Earth Abides Farm

Going o earth abides opened up a while new perspective of the world to me. And I love it. We go to live in an area where nature really was dominant. Meeting Marcus an Tom was amazing! They seemed so relaxed and calm with the world around them. Nothing to fear. I loved getting learn about other and find out more about myself. It was funny to find out how much we really didn't need our phones and how much anxiety everyone had when the phone was a big part of life. All the anxieties that people had everyday seemed very silly when we were down on earth. There was less fear and I noticed that there was zero jealousy as well. That was a weird sensation to just love everyone and not have any competition for anything. We all worked together as one. I hope I get to go back someday. I really want my family to get the same experience so that hey can be brought back to earth as well.

Gaia Theory Comments

Gaia Theory:
In class when we watched the Gaia theory videos, I leaned a couple of things. First off, Harding discussed a lot about human needing to connect with the earth. Something interesting that he mentioned was that humans are able to connect with nature when we put it to life and not just imagine it as something dead that we live on. Another thing he talked about was how nature communicated with people and how we can become trees in some sense by the way the photons go into our retinas to make light. HE said that this was the light's way of communicating with us. His perspective is always very interesting but at the same time is makes a lot of sense. Although he is positive about nature, he can be quite negative towards humans, saying tat we need to start fixing the earth now and that we should all be depressed.

Biophilia Essay

Mrs. Andrews

Freshman Seminar

Analysis Paper

October 31, 2014

                                                      Nature Keeps the Crazy Away

    Why has this sudden outbreak of mental disaster surged through the world and infected everyones mines, stealing their sanity? Ever since the burst of technology happened people have been spending more time in front of a screen and less time out in te real world of nature and serenity. In an interview by Steve Inskeep, Richard Louv argue that the human need to spend time in the natural world to maintain mental stability. Louv’s argument proves to be credible, convincing, and certain to make the readers think twice about their consuming of technology compared to their time spent surrounded by nature.

    In the interview Louv discusses how time spent outside  should not only be alone quiet time but time spent with family and friends. He recalled on a memorable experience while fishing with his mother, seeing a competitive side of her. He states “Those things are hard  to forget.” There are certain special memories that are engraved in individuals brains and will forever leave a mark of happiness in their hearts. These moments will not come as easily with watching T.V. or playing video games or playing “flappy bird” on an iphone. That are all short term and can catch people off guard quickly as  they wonder where the time went and how they got so behind on work or how they forgot to meet their friend at the park. This is why it is so important to look up from the devices and emerge into nature to clear the mind of all the ruckus it has been carrying around.

    The importance of experience nature is not to simply help people. It is for people to give back to nature. Everything we have on earth had to come from somewhere and humans certainly do not have the magic that nature does. Thomas Berry who wrote the book “Evening Thoughts”, writes a chapter called “The Place of the Human”, which helps support Louvs theory that people need nature. In this chapter her first discusses the seven “transcendences” to which he believes that people fall under. The transcendences are what causes people to lack appreciation on the natural world. They go as follows: monotheistic creative deity, he spiritual nature of the human, our belief in redemption, transcendence of the mind, technology, and the historical destiny for humans. To sum it up, Berry argues that people have been raised to believe in a god that created everyone and made a place called heaven where everyone can live in harmony after they surpass this world. The earth is greatly under appreciated. And of course technology has not helped.  

    Near the end of the chapter Berry talks about the illusion of the “Wonder World.” He states “This automobile, that bar of soap, this or that trinket will bring you to Wonder World. What we are really getting is  a Waste World.” People are constantly in over their head about what the except to be given in this life and fail to notice what they already have.

        Another author that would support Louvs claims is a man named Edward O. Wilson. He wrote a book called “Biophilia” and it this book there is a chapter called “The right place”. In this chapter he states “If certain human feelings are innate, they might not be easily expressed in rational language. A more promising approach is to explore the nature of the environment in which the brain evolved.” This quote perfectly Louv statement that nature will keep humans mentally stable. If one starts to lose control of their mind, they should bring their mind back to its natural biological environment. He continues to support this claim by saying “It is that certain key features of the ancient physical habitat that match the choices made by modern human beings when they have a say in the matter.” This quote puts one last arguments on how peoples lives revolve around their biological background even when we are living in modern day society. Wilson also illustrates the perfect setting for the human. Under a tree and on a hill that overlooks the sunset and the “beauty of the contrast between the golden carpet of buffalo grass and the pale green of the mesquite trees dotting its surface.”

    To help support the biological connection to the earth, authors Brian Swimme and Mary tucker deepen the relationship between humans and the earth in their book called “Journey of the Universe.” With a unique outlook, the authors compare people to the start and state “the stars are our ancestors.” They argue that both people and start attract and repel even though human are emotional and stars feel the reaction chemically. In addition, both stars and humans started from a single cell and turned into something complex. The authors all clearly argue why nature is important and give the readers various reason why nature is crucial to the well being of individuals. In order to maintain mental stability, people need to visit home once in a while, and I am not talking about the once with a man made roof.

