What are the major elements of sustainable farming?

There are multiple methods of farming.  Sustainable farming is method that fertilizes and endorses the use of pesticides, given that they are made up of biodegradable compounds and are not made of synthetics and chemicals.  Sustainable farming also has made efforts to reduce energy use and water use. Sustainable farming resists the emission of harmful emissions to the ozone by using solar panels and wind turbines.  Sustainable farming can also be used in raising livestock.  There are organic and sustainable means to harvesting meat from animals in order to have things like steak, pork chops, and chicken wings.

There are stigmas that go along with sustainable farming.  Words like hippie, tree-hugger, and free spirit are thrown around in conjunction with the word sustainable.  However, sustainable just means able to sustain.  So sustainable farming means farming that can sustain.  Farming that can have a continual life cycle that is healthy and natural  There is no reason that we shouldn't demand fresh and natural food that has been grown under the best natural conditions.  I buy organic as much as I can, however since sustainable methods rely on nature the products are much more expensive. 

 Nature can be unpredictable and that affects the amount of food available and the price of the food.  On a large scale, I feel disconnected from the food industry. Other than a few steps before the grocery store do I research where my food comes from.  I could research further in order to know precisely where my food was born, raised, and kept.   However, I generally just care that it is from a clean location with satisfying living conditions for the animals.  Although I buy organic and do some mild research on sustainable and organic farming, I do not intend on growing my own food.  The amount of work that goes into food production is extreme and I cannot imagine having to live according to the weather.  Through the research of sustainable farming, however, I have an immense amount of respect for those in agriculture.

ECHO and their Effort in Ending Hunger

ECHO is the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization.  It is dedicated most of all to finding alternative energy sources to make food and water for countries that may be lacking heavy industry and satisfactory living conditions.  At ECHO, we toured the farm and came across many different plants, grow techniques, and machinery.   The machinery at ECHO was the most impressive of the three.    

Rower Pump

Rower Pump in Use

The machinery is made sometimes from recycled materials, but above all the machinery requires no electricity.  Some of them are powered by the solar energy panels, but most of them are powered by individual human energy.  One machine we saw was the Rower Pump (see photos.)  The Rower Pump is a simple model of a common piston pump.  The design uses a rowing motion to move the piston and draw water from the source.  Vic, our tour guide, said that even children could work these machines.  The developing world needs accessible machinery in order to produce water and food. This machinery is appropriate for developing countries because they are easy to use, require low maintenance, and can be operated by almost anyone, the machines ECHO has showcased are appropriate for hunger prevention.  ECHO focuses most of its land on food.  

Various Plants at ECHO

Eatable plants, fruits, and leaves are all growing in ECHO. 
We were allowed to sample many different types of plants in order to get an idea of what is easy to grow in often unsuitable conditions.  ECHO's mission is outstanding.  Although I have already elected to do my service learning at the Food Forest, I would be interested in visiting ECHO again.  It was very interesting to see what mechanical and eatable options are available.

Pressing Issues

In my estimation, the most pressing issue facing us today is solid waste.

L.A, California

However, that waste could not exist without those who create it and continue to create waste. We are quickly running out of the space to support not only our trash but our people.  In other words, what is even more pressing than the current waste issue is the threat of a worse issue as a result of rapid population growth.  If a wealthy benefactor gave me $100 billion dollars to address a global issue, I would allocate the funds according to the damages that the population has had on Earth.  I would allocate funds, above all, for the improvement of waste control and management.  Trash is having an effect on the quality of life on Earth. 

2010 Census

Although I find waste to be the most pressing issue, I do think that funds could be allocated to the preservation of land so that it does not get turned into a dump or landfill.  Our problems boil down to population expansion.  Although that is the biggest issue, it cannot be addressed head on.  Essentially we must address the issues that have trickled down from population growth such as waste, energy use, and land preservation.

