Colloquium

Today's trips into the FGCU Food Forest and nature trails were not my first experiences enjoying these spaces. I have been blessed to have been able to spend many days enjoying nature's abundance through foraging, meditating, or observing wildlife. To me, the Food Forest is one of the greatest symbols of student achievement that FGCU has available for public viewing. The fact that it is a direct application of permaculture design using student ingenuity and funds is incredible. It is an ever-changing, yet lasting landmark for future generations in the community to see what is possible when sustainable food systems are put into practice. I love that it is a space that is not only open to feeding FGCU students, but also visitors in the community. Food insecurity is a real issue that can be combated through growing a sharing food within the community. Trail canopy I learned about the mulberries last year as summer rolled around and I was very eager to forage them again....

"You can't know who you are until you know where you are." - Wendell Berry from How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature Take a walking trip around your neighborhood (bring family members and pets!). Observe different plant species, wildlife, and the design of your neighborhood. If you don’t know the names of plants or animals, just describe them. Include photos or video clips. ‘Sense of place’ is understanding the environment around you and the meaning associated with that place. It's the things that make a place special and unique, a place you value or where you feel most at "home". Sense of Place can be very specific (i.e. grandma's house) or broad (i.e. boating in the waters of SWFL). Is where you live now your sense of place? If not, where is your sense of place? What benefits does your sense of place provide you with? Why is it important? Provide some reflections about an area where you have a feeling of ‘s...