Journal Entry #10 Final Impressions

I have really enjoyed this class. I have seen such interesting places, all representing the unique Florida environment. I also am happy that people are learning more about conservation and respecting, thus protecting the environment through this course. I loved the content of the course, as well as the experiences out in the natural environment: even the swamp! How many people can say they've seen the swamp from that angle? I'm grateful for the experience, and would never have done that on my own, as much as I love my nature walks (which usually have boardwalks).

One thing I found difficult to do was present. I am a much better writer than presenter, and commiunicate easier and more eloquently through written word rather than vocalization. I have extreme anxiety about it and simply could not get past the attacks brought on by this phobia, although I felt very comfortable with this group of classmates. So I am sorry that I could not rise above that and complete the required assignment: I was literally in tears all day and simply could not shake it, so it's a little odd and extreme, in my case.

I would give people an option to write a paper, or do something else. I regret that my grade will not be a good one, as much as I enjoyed this class. I simply cannot get past the phobia, and I've accepted it about myself. I won't be looking into a career of that nature, so I just don't see why students are forced to do it. I realize that the curriculum is likely out of your hands, so I guess I am just using this time to apoligize for my failure to do a presentation. It's important to me that professor's know that I respect and appreciate their courses, which I truly do.

Other than that personal concern with the course, I think it's been great. Thank you for the knowledge you've given us, as well as exposure.

# 9: Corkscrew Sanctuary

This was my favorite field trip. I was 100% at peace in this environment. It was really something. I live off of Immokalee Rd. in Naples, and am regretful that I did not find out about this place sooner.

Walking through Florida swamp lands just truly amazes me. I still cannot get over the beauty of this environment. I love the cypress trees and was exposed further to the Alligator plant (don't recall the name), which was beautiful and huge. A couple of us spotted a spider that had some sort of glowing flourescent features on it: amazing.

When we came across a clearing in the trees to an enclosed area of water, I felt like I was peering into another world, watching the large birds as they carried on in their natural environment. It was so different than going to a zoo, where they are captive and their behavior is somewhat contrived, for lack of a better word, from the manmade environment. Zoos to me aren't real; this was nature like I'd never experienced. I didn't think it could get any better and all of a sudden there was an alligator in there with the birds. It was such an incredible sight, seeing these animals interact as if no one was watching. I was in a state of awe and happiness that continued as we walked along the path and saw another alligator just sunning in the water. This body of water was just surrounded by trees: one of the most awesome sites I've ever seen in Florida. Up until this point, I had never seen anything like this. I am so glad that I know I can go back to this spot anytime!

Another thing I loved about this trip was the clean air we learned that we were breathing in: loved it.

This was a great way to end this class, which I am so grateful to have taken. I have now seen Florida in a way so many others have yet to experience. There is truly more to this place than beaches and palm trees. There is real peace to be found here, beyond the relaxation those two things can provide.

Journal Entry #8 Floridiana Book

"The Everglades River of Grass" by Marjory Stoneman Douglas provided great insight into this mysterious area of nature in Florida. For a long time, I have been unclear as to exactly what the Everglades are, knowing simply that they are just there. I've come to find out that there is only one Everglades in the entire world. To a dork like me, that's really cool!

I've come to understand that the Eveglades is a river flowing from Lake Okeechobee to the south of Florida. Sawgrass grows within the water, dying off and then rising up from its own debris, interestingly. The water comes from a variety of sources, such as the Kissimmee River, all of which are located north of Lake Okeechobee, flowing south into it. Lake Okeechobee then overflows south into the Everglades. This unique system has allowed us in Florida to host the only Everglades situation on the planet.

Within the Everglades are many forms of plant and animal life, in addition to the notable saw grass. There is also a layer of rock beneath the surface, on which many plants grow. Mangroves, black and red, can be found, their source being unknown. This leads us to believe that these Mangroves within the Everglades are in fact the original mangroves, which have spawned many other mangrove habitats throughout Florida. I thought that was pretty neat.

I appreciated this book, because as someone who is fairly new to Florida, I really had no idea what the Everglades were! I just knew that it was some element of nature that was vast. I think I assumed it was some sort of forest situation, being from New England. I am glad that I am now knowledgeable about this special place in nature. It sounds very cool to me, and I would love to check this place out in the near future, as much as I love being out in the elements. I am grateful to be in Florida and proud that we possess such an amazing environmental feature.

