Reading #6 - Moving Ecoagriculture into the Mainstream

You can really tell how far we've come when it comes to plant and crop growing. Just a few decades ago we were filling our crops with pesticides and chemicals in hopes that crops would grow better. Now, we've taken a reverse approach, and gotten back to our natural resources as the best way to grow crops.

I think the image on page 16 of the "State of the World" book shows nicely how plants, animals, and insects can work together in creating a healthy environment. Everything has a purpose and has a place in the ecosystem. It's important to take advantage of our natural resources. People got away from it and just started spraying chemicals that did more hurt than good. The diverse,  natural cropping provides a healthier and safer environment and I'm glad to see people realizing this and getting back to natural uses.

Reading #5 - Charting a New Path to Eliminating Hunger

Hunger is clearly an issue in the world today, it is usually one of the main problems with the world people identify. However, after reading this chapter, I think it's amazing what is being done to try and stop hunger all across the world. I have previously worked with some hunger organizations, and have done "Meals on Wheels" multiple times.

However, I think the most important step is education, and teaching these people how to grow their own food. I think the urban gardening is a great idea. Many poorer families live in small apartments but the fact that they could still grow some plants on their patio or rooftops of a building is amazing. It really is taking gardening to a whole new level and taking advantage of every piece of land they have access to. I think education is the first step to eliminating hunger. As the saying goes "give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

Every hunger organization is playing an important part in the battle to stop hunger in the world.

Reading #4 - The fight for recess

I think these readings really open your eyes when it comes to how education is being handled in schools these days. The facts were somewhat depressing, but the article was extremely informing and the videos were as well. I don't know why the education system has taken a turn like this, or why exactly they felt that limiting recess would somehow enhance learning, but it really does seem like it is hurting way more than helping.

According to Louv, P.E. classes have dropped from 42 to 28 percent between 1991 and 2003. Field trips have taken cuts, and nearly 40 percent of school have either dropped or considered cutting recess. The best part is we're choosing to do this when the country is battling obesity. We're doing this while trying to teach children to protect the environment. We're saying all these things, yet our actions are saying otherwise.

And then reading facts like this, it is no wonder that people are diagnosing kids with ADHD, or a variance, falsely. Kids are supposed to be running around, burning of energy, socially interacting with others their age, and just being a kid. Literally locking them in a building for 6-9 hours a day is obviously going to drive them crazy. These kids don't need to be labeled as bipolar or add or anything else at such a young age. Maybe all they need is a variation of their day, to not be so repetitive. No one wants to be crammed in a room all day with little to no physical stimulation.

Dewey also mentions that learning is interactive. We learn more when it's a first hand experience. Louv mentions that it would be beneficial to at least have some classes outside once in a while. In 7th grade my history teacher used to take us outside and sit on the baseball bleachers and have class from there. He always said if it was a nice day, we should be outside. I can attest to the fact that this indeed worked. We had more fun learning outside, even if we weren't necessarily doing something outside. It was enough to just be.

As a society, we shouldn't be discouraging recess and outdoor classes. Instead we should be encouraging it. It could potentially free children from misdiagnosed illnesses, and it just overall a healthy activity that children have been enjoying for hundreds of years. It would be a huge mistake if we were to get away from it and lock children into a 4 walled room 200+ days a year.

Reading #3 - John Dewey

Dewey's opinions do have validation to it. I think people need to interact with the environment to fully understand it and work with it. It is important to learn as a group, and teach as a group. With all of our problems today with greenhouse gases and pollution, our only hope is to teach children about it and pass the word on. This is not something that should be taught in a book. Maybe the children could take a field trip to a landfill, or help pick up trash around the community. I remember visiting a landfill in maybe 4th grade and it really opened my eyes to the earth and how important it is to take care of it.

Personal Journal - May 22, 2011

Today I really was able to take in my surroundings and appreciate the outdoors. I helped my parents fill in some new plants outside, and then just sat outside and listened to everything. My home is surrounded my many plants and animals, and at any moment something new that you have never seen pops up. Later, I jumped in the pool afterward and took it all in. It was refreshing being outside for so long.

