The Ongoing Clash of Nature and Humanity

Last month, I went up to New York for a couple job interviews in Manhattan. I was driving with my uncle to meet up with some family members for dinner, when all of a sudden he swerved off the road and  onto the shoulder. My heart was racing and I didn't really know what the heck was going on, but then I looked out of the drivers side window... There, laying in the middle of the highway, was a massive deer carcass, mangled and bloody. It was horrifying.


As it turns out, a car that was a few lengths in front of us hit the deer and ended up on the shoulder just as my uncle did. As for the gentleman who hit the deer, well, his Beamer looked just as beat up as the victim. The car was obviously totaled and the man was pissed. The whole time this was going on, I couldn't believe how gigantic the deer was. It looked as big a horse and was a very sad sight to see...I'm grateful that it died on impact.

I knew before this incident that there is a deer overpopulation problem in the northeast. Apparently, there are so many deer concentrated in that part of the U.S. and not enough grazing ground for them, that they are dying of starvation in the winter-time. It is really a tragic situation and it is why state governments are tying to extend the deer hunting season up in those areas. I'm not really sure if that's the answer, or if deer would be running ramped even if there weren't a lot of people living in that area, but either way I hope we can think of a way to help the deer population and ensure safety on the roads. Or maybe that's asking too much... who knows.

Reflection on Frank's, Alas Babylon

     I just finished reading Pat Frank's, Alas Babylon, and I have some mixed feelings about it. It was a nail-biter, that's for sure. The first ninty pages had me glued to the book, but by chapter four I wanted the Russian's to go ahead and bomb us already! I guess I just don't like to be stressed out for that long. Also, I wish there was a more detailed discription of the destruction that occured in places that were bombed. We never got that, and I kind of craved it. After all that build up, I feel like "The Day" was a little anti-clamatic to be honest. Maybe this is because it is grared more towards a younger crowd, and Frank was trying to be gentle, which I understand.

     My favorite character was Helen. I felt her character was one of the most developed supporting characters in the novel. Where many women would fall apart, she stood strong for her children, even though she didn't know the fate of her husband. I hope that in my lifetime I'll never have to be as strong as her.

     The scene I liked best also included Helen. I think Frank portrayed her moment of weakness beautifully, and I only wish he would have extended it. It was one of the only times in the novel when an adult character showed true vurnablilty, and it was interesting to see it coming from on of the strongest characters.

     Overall, I liked it. Not usually something you would usually find on my bookshelf, but I can see why it is so popular. I'm glad I wasn't around in those days because worring about nuclear attacks constantly would be pretty nerve-racking

Jerboa's

These kangaroo-looking, rat-like creatures live in deserts around Asia and Africa. There are all different types of Jerboa's, some can sit on a tablespoon, and others are as large as rabbits. They are cool because they have this thing called bipedal jumping, where they can hop on two legs like a kangaroo. My favorite is the long-eared Jerboa. I want it.


Long-Eared Jerboa

And, I just found this awesome video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7uw5HLMuP0

Southern Black Racer

Last night, I went for a run around my apartment complex. I'll usually come across a few creatures on my journey, mostly rabbits, geckos, wading birds, or an occasional raccoon by the dumpster. Never, have I had to leap over a giant black snake.

My run is a little over two miles, and for the last stretch, I try to sprint as fast as I can. So, when was coming up on the final 10th mile of my run, I was concentrating on finishing full-out, looking toward the building I use as my marker. I didn't see it until it was less than three feet away from me--practically underneath me at the speed I was going. There wasn't any time to swerve without causing injury, so I lept up as high as I could (feeling kind of like a gazelle) and bounded over the long, black, twisted, snake. I got chills all up and down my body and goosebumps formed on my arms immediately after I realized what I had done. Snakes give me the heeby-jeebys I was having a hard time making it to the finish line after that.

I had to know what kind of snake it was, so I doubled back and cautiously made my way over to where I saw the snake. It was right where I left it, was super long (probably 4 feet, honest) and thin, with a rounded head (I know triangle shaped heads are a sign that it is venomous, so I calmed down a little bit.
When I got home I researched it, and this is definitely the snake.

