not? Do you feel connected or disconnected to the current food system? If there were space on campus, would you be interested in growing your own vegetables (or, if the thought of vegetables makes you wince, fruit instead)?

The major elements of sustainable farming include using what is readily available, not harming the existing ecosystem and not disrupting the water sources. Ecological principles seems to be very tightly woven with the basis of sustainable farming. You want to create the maximum benefit to the area with the most minimal amount of disruption to the surrounding area.

One way of achieving this is the use of trash to create planters and such for the produce to grown.

I do buy some organic produce. I must say that I am more for locally grown, less emissions, fresher quality and you do get to know the seller/grower (if it is the same person) after a while. Since we have an organic farm I do tend to get much of my produce from it or our conventional farm. I love going in the field to pick my dinner that night!

If I still lived on campus I would probably take up on the space to grow my own produce. It is nice to have and picking fresh produce can be very relaxing and you know what you are putting in your body.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Global Environmental Issue

In your estimation, what is the most pressing global environmental issue facing us today? Why? If a wealthy benefactor like the Rockefeller Foundation gave you $100 billion to address a global problem, how would you allocate the funds? Would you dedicate 100% to the most pressing issue, or partition the money among many different issues?

In my opinion the most pressing global environmental issue facing us today would probably be the damaging effects on the ozone due mostly to carbon emissions. It seems like researchers and scientists keep telling the public that we have to get better emissions on vehicles and factories. We also need to not burn on our properties due to the carbon emissions. They say it keeps affecting the ozone and that is what is leading to global warming and the melting of the ice caps and the desalinization of the oceans and so on and so forth, it is all a chain reaction.

I think with the $100 billion a large chunk would go towards alternative fuel research. The technology is out there it just needs to be tweaked for commercial use. Some would go towards buying companies who refuse to make their manufacturing plants run more efficiently. Some would go towards protecting certain natural resources that are being endangered by this epidemic.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Ok, I am not going to lie I was kinda excited to go here. I drive by it all the time but never thought to stop and look around. Needless to say it was kind of a let down to me. I am really not a fauna kind of girl give me some animals and flora and I am there!

There are 6 distinct ecosystems present they are:

Pine Flatwood: They are endangered due to the expanding housing area. I found it interesting that the controlled burns are needed so that the smaller plants don't push the pines out and strangle them.

Wet Prarie: They provide many benefits including hunting grounds for some animals, fresh water source, and a pathway for animals to get to other food sources.

Central Marsh: Help to reduce storm damage from heavy rains, filter out pollutants, and help to stabilize soil for plants.

Bald Cypress: They provide a home and hunting ground for many animals and insects. It is mostly used as a shelter for them though.

This tree was HUGE!

Lettuce Lakes: This provides what most lakes and rivers do and that is to hold water from rains. It also provides a habitat for some species and hunting grounds for others.

The red water kinda grossed me out!

Somethings had been through there


I see how it gets its name, YUCK!

Pond Cypress: A natural buffer between the flatwoods and the cypress. It creates a place where species from both and interact and coexist.

I think it is great that private non-profits were interested in preserving this area of land. By combining two groups you are able to pool resources such as money, connections and people. The motivation to preserve this particular piece of land was to protect the bald and pond cypress from being logged. I think the government should step in and provide some sort of help either financially or people to help run the sanctuary. Ecologically this area is needed to help with the purification of water. With so many farms in the area it is needed to help remove the toxins from pesticides and such.