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.