Entry # 7 Mantanzas Pass Preserve

I thought this place was interesting. I loved the vibe of being in this little, old cottage. It truly brought me back in time to summers spent in similar little places near the beach. The woman was extremely knowledgable on Fort Myers Beach geography and history. I thought it was sweet that they offered us lemonade and cookies, and especially the homemade jelly with crackers. It was a very pleasant environment, and I found the conversation to be interesting, as far as the history of this beautiful area. She spoke about the effect hurricanes have had on the island, as well as industry. We heard about some of the nature, including the use of oysters to clean up the water surrounding Fort Myers Beach, which I loved! I also really liked the red bird she showed us photographs of. I haven't seen anything like that, and am always impressed by the large birds in this area.

The nature walk wasn't necessarily anything to speak of, as we have continued to see some amazing Florida landscapes this semester. This was no different, in my opinion. I always enjoy a nature walk, however, so it was a welcomed escape, nevertheless. I did hope to see more beach, but I will have to settle for the Lani Kai, I suppose. I think I can live with that. :)

Journal Entry #6 ECHO

This field trip was interesting. I found it neat to see the way people accomplished such things as baking a cake, etc., using equipment that is certainly lacking, in modern times; yet, it gets the job done. The man showing us around seemed to know quite a bit about what he was doing, and I could tell he was interested in and passionate about conservation. I thought it was cool how old tires were used to grow plants, and even utilized for a staircase, as photographed below.

There were many neat plants to look at, such as sunflowers and a banana tree. The tour guide even let us taste the leaves off of one of them, though I don't recall the name of the plant. We even got to see bunnies and a chicken, which I enjoyed because I love animals (though I don't like to see them in captivity, so whatever was hiding in that little barn didn't please me as much).

On a negative note, I'm not sure I understand the religious connection, but it may have been wise for him to leave that information out, considering we were visiting from an academic institution. I recall feeling a bit peeved at going there on a school field trip, so I'm glad he didn't go much into detail. The fact is, all people and all creeds are involved with nature, and I don't think one has anything to do with the other. Perhaps that is a result of my strong disbelief in creationism.

I just think nature is there for everyone to enjoy and protect, and I don't think a place like this should alienate a group of people by tying it to a particular religion. I think their message is valuable to everyone, but not everyone will be prone to touring this place, unfortunately, as a result of its religous connotation. I know I wouldn't have gone there if I didn't have to as a result of school, because I am not a member of their status group. Hopefully, others disagree, because what they are doing is for the good of all people, not just Christians.

Journal Entry #5

I personally don't like the idea of humans having the extent of control that this form of gene alteration would permit. While I can understand the capitalistic motivation, in addition to the need for more food on a planet where overpopulation, relative to the amount of resources available, is becoming a major issue and huge threat to the future survival of the human species, I can't help but be extremely alarmed at the thought of genetically modifying our natural resources, particularly one of our primary necessities: food.

We need food to survive, and while we may inevitably face a shortage, I think perhaps we should first consider limiting our intake before taking this route. I simply do not feel comfortable with the risks, such as the patent issue and the allergy concerns, or my own personal disdain for capitalistic gain taking precedence over any other host of values, time and time again (that's a whole other journal entry, however).

For example, there was an interview with a farmer in another country who chose to use his own seeds, rather than the American version, for the simple reason that his corn tastes better than ours does. While one might view that as bad decision making, from the standpoint of a nation which endorses monetary gain at any cost, I celebrate this man's chosen path, and recognize that sometimes other things, such as good quality and, more importantly, safe food, may hold more value than capital gain. 

Again, it's a question of values. Perhaps we need to question ours, when confronting this issue. We all know that American food consumption is way higher than what is necessary for survival. The food intake level has become more of a luxury than a necessity. Perhaps we need to delve deeper into our societal value system and cultural norms and change our thinking when it comes to how we view food.

Much like energy and water, food is a resource that should be conserved. So instead of taking a 30 minute shower with the lights on in every room in the house, after eating a 12 oz rib eye  and a slice of cake for dessert, we should perhaps take a 5 minute shower with only the bathroom light on, following a meal consisting of simply enough to ensure our survival. I admit, I am as guilty as everyone else when it comes to this.

Karl Marx once wrote of the minimum wage being set at an amount that the proletariat could afford just enough food to survive in order to provide labor again the next day. I think it's safe to say that Americans are consuming more than one loaf of bread per day lately.

Journal Entry #4

This field trip was interesting, despite my familiarity with the downtown Fort Myers area. I have indeed walked around the artsy area on several occasions, peeking into windows at various clothing boutiques, being enticed by the aromas of different restaurants, and admiring the works of art through storefront windows. Much of this, if I'm being truthful, while on the hunt for a cold beer.

