FGCU Food Forest

       I had always heard of the food forest, but I had never actually been there (hell, I didn't even know where it was located on campus). Immediately after arriving, I realized what I had been missing out on. I was extremely impressed with the entire set up, especially knowing that it is entirely student grown and managed. What was also very helpful was knowing that the students who work and volunteer there were so willing to help and teach each other about the food forest and all of it's plants. Our Naturalist Tour Guide (I believe his name was Matt) was very knowledgeable and was able to teach us a lot and answer most of the questions asked.



Inside the Food Forest

      The fact that these plants are strategically planted to be able to help one another and keep the ecosystem strong is a very cool concept. For example, the pigeon pea removed nitrogen from the atmosphere to help balance the soils nutrients. Other plants will even have chemicals within the leaves to act as naturally occurring pesticides. I found this all very interesting, seeing the plants work as a team to be able to host a beautiful ecosystem.

      I learned a lot about edible plants that I didn't know before. For example, the Firebush is edible and makes a great tea for women because it is loaded with Estrogen. Also, the Moringa tree is one of the most nutritious and beneficially plants to eat. Loaded with Vitamin C&D, antioxidants, protein, and calcium, this plant provides nourishment to many impoverished countries. By eating the leaves raw, cooking them like spinach, or drying them into a powder, this plant can provide the human body with loads of essential nutrients. When talking about the Banana tree, Matt actually informed us that it is not a tree, but the largest herb on the planet. If you squeezed the trunk you would realize that it was much softer than wood and easier to break and squeeze. We also looked at a lot of other edible plants such as pineapples, jack fruit, mulberries, and many more.

Banana "Trees"

Moringa Tree

Pineapple Plant

     I now have am even greater appreciation for the foods I eat. Going on this field trip and talking to my professor about gardening, I am very excited to grow my own foods when I leave campus housing. I would one day like to create my own self sustainable garden and be able to benefit from natures kitchen.

       The food forest is a PERFECT representation of FGCU's aspiration to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Not only do the plants help one another, but even the wood that goes into the fences was considered prior to installation. Every aspect of the Food Forest was very strategic and planned to help the sustainability.

Koreshan State Park

      Prior to our field trip, I had never heard of the Koreshan State Park. Covering about 200 acres right off of the highway and Estero River, the Koreshan State Park has a variety of beautiful plants and animal species. After receiving our tour around the facility, I had learned about Cyrus Reed Teed and his journey in 1894 to bring his followers down to Florida and create a "New Jerusalem" in his "Koreshanity"religion. With very peculiar beliefs such as saying that we live within the earth, the Koreshan people were very interesting to learn about. It is hard to understand their ideas and theories because they are so atypical, but it was very intriguing.

Doctor T's Model of Living within the Earth

     Another interesting aspect of the park is the mass amount of plant life, including exotic and invasive plants. There were many types of plants such as the Monkey Puzzle Tree, the Mother-in-law's Tongue, Chinese bamboo, and Japanese bamboo(See following pictures) that did not originate in Florida. The Koreshans  brought plants from up north and from other parts of the world because they were found aesthetically appealing.



Monkey Puzzle Tree (Right)



Mother-In-Law's Tongue



Chinese Bamboo

      Although these plants may have been seen as décor, it can be very dangerous to introduce new species of plants to any environment. Some plants, such as the Mother-in-laws Tongue, are invasive and will grow out of control. Another species of plant we learned about is the Air Potato, which is know to grow out of control and suffocate the growth of other plants. It is important to do your research before planting new species to see the effects it will have on the plant and animal life around it. 

Air Potato Plant

     Another species of plant we observed was the red mangrove trees. Mangrove trees, native to Florida, greatly help in providing shelter to small animal species and aiding against land erosion. This is just one example of why it would be important to conserve the natural environment of not only the park, but our earth. By preserving our natural resources and existing species, we are able to keep the ecosystems balanced. Each link is the food chain can create significant value in an environment over all.  

     At the same time, I believe it is important to preserve the historic environment. Without Dr. T and his pilgrimage, Lee, Fort Myers, and Estero may have never became what it is. Having historic sites like this help people to learn while remaining interested. These types of sites preserve stories and lessons from the past and give the new generations an opportunity to learn.  

      In relation to the course, the Koreshan's were very self sustainable. They grew their own food, collected their own water, and functioned completely independently. Although they mixed some plant breeds that don't necessarily cooperate with one another, the Koreshans were very sustainable.

Water Collection Tank

      The Koreshans created their own sense of place and built a true home. They even created an urban type of society with commerce along the highway and Estero River. The community thrived until Dr. T died and shook up the belief system.

      Over all, this was a great experience and a very interesting fieldtrip. I would like to go back soon to kayak and walk the nature tails. This was a very enjoyable class activity, especially given the beautiful weather, and should be repeated for semesters to come.

Downtown Adventure

Prior to our fieldtrip, I had only been to Downtown Fort Myers once in my life. When I when, it was night time and a completely different experience. During the day (especially in the weather we had), Downtown is a beautiful place. The city has a very relaxing balance of nature, and beautifully maintained streets and store fronts. The area was clean, and very aesthetically appealing. There was art on nearly every street corner, and all of the building were in good condition. Downtown Fort Myers is a beautiful area filled with food, fun, culture, and history. The pizza was great, too(ha!).

The area it self was very pedestrian-friendly, with plenty of crosswalks, sidewalks, store fronts, and restaurants. Friday and Saturday nights are much different than the week days, so the traffic will greatly vary. Given that the areas we were in had very narrow streets with pedestrians everywhere, it is not the most settling place to drive around. But when you are on foot, this area is differently a fun place to spend an afternoon. With the option to go out on a dock and look at the boats, parks and fountains to hang out around, and plenty of places to shop and eat, Downtown is a perfect place to spend an afternoon.

Transportation also varied in Downtown: There were plenty of people on foot and biking, a steady flow of cars, and an option of Lee Transit busses. Given that the streets were small and the parking spots were scares, it was much easier to navigate through the city on foot. Not only did the set up of this city make pedestrians comfortable, but it also made the more environmentally-friendly option of transportation the most appealing one.

Florida Gulf Coast University's urban environment was a little different than the Downtown urban environment. When living on campus, you need to drive ANYWHERE that is not a part of campus. If you want to grocery shop, retail shop, or go out to eat, you will have to drive at least 5 minutes to any destination. When we were exploring the downtown area, I noticed that everything was in walking distance. When trying to evaluate my surroundings, I sat on the stairs of the courthouse and looked up the nearest grocery store just to find that I was currently 4 minutes of a walking distance away from a Publix. This type of set up is very convenient and enjoyable. When I buy a home one day, I would like to live near areas such as this. There are always things to do Downtown, and you can walk nearly everywhere.

The following are some of my favorite pictures from my experience Downtown: