University Colloquium: 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.