ECHO Farm: Appropriate Technology Tour

Due to my inability to attend the field trip at Pine Manor, today I was so fortunate to instead attend a very interesting and educational tour at the ECHO Global Farm and Appropriate Technology Village in North Fort Myers. Since there are two different tours available at ECHO, and I have already been on a number of tours similar to their Global Farm tour, I chose to take part in the AT tour. For starters, ECHO's mission according to their official website is: "Following Jesus by reducing hunger and improving lives worldwide through partnerships that equip people with agricultural resources and skills." And their goals are exactly as stated in their mission; they would like to educate and equip less fortunate people all over the world with the tools and skills needed to improve their everyday lives and combat world hunger. After taking the tour at ECHO, it is clear that they live up to their mission and goals with great pride. One thing that the ECHO farms does differently than the majority of the farms in the U.S. is the way they grow their crops. On a typical farm you will notice that most crops are grown in straight rows all together with the same crop. This is a highly productive way to mass produce and mass harvest crops. However, there are also some cons to this method; if one crop is diseased, it is very possible and likely that the entire lot will get diseased, and that can be detrimental to farmers. Also it doesn't allow for much diversity within your crops. ECHO farm, being a smaller farm meant for simply supplying a smaller number of people with a diverse amount of fresh produce, does things a little differently. ECHO farm is what we call a permaculture: an agricultural ecosystem intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. By planting different types of trees, fruits, vegetables, next to each other, you greatly reduce the risk of disease, and can drastically improve their growth rate and prosperity (like we saw at the Food Forest). Of the dozens of low, (or appropriate), technology methods that have been very beneficial to developing countries that I learned about today at ECHO, the one that stood out the most to me was the tilapia farm and agriculture system. I found this so impressive and interesting because it was a very self sustainable and multi-purpose system. The tanks hold tilapia based on there stage of life, the water from the tanks then flows into crop systems where it fertilizes the crops, the 3rd tank produces food for the tilapia, and then that food is brought back to the tilapia where the cycle restarts. This system is a great example of the amazing long-term benefits that can come with simple technology. As for a couple other interesting things that I saw while on the trip, one of the coolest to me had to have been many uses for bamboo. Bamboo can be used for pipe systems, sandpaper, and even to create an entire house with great shelter; (which is actually shown in one of my pictures). Then there was the simple but effective way to create clean water. After using a simple technology filtration device to make clear water from a pond, you then can simple put it in a clear 2 liter bottle, lay it out in the sun, and once it reaches 150 degrees it will be clean enough to drink. This is obviously a very vital method since clean water is a necessity for survival. All of these practices and innovative ways of creating simple but extremely useful technology are a great step in the right direction to prosperity in third world countries. Agricultural issues can be major in the places especially in places where fertile soil and clean water is not in abundance so these methods are a key component to the betterment of human lives. I was very fortunate to actually have a diverse group of people from different countries in Africa on my tour, who were actually there to learn how to directly implement these methods into their villages. I hope very much that they learned a lot and gained some useful knowledge to bring back home, and I'm confident that that did and will. Although I may not have a direct need for these simple appropriate technology methods, I now have seen first hand people that do, and the benefits and positive impact that places like ECHO provide, and I will definitely support the cause for as long as it takes to change the world.

Tilapia and Agriculture system

A bamboo house seen on the tour

Barefoot Beach

So, I think it’s safe to say that my last beach day was pretty unlike any beach day that I’ve had before in the past 18 years I've spent living in Florida. Thanks to a little something called the notorious “red tide”, instead of enjoying the crystal blue waters, white sand, and fresh air that we’re normally graced with at the beaches of Naples, I instead was greeted by thousands of dead fish littering the shoreline, murky water, and the horrid smell that came along with the massacre. Fortunately for me, I’ve been to Barefoot Beach before and have seen it in all of its true glory; but I had to feel a little for the participants on the field trip who had never seen it in any other way than the way it was presented to us on this given day. But anyways, other than the issues caused by the red tide, the other parts of the field trip were a new and exciting learning experience for me. From the relaxing shaded walk on the dirt/sand path, learning about new trees, mangroves, plants, etc… to the walk along the inner shore line spotting armadillos, snakes, and a few guest appearances from some adult gopher tortoises, Barefoot Beach really is one of a kind. 