Being in more central Florida, lots of the things I would normally see in SW Florida at FGCU are absent. However, there are amazing other plants and animals that live and thrive in this environment. Along the way, I took many pictures of things I saw.

This is a persian shield, that I found in my backyard. While doing some light research I discovered that they are a tropical plant, so it is no wonder that it thrives in the hot Florida environment. It's purple/silverish leaves are very pretty and in the sunlight shine even brighter.

These are the beginnings of a banana tree we have near our garage. It's only maybe a foot high but by the end of summer it will be over 6 feet tall. It even grows plantains, we've never eaten them. I don't think this version of banana tree is entirely edible by humans, but it is fun to watch them grow each year.

This is a sago palm. Unlike the extremely tall palms we have in SW FL, these are much shorter and closer to the ground. There are many here in gainesville, and less of the Christmas palms we see at FGCU. It's interesting that only a few hours can have such a drastic change on the types of plants we see.

And finally I found this little guy in the pool later that afternoon. Well, not so little. I do not know exactly what kind of spider this is but I did know that I did not want to mess with him too much. It is not unusual for my to find cockroaches and large spiders, but thankfully most of the spiders always seem to remain outside.

This little trip outside definitely made me more aware of the different plants and animals that I am surrounded by every day. Although the spider is not the nicest thing to look at, I understand that they play an important part in the word and instead of killing it or letting it drown, We moved it back outside to let it continue on its way.

Field Trip #1- Neighborhood Walk

I live in gainesville currently, and my house is surrounded by many types of plants and animals. It is not strange to hear an owl at night, nor some strange bird making sounds. Originally from Ohio, when I first lived in Florida I was always interested in the different plants and wildlife found around my home.

The top picture is an image of our banana tree, still working on growing out for the summer. We've had it grow banana's, but never actually eaten any. I'm fairly certain they are plantains, but not exactly sure where they came from. We also have several types of palm trees. These were also very cool and nice to look at while living in Ohio and only dreaming of palm trees and beaches. We have different types, some more low to the ground, and others taller, such as the second picture shows. There were many other plants as well that my parents like to plant, although I am not certain as to what everything is.

Questions:

1. How many different types of palm trees are there?

2. What banana trees are inedible, if any?

3. Are banana trees indigenous to Florida?

4. What kinds of birds live around this habitat?

5. There are many banana spiders in the summer and fall and I've heard they never go indoors, why?

6. How long do banana trees take to grow?

7. Are the banana trees annual? Do they grow back every year no matter what?

8. Do non-indigenous plants pose a threat to the natual plants?

9. What kind of animals live here?

10. Why are there no lightning bugs here? Is it too hot?

Reading #2 - Quality Enhancement Plan

Civic Engagement means a lot more in the past few months than it ever did before. The class "Foundations of Civic Engagement" really opened my eyes up to the world, and what it really means to be civically engaged. I see the world more large scale than ever before, and learned that one person really can make a difference, no matter what. I am hoping that this class further instills the importance of caring about the world and being civically engaged as well. When groups get together to accomplish a goal, it is only more efficient and effective in achieving it's goal. No goal should be deemed insurmountable, as long as you have enough willpower and brainpower. I definitely feel a strong connection towards the entire meaning of civic engagement.

Reading #1- Orientation

I have always been interested in the environment and nature. I would like to learn even more and go into this with a good attitude. I know many complain about having a required course, but I am genuinely interested in the subject matter and am hoping for a fulfilling class.

Introduction.

My name is Melissa Kocher and I will be entering my 3rd year at FGCU in the fall as a junior and a Psychology major. I am a very easy going person, and I enjoy the outdoors. I have worked previously with nature and animal organizations, and have always had a love especially for animals. I am excited for this summer course and looking forward to hopefully look at nature and the environment in a different perspective.