                    Works Cited

Berry, Thomas. Evening Thoughts: The Place of the Human. February 16, 2011.

Swimme, Brian. Tucker, Mary E. Journey of the Universe.Yale University Press, 2011

Louv, Richard. Interview By Steve Inskeep. Saving Kids from A Nature Deficit Disorder’. May 25, 2005. http://www.npr.org/templates/story.php

Wilson O., Edward. Biophilia: The Right Place. January 1986.

Sister Nena Reflection #1

Last week I had the honor of helping Sister Nena with her garden. Although there was not much to do for the actual garden, we worked together to water holes that that the ground could be moist for the men who are going to put in another bed soon. She helped me replant my tree too because I had made the dirt moldy and did not go about it correctly the first try. After we finished watering the holes, Sister Nena invited me in her house and we talked about gardening and cooking for about half an hour.
I feel that these visits with her are very peaceful to me and brings me back down to earth. I did not expect to make friends with a nun! But I love Sister Nena :) She is very nice and she has such an incredible life story. It was amazing to hear about her childhood because it is so different from the lives children are enduring today. She is not judgmental or sour about us "kids these days", which makes it so relaxing to be around her and help and learn! I am really very excited for our net visit. Hopefully she will teach me how to cook. We have been talking about that and I hope that I can help her maw dinner one night. I am grateful for getting these experiences and cannot wait to help her out again soon.

Freshman Requirement Reflection #2: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi

      On Wednesday October 22nd, I had the honor of attending the reception and formal Speech of Dr. Sakena Yacoobi. She was born and raised in Afghanistan and became a refugee at a young age. when she saw all the women struggling and being treated horribly, she absolutely felt a strong urge to make a change. In response to the harsh treatment of women, Dr. Yacoobi started a school system for women so that they could learn their way out of struggles. Once the various extremist groups caught he young women and killed them, Yacoobi responded my creating underground school. It worked. And to this day she is helping more women and influencing more people every day.
      She is so loved by everyone who knows her, except for the crazy groups of people that want to kill her. She is extremely brave and stated that when god is ready for her to die, she will die. Something unique about Yacoobi is that even though she is very spiritual, she made is crystal clear that she accepts al religions and that the education had little to do with a actual religion. her goal is to teach young women actual life skills and how to be smart and strong.
        I completely admire and am inspired by this woman to the moon and back. She was kind and sincere in all the advice she gave, yet very humble. This is the kind of leader that has the biggest influence. People follow her because they want to, not because they are scared or threatened. But because they genuinely love this women. I am so grateful to have had this privilege and especially happy that I took advantage of going to it instead of skipping I for soccer. Because just being in her presence was an honor. It was amazing to meet a glorious person, and see how human they are. because if she is just human than that means anyone can be great like her. It was just such a positive and enlightening experience.

Freshman Requirment Reflection #1: Poetry Night

Poetry Night: Austin Smith

    Austin Smith's poems were incredible. His diction was descriptive, his language was colorful, and he had some odd morbid twists. My poem was one which name I cannot recall. It was one of the only humorous ones I remembered.  THis poem was a personal experience he had while traveling on a greyhound bus across state. He read us his work and described the different passengers on the bus. Next to him was an old lady losing patience and other people around was a lady with turrets, a grumpy man, and another lady who insisted the man behind her was pleasuring himself.

    Everyone in the crowd was bursting of laughter as we have all had those hilarious but frustrating and uncomfortable moments. Austin was descriptive yet blunt. His comments about the man masturbating was to the point. He even put in a couple of quotes that the lady with turrets was yelling. His language made it easy to visualize the setting and created an environment where the audience could experience what he did when he was on the bus. For example when he told us the lady with turrets “blurted out” nonsense and how this caused a reaction in the lady next to him t get frustrated and make angry comments, it was just a crazy and humorous situation. I felt like all of his poems ended very suddenly with a BAM finish that would leave the audience tin thought. All of his poems were incredible, especially the one about his imaginary sister. If he had not told us he did not have a sister, I would have sworn she actually existed. He was descriptiv of her gold hair and stubborn and independent family, Austin even described how she had effect on the family and parents. It was a sad ending to hear why she was living with a mediocre man in a worn out situation. I wondered why he ended many of his poems so desperately. It was skillful yet sad. I would enjoy buying a book of his and reading those poems on my own. They really got to me. It was definitely worth going.

Potrero Nuevo Farm

 The visit to Potrero Nuevo Farm was absolutely amazing. I loved every aspect of it. Getting my knees dirty in the earth, harvesting potatoes, breathing in the aroma of lavender and meeting Bear the awesome dog. It was a great escape from reality while it lasted. Not only did the trip reflect he beauty of nature, it also showed how much human kindness was delivered around the area. It still exists after all. Our group of all different home towns races, cultures and personalities came together and got a huge amount of work done in just a shirt 2 hours. I definitely want my own garden now as well as a Pyrenees dog. I would do it all over again in a heart beat.