Nature of the Everglades

“They are the only Everglades in the world.” (Douglas 106)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article4239801.html

This particular quote stood out to me because it’s amazing we can say that we have the only everglades in the world. We have such a unique and diverse ecosystem right here in my home state. Personally, I have only seen the Everglades in passing as I was driving across Alligator Alley. After reading that quote it made me think it’s a shame I haven’t taken the time to adventure through one of the world’s natural wonders. We get so caught up with the hustle and bustle of our lives that we don’t realize and enjoy the beauty of the land that has been here long before us.

“There are not four sharply marked seasons, as in the North.” (Douglas 112)

http://www.postcardsouvenir.com/flsepo.html

This statement is one of the reasons I appreciate living in Florida. A lot of people say they love to see a change of season, but I disagree. While certain times of the year is more tolerable, I enjoy our climate and weather. I have lived in Florida all my life, so I am use to the way the “seasons” meld into each other. The real truth is I don’t know any different. What I’ve recently learned though is that we have two very different seasons, wet and dry seasons. Douglas goes on to talk about them briefly saying that for months the rain will pour, but just as quickly as it comes, it’ll also dry up with the sun beating down on the land. I think it all boils down to what you are accustomed to. Florida’s seasons may not be for everyone.

“The whole system was like a set of scales on which the forces of the seasons, of the sun and the rains, the winds, the hurricanes, and the dew falls, were balanced so that the life of the vast grass and all its encompassed and neighbor forms were kept secure.” (Douglas 121-122)

http://www.someblogsite.com/archives/4713

As it is said in this quote, it is a system of checks and balances that made the Everglades come to be. Without the streams, lakes, and rivers in the northern part of the state, the Everglades basically would have washed away. I think we can also apply this idea to our own lives. We have a system of checks and balances in place for our national government. Without that our country would end up running itself to no ends. We also have a system in place for ourselves. We have to have balance in our own lives between school, work, family, and friends. We keep ourselves accountable for our actions, and we take the rewards and repercussions when necessary. All aspects of life must find that balance that satisfies their needs.

A Land Ethic

“His instincts prompt him to compete for his place in the community, but his ethics prompt him also to co-operate.” (Leopold 59)

http://usubluecrew.blogspot.com/2014/10/chriss-declassified-school-survival.html

This quote is the idea behind how people should function in society. It’s human instinct to want to become the best person you can be. You hear a lot about people wanting to live the “American dream.” This stems from the idea that man wants to compete for his place in the community. We all want to do better whether it be for personal satisfaction alone or for your family. We’re all striving to make something of ourselves. The ambitious drive must be balanced with a desire to work together with other aspects of the community. As Leopold said, your ethics prompt you to co-operate, so each individual’s personal standards will tell you the right way to go about ambitions. Striking a balance between the two is key.

“Yes but just what and whom do we love? Certainly not the waters, which we assume have no function except to turn turbines, float barges, and carry off sewage. Certainly not the plants, of which we exterminate whole communities without batting an eye.” (Leopold 60)

http://www.themarthablog.com/2014/10/a-gala-for-hudson-river-park.html

The context of this quote is saying that we sing for the love of our great land, but he’s questioning what we really mean by that. I think he has taken a one sided approach to how we use our natural resources. Yes, we use the water for natural energy, and transportation of resources, but what else is he trying to prove here? These are just a few of the most effective ways to use water in today’s time. We have removed natural wildlife, but times are changing. We can’t leave everything the way it was in 1848. Leopold said, “It is quite invisible to the tourists who finds this wrecked landscape charming.” (Leopold 62) The landscape that he considers wrecked is considered beautiful to others. It’s just a matter of your own perspective, and this applies to all situations, not just altered landscape and the usage of water. 

“When the private landowner is asked to perform some unprofitable act for the good of the community, he today assents only with outstretched palm. If the act costs him cash, this is fair and proper, but when it costs only fore-thought, open-mindedness, or time, the issue is at least debatable.” (Leopold 67)

http://www.polypipeline.com/rejection_does_not_equal_reject/

The opening statement in this quote makes sense of the economic thinking that people have in today’s society. If it won’t better me or my business then why should I have to do it? Here I think is where human instinct kicks in, and ethical obligations are left behind. The confusing part to me is that if there is no economic cost to the private owner, why don’t they implement change? Is it rejection of the idea of conservation or sustainability? Or is it more a lack of their social economic duty or knowledge of their duties? I guess it varies between each specific situation, but I don’t understand why changes are not made, or what effective changes could be made.

Service Learning Proposal

Name: Taylor Wade

Major: Marketing

College: Lutgert College of Business

Section:  CRN 80121

Date: September 10, 2015

Service Learning Venue: Saint Nicholas Monastery, 

Address: 1340 Piney Road North Fort Myers, FL 33903

Website: http://www.saintnicholasmonastery.org/

Contact: Mother Andrea: (239) 229-3871

Describe the activity.

