Downtown Fort Myers

Southwest Florida Historical Museum

      I truly enjoyed the time we spent learning about the history of Southwest Florida.  Although I wasn't keen on having a tour guide at first, which I had not been expecting, it ended up being a very good thing.  We learned so much detail about the past, such as the struggles of the Caloosa Indians, the importance of cattle in this area, and the creation of technology into the twenty-first century.  It was a very interesting experience and I was very happy to have this opportunity to learn by traveling through time through each exhibit.  I was so focused on soaking in everything around me that I completely forgot to take pictures of my own! So here are some pictures of exhibits that I thought were really interesting, thanks to the museum's website.  

Here are some of the weapons the Caloosa Indians made.
I was really fascinated by their way of life.

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale and moving to Fort Myers,
it's still hard for me to imagine actual forts here!
 I can't believe people actually had to chop their way through
the wilderness in order to get to the fort.

Thomas Edison was such an incredible man.
After passing by his estate downtown, I will be sure to
take the time to visit sometime soon, it was beautiful!

It was so interesting to see the changes in the uniforms,
the weapons and the equipment used by the American troops
and firefighters.  Everything has evolved so much over time!

Urban Fort Myers

      It was too bad we didn't have the opportunity to walk around Downtown.  Yet, we were able to see so much more in such a short period of time since we toured around on the bus.  I was very familiar with the area where we first stopped, it was actually right across the river from the island where I watch fireworks from with my family on the Fourth of July!  My family actually has a house on the river just a ways East of this area.  But, I have never driven through Downtown Fort Myers before.  I was so surprised by what I saw, as I expected it to be much more rundown.  It was actually a really beautiful area!  The next time my parents come into town, I hope to bring them Downtown to explore the shops and restaurants with me.

Here is the Edison home!  I can't believe how close it is to the museum.

And here is the Harborside Convention Center, located Downtown,
where Obama was supposed to speak yesterday, before news of the
shootings in Colorado spread.

Sources:

http://www.swflmuseumofhistory.com/EXHIBITS/tabid/56/Default.aspx#

http://www.fortmyers-online.com/photos.htm

Swamplandia!

Jimmy Riffle of The Gator Boys

My Tie Between Alligator Wrestling and Swamplandia!

      The entire story of Swamplandia! is based on the slow failure of this alligator theme park and the alligator wrestling shows that are held (or used to be held).  Other than a short, barely-detailed recap of one of Ava's experiences wrestling a seth at the beginning of the novel, there are barely any stories of actual wrestling, most likely due to the fact that these shows ceased to exist after a while when Swamplandia! failed to attract tourists.  But, I am actually fascinated by alligators, and these seths are the part of the story that captivated me most.  

      

      As I mentioned previously in class, I went to high school with Jimmy, co-star of Animal Planet's hit show, The Gator Boys.  I have never actually seen his show in person, but I have been to Holiday Park where these shows take place and I watch The Gator Boys whenever it's on TV, regardless if its a rerun that I've already seen or not. I think alligators are magnificent animals, and I have a lot of respect for these volunteers that risk their lives on a daily basis. 

Jimmy is known as one of the best alligator wrestlers
on the planet

      I admire Jimmy for what he does.  It seems crazy to most people, but Jimmy loves alligators and caring for them is his passion.  Helping alligators and entertaining tourists with wrestling shows is Jimmy's ideal job, as there is nothing in the world he would rather do.  I couldn't help but think of The Gator Boys every time the alligator wrestling shows were mentioned in Swamplandia!

      Here is the link to the website of The Gator Boys where you can look through pictures, watch clips, and watch full episodes via Animal Planet online:

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/gator-boys/

My Venture to the Historic Cottage and Matanzas Pass

The Estero Bay Historic Cottage

      Our trip to the Estero Bay Historic Cottage taught me a lot about the history of the land around us.  It was so interesting to hear about the past of Fort Myers Beach and Estero Island, especially from the mouth of a woman who was actually there to experience it all.  Our guide was so passionate about the history of her neighborhood and I could not have chosen a better person to learn about it all from.  One fact I thought was especially interesting was how devastating Hurricane Charlie was in 2004 to Southwest Florida.  I had no idea it was that destructive to the land over here, as it had such a traumatic impact.  I would expect to hear news like that years ago, but I figured structures were strong enough these days to withstand hurricanes like Charlie.  It was fascinating hearing about this woman's life and her perspectives on the nature of Southwest Florida.  She was charming and I really enjoyed the time we spent in the cottage with her.

The Mantanzas Pass Preserve

      Here are some photos I took while walking along the Mangrove Pass of the Mantanzas Preserve!

The entrance to the preserve

The map of the trail

The water was brown! Yuck!

