Echo Global Farm & Research Center

      My experience at Echo Global Farm & Research Center was very educational and intriguing for me.  Our tour guide showed my class all around the demonstration farm they have located on the property.  Echo's on site demonstration farm is used for agricultural training and the ongoing discovery of  innovative technologies. Through their on site farm, they are able to provide sustainability options for missionaries and agricultural workers in 180 countries. Echo's main focus is reducing world hunger by discovering ways to grow crops and livestock with minimal land space and in harsh environmental circumstances. Echo also focuses on educating others on how to specifically sustain their "urban farms". In addition, Echo has its own tropical fruit nursery that is open for visitors to purchase anything from their wide selection of plants and fruits. Overall Echo is an "urban farm" that helps provide education to anyone or farmer on how to become more productive even in the poorest regions of the world, which in turn helps fight world hunger. 

Our Tour Guide: Vic Estoye

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

IDS 3920 - CRN 50233

Class 3, Blog Entry #2

Jennifer Pareigis

May 21, 2013        

   

             While walking along the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Boardwalk I saw many different species of plants and birds along the 2 and 1/2 mile boardwalk! 

            I learned about different types of plant species like the “Virginia Creeper”, as pointed out by my professor, as he noted it is used as a treatment for poison ivy.  An additional type of leaf from another tree, similar to a red buckeye, can be seen below.

            I learned about diff

                Another interesting plant I captured a picture of in Corkscrew Swamp was a Slash Pine Tree that showed scratches, possibly from the claws of wild animals, to include panthers and black bears.

          I learned the Corkscrew Swamp is comprised of three different ecosystems to include pine flat woods, wet prairies and cypress swamps.  Each of these ecosystems have unique differences in temperature, plant species and wild life and the entire system contains five habitats.  Additionally, the Corkscrew Swamp is the largest virgin Bald Cypress forest in North America.

            While experiencing Corkscrew, we discussed conservation as being the practice of ensuring the depletion or damage of natural resources such as rivers, streams, estuaries, plants and wildlife does not occur.  Conservation is achieved through ensuring environmental education for current and future generations and through rules and regulations that outline minimum levels of a resource that must be conserved and thriving in order to preserve our natural environment. 

            Stewardship  is the management and supervision of natural resources in order to preserve and protect animals, plants and our environment.  Through effective stewardship, our natural resources are carefully and scientifically planned; and their continued health and presence is continued for current and future generations.

            The living machine concept and implementation was developed at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in order to be good stewards of the natural environment; while taking care of the waste generated by the swamp's 100,000 visitors each year.  The living machine includes the use of sunlight, bacteria, green plants and animals to restore the water to pure conditions.  This conserves water and also utilizes good stewardship practices to create a natural water restoration system instead of using a water treatment plant.

            The role of the private non-profit organizations in conservation and stewardship initiatives and endeavors are primarily to raise private capital for the education of students, teachers and university professors about Corkscrew and the five habitats on the property.  Donations provide for the field lessons and program coordination with the school districts and FGCU.  In addition, the volunteers of the non-profit organizations voluntarily count and track birds and butterflies regularly and restore the ecosystems; as these are the primary purposes of the acreage, and the purpose of the affiliation with the Audubon, and the purpose of the volunteer work.

            The Corkscrew Sanctuary provides common activities for like minded people to harness their individual efforts into a greater purpose that is vital for a sustainable community.  This allows for citizens to engage in issues and for purposes they care about.  It is also important for the public and the private sectors to work together as both are needed to achieve a healthy preservation of a natural resource and as a water recharging area for our aquifers. Without the partnership of the public sector government, the natural resources might not be preserved and the natural water flows and wildlife would be eliminated.  These changes in the delicate balance of life would be detrimental to the health and quality of life in Southwest Florida for current and future generations.  The private sector and volunteers must continually watch to ensure the rules and regulations are wise and effective in maintaining and preserving the Corkscrew Swamp as a natural resource for Florida.

Expectations and Understanding

My expectations for the University Colloquium class are to attain a better understanding of the delicate balance between the environment and mankind; while giving me a greater appreciation for Florida's unique habitat. In addition, I expect to travel to many ecological sites in Southwest Florida that I am not aware of and have not visited previously. I expect to see plants and animals in these ecosystems that will give me a greater understanding of the sensitivity of my region in Florida.

Sustainability is the unique balance between a healthy, robust environment and the demands placed on it by humans.   The term eco-literacy indicates an understanding of ecosystems and how they work in an optimal scenario.  This eco-literacy knowledge is then utilized to strike a balance with the demands of mankind and our human needs for shelter and economic activities.  The term sense of place connotes the unique characteristics of our subtropical region and our one-of-a-kind state that is primarily a floating peninsula located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Sustainability in the Resort and Hospitality Industry is of paramount importance as our total visitors continue to increase year after year.  Our ability to host many visitors each year relies upon our capacity to minimize non-recyclable wastes, to minimize excessive laundering of linens and towels for our guests and to decrease the human footprint in our pristine ecosystems in our region.  In addition, the ecotourism industry is a vital part of the marketing mix for SW Florida activities for our visitors.  Ecotourism is a rapidly growing portion of the resort and hospitality industry as vacationers continue to seek out more natural environments for their vacation experiences.

My unsustainable activities include the production of non-recyclable wastes for our landfill and also the use of electricity that is not self-generating such as solar power generation.  In addition, my unsustainable activities include the utilization of appliances that are not energy star rated as I rent an apartment that has not considered the purchase and use of energy saving appliances.