The Nature of the Everglades

“The water is timeless, forever new and eternal.” (Douglas 129)

I can relate to this statement because water, to me, is seen as timeless. I used to always go down to the river by my neighborhood and look at my reflection. Every time I looked at it, I was aging but the water never got older. It has eternal youth and that is why I enjoyed being around it. Eternal youth was something I couldn’t have, but wanted to see. Water is always new and refreshing, and that is what I wanted my life to be like every day. Each time I watched the water glisten in the sun, I felt closer to the world and nature itself. I believe that the Everglades brings the aspect of life everlasting to all of us.  

 

http://brianraymondking.com/2015/07/reflection-isnt-only-for-water/

 

 

“Only one force can conquer it completely and that is fire.” (Douglas 111)

 

This statement is meaningful to me because it needs to be brought to the forefront. Fire is not the only thing that can destroy the Everglades’ grass, people do too. Humans always seem to invade beautiful places, like the Everglades, to use it for their own ideas. We have the power to destroy acres and acres of land to create buildings, roads, and other facilities. A friend of my family is a contractor and he has repeatedly built on land, which I believe should have stayed untouched. This is a topic that continues to be overlooked and if we don’t address it, then the next generation is going to be affected. Humans tend to encroach on places that should be made sacred for the breathtaking view of God’s creation.  

 

http://www.marpal.co.uk/service/cdm-consultants/

 

 

 

“Here the rainfalls more powerfully and logically than anywhere else upon the temperate mainland of the United States.” (Douglas 112)

 

This is relatable because we get hit by hurricanes here in Florida quite often. Rain falls hard in some areas, but not like it does in the Everglades. Like many other people, I have been affected by hurricanes before. All of these instances had powerful rain and wind that caused nature to be destroyed. I remember being a part of Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 at home with my family. It was a category 3 and the rainfall hit about 10.22 inches in some places. Even though hurricanes are dangerous, we must look at it from a positive perspective. The rain may be powerful in the Everglades, but it is also logical because it helps keep everything alive.  

 

http://www.hdnicewallpapers.com/Monsoon-Wallpapers/2

 

 

 

 

 

A Land Ethic

“The usual answer to this dilemma is ‘more conservation education.’” (Leopold 63)

I believe that making progress with conservation starts and ends with education. The only way we can learn as humans is if we are taught something or are engaged in it. I never truly had a class on conservation, or even nature until I came to college. I believe that if we want to stride toward a better ecological world, then we must educate the children. Taking a conservation class or something related to that will open up children’s perspective and sense of place about the land they live on. If I was more educated on this subject at a younger age, I would have had a voice and a knowledgeable opinion about the way we should be preserving earth’s surface.
 

http://djaniwildlife.co.za/images/

 

“He has no vital relation to it; to him it is the space between cities on which crops grow.” (Leopold 75)

I cannot comply with the idea that all truly modern individuals see the world like this. To an extent, some people are uneducated about our land and how we should appreciate it. It is not right to suggest that people living in this modern era do not try to conserve nature and protect it at all costs. I believe that you can never outgrow land because it is our only life source that provides us with just about everything. All people do not conform to the ideas that machines should be processing crops and synthetic products should be replacing originals. Thinking of land as added space between the more important cities is not the dramatic perception that individuals develop.   

 

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/urban-farming/

 

“Theoretically, the mechanization of farming ought to cut the farmer’s chains, but whether it really does is debatable.” (Leopold 76)

It is hard to comprehend that a statement as strong as this is debatable. If more mechanization can help farmers be more productive, then it should not be controversial. Mechanized agriculture has decreased manual labor and reduced the use of working animals. This should cut the ties of restriction on farmers and allow them to create a place where they can farm, but at an effective rate. A friend of my family was a farmer and I believe that he would not even question the fact of feeling less confined if he were able to use mechanized farming tactics to finish his job. This statement is hard to understand the negatives or the opposing side to this lop-sided debate that machines would alleviate the restraint on farmers.   