One thing that I find pretty interesting about this particular beach is the way it's surrounded by various types of mangroves in certain parts. Mangroves are especially important to the sustainment of this type of ecosystem because they provide vital shelter and habitat for countless different species of flora and fauna. Mangroves also greatly aid in the prevention of erosion, which is very important for ecosystems such as the one of Barefoot Beach. Barefoot Beach is also home to an estuary which serves great importance to both society and to the environment. Estuaries are natural water filtration systems that filter all kinda of man-made pollutants, as well as provide habitat protection from man-made and natural causes. As said before, mangroves especially play a huge role in all of this. Without the mangroves, erosion from tropical storms, hurricanes, etc. would be severe, and tons of habitat would be destroyed, resulting in the loss of a vast abundance of flora and fauna, as well as land.

Due to the relatively short lifespan of barrier islands, I personally don’t believe we should be building upon them. Much like estuaries, barrier islands also provide habitats and fight erosion, and are vital components to the maintenance and sustainability of the environment and their ecosystems. Developing on barrier islands can not only pose a threat to these habitats, but also increases the risk of property damage from natural causes due to the tendency for them to constantly shift as a result from wind and waves. Thanks to recent advancements in what we call “urban forestry”, we have come to realize that there can definitely be a balance between preservation and development… if done right. Building condominiums, resorts, hotels, etc., on barrier reefs strictly for profit however, does not fall under this balance. In order to maintain the health of our planet and its environments, we must make a lot of changes in the future regarding development and preservation, and the advancement and implication of urban forestry is a huge step in the right direction. In the readings we have learned about many ways in which we, the consumer class, can rapidly destroy our planet relatively easily without even realizing it. Fortunately, some major companies, such as Home Depot, (which refuses to buy lumber from suppliers that destroy orangutang habitats), have made positive steps towards the sustainment of our planet and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, although it’s nice to see some companies taking the planet into consideration rather than strictly for money and personal benefit, this small contribution simply just isn’t enough to fully make a substantial difference. In order to actually save our planet, there is a lot more that needs to be done. Hopefully more major companies will follow in the paths of companies like Home Depot, and we can really start to see positive changes being made. Until then, all I can do is challenge myself to be better and to encourage others around me to do the same!

One of the many gopher tortoises we saw on the field trip!

Hundreds of dead fish littering the shore due to the red tide

Downtown Fort Myers

Reflection

Although I’ve been to downtown Fort Myers plenty of times in the past, my most recent trip there, for the colloquium field trip, was unlike any of my prior experiences in the area. Before the field trip I had only been downtown for two reasons: going out drinking, and visiting the courthouse (possibly as a result of occurrences that took place while on said drinking outings). With that being said, in the past I really hadn’t actually seen too much of what downtown fully had to offer, and I never really stopped and took the time to observe and analyze the purpose and design of the area in a deeper way; in that respect, this time was different. 

The first thing I noticed when I really started looking was the structure and layout of the area. It was immediately apparent that there was more than just the aesthetics that meet the eye, and that everything was engineered the way it was for a reason. I started to realize how pedestrian oriented the flow of traffic was. Wide side walks, low speed limits, one-way streets, etc. indicated a safe, inviting environment for an efficient flow pedestrians. All of these accommodations aid in the encouragement of walking and biking, and thus benefit the shops, restaurants, bars, etc. that make up the majority of the local businesses downtown. I also noticed an abundance of law enforcement officers in the vicinity, traveling by bike, car, and even on foot; this too gave myself and others on the field trip additional comfort and sense of safety. 

While the inner parts of downtown are heavily shopping, eating, and drinking oriented, the outer skirts have some interesting attractions that until my field trip, I had never seen before. One of the most notable of them was the stormwater runoff basin. I had never seen a stormwater basin in person before and I thought it was really cool and unique; it was also nice to see our local city promoting environmentally green/sustainable practices. Another notable feature on the outskirts of downtown is the beautiful “Centennial Park”. The park is a great place to relax with friends and family, or to spend some alone time and enjoy the surrounding views. The park is also home to some cool pieces of history including a statue of a Union soldier that I learned represents the victory of a small battle that took place in Fort Myers during the Civil War! 