Obviously, we were not searching for drinks on this feild trip-- though some of us confessed to having them on the mind. Regardless, what we found was something different: history (and one really cool bar.)

I especially enjoyed the older theatre, and the various indoor shops, which provided me with the rustic vibes I have personally been devoid of since my arrival to Naples. Having become accustomed to luxury and modernity, it was really a pleasure to be thrust back into such a different environment, one which felt like returning home for a New Englander. There were older buildings and brick walkways, abound with simplicity. It was great to visit such a very artistic and intellectual meeting ground.

I really enjoyed the experience, and would love to go back and take the time to look around more, when everything is open. This time, I will be on the lookout for coffee gelato, rather than Sam Adams. Maybe.


Watermelon and blueberry microbrews.

Journal Entry #3

The thing I notice most about my neighborhood, and pretty much everywhere around here, is the sky! While I am obviously impressed by the beautifully manicured landscapes that Naples has to offer, it all pales in comparison to what mother nature has to offer all on her own.

I have never seen the pinks, purples, and yellows that the HUGE sky here has to offer. Even the clouds are fascinating to me: they are so white and puffy, and they appear to be coming at me in 3-D. The sky here is just majestic, and is perfectly complimented by the shadowy palms that foresee it. It paints a beautiful image that is hard to capture on film.

Other than recycling bins on Thursday nights, I am unaware of any ecological features of the neighborhood (which I am new to).

I do notice much wildlife, however, including little lizards, birds, and the sound of frogs in the evening. There is also a canal of some sort around the corner, adjacent to a bunch of yellow flowers that appear to be on vines. These flowers appear to have grown naturally, as opposed to the contrived look that planted flowers may present. As you can see, I am a big lover of nature in all of its glory, and while I appreciate man-made beauty as much as anyone, there is something to be said for natural beauty, which can be found in abundance in the skies of Southwest Florida.

Cypress Swamp: Journal Entry #2

My initial focus upon entering the cypress swamp was primarily on the feeling of wet shoes, then water seeping into my socks, and eventually, my thigh-high submersion into the dark, cool, (and bacteria-filled!) swamp water. After adjusting to the physical feeling of the new environment, I was then able to recognize the special opportunity this walk had afforded me, which was the ability to be at one with nature via the elimination of any man-made barriers which would otherwise limit me as an outsider looking in at the habitat.

For instance, I mentioned in my previoius entry that I have walked Six Mile Cypress Slough on multiple occasions, and have enjoyed experiencing the cypress swamp from the luxury of a boardwalk. The experience on the FGCU Campus walk, however, took the experience to a new level, in that there was no barrier, allowing me to view the cypress swamp from the inside, which in a sense, took me from an observer of nature to an actual participant. It was quite special to be completely surrounded by the cypress trees, experiencing the swamp from the perspective of one of its inhabitants. The experience seemed to remove me from the "human world," for lack of a better term, and place me directly back into the state of nature, which is something I always find peaceful. I definitely have a new found respect for the campus.

Photograph taken at North Lake Village.

Journal Entry #1

My initial feelings regarding this class included a genuine interest and intrigue, regarding discovering the natural habitats of Southwest Florida. I am from Massachusetts, and am really enjoying this unique environment, as it is so different and beautiful in it's own way. I have frequently walked at Six Mile Cypress slough, and have ridden bike trails, both of which have enabled me to enjoy this area's plant and wildlife. I am still in awe of the vast sky here, to the point of ridicule whenever a rainbow appears! Just walking around FGCU has been interesting to me, specifically the swampy areas. Even the rain is beautiful here! And I love the wildlife Florida had to offer: dolphins, alligators, armadillos, all of the huge birds and oversized bugs. Amazing.

As far as my relationship with the natural world, I am definitely at peace in nature. No doubt about it, whether it's on a bike trail, at the beach, or even on an airplane looking out at the clouds, I have a deep respect and appreciation for the environment. Consequently, I am actively recycling, conserving energy, and keeping the planet free of any source of pollution.

The anxiety for the class began to set in upon review of the syllabus, however! I enjoy learning and believe that knowledge is power, and the more one knows about a variety of topics, the better off one becomes. Writing is my preferred form of communication, so I plan to enjoy that aspect of the course.

I can appreciate what this class has to offer me, as far as gaining knowledge about the Southwest Florida environment. As I said, I find these habitats to be very interesting and special.

                                                      Photograph taken at Wiggins Pass.