Fort Matanzas National Monument

Fort Matanzas National Monument is situated on a coastal island south of St. Augustine, Florida. It was constructed by the Spanish in 1740 and completed in 1742.  The main material used in the fort’s construction was coquina which was a common shellstone building material at the time. The fort was used in the effort to ward of the British who wished to encroach on St. Augustine. The only battle that occurred off of Matanzas Inlet was in 1742 when Governor James Oglethorpe of Georgia arrived with 12 ships. The ships were soon detected by the Spanish who responded with a single cannon shot. The fleet left after the fire without causing further action for the Spanish.

Fort Matanzas is only accessible by way of a guided tour boat. Matanzas Queen III was our ride to the inlet. Our tour guide was dressed in the apparel that would have been worn by the Spanish who guarded Fort Matanzas. He must of been relieved to remove the thick cloak after the tour.

After the United States took control of Florida in 1819, the fort was discontinued in use and became a ruin. In 1916 restoration began in an effort to restore the deteriorated fort to its former glory. In 1924 it became a national monument.

Upon the gun deck, I experienced a piece of the past. I was able to see the cast iron cannons which would of been used as a defense mechanism at the fort. Then, I entered the officer’s quarters where a rough bed and fireplace was located. I also observed the powder magazine which was used in storing gun powder. To end our tour, the guide explained history of the fort and gave an exciting demonstration of a musket firing. Everyone held their ears for the firing!

Elizabeth’s Traveling Tips: Fort Matanzas National Monument is free! Find more information at http://usparks.about.com/library/miniplanner/blfortmatanzasnm.htm

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast, FL

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is located in Palm Coast, Florida in Flagler County. The property was once owned by a relative of President George Washington. In later years it was purchased by Louise and Owen Young who built a winter retirement home on the land and named it Washington Oaks. Soon after Owen Young’s death in 1962, his wife Louise considered donating the property to the state of Florida. On January 1, 1965 the Washington Oaks Gardens State Park was officially opened. The park is now well known for the formal gardens which host a variety of ornamental and exotic plants. Included in the park is a rose garden, herb garden, and native plant garden which attract an array of butterfly species.

The park is attractive to those interested in bird watching and nature photography. The gardens peaceful setting makes a morning stroll one of pleasure. Trails are available for hiking or bike riding. For an afternoon meal, picnic tables are available. The area is nicely shaded by a canopy of live oak trees.

 

Among the gardens is a lake surrounded my oak trees and Florida’s State tree which is the Cabbage Palm. Kio fish and Triploid Grass Carp reside in the lake. The Triploid Grass Carp is an effective control for aquatic plants and algae build up. Near the lake is a gazebo where visitors can relax and enjoy the view.

The rose garden shows signs of tender care and is kept well pruned. I couldn’t resist the temptation to take a sniff of their sweet fragrance. Roses have colors of oranges, pinks, reds, and white.

The natural boundaries of the park are the Matanzas river and Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic beach at Washington Oaks is famous for its unique coquina rock shoreline. Long before the Europeans arrived, Native Americans used the water for fishing and to gather shellfish. The Matanzas river has served as a waterway since the time of the Native Americans to the present. Visitors at Washington Oaks can enjoy the waters by walking along the beach shoreline or fishing on the dock.

Before leaving you can visit the gift shop and go through the Owen D. Young Visitors Center. Learn interesting facts about the areas history and listen as recorded speakers give you a peek into the past. To learn more about Washington Oaks Gardens State Park admission prices and hours visit: http://www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks/default.cfm

Falling Waters State Park in Florida

Falling Waters State Park is located 3 miles south of Chipley, Florida. The park has campsite with available electricity, picnic tables, and grills. Nature lovers can take a walk through the trails and might spot a pileated woodpecker pecking at a pine tree. To cool off, you can take a dip in their two-acre lake or walk along the white sands beach. Fishing is permitted for those who have a freshwater fishing license. http://www.floridastateparks.org/fallingwaters/default.cfm 

The main attraction at this state park is a 73-foot waterfall cascading over the edge of a steep rock. This is Florida’s highest waterfall and I was proud to witness its splendor. I wouldn’t suggest visiting in winter though! The wind and cold releases its fury and has no mercy.

Among the waters, I saw a beautiful rainbow.

Falling Waters has natural features such as various sinkholes. They actually served as a hideout for native American warriors during the Seminole Wars.

At Falling Waters, a butterfly garden is prepared each year for migrating butterflies. Wildflowers and nectar rich varieties provide food for weary travelers.