The Black Racer Snake (non-venomous, thank God)

Tornado's are Scary

Apparently, there were a few tornado touch-down's in Tampa today. My family lives there and they said the weather was horrible. One of my friends took this picture when she was driving to work this morning...Crazy!

Talk about a force of nature. I would have been scared to death!

Big Cypress Fox Squirrel

Every Saturday Morning, I volunteer at Special Equestrians Inc. with a handful of FGCU students. About a year ago, I noticed a flier in the barn that had a picture of a strange looking squirrel-like creature on it. It read: "Beware of Fox Squirrels when leading the horses. These squirrels are curious and come close. Horses may spook." The warning was there, but I never saw the real life squirrel. I was starting to think it was some kind of joke, but that all changed this morning when I was out on the sensory trail with my favorite horse, Apache.

We were warming up at the far end of the arena, when a saw a flash of red in the corner of my eye. Frolicking through the south pasture, and about the size of a small skunk, was the mysterious fox squirrel. It was bounding our way, and I was so fascinated by it, I forgot to heed the warning. It got closer, and jumped up on the fence post right next to Apache and I. The creature stood up on its hind legs and just stared back at me. It was beautiful -- massive, but beautiful, with a tanish-grey back and a bright burgundy chest. The tip of its tail and nose were white and boy, was it fat. It was only then that I realized Apache's eyes were rolling and he was yanking hard on the lead rope. Apparently, the squirrel was a threat, and Apache didn't want to be anywhere near it. The squirrel stayed frozen in place, knowing the horse was a pansy-ass, so I had to direct Apache's attention elsewhere and walk away from my squirrel friend. 

The fox squirrel hung out for most of the morning, forging among the mounds of manure in the pasture. Eventually two of his fox squirrel buddies came out to keep him company. After not seeing any fox squirrels in a whole year, I saw three in one day. Life is weird like that...


Apache (the wimpy boy)



Moringa oleifera

When our class was at ECHO, our tour guide mentioned what many call the "miracle tree" a number of times. He talked about all the benefits of the tree, which seemed almost too good to be true, so i decided to research it a little bit...


The Moringa oleifera-- street name: Miracle Tree, or "mothers best friend," is found in East Africa. It has numerous health as well as nutritional benefits and literally every part of the tree can be used. The pods, which hold the seeds are one of the most valuable parts of the tree.They have more of a nutritional benefit than many fruits and veggies we eat in the U.S. The tree is also being used to purify water. This is extremely important because in countries that have trouble finding clean water they have something that can help the people survive. The leaves can be eaten by mothers who are facing malnutrition, so that they can continue to breast-feed their children. The bark, flowers and roots can all be eaten as well.


The Natural News reports, "Moringa leaves contain: SEVEN times the vitamin C in oranges, FOUR times the Calcium in milk, FOUR times the vitamin A in carrots, TWO times the protein in milk and THREE times the Potassium in bananas."
Morenga is also known to help treat infections and most recently even used as a cancer treatment. These claims are not fully scientifically proven, but they are currently being tested worldwide.


Pretty cool tree, eh?


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/022272.html#ixzz1HFd9m8tq

Greenwashing

I saw this cartoon today and it made me think...

According to EnviroMedia Social Marketing, "It’s greenwashing when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be “green” through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact. It’s whitewashing, but with a green brush."

As a future PR professional, I am saddened by many of the false claims made by corporations across the globe. Let's face it, coal is not clean, an oil company's main focus is not to save the environment, and just because your bank is going "paperless" does not mean it is heading up the environmental movement in you community. I hope that when I enter the PR field I can take action to end this false advertising. It's just wrong.

8 a.m.on Friday Morning -- Matanzas Pass

The decision to go out and drink on the Thursday night before this glorious make-up field trip was a bad one-- very bad indeed. Being hungover in general  is not fun. Being hungover on a bus that is stuck in traffic, next to a snoring kid for an hour while the professor feebly attempts to entertain his class is worse. Much, much worse.

Matanzas Pass would have been an interesting field trip, maybe. But the conditions on  that Friday before spring break were less than ideal, and I found myself sprinting to my car after pushing my way off the bus.

