Corkscrew Swamp

Though I had previously visited Corkscrew when I was much younger, getting the opportunity to go again and experience it as an adult has given me a much different insight into just how special of a place that it is. The thing that took me aback the most was the fact that there were almost no mosquitoes in the entirety of the swamp. This fact really spoke to the health of this ecosystem to me, as the abundance of aquatic life being supported represents the clean water and food supply that is available at the swamp. I loved the view in areas where the cypress trees thinned a bit and you could see out into the distance, like in the picture below.

Having grown up camping throughout Florida, it was very fun to go into this environment that looks so different and vibrant compared to some of the other wilderness locations in the state. I didn't remember the alligator flag plants and how prevalent they were throughout the swamp, and learning about how the Seminoles used them and other plants to navigate canoes and avoid predators made me realize how much more in-tune with nature they were than we are today. I don't think anyone of us has enough survival knowledge to survive in that kind of place, so it really does take you back in time to the great history of our state.

When you visit it and think about how Corkscrew represents the natural condition that Florida used to be in, it makes you wonder how things got to be like they are today. Society has misjudged the value of the wildlife and unique ecosystems of the state, prioritizing trivial things like putting plumes on hats instead of considering for a second the birds that they were attached to. What about completely changing the natural water-flow of the state for the benefit of agricultural entities? These endeavors have had disastrous consequences  for the environment here in Florida, and if we don't start taking steps now to ensure that similar things don't happen again in the future. To me, the fact that I saw three pileated woodpeckers there when I've never seen one before is enough of a reason to want to protect nature like that. These unique places mean so much more to Florida than Disney World ever could. I hope other people might come to see it like that as well.

(it's a lot less expensive than going to Disney too!)

What are Animals Thinking? (Not nearly as much as Carl Safina thinks)

I must preface this post by saying that while I respect Mr. Safina's beliefs, I think that he has become to attached to his subjects to have a valid and objective opinion on  what animals "think and feel." So many times during the course of his talk I found myself rolling my eyes and groaning at the ridiculous connections he was desperately trying to make between animal behavior and human emotion. It's almost laughable that he would bring up anthropomorphism as a valid scientific explanation of what animals are doing, and I don't think many would back up his assertions.

Perhaps the biggest mistake that Mr. Safina makes is his constant confusion of instinct for emotion. I've read many pieces about animal intelligence and actions that seem similar to those of humans, and never have any of them led me to believe that what was driving those actions was a human thought-process. What absolutely differentiates emotion from instinctual action is the language of experience that only humans have. Unlike Mr. Safina's assertions, the impact of language on human emotion, understanding, and action has been well documented and understood. The words we use and have available in the language we speak colors the experiences that you have, and can completely change one's emotions about or understanding of those experiences.

It is this development of complex language systems that can be encoded with extreme amounts of detail and emotion that truly differentiates us from animals. It's not even remarkable that other animals "teach" their young. That makes sense and has nothing to do with love or any other emotion, only survival. What sets us apart is that the language we use to pass on information has so many words for emotions, feelings, and other things that animals will never be able to understand or feel. In face, I read not too long ago about a whole list of German words for emotions that we feel but have never had the proper vocabulary to describe. We'd never known we'd felt a certain way until these words were presented to us. This is what separates instinct and emotion. Instinct is automatic, there is no time to ponder the "why" of the action, it's just an action. Emotion is understanding one's instinct on  the level beyond the instinctual, therefore rendering it something beyond instinct.

I have no doubt that dog owners desperately want to believe that their beloved pet feels the same way about them, but I don't believe that lie in the slightest. Why does a dog roll over when it wants it's belly scratched? Hey, here's an idea. Maybe it's not because it understands the concepts of love and trust and recognizes your face,  maybe it just wants its belly scratched because it feels good. That's an instinct, not an emotion, and Mr. Safina could do well to learn that.

The Food Forest

This trip to the food forest was certainly eye-opening for me. I think the first thing about the area that had me impressed was how physically removed it felt from the main campus. Those winding paths through a literal forest of edible plants felt distinct and different from the general feeling of being "on-campus". This was more relaxing, and certainly fit with FGCU's eco-friendly agenda. I can honestly say that the forest is a part of what makes our university such a unique place.

The drip irrigation system was fantastic, and I had never seen one on such a large scale before. This kind of sustainable growing is exactly what we need to be doing as an example to students of sustainable agriculture. I also found the different strategies used by the planners of the forest to be ingenious. The slightly cyanide-containing plants that animals are forced to try before entering the area is a great idea, and I can see how this helps prevents foraging by unwanted pest animals. The use of certain plants that ward off insects and the like is also a great example of "green" agriculture that should be adopted by a larger population.

Perhaps the coolest part about the food forest was the ability to see how different edible plant species grow and are harvested. As we discussed in class, many of us have little idea about what goes into our food production or what that even looks like. To be able to see and harvest chickpeas right off of the plant was very interesting, and it does give you a greater respect for the natural processes that lead to the production of the foods we eat. Even for a small community forest like the one at our university requires a lot of careful planning and hands-on work. However, when you're working with the environment, it works with just as hard as you to carry out its intended purpose.