Long story short, the design and infrastructure of downtown Fort Myers is much more than meets the eye, and by taking a field trip down there I learned way more than I ever would've imagined going into it!

Analysis

While downtown may have a few notable examples of efficient land use and urban environment, they definitely could be doing a whole lot more. Besides the stormwater basin, as impressive as it may be, I can’t really think of any other self sustaining practices that are implemented into the area down there. Due to the age of the city, it’s not surprising that it lacks proficient “urban forestry”; however, in this day and age, it is important to update our industrial environments to fit the needs of the biological environment. Fortunately, we learned in class that this can all be done while not only maintaining an aesthetic look, but also benefiting the economy, as well as society. 

One example of a simple, but effective, way of benefiting the environment, society, and business in downtown all at the same time, is to simply just plant more trees. Trees benefit the environment for obvious reasons, but amazingly enough they also benefit society by providing shade and aesthetic attention grabbers for pedestrians, and can even cool down businesses enough to lower a/c costs! During our guest speakers in-class presentation, we also learned that having a tree planted at your store front has actually been proven to increase business by an impressive percent! as for more intricate urban forestry practices that could be implemented into downtown Fort Myers, things like better sewage and runoff systems, possible solar panel structures, etc. could all be possible additions in the future. 

Whether you realize it or not, the design of where one lives can completely change the way one goes about their lives. From general (yet completely relied upon) measures such as the infrastructure of roads that make transit possible, and food sources that make it easier to sustain life, down to the smallest details like a nice tree next to a store front that attracts a new customer, without these designs, everything would be different. I personally know I won’t be satisfied unless I live in an environment that is highly industrialized, but still accommodates both society and the environment very well… not just the economy. However, as humans rapidly develop and industrialize the planet more and more, we also have been quickly killing it. Fortunately, we’re finally learning how important it is to not tear down the natural environment to build upon, but to build around it and use millions of years of evolution to our advantage; and beginning to realize that if done right, it can save money while saving the planet. I just hope we can take these positive steps towards sustainability and run with them before it’s too late.

Our field trip group in front of the old courthouse

The stormwater basin downtown

FGCU Food Forest & Wet Walk

I have to admit, waking up on the day of our first field trip was a bit of a struggle. As I lay there in bed, still exhausted from the night before, I asked myself what I was getting up for, and if it was truly worth more than a couple more hours of precious sleep. To be completely honest, my first thought was no, and that sleep was more important; but after taking my grade into consideration, and giving myself a short pep talk on becoming a changed man who takes care of his responsibilities, even if they may be a little unappealing, I rolled out of bed and prepared myself for an unknown adventure. 

Within 2 minutes into the tour of the FGCU Food Forest, I had already applauded my decision to get up and attend the field trip. Although I actually enjoyed my experience with both parts of the field trip, I must say the Food Forest is what really fascinated me the most. The first thing that really interested me about the Food Forest was the design of the whole thing. Walking up to it without a guide, someone might look at it and just see a nonuniform cluster of trees and plants with no real organization to it; but after hearing the explanation behind the design and how its actually a very intricate permaculture that promotes healthy growth of the different species while fighting off disease and other natural predators, I was extremely intrigued and impressed. Another mini-permaculture that I found to be really cool was the herb spiral. The herb spiral is basically a trickle down system where the plants that require the least water, such as rosemary, are at the top, and as the spiral moves down, herbs and other flora the require more water are planted in an order so that they can get a sufficient amount of water and nutrients as well. I personally thought that the design of the herb spiral was a very creative, innovative, and efficient use of space.

