Journal Entry #2

            I thought that the field trip to ECHO was so fascinating. It was interesting to see all of the different animals they had (like the goats and ducks), all with a purpose that helped out the farm, and also all the different ways the crops were planted in different climates. The ones that stood out to me were the mountainside section, the urban garden, and the hot/humid lowlands. I thought the mountainside garden was so different because I never realized that crops could grow in such an area. The urban garden section was so exciting to me because I thought how they can use objects like tires, shallow pools, and even filing cabinets to grow plants in was so creative. The hot/humid lowlands was interesting to learn about because of their technique in how to grow the rice. I thought that it was so fascinating that they did a comparison of each, the first with just one seed being planted at a time and the other in dampen, higher ground. Another part that stood out to me was the appropriate technology area. It was so intriguing to see the inventions like the rope maker and the water pumps for irrigating. The shacks located in the urban garden area was something that really stuck with me. It made me grateful for the life I have and also feel so bad for the people that have to live in them every day. I really admire what ECHO does for those living in under developed countries and are less fortunate. Being that their mission is to help feed those that are hungry, I think it's amazing that they give them the knowledge and resources, such as seeds, to know how to grow their own crops. This way the knowledge of how to grow their own food is so beneficial as it can be handed down to future generations.

Word Count: 315

Journal Entry #1

 

                A lot of my time spent as a child growing up was outside. My childhood neighborhood is in a little town called Muse, which is located right outside of Labelle, Florida. There was nothing really around my childhood home, except for a little country store down the street and a huge orange grove that was right behind my house. My brother and I would walk through the grove so many times when we were children and I can still remember when I would be outside, all I could smell would be oranges and orange blossoms. There was a big empty field that was next door that I would spend a lot of time wandering around, whether it was trying to ride a bike through or climbing the trees. Across the street was a huge cow pasture that my neighbor and I used to walk to and visit the cows every so often. There was also a horse stable near the cow pasture where my dad kept one of his horses, so my family and I would spend a lot of time over there riding horses. In my front yard was a big oak tree that I used to spend a lot of time around, trying to either unsuccessfully climb it or just swinging around on a rope swing that my dad tied to one of the sturdy branches. My dad worked at a vegetable farm just a few minutes away and would often take my brother and I along to work with him to show us what kinds of crops were growing or what animals were out there, like deer, alligators, or panthers. Even though I have since moved away to Lehigh Acres, my time spent as a child in Muse will always be my favorite and have turned out to be such amazing memories.

Word Count: 305