The nice lady at the historic cottage gave a very interesting, timely lecture. The jam and cookies that were generously provided were greatly appreciated and I thought the day was actually looking up after the hellish bus ride. I was thrilled that we got in and out of the cottage in 30 minutes, but little did I know, my substitute professor was not going to allow a speedy exit. He lolly-gagged in the cottage for an excessive amount of time proceeding the lecture, chatting it up, while the class waited by the entrance of the trail. Once a student collected him, we made our way on to the boardwalk. And then we stopped. We stopped about every thirty yards on the trail so that my substitute professor could talk about the mangroves or try to shove something green from nature into one of our mouths. We walked for about an hour in the hot sun. My headache was pounding. I was cranky and praying the bus would come into view around the next bend. That was when the professor realized we were lost. It took a couple navigationally sound students to deliver us safely back to the bus (thank God) where I then had to endure another hour and fifteen minute traffic-laced bus ride back to campus. This time the snoring kid fell asleep leaning on my shoulder slightly. It was very uncomfortable.

This experience made me thankful for my class and my professor. They understand the concept of time and don't enjoy the sound of their own voice. Amen to that.

Reflecting on ECHO Field Trip

Our field trip to ECHO was probably my favorite class experience so far. The farm was amazing and I absolutely loved our quirky tour guide. ECHO provided our class with a great deal of information on sustainable, environmentally friendly farming. I especially liked how they split the farm up into geographical sections, so that they can really understand how the climate effects various farming conditions around the globe. My favorite area of the global farm was the tropical highlands section. I thought it was interesting how they placed certain plants at the foot of the hill and others at the top of the hill in order to prevent soil erosion. I also thought it was interesting to see the different methods ECHO uses to teach people how to purify water and cook sustainably. Our tour guide peddling that water pump was hysterical.

Overall, I think ECHO is a great, world-changing program. I only wish they would think about branching outside of the Christian community and agree to aid those people with different beliefs. I was raised Catholic, but was always told to help all those in need, no matter who they are, or what they believed in. Maybe it is something they could think about doing in the future. I mean, we're all living on this earth together, right?

Renewal Fim Response

I really enjoyed the Renewal mini-films we watched in class. When you think environmentalism, you usually don't think of religious affiliations, and I liked this different approach. I believe religious organizations could be extremely powerful in the "green" lifestyle movement (I'm not a hippy or anything, but unless you lack a significant amount of brain cells, you know some action is necessary for the human race to survive.) Think of all the things religion has moved people to do in the past (some of these things not so great, I know, but if we think positively...) Imagine what religious leaders could accomplish if they incorporated the idea of protecting the planet in their teachings. Yes, some people might be turned off by environmental preaching, but if they used some of the techniques shown in the films we watched, there could be spectacular results. Focus on the show, not tell idea. I know I mentioned this in class, but I want to reiterate: Religious groups receive 43% of all funds donated to nonprofits by public and private sectors, which is the highest of all nonprofit groups. Environmental groups get 3% of all charitable contributions, which is the lowest of all nonprofits. If we can find merge religion with environmentalism I think it could help create a better tomorrow for future generations.

Response to Morton's Ecology After Capitalism

In his work, Ecology After Capitalism, Timothy Morton explains that the concept of "nature" is an ideological construct. We created it, deeming it "other" or something that is "over there" and this is why we have trouble protecting it. He also says words like "environment" are just small upgrades of the word nature, created by our capitalist society. He believes that everything is connected and because of this we are a part of "nature" too and that this idea alone should justify saving the environment. Apparently, because we exist, we should feel responsible for taking care of the planet.

This "setting the bar low" idea, where we care because we are, seems all well and good in theory, but how do we put it into practice? How, after years of being trained to think of nature as "nature" can we accomplish this? I mean Jeez, sometimes humans can't even treat those who are in our own species with respect. With this in mind, how do we get people to treat something like a dandelion as we do ourselves? I just don't see it working in the real world. I believe small steps are the key.  Educating people on how to recycle, use less, be energy efficient, save the whales (polar bears, rhino's, trees, whatever) is a practical solution, something we can actually DO. I know it will take much longer to get people to a point where they consider nature to be the "same" as themselves (if they do at all), but it is a way more realistic goal. Maybe it isn't enough to stop environmental tragedy in its tracks, but hopefully it can stimulate a change for the better. I don't think capitalism is going anywhere any time soon, but I think we can strive to make sustainable changes in our current global state.

