Hydrophonics

This was a great presentation.  They really put a lot of thought and effort into it by creating the vertical hydrophonic planter.  It is amazing how many plants you can grow in such a small amount of space.  The idea of a vertical hydrophonic planter is very efficient because it saves space, saves water, and it saves nutrients.  I was very inspired with the fact that you can create such an efficient planter on your own at your own house.  I would like now create my own hydrophonic planter and grow my own foods in the convenience of my own home.  Great presentation!

Electic Car Shuttles at FGCU

I thought that would be a brilliant idea for FGCU to start using environmentally friendly shuttles.  After all the school focuses on being more environmentally friendly.  Although the initial cost would be larger the school would benefit and save over time. Not only will they be saving money they will be saving the environment.  This was a great presentation, the group should propose it to the school.

FedEx

FedEx was formed in 1998 and over the past few years it has become one of the leaders in global air and water distribution.  For such a large company I was surprised to find out that they are not very energy efficient.  They run their warehouses on gas, and use mostly non fuel efficient vehicles.  They re largest priority is fast high cost shipping.  In times like these FedEx need to be thinking more about the environment.  Luckily they are trying out environment friendly ideas such as delivering more by foot and bike.  They are working on producing a more fuel efficient vehicle for delivery.  Even with these changes there are more they need to make.  During the presentation the group pointed out a good effort for FedEx would be to switch to electric powered warehouse rather than gas powered.  Even though they have a long way to go it is good they are starting to make changes toward having an environmentally friendly business.

Rain Barrels

I really believe this is an awesome idea for reducing the amount of water we use.  It is simple but genius to collect rain water to use in a very efficient way.  An average barrel can hold up to 55 gallons of water.  This water can be used to water lawns in times of drought.  I was very happy to find out that Lee County provides classes on rain barrels and is encouraging our county to use new ways to conserve water.  This was a very informative topic and a great presentation.

6 Degrees to Change the World

Global warming is really happening.  We need to change the pace of it's effects.  It only takes 6 degrees F to turn our world into a extremely harsh, unlivable environment.  We need to change the way we eat, live, travel, and use power to stop global warming.  The main cause is CO2 being released into our atmosphere.  Almost every day all over the world we are releasing large amounts of CO2 causing global warming to happen quicker than ever.  Ways we can slow this phenomenon are drive less, use less power, eat less meat, and practice a sustainable lifestyle.  If we can change our ways we can slow the impact of global warming around the world.

The Power of the Community

When the peak oil crisis hit Cuba the population was forced to change their ways to survive.  The peak oil crisis caused a major economic crisis in Cuba because they were no longer importing enough oil to support their population's lifestyle.  A change was needed and that's what Cubans did.  They began urban agriculture and produced their own foods utilizing organic farming.  They used less vehicles and rode more bikes.  They basically learned how to survive with very little reliance on oil.  I believe this is a blessing in disguise for the country.  A peak oil crisis will eventually happen on a global level and everyone will be faced with living without oil.  Luckily Cuba will have already had the opportunity to adapt to that extreme lifestyle and are able to live sustainably.  Globally we need to learn from Cuba.  Countries around the world especially the United States need to start preparing now by decreasing their oil use and teach their communities sustainable lifestyles.  A peak oil crisis is inevitable, why not learn sustainability now and protect what oil we have left.

Service Learning Reflection

I completed my service learning hours at the FGCU Food Forest.  While I was volunteering I helped build and smooth berms and pathways.  This was a great experience to work first hand with nature and transforming it into a sustainable piece of land.  This food forest will benefit the campus and community alike.  The FGCU Food Forest is available to everyone!  The FGCU Food Forest will be unique because it will be grown completely organic with no use of outside pesticides or chemicals.  During this process I have learned the importance of creating an area that is perfect for plant growth.  We had to make the berms at a perfect angle to make sure the trees and plants get the right amount of water and sunlight.  We also had to make the pathways wide enough for a comfortable stroll through the forest. 
Everyone is welcome to come volunteer at the FGCU Food Forest and I recommend it for a great experience!
This is the official FGCU Food Forest Website:  http://fgcufoodforest.weebly.com/index.html

Here are some pictures I took when the FGCU Food Forest was just getting started.








