Historical Recollections & Future Inspiration

Estero Bay

Visiting Estero Bay was a memorable experience, as a class we were able to listen to stories of what the, “Real South West Florida” was like. Our guide provided first hand accounts about what it was like to live in such an inhabited area at the time.

She discussed life as simple but enjoyable, she attended a single room school house with less than twenty students and only one teacher to lead three separate grade levels. She passed around a picture of the students in front of a bus, which the teacher also drove. She recalled growing up in the small town of Ft. Myers on the beach and without electricity.

Her recollections included stories about mosquito filled nights and devastating hurricanes, her photos and newspaper clips only added to the historical experience and the cottage in which we set had been restored to its original state. Her stories about childhood and life on the island seemed almost surreal, she described a life that was based on simplicity and “living” more than status and convenience, two themes that hold constant in today’s society.

Her comments on the environmental changes that have taken place in the area were the most surprising, she discussed the importance of net fishing at the time and the economic and local ramifications of the bands imposed on the practice decades ago. She explained the significance of mullet fishing in the area and the devastating changes in the water clarity she has observed over the years. She recalled how as a child she could easily see 20 feet down to the bottom and how today we are lucky to see 5-10 feet down into the ocean. The increase in pollution and erosion only add to the deterioration of our shorelines and local ecosystems. She also described how the amount of canals on the island have dramatically increased, simply stated, more water means less land, with rising water levels and escalating amounts of erosion, islands world wide are in danger of completely disappearing.

Walking through the grounds was serene, the mangroves have collected into a jungle of roots and branches that reach deep into the moist ground that border the ocean backwaters. Banana spiders weave webs throughout the area and mosquitoes own the land! As we walked along the shore we could hear the sound of mullet jumping in and out of the water, splashing loudly with every leap. We observed the environment and sadly noticed that the water was indeed cloudy and remembered the almost unbelievable descriptions of crystal clear water we had heard only minutes before.

It saddened me to imagine the ecological devastation these women had observed throughout the many decades they have resided in the area. The only positive message I could take form the thought was an inspiration to stop any further damage, to begin restoring this beautiful land and hold their amazing descriptions of an “untouched Florida,” as a goal and hope for the future.

E C H O: A Message Heard Throughout the World

Echo Field Trip

Visiting Echo was one of the most impressive field trips I had ever experienced. Echo is a Christian based organization that strives to end world hunger by educating people all over the world on effective farming and agricultural techniques. The organization sells seeds and helps to instruct citizens of several third world countries on how to better utilize and develop farming, irrigation and agricultural techniques that will supply community members with a surplus of goods to not only feed families with but enough to also generate revenue (sell/trade at local markets).

The property is comprised of several sections that exhibit crops and farming that would be applicable in certain geographical regions throughout the world. Echo has essentially created an international, agricultural blueprint for the world. They display unique farming methods and simple yet successful technology that can be used in order to sustain these farms. Not only does the organization exhibit this technology and production but they also demonstrate how to better utilize household and scrap items for the production of these goods, for example; cinder blocks and old tires can be used as potting resources, not only are you able to recycle items that would be previously considered to be garbage but the material helps to retain water for crops. Other items such as old socks and aluminum cans were also used to improve upon the cultivation of the plants.

The property did an excellent job of applying modern day permaculture practices to classic forms of agriculture. Permaculture is the act of mimicking natural, self sustaining ecosystems as a means of providing crops. The following is a link that leads to an impressive website that documents local and varied types of geographically diverse examples of permaculture.

http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/index/

Echo utilized this technique by raising chickens, rabbits and goats that would produce waste that fertilized the crops. These crops would then produce vegetables, fruits and starches that can feed families and village communities in all sorts of diverse geographical terrains. The organization uses unique trees that produce natural insecticides to prevent crop loss and distinctive plants that not only provide food for the goats and rabbits but also inhibits weed growth that so often competes with crop growth.

These techniques are truly fascinating, so many of these practices can be so easily applied to home gardens, small farms and even urban style agriculture. I hope to be soon purchasing a home of my own and would like to purchase at least two acres, I feel confident that I can employ many of the methods I observed at Echo and hope to also teach friends and family about the simple yet amazingly effective farming systems I observed on our visit to the ECHO grounds.

I encourage any and all individuals to visit the site and gaze in amazement at the art of environmental consciousness and independent sustainability displayed at ECHO!