7. Following the discussion of consumption, take the Ecological Footprint quiz. Go to -- http://www.myfootprint.org/ -- and find out how many earths

http://www.myfootprint.org/en/quiz_results/

I was quite stunned when the Ecological Footprint quiz told me that it would take five planet Earths if everyone lived as I lived. I really didn’t think that my lifestyle required too much work. When I think about it though, I realize that if they are taking into consideration everyone on the planet, there are so many people that live strictly form the land. Whole communities live off the land and work care to tae care of it.

Though I have dreamed of it before, my lifestyle is not one of a farm life. I think it is romantic to think of a life of working hard in the fields and living off the land. That is just not possible where I am today. I do realize that I have an opportunity to utilize things around me here. My family has composted for many many years, and though I don’t have a back yard I know they have created apartment composts. I also have access to a little bit of land outside my door, at my apartment building. Though it is not ideal for a whole garden, I do have a few potted plans there and could do a better job of growing things that are nourishing.

I do try to recycle as much as I can, but I know I could do more. Something important would be to try harder to cut back on what I consume in the first place. I mean, the packaging specifically. I bring my own bags to the grocery store, but paying attention and buying things that have less packaging, or even farmers markets that use practically no packaging would a great thing to work on.

It may not seem like much, but I know there are many ways that I could cut back on my ecological footprint.

5. Keep a daily log or chart on the number of minutes each day for seven days that you are in the out-of-doors and what you are doing outside (when yo

Saturday, 2/20/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Volunteering at Upward Basketball/Babysitting (playing/eating

dinner): 11 h

Outside Activities: Babysitting (playing outside) 2 h

Parade, Edison Festival of Lights (riding bikes downtown and watching the parade): 4 h

Sleeping: 7 h

Total: 24 h

Sunday, 2/21/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Church/Baby’s Birthday Party/Dinner With a friend/being at home: 15 1/2

Outside Activities: Riding bikes: 2h

Sleeping: 6 1/2h

Total: 24 h

Monday, 2/22/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Babysitting (playing, dinner, bath-time): 14 h

Outdoor Activities: Going to the park: 2h

Sleeping: 8 h

Total: 24 h

Tuesday, 2/23/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Class/Volunteering at Family Resource Center/home: 14 h

Outdoor Activities: Service Project (bagging shells): 2h

Having lunch outside: 1h

Sleeping: 7 h

Total: 24 h

Wednesday, 2/24/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Class/Volunteering at Family Resource Center: 16 h

Outdoor Activities: Having lunch outside: 1h

Sleeping: 7 h

Total: 24 h

Thursday, 2/25/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Babysitting (play, dinner, bath time)/Going to a play

downtown: 14 h

Outside Activities: Going to the Park: 2h

Sleeping: 8 h

Total: 24 h

Friday, 2/26/10

Indoor Activities: Driving/Eating/Babysitting (play/dinner/bath time) : 13 h

Outdoor Activities: Going to the park: 3 h

Sleeping: 8 h

Total:

I would also give myself another 3 hours of outside time of simply walking to and fro from my car, talking to a friend, walking around on campus etc.

22 Total outside hours

168 Total weekly hours

13.1 % of my time in one week was spent outside.

9. List all the items you handle in 24 hours and the packages they come in and list all the food you eat in 24 hours and the packages it comes in, and

It was hard to think about all the things that I touched in a day. I am sure that I missed so many things but I tried my hardest to

laptop – cardboard box

remote for TV – plastic sealer

car

textbook

canvas bag

plastic cup at home

my brush

lufa

hair tie

shampoo – plastic bottle

conditioner – plastic bottle

body wash – plastic bottle

towel

jeans – I plastic bag form store

shirt – 1 plastic bag from store

undershirt – 1 plastic bag from store

“personals” – 1 plastic bag

phone- robber covering/cardboard box from store/ plastic bag

makeup – 4 little plastic containers

makeup brush

1 ring – gold /ivory

set of earrings

tooth brush – plastic/cardboard packaging

tooth past- cardboard packaging

knife

fork

oven – cardboard box

oven mitt

baking stone

paper towel

breakfast

pop tarts (brown sugar) - 422

/foil rapping / and cardboard box it came in

Dr Pepper – 200

/tin can / cardboard box it came in

snack

fruit cup - 60

/single serve plastic cup and plastic seal

cup of cottage cheese - 203

/plastic container

lunch

turkey sandwich – 208

/plastic bag (made at home)

apple- 95

/none

chips – 150

/foil rapping

Dr Pepper – 200

/tin can

dinner

frozen pizza – 175

/cardboard box

lemonade – 45

/pre-made in personal container

desert

Starbucks Coffee (ras/mocha) – 230

/cardboard coffee cup/plastic lid

total calories– 1,988

8. Reflect on the field trip to ECHO. In what ways can people change the way they grow and process food in order to be sustainable?

I really was looking forward to our class trip to ECHO long before we went. I had a friend take the class before me and she only had great things to say. I also currently have a few friends who are missionaries and are in areas of developing countries with very little resources.

One friend is currently teaching in Haiti, where she has no plumbing or electricity. Her students often get one meal a day while they are with her in the schoolhouse, which is made out of a storage portable.