The FGCU Food Forest has come a long way since then...

Southwest Florida Museum of History

The SWFL Museum of History covers SWFL's history from Paleo Florida all the way to the present time.  The tour through the museum was very interesting.  I learned a lot of information about Florida that I never knew before.  My favorite part of the tour was the train.  I really enjoyed seeing what a luxury car looked like in the 1920's.  I believe it was important to me to learn the history of Florida.  I have lived here all of my life and there is so much I didn't know. 
Here are some pictures from the visit:

Bag It!

This video makes a good point.  We all should just "bag it" when it comes to the use of plastics.  Plastics are no good for our planet.  They negatively effect our planet from the point they are processed to the point they are disposed.  But still we produce plastics for our convenience.  We need to realize that protecting our planet is more important than our convenience.  I believe this video is a great way to show people how to do that.  For example it provides people with the knowledge that there are alternatives to plastic bags that are just as easy to use as the real thing, they just are reusable. 
This video also went over the mass amount of toxins released by plastics into our bodies everyday by the plastics we touch, wear, and put into our mouths.  I cant believe how many children's toys marketed are actually not safe because of the possible release of toxins from the plastics into their bodies.
When it comes to plastic I agree with the video.....Bag It

Flow

Fresh water is the most important resource on planet Earth and we are running out of it.  This is a scary thought when you consider nothing on Earth can really survive without fresh water.  The video Flow shows an in depth look at what is happening to the remaining fresh water around the world, and it is not being treated very responsibly.  All around the world we are contaminating our fresh water with chemicals caused from sewer runoffs and pesticides.  This is upsetting because these chemicals are entering our bodies and having negative affects on all of us.  Even if we aren't drinking this contaminated water we are still absorbing it from our showers.  In underdeveloped countries people are being deprived from fresh drinking water while at the same time their rivers and lakes are being polluted by big businesses.  How can someone be deprived from the most basic necessity of life.  Something needs to change.  Fresh drinking water is a right.  We need to stop polluting our remaining fresh water on this planet and focus on ways to get this fresh water to the people that really need it.  People need to realize money is not the most important thing in life if it is preventing people from their right to fresh water. 

Matanzas Pass Preserve

Our trip to the Matanzas Pass Preserve on Ft Myers Beach was very educational.  We learned a lot about the history of Ft Myers Beach and it's natural environment.  It is unbelievable how much the island has changed in the last 100 years and these changes have not been positive.  The amount of fish have declined, the water quality has declined and the amount of mosquitoes have increased immensely.  The amount of mosquitoes really inhibited our classes ability to really enjoy and take in the natural habitat throughout the Matanzas Pass Trail.  I would like to visit the site again but next time I will go prepared with pants and jackets and lots of bug spray!

Food Inc.

The Food Inc. Video was very disturbing to watch.  It really opened my eyes to the way America processes their food.  Previous to this video I had some background knowledge on how food was processed in the United States, but I have never witnessed the horrifying process.  I found myself frequently looking away from the video because some of the images were to much for me to handle.  This especially happened when I witnessed the harsh and morally wrong treatment of farm animals in these industrialized farm houses.  These animals were put through torture.  They are injected with hormones that causes their bodies to grow past the point to which they can support themselves.  They are also forced to stand in their own feces for weeks to months.  This is the food we are eating.  These are the unsanitary measures our food is produced in.  After this video I am no longer able to eat red meat and I am trying to stop eating chicken.  There is nothing natural in American processed food. 

ECHO Video

Earlier this month we visited the North Ft Myers ECHO headquarters location.  We got first hand knowledge on what this video described.  One of the largest points the video made was the main goal of ECHO.  Their goal is to teach people farming methods to feed people for a lifetime to alleviate hunger around the world.  They do this by finding affordable solutions to basic agricultural needs.  Some of the problems affecting farmers around the world include:  bad soil, no rain, no education, changing climates, and more.  The ways farmers can overcome these problems are taught to them by members of ECHO.  With ECHO's help these farmers can learn ways to grow sustainable crops that can last a lifetime. 