Brown Cuban Anoles

Yesterday, I was at the pool and I noticed a whole lot of lizards hanging around. They were mostly big, brown, male ones that were missing their tails (I know they are male because they had those strawberry things popping out of their neck). I guess it is Anole mating season because all of a sudden these two lizards just went at each other. They had their mouths open and were biting each other and wrestling right in front of me on the concrete. It was insane! One had the other in a death grip and right when I thought to myself, "holy shit this lizard is gonna die right here in front of me," I watched him finally wriggle free. He scampered up the iron fence and high tailed it out of there. The winning lizard, who I appropriately names Thor, flexed his strawberry thing a few more times and just chilled there in front of me, probably daring the rest of the lizard world to take him on. At least the losing lizard, Henry, will grow his tail back and hopefully take Thor on again next month.

I now know the brown Anole's I saw fighting are called Cuban Anole's and they are an invasive species here in Florida. They are cannibalistic and are killing off a lot of the native Florida lizards, like the Green Anole. I can totally see this happening because they are mean, hardcore fighters. And if they aren't eating the Green Anole, they are making it hard for it to find living space. Pesky little buggers, apparently.

Spanish Moss

"My thoughts are weighed down by you
lightly
like lace curtains, or Spanish moss on live oaks
Beautiful in their mourning veils
filtering the sunlight"
- Nicola Turner


I have always has a sort of infatuation with Spanish Moss. It has a sort of magical, take you back in time, element to it. I always think of the Old South, you know, with plantations and Victorian era homes with wrap around porches, that kind of thing. When I would ride my horse on the trails behind the barn, I would often grab it off of the oak trees as I passed by. Sometimes, I would find little red bugs crawling all over the moss, and I would quickly fling it on the ground. Other times I would drape it over my painted gelding, pretending he had a mane made of the stuff.

Now I know that Spanish Moss isn't actually a moss, but an angiosperm (strange name) and it is a type of air plant because it doesn't have roots in the ground. It absorbs nutrients from the air and the rain. Because it lives on the limbs of various trees, it stunts the trees growth because it doesn't allow a lot of light get to that trees own leaves. It is also known weigh trees down and make them more likely to fall during high winds or hurricanes. So while Spanish Moss is beautiful, it is a silent killer. Interesting.

Jimmy Buffett Saves the Manatees

I was working on an assignment for my Nonprofit Public Relations class, where we had to find a celebrity endorsed nonprofit organization, and I stumbled across the Save the Manatee Club. It was co-founded by Jimmy Buffett in 1981. Their mission is "to protect manatees and their aquatic habitats for future generations." I used to go to the Lowry Park Zoo and observe the injured Manatees all the time with my family. It is horrible that they are subjected to such cruelty through boating accidents and waterway pollution. Right now, the club is in the middle of a fundraiser where they are encouraging people to 'adopt' manatees for Valentines Day. Funny, because my girl scout troop "adopted" a manatee back when I was a kid. His name was Tiny Tim. I also thought it was an awesome idea to get Jimmy Buffett, someone who is known to hang around these parts, to participate in this organization. I totally love it. Go Jimmy!

Here is a public service announcement for the Save the Manatee Club featuring Jimmy Buffett...

Response to Richard Louv's "Gifts of Nature"

This was probably my favorite of all the readings assigned this week. It was also the one I agreed with most. Louv is very poetic in his narrative concerning children and nature. It was an engaging read that brought me back to my own childhood.



I remember when I was young living in New Jersey. We lived in a very rural part of the state, with farmland and woods all around us. Most of my childhood memories consist of playing out in the field behind our house or climbing the trees in the backyard. Once, we even had a babysitter who wouldn't let us in the house until the sun went down (a little extreme, but we slept well on those nights). Even when it was freezing outside, with a foot of snow on the ground, we were out building snowmen, snow forts, and having snowball fights. I was hardly ever in the house.