Even though I felt like I knew a lot about ECHO before we went, I still was amazed at all the things they strive to do to help our global humanity.

It may seem like a major undertaking to someone to grow his or her own food. Having lived in apartments the last six years, I know I wouldn’t consider doing it. ECHO helps to show that you don’t need the latest gadgets, or massive amount of land to produce a sustainable lifestyle; you just have to be willing to be resourceful and do the work.

ECHO’s focus on using appropriate and available technology is outstanding. Realizing there are items that just about everyone have access too opens up a world of possibilities. Plants don’t have to grow in a large, expensive terracotta pot, or a field acres and acres in size. Utilizing tires, plastic pools, or any old jar or tub will do the job.

Many fruits and vegetables, grown organically, are available to the public at their local grocery store. Other processed foods can be found in specialty sections or specialty stores, such as cereals, fruit bars, and personal care items.

There are many many items that can be produced in a better way, or as we learned at ECHO, there are many alternative items/plants that we are just not utilizing.

Organizations like ECHO are amazing. I pray for their ministry and their desire and skill of educating not only people in underdeveloped countries, but everyone around the world.

4. Reflect on the field trip to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Describe the values of wetlands in protecting water quality, maintaining biodiversity...

I have a feeling that I have been to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary before, but if I have I don't remember it. Even though it was a bit of a wet day, I was happy to have the opportunity to get out and observe nature. I think the rain was actually beneficial, keeping the air cool and allowing us to see the need for the water in the different areas we walked.

Though Florida seems to get a lot of water, we have our dry seasons too. It is important that we take care of the water that we receive, and make sure it has the ability to flow through our ecosystems naturally. The earth was created to replenish itself. The marsh and swamps provide a place that the water can collect, settle, and be filtered.

Florida drivers all know what it is like when rain falls hard and just runs off the road. It is important that the water not only comes, but also has a place to go. The watersheds that Florida holds are valuable in providing a place for water to be stored.

All of the various plans and animals are crucial to the area as well. We had the opportunity to see such a variety of things while we were there. From anhingas and egrets, to air plans, resurrection ferns (as well as many others) to even an alligator. The biodiversity is amazing.

3. Reflect upon the concept of sustainability as it relates to a) your career or academic major; b) your personal lifestyle; and c) university educati

Sustainability… oh goodness. What a big word. I think at first we think so many things are “sustainable,” or at least we want them to be. Tress that have stood tall for generations, through storms and such. Buildings that have become “historical” by withstanding natural decay. But, when you think about it, everything changes…in some way… in some form, so does that really make it “sustainable”?
I’m currently an education major. Now, we have had teachers for ... well, forever, and we will need them forever, so you could say that this is a very sustainable career. Yet, people that got laid off last year due to budget cuts, or have yet to be hired due to hiring freezes would probably disagree.
For the last five years I held a job as a registrar for a summer mission camp. I actually created this position when the ministry started growing and needed someone to help manage it. I would say that I had good job security. I moved with the company when they relocated their offices from South Florida to North Georgia and it looked like I would be there for a long time. I think of myself as a very loyal employee. I recently left said job on really good terms to go back to school. Does that make me “unsustainable” just because I changed my lifestyle? Am I any less reliable? (I don’t think so)
Many people complain that they are not in the field in which they received an education for. U for a very long time was not perusing a degree because it was not necessary at the time. People would argue that an University Education in these days are a lot less sustainable then they were in the past. More and more people are receiving them, making the job market harder and harder. Yet, a degree, in any field is still held very high. My best friend, who received a BSW holds a higher job title then many on her floor yet she is by far the youngest, due to that degree.

For something to really fit into the category of “sustainability”, we would have to keep the parameters pretty flexible. Is that the point though? For something to be “sustainable” it has to be able to adapt and meet the needs of the current time, or else…. It won’t sustain.

2. Where is your favorite place on campus and what makes this place attractive to you?

Oh where do I begin... well, this is actually my first semester as a student at FGCU so I really have not spent much time on campus recently. I say recently because back during my Senior year of High School (2004) I was on campus a whole lot visiting friends.

The campus has changed in many ways. I would have to say though that my favorite place on campus today is the same as it was years ago. I feel many people would say the same thing... but the beach front. It is not my favorite for the obvious reason of it being a beach, but because of the calming nature it holds. Though sometimes it is fun to be on a crowded beach, I more often than not prefer a more secluded area.

Years ago I used to walk out there with friends in the daytime, and since the student population was not as big as it is now, it really was nice and quiet. There hadn't been much development on the opposite bank so it really felt like a secluded place. At night, it was pretty incredible to sit and watch the sky. Being so close to the airport you could easily see all the airplanes lined up and ready for landing. You could count them, one-two-three-four-five... perfectly placed apart.

The beach area is still a really amazing place to hang out. It is crazy to see all the new buildings and such on the far side, it's a lot brighter at night. Now that I am a student (though I am a commuter) I hope to be able to utilize the boat rentals and enjoy some time out on the water, not just on land.

The beach front may not be as calm and quiet as it once was, but that's a good thing. FGCU is growing and it is nice to see the school, and the students, utilize it's great features.