Journal Entry 10: And That's A Wrap!

Today way my last day of Colloquium!!!!

Goodwill shirt for 99 cents

Although I am happy to be done with a class, Colloquium was fun. As I mentioned in my first journal, I had heard that Colloquium was not a fun class. Looking back, all those people misinformed me. I had a great time, and learned tons of things on tons of different subjects. We learned about out local environment, our local history, alternative means of energy, alternative methods in agriculture, and generally about our sense of place in the world.

One of the things I appreciate the most, is what I learned about the ecosystems around me. Throughout all of the field trips, I learned about countless new plants and how humans interact and change the face of the planet. Humans often have a negative impact on the environment, and I learned our FGCU and the rest of the community are fighting to prevent that. I have a new respect for things like recycling, protecting the natural water shed, more sustainable building materials and methods and so on...

The other day I was at goodwill and found a great shirt that made me think of Colloquium. For 99 cents I couldn't pass it up. So now, even if its not earth day, I can spread environmental thoughts, and say "PLANT IT FOR THE PLANET!"

Journal Entry 9: Service Learning Project

My service learning project was a lot of fun. Our tasks included making a video, and thats right up my alley. Eric Kreiger and I went to ECHO and filmed each other talking about different plants, how to take care of them, where they grow, and what they can be used for. The plants we covered were Katuk and Garlic Chives.

Our project hit a road block when we got to ECHO, and it was pouring rain. During storms, the staff at ECHO prefer all guest stay inside or under their porch. This didn't work well with our original plan of filming our videos in the garden area with the plants around us. Lucky us, the people at ECHO are very friendly, and extremely accommodating. A gentleman that worked there offered go out into the pouring rain, and retrieve the plants we needed, and let us film our videos on the porch. 

After going on the ECHO field trip, then returning of our project, I gained a lot of respect for ECHO. The people there are doing great things, and do a great job at living by ECHO's core values.

ECHO's core values as posted on Echonet.net

Below are the finished videos we made for ECHO. They are going to have QR codes linked to them, posted next to each plant, so visitors can learn more!

Journal Entry 8: Fort Myers Field Trip!

Three Friends Park

Our field trip to Down Town Fort Myers was a fun change of pace from our usual nature walks. The urban aspect was really cool. We started at a fresh market underneath a highway overpass. Then we walked to Three Friends Park.

It was interesting to learn about all the history of Fort Myers. We learned about countless big names in history that have influenced the growth of the town. We also learned about all the different forts that used to be in the area.

One of the most interesting places I remember was the palm garden we walked through. It was a small city block, I'd say less than an acre, filled with different palms from all around the world. It's said that this park has the highest density of different types of palms than any other place on earth.

In such an urban area, it was a surprise to hear about all the environmental history and culture the city has. It ties to colloquium in the sense that I know have a better sense of place for my community.

Journal Entry 7: Life's A Beach

On June 13th, our class went to Lover's Key State Park.

Lover's Key is a barrier island that protects the mainland from the elements. In-between Lovers Key and the mainland, we observed estuaries, which were like safe areas for younger, smaller sea life until they grow larger. These are important for our economy, because they are like nurseries for the shrimp and fish that drive people here for shrimping and sport fishing.

Naturally, the watershed runs into these estuaries, and cleans the water before it gets there. With people moving onto the land, they created canals to drain the water faster, so the land wouldn't flood. With humans also using fertilizers, this created a problem. The fertilizers would run of into the canals, and skip the natural purification, ending in the estuaries and ocean, proving detrimental the wildlife. 

Over time, laws have been put in place to protect the environment, such as no fertilizing during rainy season.

Fun Fact: While in a mangrove swamp ecosystem, we learned that there are three types of mangroves. Red mangroves, white are the ones with finger-like extremities that reach into the water; Black mangroves which grow further up on land (less submersion), and have finger-like extremities that grow upwards, out of the mud; A white mangroves which like the driest of growing conditions. Each of there secret salt, but white mangroves have visible salt glads, which appear like little balls under their leaves.

We also got to go swimming!

And of course after class that day, Eric Kreiger and I had our weekly after-class BBQ.

Journal Entry 6: Group Project

For my group project in colloquium, my partner Brittany and I were assigned chapter 5.
Chapter 5 was all about alternative means of energy. The technique included we wind turbines, geothermal energy, solar power, biomass, and hydro power.

The information in the chapter was familiar to me, so the project was fun. I did however learn a few things. For instance, I knew little about the different types of solar and geothermal energy. I thought the only type of solar harvesting was through solar panels, and geothermal was just heating up water. infact, solar energy is also harvested some places by heating up water. Once water is heated by either of the two methods, it can either be pumped directly to consumers for their warm water needs, or it can be used to turn steam turbines, and create electricity.

Biomass was also a new technique I learned about. The concept of burning trash and animal or plant waste, to create not only heat, but in some cases electricity, is really cool to me.

Journal Entry 5: Feild Trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary

Our field trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary was the hardest to pay attention so far. I had already heard most of the information before in Biology of South West Florida. Some stuff I re-learned, was how the different ecosystems such as pine flat wood and the grassy meadows, are only separated by a few inches of elevation. We also talking about how many plants are fire resistant. Slash pines don't tent to have branches lower down, because they've been burned off.

One thing I did enjoy, was just observing nature. We got lucky enough to come a few inches from an
owl! We also got to see plenty of feeding baby alligators. Unfortunately the sanctuary was dry due to lack of rain, so the gator holes are quite small. After this weeks rain though, I would be interested to see what the water holes look like now.

Journal Entry 4: Feild Trip to ECHO!

ECHO: Education Concerns for Hunger Organization

On June 6th, our class went to ECHO. This was by far the neatest place we have gone so far, and I think it's going to be hard to beat. ECHO come up with techniques to grow palatable plants and animals  in situations that would otherwise be difficult, then teaches them to people that need these techniques. 

There were so many cool things to see here. 

The first thing I remember seeing was the two rice fields right next to each other with different hydration methods. ECHO does this, along with other experiments, to text which methods of growing different plants works best.

ECHO also had different methods of growing crops on hill sides. Usually stone walls are used to prevent soil erosion. A more efficient method that ECHO is using, uses a type of grass as a barrier. The grass is more efficient because it doesn't take up as much space, and the root keep keep the soil in place well. Also, the grass doesn't grow every high or thick, so it doesn't steal sunlight from the crop plants growing. The clippings from these plants can also be used to feed the farmers goats!

Speaking of goats, ECHO was using a technique of raising goats in a small shelter, with a designated eating bit. This prevents goats from eating vegetation that you don't want them to eat, such as your crops.

ECHO also does a lot of animal waste collecting and recycling. They recycle goat waste and rabbit waste. Waste is good for growing plans, and even creating methane gas which can be used to power a stove. They collect rabbit waste but hanging the rabbit cages up high so the waste drops below. I learned that rabbit waste can be used as-is to fertilize plants intended to eat.