Waste Energy Plant field trip

   This week in class we visited the Lee County Waste Energy Facility. If you throw away your garbage in Lee County it comes here to be changed into clean energy.  The plant reminds me of a twisted claw game that you find at many miniature golf places. It picks up the trash with a giant metal claw and dumps the garbage in a big bin to be burned by flames fueled by propane gas. This is entirely more efficient than landfills with the added bonus of the trash getting turned into usable energy. Thankfully decreasing our dependency on natural gas, oil and coal.

   I wish our county would get rid of our landfills and conduct business this way also, but we don't.  It seems more practical in every manner.  It pays for itself over time because they produce and sale the energy that it produces. It doesn't fill up miles of land with raw garbage and it is better for the environment. Hopefully, more counties in this area will catch on and go green.

Punta Gorda field trip

     The first stop we went to was the Wyvern Hotel.  The building was huge and offered a horizon view from the top.  On one side we saw Charlotte Harbor, to the other was downtown.

     The next place we stopped was History Park.  There we saw the  "Price House." I was intrigued by the design of the old houses and the stories that were just as much of the foundation as the actual house itself.  

     The last place we stopped was at Ponce De Leon Park where we stopped by a hot dog stand and then went for a walk. We walked around and viewed the animals including a bald eagle that they hold in captivity in the small zoo type area and then out through mangrove trees to the pier by the water.  We watched as the boats came in and enjoyed the day out by the water.  

Personal Journal #5

   In class this week I read a chapter from "State of the World," entitled "Broadening the Understanding of Security."  I reflected upon the topic as I went out for my walk around the neighborhood.  I passed by some pastures and down to my local gas station.  This chapter is basically about humanity and poses the question can it rally around a common goal/purpose and leave behind its history of costly conflicts and divisions?  As I passed by the gas station this idea rolled around in my head. Outside the gas station sat several drunks who frequent that area and on most days can be seen on the side of the building on top of milk crates. I was thinking, if society can not come together to fix problems locally such as homelessness, vagrancy and alcoholism then how can we expect to discard our intercontinental issues and come to any major world changing agreements? America is a good representation of multiple countries coming together because we ourselves  are a melting pot of many races, creeds and backgrounds. With that in mind, I look around and see that right now I don't believe we can come together as one voice until the situation is dire.  That is just the natural case of human beings. We must be forced into making changes because our lives are built on convenience and accessibility.

Personal Journal #4

   I live in Nocatee, FL which is a small town next to Arcadia, a slightly larger small town.  There really isn't much to do except be involved in nature.  Nature surrounds me because quite frankly there is nothing else out here.  I took a walk by the banks of Peace River and enjoyed the fresh breeze.  It is actually very nice out and the wind is strong and cool on my skin.  We jestingly refer to Peace River as Nocatee Beach because most days you will see many people perched on its banks with fold out chairs and umbrellas in hand.  Its nice to have a slice of nature so close to my front door.

Babcock Ranch

This week our class visited Babcock Ranch, a 17,000 acre planned community plus additional acres that contain a "working ranch." It is one of the largest cattle ranches in Florida.  We took a tour of the ranch on a large cut away bus that was driven right through the woods and swamps.  Our guide offered practical knowledge of the plants and animals that occupy the ranch. At one point she actually brought a baby alligator on the bus for us to see and touch. 

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 Here is a picture of the "cracker cattle" that we came in contact with on the ranch.  They slowly grazed through the pasture right outside our windows, only feet from the bus.   

   
The trip was fun and very educational.