Journal 3

I thought the field trip to ECHO was great! I wasn't really excited to go at first especially since I had never heard of ECHO and I wasn't sure what it was all about. I did some research online, and read a few different things, and still wasn't amped up to go. Once we arrived I found it to be more interesting. Some of the things that I learned will probably stay with me forever and I have even been inspired to eventually have my own moringa tree. It's an amazing tree and the possibilities of things it can do are almost endless! It has more nutrients in the little leaves than anyone could have ever imagined, and the way it can purify water just amazed me. I also found the neem tree to be of interest. It has antibacterial properties! It got me wondering why as a community we do not take advantage of these two amazing trees that could potentially, or possibly already are growing in backyards. The entire ECHO community of volunteers and interns is an amazing staff with great goals in mind. It amazes me that they can mimic such different landscapes and weather scenarios to get the necessary information so that they can better communities in different parts of the world. A part of me wishes that they would educate people in the US more, so that we can become more independent on our own agriculture vs. having things imported. I believe strongly in organic food and sometimes i have to not think about where my food is coming from! This trip along with the book A Land Remembered has really inspired me to live as naturally as possible. Maybe I will even have my own homestead one day and I won’t need to rely on anyone! This could an unrealistic goal, especially since I wouldn’t be able to hunt animals all year long, but it's something I really wish could happen one day in the future!
332 words

Journal 2

So I am looking out the window from my apartment and I see trees...thats all. Just trees. It reminds me of being back home when i lived in Maine and trees were the only thing surrounding me. The differene now being that when i walk to the other side of my apartment the only thing i can see is other apartment buildings and cars and pavement. The smell isnt the same, the grass isnt the same, and even though there are trees visible, those arent the same either. I grew up in the middle of nowhere, and i really appreciate being able to go to places where you can't always hear cars driving by, or airplanes flying over head. Given the circumtances of not having woodland areas surround me anymore I feel that I do have enough nature around me to sooth my soul on days when I am really missing "home". Florida is my home now and I love where I live...on most days! I took my dog for an extra long walk the other day to check out the area a little more since i recently moved to a quiter area of town. We live on a dead end road, and all throughout the area behind us are canals and houses right on the water. I even found an area that is protected by the state, completely fenced off that cant be touched my anything or anyone. Its completely natural! I appreciated that this was right in my back yard and I didnt even realize it! Then I kept thinking to myself that this must be the reason that i am constantly covered in mosquito bites. After my walk, i sat down on the couch, looked our the window again, and smiled because I felt lucky to be able to actually have a "natural" place in my backyard when most areas in town don't have that anymore.
(319wds)