Permaculture Video

4/22

Permaculture is an ecological design system for sustainability in all aspects of human endeavor. Permaculture teaches us how to build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, and build communities.

Permaculture allow us to take care of the earth, and to take caare of the people. Permaculture is the new up and coming tool to help make our earth more substainable.

This semester we learned what kinds of food and hormones are being fed to the meat we eat, and the different pesticides being put into our soil. We think we are going to see a big trainsition towards permaculture. Permaculture is the only way people can make sure our food, soil, and water is all natural.

Our group thought learning about permaculture was very interesting and will soon be the way of life.

Field Trip to Lee County Waste and Energy Plant

4-15

      Over the past 20 years , Lee County has developed one of the country's most successful and sustainable recycling and solid waste management systems.
      Recycling containers and wast are collected from Lehigh Acres, Alva, and Fort Myers. The waste and recyclables are taken to the plant and turned into energy. Recyclinng reuses products that would become trash. Recycling saves raw materials, water, and electric energy used in the production of new production.
      The conversion to single stream recycling collections made recycling more convenient for Lee County residents.
      Lee County has consistently reported from 35 to 42 percent of documented recycling activities for more than 12 years and was named Florida's top county for recycling success in 2008.
      Our group really enjoyed the trip to Lee County Waste and Energy plant. We our very proud and excited that Lee County has exceeded Florida's 75 percent recycling goal. Programs like this our great way to keep our environment clean for future generations.

Waste being dumped into the bin to start converting into energy.

Control Panels in the plant.

In class Presentations/ Healthy people, Healthy Planet

4/8/13

Bowden:10 fruits, 236-253, 254-265
Healthy People, Healthy planet

Presentations:

The presentations in class covered different fruits we can incorporate into our diet. The group talked about how the fruits are beneficial to our health, and how to make healthy, nutritional meals with the different fruits. The end of the Bowden book described the common bugs and diseases that can be found in a garden. The chapter described the different disease and insects and ways to prevent them from taking over your garden. The presentations we're well given. Overall, our group thought that out of all the books we read in class this semester this book was the most interesting and enjoyable.

 

Healthy People, Healthy Planet:

After presentations we discussed healthy people, healthy planet. Our group really enjoyed the class discussion. It's always interesting to hear other peoples points of views and have group discussions. Our group feels that we learn more about the topics when they are discussed as a group.

 

 

ECHO Field Trip

4/1 Field Trip To ECHO

                                                                    Bamboo Tree
Bamboo is in the grass family. The stems of the bamboo tree are hollow and the vascualr bundles in the cross section are scattered throughout the stem. Bamboo is the fastest growwing plant in the world. The Bamboo tree is popular in Southeast Asia for building materials,  as food sources, and as a versatile raw product.

                                                                            Ducks

                                                                   Garlic Chives
Garlic chives are a perennial herb. The herb grows great in the sun. A garlic chive can grow to be about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Garlic chives are used to add some flavor to soups, meats, and other dishes.

Aloe Vera "true aloe"

There are about 500 different species of Aloe. Aloe is native to Africa. The Aloe plant has rosette of large, thick fleshly leaves. Back in the day aloe was often used as an herbal medicine. Today aloe is used to relieve pain from minor cuts and sunburns.

 

 

Neem Tree

The Neem tree is the legendary medicinal tree of India. The Neem tree is currently one of the world's most researched trees. It is a tree that can help solve global environmental and health concerns.

Banana Plant

The banana plant is often mistaken for a tree. The banana plant is tall and sturdy. What appears to be a trunk is actually a false stem. Leaves of banana plants are composed of stalks. Sheaths support the plant. The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant.

Star Fruit Tree

Star fruit trees thrive in subtropical and tropical climates. A star fruit tree can grow to be about 12 to 13 feet tall. Star fruit trees grow best in full, direct sunlight. It is best that the star fruit tree be sheltered from wind. The tree grow a delicious fruit that is enjoyed by many!

Surinam Cherry Tree

The Surinam cherry tree can grow to be about 25 feet tall. It is an edible-fruited Eugenia species. The tree has slender, spreading branches with lots of foliage. The fruit that is grown on the plant is called a cherry. The skin of the cherry is thin, the flesh orange-red, melting and very juicy; acid to sweet, with a touch of resin and slight bitterness. Often 1 fairly large, round seed found in the cherry.

 

 

 

Bowden Presentations & Homegrown Revolution Video

3/18

Bowden Presentations:

Out of all the books we read in class our group felt like this book has been the most helpful and informative. The guide to Florida Fruit and Gardening is a book on how to start up and maintain a healthy garden. Groups presented various topics such as: How to Get Started, Starting at the Beginning with Seeds, Creating the Perfect Soil, and Watering the Garden. We enjoyed all of the prsentations. We enjoyed the group presentation that handed out the quiz after their presentation. It was a fun, creative way for everyone in class to intereact with each other.


Homegrown Revolution:
Homegrown Revolution is a short video about a family in the city during a homegrown revolution. The film takes place in downtown Pasadena. It is about the Dervaes family that have ransformed their home into an urban homestead. The Dervaes family harvests about 3 tons of organic food from their 1/10 acre garden. It was a very interesting film!

Field Trip: Estero Island Historic Cottage & Canoeing Vester

3/11
                                  Field Trip #2: Estero Island Cottage & Canoeing Vester

The ride to get to the field trip was unbearable. The traffic from spring break was terrible. However, the actual field trip made up for it in the end.

No one in our group knew that the Estero Island Cottage even existed, so we all found it very interesting. The host was very sweet, and we enjoyed the personal stories that she shared about living on the beach. Along with her personal stories the host also gave us factual information about some of the birds, insects, and mangroves that could be found around the Ft. Myers Beach area.

The canoeing vester was the best part of the field trip. Everyone in our group enjoyed being one with nature and observing all the wild life around us. Some of us in the group had never been canoeing and found our first time experience very fun! Our group was able to observe pelicans and different types of mangroves. The only downfall of the canoeing trip was that we weren't able to spend a lot of time on the water exploring because of the heavy traffic that held us up on the way there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, the field trip was very fun but a little time pressed due to all the traffic from the spring break season.

Presentations & The Power Of Community Video

Feb. 25

In class the following presentations were given:
Grunwald
Douglas
Carson

The Grunwald chapter covered the debate of whether or not an airport should have been built in the Everglades. A base was already located near the Everglades and there was a big debate about whether or not they should make a bigger airport. The chapter covers the pros and cons that the airport would cause, as well as political aspect. The main ideas that were discussed in the chapter was that the pros of the airport would offer more job opportunities. However, the major con of the airport construction was destroying the only Everglades in the world.

Our group covered the Douglas chapter. The Douglas chapter was a long chapter describing the Everglades. The chapter wasn't so much factual information but more of descriptive information about the Everglades. The chapter covered what the grass, rock, and sawgrass look like in the Everglades and what animals can be found in these habitats.

The Carson chapter was the eye opener chapter. It was a short story about what would happen if the Earth would turn out to be like if we keep treating it the way that we do.


Overall, the presentations were all very creative and interesting.

The Power of Community Video:

The Power of Community is a documentary of how Cuba survived Peak Oil, or in other words massive reduction of fossil fuels. In 1990 Cuba's economy struggled. The soviet union had collapsed, imports of oil were cut in half and food was cut by 80 percent. The film is about how Cubans moved from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using farming and local urban gardens.



Overall our group thought it was a very interesting film.