December 1st - Final Presentations

Today we presented our final presentations on various topics. Each group had a different topic, which they chose from a list that was provided to us. These were interesting and insightful topics into some sustainable practices and native plants, animals, and other organisms.

Reducing Energy Use (Group 1)

• An important factor and step towards sustainability is reducing our energy use, not only in the United States, but also worldwide. Some ways that we can be more energy efficient is by having energy efficient machines, such as dishwasher and washing machines. With these technologies, we also have to be more mindful of energy. In order to do so we should load up the dishwasher and washing machine rather than having one or two plates or a couple shirts in a load. By loading the machines up we can reduce the number or loads that we need to do and reduce the water usage in our homes. Other ways we can be more energy efficient include installing solar panels or using LED lights, insulating our homes to keep them cooler, walking, biking, or using public transportation in order to save gas, and using water-efficient toilets. There are various ways to be more energy efficient and we presented just a few ways to do so. 

Native Plants (Group 2)

• This presentation was very interesting. I actually didn't know a couple of plants that they presented and what they could be used for. They also explained what popular plants that are seen in Florida are used for, such as making pancakes and rubbing it on infections as an antibiotic lotion. White water lilies, for example, are used for bronchial problems and dermatological issues. Most of the plants that they introduced have medicinal qualities and can be helpful to know what each plant can be used for in case something happens when you're out in nature and that is the only thing you can find. 

Biomimicry (Group 3)

• Biomimicry mimics patterns that naturally occur in nature and in animals in order to be more sustainable. The goal of biomimicry is to create products, processes, and policies that are well-adapted to life on earth. One of the examples they provided was a building in Zimbabwe that mimics a mound of termites. These patterns are not only seen in animals but also in agriculture, such as the Colombian Coffee Farm System and Land Institute's Natural Systems Agriculture Project. The latter is a model of food production that focuses on sustainable methods that deviate from GMOs and other "unnatural" production of foods. 

Beekeeping (Group 4)

• Bees are very important in the ecosystem. The Queen Bee is at the top of the hierarchy, then come the worker bees, and finally the drones. The Queen Bee is responsible for reproducing for the entire hive. Bees are important because they pollinate the flowers. Apiary, or bee yards, can differ in shape and size depending on the beekeepers preference. Beekeeping is done in order to collect the honey that bees make in order to jelly and beeswax for sale. Protective clothing is necessary in order to not get stung by the bees and beekeepers use smokers in order to calm down agitated bees so they don't escape or sting the beekeeper. 

Permaculture (Group 5)

• Permaculture is a system of agriculture and social principles that focus on simulating the patterns that are observed in natural ecosystems. On our field trip to ECHO we saw exactly how permaculture works. This includes sustainable ways to grow food and techniques to have different kinds of plants growing side by side so that they can work together. Permaculture practices include rainwater harvesting, sheet mulching, and fruit tree management. Within South Florida, permaculture is extremely important since we have a variety of plants that have different needs, such as high or low temperatures, and require more water than others.