Beautiful black mangroves

The fingers of the black mangrove trees
sticking out of the ground

Our class walking along the pass

Too bad there were no sea grapes so we could try
the homemade jelly!

Sea oats

Looking up at the sea oats

These red mangroves really do look like they're walking!

Fungus growing on the mangroves

A dry path along the mangroves where water normally flows in

Can't believe this boardwalk was made completely of
recycled materials!

The estuary

Watching the boats pass by

Looking out over the water

The seeds of the mangrove trees hanging above

      And that's the end!  I enjoyed the walk along Mantanzas Pass Preserve.  It was a beautiful area and it was nice to have a tour guide, Ariel, who was very knowledgable, but didn't torture us by making us stand by the mosquitoes too long!  All in all, it was a very nice trip that was definitely more informative than reading these facts from a text book.

My Sustainable Future

My Views on a Sustainability in My Life

      After learning about all the ways in which people grow their own food and support their own families and then seeing it for my own eyes at ECHO, I truly could see myself growing my own crops.  Although I could never be completely self sufficient unless my survival depended on it, I have been inspired to utilize sustainable practices and partake in creating my own garden perhaps.  I don't have the time or the energy to put into a project that would feed my family or a small community, but if we had no other option I would certainly use what I've learned and even learn more about making this my priority.

Here is a photo of a family that has taken on the
responsibility of growing their own food.

My Future in Feeding My Family

      My sister and brother in law have a garden in their backyard that is filled with crops that they use to feed their family.  They grow corn, squash, tomatoes, okra, and many herbs that they use to add zest to their food.  These vegetables are delicious and I hope to follow in my sister's footsteps when it comes to growing my own food.  She truly enjoys watching these plants grow, harvesting them when they are ripe, and then cooking them for herself, her husband, her two children, and whoever else is over for dinner.  The food is fresh and nothing sold in a grocery store tastes quite like it.  I could definitely see myself having a garden of my own in the future that I would use to feed my family delicious and nutritious meals.

Source of photo:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&rlz=1C1SKPC_enUS336&biw=1366&bih=677&tbm=isch&tbnid=wOsgHPg3PPslOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.growbetterveggies.com/growbetterveggies/gardening_classes/&docid=tiZrIi-7OxvIpM&imgurl=http://www.growbetterveggies.com/.a/6a00d8346ffdca53ef0120a69ca5c8970b-500wi&w=500&h=375&ei=OtH5T4uIKIaE8QSdx4XnBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=894&vpy=353&dur=776&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=151&ty=90&sig=116002542731047199648&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=204&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0,i:123

ECHO Adventures

      Our field trip to ECHO farms was definitely an interesting one.  I learned a lot from those who work there and they enlightened me with facts and situations that people in third world countries deal with everyday.  Although the mosquitoes and the hot sun were quite torturous, these are conditions that people are forced to deal with on a daily basis.  Who am I to complain after being exposed to these conditions for a couple hours?

      Overall, I really enjoyed the trip.  I was so impressed with the different types of environments they have created as well as the many alternative ways to grow plants, treat water, and use other forms of useful technology for farmers with low income.  It was an eye opening experience and I am glad to have had the opportunity to tour the facility.  I am very impressed with all of the people who dedicate their lives to growing plants and helping others, especially because I could never see myself doing so in a million years.  Not that I wouldn't want to help the cause, but I think I would be one of the ones donating money rather than all of that time and effort.

      Here are some pictures I took of plants and equipment while at ECHO!

Our class walking through the trees

Who knew that a mulberry bush was actually a tree?
Not me....

I think cacti are so cool!
This is the prickly pear we were introduced to.

Banana trees; excuse me, we were taught they are banana PLANTS.

Our tour guide, Charlie Brown!
I couldn't help but laugh at his corny jokes.

Bamboo

Rice-- I was so surprised to learn US uses more rice than China!
I never would have guessed.

Papaya

Raised beds that help plants grow in areas that flood.
Great idea!

This is the tree where we saw the snake chasing something.
Yuck! I hate snakes!

I ate this plant... Can't say I enjoyed it too much.

Ate this as well.
It's called a peanut plant, but it sure didn't taste much like peanuts!

An archway made of vines and twigs that caught my eye.

It's hard to imagine using this to get fresh water.
It's crazy to think of not having access to water at the snap of a finger.

I felt so bad for this poor chicken cooped up in this cage!
He seemed plenty content, though.

My favorite flower! I love sunflowers.

Moringa leaves!
Although they didn't taste very good,
I ate a bunch of these leaves for their vitamins, potassium, calcium, and protein.

Our class learning about moringa leaves with Charlie.

Aloe vera! We have this in my backyard back home.
 I often use it to treat my sunburns.