Ch. 9, 10 & 11

Chapter 9
Farmers in developing countries are losing around .07% of their crops every year due to problems such as pests and weather changes.  It is important to research post harvest loss to decrease the number lost.  If we can reduce the amount of food wasted we can cut back on the amount of land we destroy for agriculture and at the same time reduce the amount of starving people around the world. 
Chapter 10
In many urbanized cities there is a big difference between the rich and the poor.  The poor are struggling for the basic necessities such as food.  A solution to this problem is known as urban agriculture.  If these people can work together to form urban gardens and produce their own food that would be a huge help in the communities.
Chapter 11
Woman make up a big part of the farming population in Africa.  As woman compete in the trade it is becoming harder make over a dollar a day.  In order to make the most with what they have it is important to educate these woman with the most sustainable and profitable ways of farming. 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is 14000 acre wildlife preserve in Southwest Florida.  The santuary was founded in 1954 by the National Audubon Society to protect the wildlife of Florida.  Some of the environments located in the preserve include the pine flatwoods, wet prairies, cypress swamps and more.  Many animals live in the sactuary such as seasonal and permanent species of birds, bears, Florida panther, alligators, otters, and much, much more. 
Here are some pictures from our visit:

Chapters 14 & 15

It is important to improve the food production from livestock.  People all over the world rely on farm animals for their livelihood.  Some ways that could improve the food production from livestock include better feeding strategies.  Better feed will increase the health of the livestock which will increase food production in livestock which in turn produces a larger profit.  We need to increase health care for livestock.  Food born diseases spread rapidly and can even spread from animal to human.  There must also be insurance policies for livestock because they really do represent the livelihood of many people around the world. 
It is also important to nourish our planet.  The staggering expansion of the human population around the world has had devastating effects on our natural resources such as fish, oil, and water.  These are all resources we heavily depend on.  To have any hope of replenishing our natural resources we need to find green, sustainable alternatives to daily life.  If we can all live sustainably we can nourish our planet.

Chapters 12 & 13

Other countries are seeking arable land and are looking to Africa to find it.  Africa is known as the "Final Frontier" because it holds some of the last "untouched land."  This is a problem happening in Ethiopia.  Half of Ethiopia's arable land is being sold to other countries.  This is possible because the government that owns the land is selling it to other countries.  The people of Ethiopia are starving while it's government is profiting. 
Another problem is happening in Zambia.  In Zambia they are experiencing a food surplus.  Even with the food surplus their people are starving because they do not eat the food they grow and they are struggling to make profit because the middle men control the profit that goes from farmer to market.  Organizations such as PROFIT are helping to end this value change.  They try and cut back the money spent on middle men so that farmers can profit on their crops.

Chapter 6, 7 & 8

Soil Fertility is a major crisis in Africa.  The soil is tired our from constant droughts in the area.  The land is so dry and hard that when it does rain water just runs off and the soil is unable to absorb it. 
There is a "perfect storm" affecting Africa due to these 4 factors:
 Climate Change
Petroleum prices going up
Not enough animal manure to fertilize land
Not enough space to fallow land

This crisis is having a major impact on the people of Africa.  Land is continuing to become unfarmable and they cannot simply move out of the area.  Some hopeful solutions to this problem include Green Manure and Cover crops.

We need to safeguard our local food.  Biodiversity is extremely important to our planet.  It is the defense system of the world.  With biodiversity no one thing can kill everything.
Globalization is killing our planet's biodiversity.  This is an issue that needs to be resolved.  Some ways to get our biodiversity back include deglobalizing local farms and putting a larger emphasis on regional products.

There has to be a new approach to climate change.  Lately climate change has received a lot more global attention and has received more funding world-wide.  This funding has gone toward finding more cost effective ways to produce more crops.  We must also invest more in trees to mitigate climate change.  Programs such as the African Re-Greening Initiative are out there working to prevent degradation and reverse desertification to help prevent climate change.