It makes me sad that this new generation of children are more concerned with their iPods and computers. I know that times have changed, and it is more dangerous for children to play outside unsupervised, but time in nature played an important part in shaping who I am today. What will happen to those kids who don't have that kind of influence?

Great Blue Heron

This is one of my favorite native Florida birds. When I was little I used to call it the Grandpa bird, and to this day I do not know why I started doing that. Maybe I thought they looked old compared to the snowy egrets I always saw them wading near. Regardless, the name "grandpa bird" stuck with me until middle school, when I learned it was actually called a Great Blue Heron.   

Fun Facts:

• They are the largest North American Heron.
• They are wading birds and use their beaks to spear their pray.
• They can be found on shorelines and in wetlands (or pretty much anywhere there is freshwater in the state of Florida).
• They are also found in states more northern than FL, the Caribbean and parts of Central America.
• Their diet consists of small fish, insects, crabs, amphibians, rodents, reptiles, and other small birds.
• They swallow their prey whole and are known to choke on their food.
• Solitary feeders
• Breed in colonies next to lakes or other wetlands
• Build bulky stick nests and lay 3-6 eggs at a time that usually take 28 days to hatch

Gotta love the Great Blue Heron!!

Oh, hey there, Lichen

I feel like this stuff is everywhere on the trees around campus. I saw a lot of it on the Corkscrew Swamp tour as well.

• Lichen is called the pioneer of nature because it paves the way for other species to grow.
• Lichen can be found in very extreme conditions, from the arctic tundra to the Sahara.
• They are a cross between a a fungus and an algae.
• They live on either dead organic materials or on living organisms because the fungus part of them lacks  chlorophyll and can't produce their own food. This is where the algae comes into play.
• Lichen comes in a wide variety of colors and textures. Some even look similar to mushroom fungus.
• They are extremely drought resistant and can lay dormant without water for a long period of time.
• There are over 15,000 species of lichen.

In this photo you can see red and green lichen. The red lichen is sometimes called Christmas lichen because it is reminiscent of the holidays. These are both considered a "scaly" variety of lichen.

Prescribed Burning

   On the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary field trip, our tour guide/FGCU naturalist was telling us about prescribed burning. It is also known as controlled  burning or swailing. Apparently, forest fires are a healthy and important part of forest development. The fires help germination of some of the important trees and plants that help keep the ecosystem balanced. It also helps keep the soil nutrient rich and encourages new growth. These fires usually char a lot of the taller pines and oaks, but doesn't necessarily kill them.Usually these fires happen naturally after a certain number of years in flat woods areas of Florida, when leaf-litter and undergrowth is thick. The fires can be caused by lightning, or a number of other reasons.

    The state of Florida does controlled burning in many of the state and national parks. They do this so that they can control the time, area, and amount of acreage being burned. This way the wildfires don't get out of control and harm the surrounding human occupied areas. I never knew how important these controlled burns were until our trip to Corkscrew Swamp.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

     On the bus ride down to Corkscrew Swamp, I couldn't help being a little frustrated that I was wasting valuable study time for this university required course. It was impossible to get a wireless signal on my Kindle (try as I might), and as we pulled into the swamp, I noticed I only had one bar on my cell phone. I wasn't really expecting anything really exciting, so I prepared myself to go through the motions and get it over with. I had been on plenty of trips like this for my Environmental Science of Southwest Florida course, and I thought I knew exactly what I was walking into, again.

Then, on the boardwalk, we turned onto a straight-away and I saw this...

     A no-mans land between the place where the pine flat woods ended and the cypress swamp began. This prairie looked like it stretched for a few miles on either side of the boardwalk. The stark difference between the tall tree-ed areas on either side of it was something I don't think I've ever seen before. It was dead and alive at the same time. Hawks flew over the brown brush and a family of raccoons scampered under the boardwalk, creating paths in the wind-blown vegetation.
     I guess at that point I forgot about studying, my Kindle, and the lack of cell phone service I had. I took a picture, but mostly I just looked around. It was unexpected, maybe even made the trip worth the time I lost - maybe. Slowly, we continued into the cypress swamp. The open air was replaced by tangled bare branches, and we were consumed by the trees.