If you look closely, you can see a bee to the left pollinating the flower of the banana plant.

These little guys were so cute!

Couldn't help but take pictures of them.

      That basically sums up my trip to ECHO!  I stopped photographing my journey towards the end of the trip because the sun got the best of me.  Plus, I was too busy slapping the mosquitoes that were feasting on my flesh.  But overall, I enjoyed the trip and I would definitely recommend visiting in order to gain a better understanding of just what life is like for so many people in the world.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

      Since the stomach flu forced me to miss class on Thursday and I was unable to see the Food, Inc. video, I decided to do some research on the garbage island in the Pacific that my brother in law recently informed me about.  He said he heard about a mound of garbage in the middle of the ocean that was the size of Texas.    I told him he was crazy and he told me to look it up, so I did.

      According to Mother Nature Network, there is a convergence zone in the Pacific Ocean where two currents meet.  Overtime, these currents brought so much garbage together that it formed a huge patch of garbage.  And when I say huge, I mean hundreds of miles.  This Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now the largest landfill on earth.  Its exact size is still unknown, but it is estimated to truly be about the size of Texas.

Yuck

      Majority of this garbage patch is made up of plastic, which is a big issue since its not biodegradable, meaning it will float in the ocean essentially forever unless we do something about it.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration does not see much hope in cleaning up this mess without creating even more problems, so they have focused their efforts on preventing the patch from growing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTZUVjF69eg&feature=related 

      The narrator of this video is not very enthralling, but this information is absolutely astounding.  I had no idea just how terrible plastic is.  If only we could ban the production of plastic forever....

Sources:

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/what-is-the-great-pacific-ocean-garbage-patch

http://www.youtube.com

My Water Usage

      Due to the unfortunate cancellation of our field trip to Corkscrew Swamp this past Tuesday, I decided to post about my water usage instead of the trip in honor of Debby, the tropical storm who rained us out.

The wrath of field trip party pooper Debby

Water Controversy

      After reading There Will Be Water regarding big businessman T. Boon Pickens and his controversial water supply, I see water in a new light.  Living in Florida, it's so easy to forget that water is not abundant in many areas.  Water is a pretty consistent resource for the most part around here, so reading of people fighting over water was enlightening.  The statement that stuck with me the most in this article was made by Pickens' neighbor, Warren Chisum, who chose to keep his water local instead of looking to sell it like Pickens, which I think is a wise, respectable idea.  He wants his grandchildren to have water in that area when they grow up, thinking of the well being of the future instead of his bank account like Chisum.  

      Ownership of water is a big controversy because people do not see eye to eye on the matter.  The scarcity of water is a growing epidemic.  Therefore, in my opinion, a single person should not have control over it.  It's tough to think about someone not owning something that is part of the land that they do own.  Yet, because humans and animals rely on water for survival, I believe it should be accessible to everyone.  Local residents should have priority of nearby water, and I don't believe it should be able to be sold for profit.  Seems like a truly evil plan to make people pay for a water supply.  

      The more we use water, the less there will be.  As time goes on, water will become more and more scarce.  With this being said, I love the idea of using every water resource we possibly can.  Some day, we will have to tap into every water supply on earth.  Therefore, regardless of all of the controversy, ancient aquifers will have to be utilized someday for the survival of mankind.  

  

I didn't see a link to this article on Angel, but I did find the article on the Business Week website:

http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-06-11/there-will-be-water

Water & Me

      Unfortunately, I have not been the most apt to water conservation so far throughout my lifetime.  My conserving habits have only included limiting my water bottle usage and making sure the faucet is turned off while I brush my teeth.  Yesterday, I decided to record my water usage and see how much I truly use on a daily basis.  Of course these are rough estimates over a period of 24 hours, but I tried my best to accurately record my water usage.  These readings began at 8 pm on Friday and ended at 8 pm on Saturday. 

Let's see just how much water I waste...

      15 minute shower- 105 gallons (Wow, what a horrible way to start off)

      6 toilet flushes- 30 gallons 

      6 hand washes- 3 gallons

      1 load of laundry- 50 gallons

      1 load of dishes- 20 gallons

      Drinking water- 0.5 gallons

            Total: 208.5 gallons

I can't even imagine 208 of these...

      After seeing this number and imaging this much water sitting in front of me, I was shocked.  I knew I used a lot of water every day, but 208.5 gallons?  There are children in third world countries that haven't seen that much water in their lifetimes.  There are so many simple steps I could be taking to save more water, such as using water saving devices and taking shorter showers.  After reading this article on the water debate and imagining myself using 208.5 gallons every day, I have a new perspective on the true importance of water.  

Image sources: 

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainvu/what-we-do/water/

http://lucasformula.com/

http://rawstory.com/