At Saint Nicholas Monastery we will be helping them recover and beautify their eleven acre property. Mother Andrea, our contact with the monastery, told us that since we are nearing the end of the rainy season that their property is a mess. As a group we will help restore a piece of the land so that the area will be able to be used during the winter months. The areas that we will be cleaning up will be the future location of the Bible Herb Garden that the Saint Nicholas Monastery is planning to build. Also, she mentioned that we will have the opportunity to collect and process beeswax for their candle shop. From the way it sounds, Saint Nicholas Monastery is eager for volunteers to come and help them with their environmental needs, so they can meet the needs of their members.

Are you working in a group or alone?

I will be working with two other people from our class, Jeanie Verderese and Makenzie Hanle. We’ve had classes prior to Colloquium together, and we’ve all worked together well. Hopefully we will be able to make this project a great one to remember because we are able to do it as a group.

How does this fit into your schedule?

While we were trying to decide on the right venue for our group, we all decided that something close to campus would work best. Since we are all involved with an athletics team we have busy schedules already, so convenience is important to us. After corresponding with Mother Andrea from the Saint Nicholas Monastery, she told us that she would be very flexible with the days and times that we are able to volunteer. This was a huge deciding factor when narrowing down our possible service learning venues. She said it was up to us how we complete the hours, all in one day or spread out over several days which is what she recommended.

How will the service benefit the organization you serve?

The Saint Nicholas Monastery is a place specifically organized for women to go to help find their “sense of place.” It is stated on their website that they are trying to transform the eleven acres they own into “a place of splendor and spiritual retreat.” I think Mother Andrea sounded very excited to hear that a group of college students wanted to volunteer for her, so we are hoping we will be able to help her achieve her goals of beatifying their property while we are trying to meet our goals of learning more about the environment and sustainability.

Will this service enrich your understanding of the material covered in this class? How?

Yes, I definitely think this service learning opportunity will help enrich my understanding of the material covered in University Colloquium. Personally, I don’t have much experience working with and around the natural environment. I grew up playing sports and being active outdoors, but I never really thought about sustainability and preserving the natural environment. With the activities we are doing, I will be exposed to the ecological systems in our local area, and I will be helping to restore them to their natural states. Since it is nearing the end of the wet season, I will be able to observe some possible issues that are associated with our local ecosystems. I think this is also a great example of commitment to community because we are able to support a local group in our area reach their own objectives. Completing these tasks with fellow class members will also provide a great avenue to build community within the classroom and hopefully extend what we are going to learn to our fellow peers.

https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/shutterstock_192712649-620x414.jpg

Nature Deficit Disorder

“The brain is strong and flexible, so 70 to 80 percent of kids adapt fairly well.” (Louv 5)

This quote seems reasonable for today’s society. Yes, times have changed. Technology is taking over the modern world, but there is still a way to function in it without being negatively affected. I was born midway through 1995, and one of my greatest memories as a child was playing outside with all of the neighborhood kids. Whether it was summer, winter break, or after school, we all spent hours together outside playing sports and other games. We were able to use our imagination when we made up own games. This is what we grew up doing, and this is what our brain was programmed to know. Technology was around, but my parents let us use it in moderation only. We had to pick only a couple favorite shows to watch during the week, and time on the computer was monitored but not restricted. I think a balance was struck that helped me adapt to the changing world, yet I was still able to be a true kid and play outdoors.

“Value and care for trees in your community. Caring for trees means caring for people.” (Louv 9)

http://www.brandywinecounseling.org/events/2013-trauma-conference

While I think it is important to care for trees and other parts of nature, I don’t think you should be able to compare it to caring for people. I think Louv may have taken it to an extreme when he said, “caring for trees means caring for people.” Yes, both are living things in our world, but besides that I do not see a correlation between the two. As humans, I think you must have a desire to care for something or to do anything for that matter, but the desire to do one thing doesn’t automatically lead to a desire to do another. There must be a conscious decision that you make yourself. 

“They found that greenery in a child’s everyday environment, even views of green through a window, specifically reduces attention-deficit symptoms.” (Louv 8)

http://suryawrites.blogspot.com/2014_01_01_archive.html

After reading the entire excerpt, I was under the impression that going out and being a part of nature is what helped children with ADHD or ADD. It seemed like Louv was stating that personal interaction in natural outdoor spaces reduced some symptoms the children were experiencing. This particular quote though says that even a view of greenery through a window will help the children suffering with these diseases. I am just unclear about how seeing trees, grass, and shrubbery through a window will make a difference if you never get to physically experience the natural world.