Corkscrew Sanctuary

At the Corkscrew Sanctuary we saw many different types of plants, animals, and insect life.  We saw many different ecosystems and roles being played out in the forest. The Audubon Society came together in the name of preservation in order to provide a safe and natural habitat for animals and plants.  They offer a natural ecosystem for Alligators, Cypress Trees, and other wildlife.

Two of the Ecosystems at Corkscrew

Pine Flatwood

Wet Prairie 

The Corkscrew Sanctuary's boardwalk walks through a Pine Flatwood ecosystem.  The elevation slowly begins to drop, and soon you are entering a Wet Prairie ecosystem.  This ecosystem meets a series of swamp ecosystems.

The sanctuary also has its own water filtering system that is housed underground that uses plants to help in the processing and cleaning of waste water so it can be cleaned and recycled.  This reduces its use of water and its use of outside energy.  This non-profit values the efforts of conservation and effective change.  The society that created the sanctuary came together as a group and moved forward together.  Imagine the differences that could be made, locally and globally, if more people got involved. 

Strangler Fig

Saw Palmetto

The Audubon Society lived and breathed civic engagement.  They understood that educating the community through hands-on involvement in preservation would be an effective way to showcase the swamps of Southwest Florida.  The Audubon Society knew, that allowing people to interact with the natural world would be the most effective way to convince others to take the measures required in order to preserve and conserve the Earth and its inhabitants for many years to come.

Campus Trail

Cypress Tree - FGCU Fort Myers, FL

FGCU Campus Nature Trail

On our first day of class we ventured out of the classroom, across the boardwalk, over the highest natural peak on FGCU's Campus, and into a wooded area by South Village.  FGCU's nature trail is open to all students, faculty, and staff as well as to the surrounding community.  The nature trail is home to many plant and animal life.  We saw various types of trees.  Two of the trees we saw were very tall.  We saw the invasive species, Melaleuca and a native species called the Cypress.  We did not see very many animals other than a few fish under the boardwalk and a few birds overhead.  However, it was a very hot day - I am not surprised the animals were undercover.  Having a Nature Trail on campus is just one of the many green initiatives that FGCU has in place.  The trail is generally uninhabited by humans and is a sanctuary for critters and plants alike.  This trail gives students the opportunity to interact with nature and witness the growth and learn the value of natural life. As a communication studies major, I am presented with group work daily.  I spent last semester in a group communication course where we were placed in groups for an entire semester and did all work and presentations as a team. We were instructed to choose something about FGCU that we wanted to change and to then go through the efforts to make the change happen.  As a small group of seniors, we decided that we wanted to make sure that the green movements of FGCU continued after we graduated. Ultimately our goal was to provide incoming freshman with the information it took us four years to discover and create an online green forum for the FGCU community.  While walking on the nature trail in class with Joan (student environmentalist tour guide) and the rest of our class, I realized that I do not utilize the trail often or effectively.  It reminded me of my group communication class I just mentioned.  I was inspired to revisit the project and thus, have included an excerpt from our final project below.

http://youtu.be/uV5ZshaguTI

Great Expectations

University Colloquium will give me an understanding and appreciation for the natural world that surrounds me, specifically in Southwest Florida.  Colloquium will also help guide me in discovering new ways to live a sustainable life.  Sustainable literally means 'able to sustain.'  Sustainable means to be able to cycle through life continuously without harming other natural cycles. Learning the values of sustainable living can aid individuals in all areas of life.  I am specifically interested in learning the value of sustainable living in order to teach its value to others through theatrical performances.  Theatre is a great forum for reaching out to those who might no otherwise be concerned with the issues being explored through performance.  There are many things that occur in the day to day life of an actor that are considered 'unsustainable.'  We drive and fly around the world for auditions.  My biggest contribution to living an 'unsustainable' life, would be the amount I use fuel.  I drive to auditions every weekend in many states and cannot always afford to fly and it is difficult to bike from Fort Myers to Atlanta, Georgia.  However, I do make a daily effort to reduce the amount of times I use my car and use my bicycle for transportation as often as possible.