FGCU Food Forest and Wet Walk

I was amazed to discover that our University, Florida Gulf Coast University, had a Food Forest. The Food Forest is a place on campus that was created by students, and provides students and staff with the opportunity to learn about the types of edible plants that thrive in Southwest Florida. Through the Food Forest we can learn how to grow and cultivate certain plants so that in the future we may be able to go on and plant these plants on our own properties and do so successfully. During our trip to the Food Forest I discovered many new plants I had never heard of before. I learned about Pigeon Pea trees that grow a pea that is similar to green peas, it even has a similar taste and texture, and previously I had never heard of or tasted such a plant (Figure 1).

                                          Figure 1: Pigeon Peas, Obtained from google images

 I discovered that banana trees are less like trees than I was aware. I assumed that banana trees had solid tree trunks but during our walk through the Food Forest I came face to face with banana trees and learned that they actually have fibrous trunks that are closely related to the grass family (Figure 2). I was also unaware before our walk through the Food Forest that we could even grow bananas in Florida, so that was interesting to discover.

                                    Figure 2: Banana tree trunk (internal), obtained from Google images

During our time in the Food Forest I learned that in order for plant species to survive they sometimes need to be spread out throughout the growing area. If plant species are close together and one gets infected with a disease then it will make it much easier for the disease to spread and destroy the entire species. By spreading out different plant species all over the forest it allows the species to flourish even if there is a diseased plant in another area. I had never before put this into perspective and it makes complete sense. One day when I have my own property I intend on having a garden and this information would assist in ensuring that my garden succeeds and does not die due to the accelerated spread of disease. Then of course a good water supply and irrigation system is needed, and the Food Forest was a prime example of a home made and successful irrigation system. I would be interested in looking further into how exactly they put it together and how it works. We unfortunately did not get to really look into that on our field trip. We did however discuss that the best way to make sure plants survive is to know in what climate they thrive best and be smart when planting plants. In Florida we would need to be sure that the plants we are planting will survive the rainy season, but also the dry spells that do occur. This ensures that we are making sustainable choices and not wasteful ones by planting plants that could die quickly.

We also went on a Wet Walk during our field trip. Now I knew there was some trials and what not around the campus and I had actually been to this one before, but not when it was so full of water. I was shocked that the water was as deep as it was and was in no way expecting it to be at my waist but it was. Now I am fairly short, but still it was a surprise. During our Wet Walk we learned about how the Cypress Dome is configured (Figure 3). The shortest trees are along the edges where the water is shallow and as the water becomes deeper the Cypress trees become taller. I did not know of this before so I found that very interesting. I did, however, know that the roots of the Cypress trees filter the water, I assumed it was also the roots that gave the water a brownish tinge of color. I learned that this was false though and it is in fact the tannins that fall off of the Cypress tree and into the water that give the water its color (Figure 4).

                                  Figure 3: Cypress Dome, obtained from Google images

                                Figure 4: Cypress Dome water, obtained from Google images

The Food Forest and the Cypress Dome are both prime examples of natural Florida wildlife. The Cypress Dome is a representation of how Southwest Florida used to look all over, and explains the importance of these natural formations. The Food Forest exemplifies the importance and simplicity of growing and maintaining ones own edible garden or "Forest". These both promote sustainability by teaching students the value of nature and it importance in society and economy. This goes hand in hand with FGCU's mission in sustainability and teaching students the value of natural resources. In today's day and age we place a high value on technology and technological advantages and sometimes this is at the cost of destroying natural habitats. By teaching students at an early stage that these natural formations are just as valuable (if not more) than developing urban areas we can preserve and maintain and balance that still focuses on the importance of nature.

Also FGCU provides students with places on campus where they can escape the normal hum drum of everyday hectic school life. By escaping the loud, busy, and distracting environment that is a University campus, students are given the opportunity to really focus and leave the distractions behind. Many people, young and old are becoming victims of the age of technology and it takes a toll on their (school) work because ADHD and ADD are increasing in children causing problems in adulthood. Nature Deficit Disorder proves that leaving technology behind and going to a calm and green environment can aid students and adults in better concentrating on their work. This is also what FGCU provides with their focus in nature education and preservation (Figure5).

                                     Figure 5: FGCU campus, obtained from Google images