Chapters 3, 4 & 5

World wide diseases are responsible 2.7 million deaths annually.
These annual deaths can be decreased by the use of better seeds to grow healthy, more nutritious crops.
Better seeds = better quality of life and ultimately less malnutrition.
Areas in Africa go by this policy.  Farmers are trained to grow nutrient rich vegetables.  Different programs work with these farmers such as AURDC and One Acre Fund.  They help farmers find ways to grow the most nutritional crops possible.
Some tools used for rural farming include Treadle Pumps, Super Money Maker and affordable Micro-Irrigation.
In some areas in Africa farmers have take the lead in research and development in the agricultural world.  They are encouraged to develop useful technology for farming.  They experiment with seed types, herbal medicines, soil fertility, and equipment.

Sea Turtles and The Law

Last weekend I went on a little trip to Satellite Beach. While I was there I was lucky to witness a spectacular event. A mother Loggerhead Turtle lai her eggs right in front of the hotel I was staying at. I watched her lay her eggs at a respectful distance while staying as quite as possible. Others around were not as respectful. A group of people had circled beach chairs around the spot where the turtle was laying her eggs and continued to talk and shine lights and take pictures. As the turtle finished laying her eggs and started to return to the sea the group of people surrounded her and continued to take pictures and flash their lights. The turtle, scared, stopped where she was and could not return to the sea until the people had left. I was amazed by the complete disrespect these people had for this animal so I decided to post a blog informing others of the proper ways to interact with nesting sea turtles and other marine life.
Loggerhead Sea turtles are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973.   Florida Statutes restrict the disturbance and harassment of marine turtles, nests and eggs.  That group of people was harassing the poor Loggerhead Turtle.  That is not only morally wrong but it is against the law.  I would like to ask everyone who reads my blog to respect and protect Florida's marine wildlife and when you do come across an amazing opportunity, such as witnessing a Loggerhead Turtle laying her eggs, please observe from a respectful distance and do your best to not interfere or interact.  After all it is the law!

Cheers!

More Pictures From ECHO

Echo is a MUST visit!! See all of the wonderful things they are doing on a global level.

ECHO is the Educational Concerns For Hunger Organization
It is an organization dedicated to improving the abilities of international community development workers assisting poor farmers by providing useful, important information and by networking their skills and knowledge with each other. ECHO is located our of North Ft Myers, Florida.  There they have a Global Farm and Research Center where people from all over can come and learn how to grow and support their own food gardens and contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. 


http://www.echonet.org/

Affluenza...The American Disease

There is a whole lot of shopping going on in America.
We are a country of consumption.  Americans are not happy until they have...
More! More! More!   .....and everything has to be the newsest and coolest!

It is sad that our country has become so consumed with materialism.  We are in a time when a person is based on what they have and not on who they are.  We spend because we believe the more we have and the more up to date we are the happier, more interesting we will be. 
Well that is just not true.  The average person in America is in fact now spending more than ever while enjoying less. 
Affluenza is whats to blame for this national problem.  It is based on the idea that the more material things you own the higher class you are.  To be considered higher class people will work their lives away always working to have the newest and the best material items.  And when people can not make enough money to support their buying habits on their own, they realy on credit cards and lots of them.  All the time pushing themselves into a deep dark hole of debt.  This downward trend in America is known as Affluenza and it's contagious. 
You may be wondering what happens to all of this stuff we accumulate.  You know we throw it our or recycle it, but do you know where it goes from there?
Well it's not pretty. 
Tons of waste pile up in garbage dumps everyday and most of this stuff is not biodegradeable.  This means the waste we create now will be here thousands of years longer then the people who are creating it.  Which means the more waste we create the less room we are leaving for our future generations to live in.
What happens to our electronics is even worse.
The 60 Minutes special Wasteland captured the truth about what is being done with our old electronics.  We illegally ship our old dangerous electronics to places such as China, where they work in dangerous, toxic conditions burning thier hands and ruining thier lungs to salvage whatever they can from these electronics. 

This is not right!  Things have to change in America, Affluenza must be beat!!
The best cure for affluenza is a simple lifestyle.  We as Americans need to learn how to live with less.
If we continue to live the way we do our resources are going to run out and then no one will be able to live on our planet.  We need to live sustainably, always giving back what we take out.