Journal 3: Reflections on the field trip to ECHO

While at ECHO (Educational Concern for Hunger Organization) there were several amounts of information that I was unaware of out hunger around the world. I was also very intrigued about the several of different things that ECHO does for the starving nations around the world. While watching the movie, we were giving a foundation on what ECHO does. ECHO serves 180 countries around the world for those who are in need of hunger. They use a strategy in which helps fight the hunger throughout these nations. They use a problem solving strategy to find out where the problem of hunger is coming from. Then ECHO provides seeds to these different areas in which vary from monsoon, summit dry arid, rainforest climates. All the seeds may be different because only certain types of plants can survive in certain types of climates. Yet ECHO finds the different type of plants that are able to provide for the different climates. I was also amazed at the education and training that ECHO provided to these people who are in hunger. There was several of different types of water irrigation pumps, and soap dispensers that were made out of the littlest things that can be found just about anywhere. The most amazing was the water drip irrigation that was simply made out of a bucket and two sticks which could provide water irrigation to a whole crop. Also, they made a level for the summit arid regions made out of a rock, string, and two sticks which would help level out the area in which the people may be planting their crops.

Yet when at ECHO, the most amazing thing that ECHO provides is the Moranga leaf, also known as the miracle vegetable. The Moranga leaf can be grown in almost all regions and the morgana leaf does not only provide all the extra vitamins, calcium, potassium, and protein that the human body needs, but it also purifies water. By ECHO sending one seed to all these areas of starvation. They can save several of these starving people from walking miles and miles just for water.

Also, another very interesting concept that ECHO has developed was the duck poop that drops into a pond to build up the size of tilapia. This simple and easy concept that ECHO developed allows a lot of these poor countries to have protein on hand and have enough to feed a village. It also allows these countries to maybe sell some of these duck and tilapia for money or even trade for other type of food for their villages.

All in all, ECHO provides the basic necessities to help cure hunger. They provide the specific seeds for the certain regions, the education that is needed for their surrounding environments, and the basic training needed to plant crops and let a crop grow to its full potential. ECHO does not just give the hungry food but they go by the saying, “give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a life time”. They teach the hungry how to grow food and give them the ability to eat for a lifetime.

Word Count: 539

Journal 2: Your neighborhood-either at FGCU or at your childhood home. Use all of your senses to describe the things you care about and that you noti

When living in a certain neighborhood, it is always important that one cares about their surroundings and takes notice about how their neighborhood may intrigue their senses. In the neighborhood that I live in today, being FGCU, there are several of different factors that please my senses as well as turn them off. Being that I live in a college town, I generally walk to most places either being class or on the board walk that enters through the woods to the parking garage. I am able to capture different views, smells, and noises that help give notice to my surroundings.

There are times when walking to and from the parking garage that I am able to see several of things that are going on in my surroundings. For the past couple of weeks, I have taken notice that several sections of beautiful trees have started to disappear. This has hurt me knowing that people are tearing down what we have of natural life here on campus. This is going to begin to drive the important wildlife that is protected here on campus, to an unprotected area off campus. This in turn can lead to the possible death of those animals. Also, when walking on campus there is a smoking section where students congregate to have a cigarette break. I am able to smell the cigarette smoke from several of yards away. I believe that this takes away from the beautiful essence that FGCU has to give through the smell of trees and other various plants.

FGCU has not only become my new home, but also my place of higher learning. Therefore, I would love to see FGCU to turn back to the place is used to be. As a freshman I was able to take notice to all the beautiful smells and noises from the various wildlife and plants that would fill the campus scenery. FGCU is still a beautiful place to go to school. Yet with the growing population of students that are coming to FGCU some of these beautiful senses I once had, are disappearing. I care for this place because I live here, study here, and walk through campus and the surrounding Fort Myers area every single day. With the growing population, I believe it is imperative to try and conserve FGCU wildlife and environmental surroundings. Therefore we will all be able to keep those beautiful senses of sight, smells, hearing, and touch.

Word Count : 407

Picture from : picasaweb.google.com

Journal 1: Your connection to the Florida environment and how much time you spend out doors.

Being connected with the outdoors is a necessity for happiness, relaxation, and overall well-being. Therefore, it is imperative to spend time outdoors because it not only allows you to find your peace with nature, but it also allows one to become connected with their surrounding environments. Over the years of living in Florida and spending several of hours a week in the outdoors, I have earned a fond connection with the outdoors that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. Growing up on a farm allowed me to spend an unlimited amount of time in the outdoors and grew a connection with the outdoors from either playing in the mud, out fishing the back lakes, and exploring the back woods. Not only did I grow a connection with the outdoors, but also I learned several of things through hand-on experiences all the way to checking the Internet from being curious. I learned about several different animals such as snakes, alligators, all types of birds, and insects, to all the different types of plants that came along with being in the woods, poisonous or not. From my past experiences I am able to inform a lot of my friends when out in the woods on what may be harmful or not. Along with when going on my nature runs, which paths may pose a danger or which are the safe routes.

I believe that being in the outdoors has helped me remain distressed throughout my college career. Although I do not have the time that I once had when I lived on the farm to be outdoors, I find several of different alternatives to become connected with my environment. Being that I am joining the Marine Corp, I find myself running at least an hour a day. Yet rather than going to the gym to run on the treadmill, I will go outside and run in the fresh air, or find a nature path that will allow me to run through the beautiful wilderness. If I do not feel like taking a run for the day, I will go out to the poolside and enjoy some warm sunshine. This also allows me to get outside in the fresh air and let nature alleviate some stress.
All in all it is very important to spend time outdoors. Whether it is to go lay out in the sun, run through nature trails, or explore the back woods. It helps several of people become connected with nature and their surrounding environment which ultimately allows one to find happiness.

Word count: 429

Images from : http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo924168.htm

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