Journal 5 - Food Forest

We had a great visit to the FGCU Food Forest!  This was my first time there and I thought it was pretty amazing.  I was aware that it was there but was surprised that it was started for students by students and that students can go and get the things growing there for their use.  Just about everything in the forest is edible and the rest has a use as well.  They have everything from avocados to a plant called Moringa that is known for its many purposes including proteins, vitamins, and minerals.




Our guide was very knowledgeable about the forest and the plants and we were able to understand the benefits of the different plants he showed us on our trip.   He also gave us background about the Food Forest and how it is a perfect map of how sustainability can work.  We have discussed sustainability a lot in our class and some people in our society think that it isn't possible.  They feel that it is too much work.  They feel that it's a "dream" and not really attainable.  The Food Forest is literally living proof that it IS possible with some work and a little ingenuity.  Not only is it possible but in 5 short years, the FGCU Food Forest has proven that this could be beneficial to a lot of people and that doing this across our country, and in others where resources like this aren't available, could provide much needed nutrients and food.  According to their website, (FGCU 2016) "Combining engineering, ecology, horticulture, and design, the Food Forest is a truly creative interdisciplinary initiative that is for students, by students."

My family grows  few things in a garden at our home, all edible items such as strawberries and jalapeños (my personal favorite) and herbs such as cilantro.  My kids LOVE planting them, taking care of them ad then picking them all.  They not only benefit from the plants themselves but also from learning about how to grow things and take care of them and how to use the things we grow. 

I learned about a lot of plants at the Food Forest and I am already planning on planting some in our garden and teaching my kids about the benefit of them.  I think this has been the best and most beneficial field trip thus far.

                                                              
                                                          Work Cited

FGCU (2014). The FGCU Food Forest is by students, for students. Retrieved from           http://fgcufoodforest.weebly.com/who.html.