 

http://www.fromholland.info/agricultural-machines/

 

Service Learning Proposal

Name of Student: Jeanie Verderese

Major: Business Management (Sports Concentration)

College: FGCU (College of Business)

Section: University Colloquium

Date: September 9, 2015

Service Learning Venue:  Saint Nicholas Monastery

                                            Arranged Service With: Mother Andrea

                                            Address: 1340 Piney Road

                                                           North Fort Myers, FL 33903

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

Describe the Activity: This beautiful Monastery sits on an eleven acre property which is said to be messy due to the rainy season. My group and I would pick one area and try to clean it up the best we can so that when winter comes they will have that particular area under control. There is a large field that needs to be cleared of weeds, and they need help processing beeswax. If we can fix up this environmental area they will be able to create their Bible Herbs Garden.

 

Are you working in a group or alone? I will be working in a group with my fellow classmates, Taylor Wade and Makenzie Hanle.

How does this schedule fit into your schedule? I have a busy schedule due to FGCU softball. This schedule will fit as long as I am working on Wednesday mornings, Thursday and Friday evenings, or on Sunday. Even though I have limited time slots available, I will do my best to serve the environment during any hour that I am free. I am fortunate that Mother Andrea stated that the days are flexible for them and they are willing to work around my schedule.

How will the service benefit the organization you serve? Saint Nicholas Monastery is Christian Orthodox and they value giving the word of the Lord. They are trying to create an environment that is beautiful and full of life, including a Bible Herbs Garden. Our service to this organization will help tremendously, especially during this wet season. They are in need of nature clean-up and the creation of a garden. We can help them complete their goals faster and be one with the environment.

Will this service enrich your understanding of the material covered in this class? How? This service will most definitely enrich my understanding of the material covered in class. It will also follow along with the goals and outcomes for this course. I will gain a sense of place when I am out in the eleven acre property filled with different ecological features that I will be fixing and cleaning. I will be analyzing Southwest Florida while I am providing my service, and I will see some of the environmental challenges that organizations face with the wet season. I will develop my own eco-friendly perspective and help my community in doing so. The services that I will provide for Saint Nicholas Monastery will enrich my learning and understanding of Colloquium.

Other comments, questions, concerns?  I am excited to start this service learning project and help the environment to the best of my ability with some of my friends.

 

 

https://www.emaze.com/@AOTLCTIR/im-here-

 

 





 

 



 

 

 



Nature-Deficit Disorder

“Ironically, the detachment of education from the physical world not only coincided with the dramatic rise in life-threatening childhood obesity but also with a growing body of evidence that links physical exercise and experience in nature to mental acuity and concentration.” (Louv 2)

I believe that the lack of nature associated with education has played a role in obesity of children. As a kid, the best time I had in school was the short recess break that we actively participated in. This gave us a chance to be outdoors and take a break from the stress of learning, testing, and reading. The longer we were able to exercise and play, the better we were able to concentrate in the classroom. I genuinely feel sorry for the next generation who is getting their recess cut, or is able to bypass their P.E. course. I am blessed that I was able to experience the physical world during my education and gain an appreciation for nature and what it’s worth.



http://www.nickersoncorp.com/2014/05/success-recess-playground-safety/

“Attention-restoration theory applies to everyone, regardless of age.” (Louv 7)

Attention-restoration theory means that after people spend time in nature or looking at natural scenery, they will concentrate better. I cannot conform to the thought that this theory applies to everyone. Many people suffer from biophobia, or the dislike of nature, and they would not benefit from their time spent outside. This theory may help some of the population with their concentration, but not all. In this generation, people may focus better after a short break of doing something that they enjoy, no matter what that may be. It does not have to be nature for everyone to grasp a sense of calming or peacefulness. I think that the attention-restoration theory applies to some individuals, but not to everyone. 

http://naturesacred.org/why-are-we-less-stressed-in-green-spaces/

“Critics charge that often-prescribed stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamines (Dexedrine), though necessary in many cases, are overprescribed, perhaps as much as 10 to 40 percent of the time.” (Louv 3)

It is hard to believe that drugs as strong as these are being overprescribed for a disorder that pertains mainly to children. If doctors know of alternative treatments that obtain fewer side effects, then they should be offering those instead. An example would be behavioral therapy or spending more time outdoors. This can allow a child to gain a sense of tranquility and will help them concentrate better. If parents are aware of prescription drug dangers, then any remedy for ADHD should be their first choice. I see how it may be possible that doctors are prescribing these medications right away because they have worked in the past. However, I still find it difficult to believe that it is being overprescribed ten to forty percent of the time.

http://www.avartawellness.com/six-dangerous-prescription-drugs/