Not only was the permaculture of the Food Forest very cool, but many of the actual trees and plants that grew within the forest were as well. One that I found particularly fascinating was the Moringa tree. During the field trip I learned that studies have shown that the leaves of this tree can have a very positive affect on treating arthritis in humans and pets. Professor Mendes actually mentioned a friend of hers who started treating her dog with Moringa leaf extract, and saw a huge amount of progress in her dogs energy and playfulness. This directly impacted me because my dog suffers from severe arthritis that has critically affected her motivation to be active, and I would love to try anything I can do to help her feel better. However, arthritis treatment is just one of the moringa plants long list of enormous benefits. According to treesforlife.org, a serving of moringa leaves has 7 times the Vitamin C of oranges, 4 times the Vitamin A of carrots, 4 times the Calcium of milk, 3 times the Potassium of bananas, and 2 times the protein of yogurt. I honestly found it to be absolutely incredible that those tiny leaves could produce such amazing nutritional value; and we're growing it in our own backyard at FGCU!

Here at FGCU we take pride in our mission to practice and promote sustainability. The Food Forest and Cypress Dome reflect positively on our mission statement because they're both virtually self-sustaining systems that greatly benefit our environment and community by producing natural food sources, shelter, ecosystems for diverse flora and fauna, and other non-material and material needs. Like we learned in the in-class lesson, without sustainable environments we would not be able to build societies, and without societies we would not have an economy; the Food Forest and Cypress Dome are perfect examples of sustainable environments that aid in the production of society and economy. 

The lack of knowledge that I had about these types of permaculture and sustainable environments was a perfect example of the so called "Nature Deficit Disorder" that too many people in our modern societies are facing each day. Like I said before, we literally owe our entire economy to our environments, yet no one really seems to acknowledge that or even really know anything about it; to put it simply, we are ignorant. However, by spending just a little bit of time outside each day exploring and learning new things, Nature Deficit Disorder is something that can definitely be overcome for most people. In the text there was an article about some boys who spent a few months in Alaska as punishment due to some trouble that they got into with the law. Naturally, when they first got there and were faced with freezing climates and little to no sunlight, they were unhappy to say the least. But after their exposure to this environment for an extended period of time, they learned to respect it and appreciate it, some to the point where they actually didn't even want to leave when their punishment was complete. Although not as drastic, my experience with the Food Forest and Cypress Dome field trip was comparable in the sense that originally, partially due to Nature Deficit Disorder, I did NOT want to get up and go; but after getting out their and trying something knew, I was extremely pleased with the experience I had and the new and beneficial knowledge I gained.

The benefits of the leaves of the Moringa

An example of an herb spiral similar to the one at the FGCU Food Forest

Journal One: Sense of Place

As much as I enjoy my life the area in which I currently reside, when it really comes down to it I would be lying if I said that this is where I truly feel my so called "sense of place". I think that this probably has something to do with the environment that I was raised in my whole life. Since before I can even remember I have always lived in a semi-secluded, but still metropolitan-like, upper-middle class neighborhood. Growing up in this type of environment has surely shaped who I have become as a person, and has had a huge impact on my desired living conditions for the present and future to come. Living in an apartment complex has taken away a lot of the things that I consider to give me that feeling of a sense of place. The lack of perfectly cut bright green lawns, driveways displaying freshly washed cars, the landscapes with unique variations of trees, plants, and more is all just something  I can feel missing from my life. By living in a suburban community outside of a metropolitan city, you are given the satisfaction of quiet friendly neighborhood living, while receiving the benefits of the cities opportunities, attractions, and resources; these are the qualities of a community that make me feel at home. However, after a recent vacation to Costa Rica,  much to my surprise, I discovered some new environments that gave me a whole new sense of place. On this trip I went out of my comfort zone and explored various rain forests, where I hiked up water falls, swam in natural springs and rivers, ate wild fruits, and so much more. This was all brand new to me and something that when I thought about in my mind beforehand, I never really expected to be too keen about; but after facing fears and taking leaps of faith, I came out with a whole new respect for nature and a huge sense of fulfillment. Since leaving Costa Rica, I have constantly reflected on my experiences there and have pondered when the next time I will go back there will be, as well contemplated other places I'd like to go in the future. Although a safe neighborhood outside of a developed city may be where I want to reside, these new experiences have enlightened me to the fact that its possible to feel a sense of place in many different types of environments, and the only way to discover where you might find that feeling is to go out explore new things.