By Jonathon Elwood Smith
Sustainability Studies Intern
My internship is helping Michiana become more sustainable because it provides organic healthy food for the church pantries. Also, community garden activities allows for networking between local residents to volunteer and become more active in their local community.
Getting people involved in community projects such as this one gives residents the opportunity to learn about growing food; which in my opinion is a survival skill many do not have and should acquire. Local farming considers of all four of the system conditions in terms of practice. Thus, the four systems conditions of sustainability can be accomplished on local levels to advert away from the massive overseas food supply reliance. In practice my internship first hand was able to let me put my skills to work in the field. I have accomplished not taking resources out from the earth, or putting chemicals back into the land, or leaving the land derogated. This in turn, creates an environmental setting on campus where healthy happy people can enjoy the bounty that nature has to offer and see its beauty.
The four system conditions come into play whenever there is food production that is taking place. One example came into play when working in the garden by the simple fact of weed control. Instead of chemicals, the use of manpower to remove the weeds by hand avoids putting chemicals into the land and food that we eat.Even though it was time consuming to pick though the plants and pull the weeds it helps to create a close connection to the plants from which we rely on for our very survival.
My compelling vision for my intern site is to plant cherry trees out by the garden to add to the beauty of the land and to gain the harvests of the fruits while at the same time supporting the college theme colors.
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