Below is a video of the Falling Water’s Waterfall

 

Blessed Earth, “Serving God, Saving the Planet”

As a special event at Northland Church to celebrate Earth Day, the founders of Blessed Earth were invited to speak. Blessed Earth is a nonprofit which was founded by the Sleeth family in response to the need for a healthier planet. They responded to God’s calling by starting the journey of a more simple life style and caring for God’s creation in the process. The Sleeths’ share their vision with colleges, churches, and media. In the last two years, they have spoken more than 850 times!

The Sleeths’ share their vision to churches of the changes they can make to help the environment such as conducting energy audits on their buildings, installing rain barrels, using green cleaning products, using reusable dishes and instead of disposables, recycling, and creating community gardens. These changes help churches to save money and put towards other needs.

Visit their website at http://www.blessedearth.org/ 

Booths at Northland gave brochures with eco friendly tips. Above, I am standing by the table which was selling books about living “green”. I also had an opportunity to show them my eco bag hand knitted by recycling plastic bags. For my pattern http://elizabethssecretgarden.blogspot.com/2009/05/knitted-recycled-plastic-bag-pattern.html 

Here are the purchases we made. Starting on the left is a book by Matthew Sleeth’s daughter, Emma Sleeth. It is titled “It’s not easy being green.” This is a book for youth who want to make a positive difference in the environment. In the middle is a environmentally friendly Bible made with mixed sources from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fiber. The third book on the right is “Serve God Save The Planet” by Matthew Sleeth. It includes practical ways to to be caretakers of God’s beautiful creation.

Sustainable Living in Costa Rica

Sustainable living is a lifestyle with the goal to reduce the usage of natural resources through a change in transportation, energy use, and food consumption. At this small farm in Costa Rica, sustainability starts in the home where free wind energy is used dry clothes. Another plus is the creation of a garden where food is harvested in the backyard. This lowers carbon emissions that come from food transport.

To begin my tour, I walked down the grass path that divided the gardens. Herbs and fruit trees including bananas were included in the gardens. Some of the different plants are Lemon grass, mint, bay, ginger, citronella, and yucca.

Above is a Bay tree. Commonly used to flavor soups and other dishes.

 

This bushy lemon grass plant is used in flavoring teas and marinades. It promotes digestion, is used as a mild insect repellant, and is said to relieve coughing and nasal congestion. 

This solar dryer is used in drying herbs. It was very warm inside!

Bamboo poles are useful in creating raised beds for planting.

Professors at EARTH University oversee this project with different methods of container gardening.

 

This cool hanging container garden has holes for plants to grow out of and cups sticking out which act as a funnel in collecting water. The funnels are similar to an Aqua Globe with the way they slowly release water into the soil.

Animals on the property provide a local food source and income to keep things running. I chuckled as the duck jumped in an attempt to eat leaves growing on one of the trees. The ducks help reduce pests in the garden.

The Costa Rican woman who owns the property also has her own soap making business to provide income. Her property is a great example of sustainable living. Sustainable living can be modeled by a individual or even by a entire community. Sustainability is a way of life that can help make our planet cleaner and safer.

Check out some environmentally responsible changes you can make in your daily life at http://planetgreen.discovery.com/

Bananas for Whole Foods & Banana Paper Production at EARTH in CR

EARTH University has 3,000 acres of bananas grown sustainably and traditionally. For more than fifteen years EARTH’s students and staff have been experimenting with organic techniques on the banana farm located on the EARTH campus. The banana farms are located on the campuses in Guacimo and Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

EARTH’s sustainable methods provide a positive model in the banana industry. EARTH does not use herbicides, but instead hand picks weeds. EARTH’s use of organic post-harvest fungicide and organic fertilizers lowers the impact on the environment. The organic waste from bananas is recycled into compost or to make banana paper.

Bananas start their journey by being loaded onto this transportation mechanism. The bananas really ride in style from the field to the processing plant! Its like a long suspended cable. At the front of the procession, is a man suspended in his control cart which also is connected to the conveyor system. When the bananas come to a road, the driver causes the metal track to lower for the bananas to float across.

Bananas are sorted and cleaned before being packaged. Trained staff do this job and students come to learn about the process.  The bananas from picking to eating last 22 days before they become too ripe. Experience and skill are necessary to ensure bananas arrive in time with the highest quality possible.

EARTH's organic bananas are sold at Whole Foods Market. It was a great honor for me to be allowed a tour in their banana production facility at EARTH.

 

EARTH recycles organic waste from the University’s banana production and Integrated Farm to create a mixture called Bokashi. Bokashi is similar to compost and is created with organic waste, sawdust, and effective microorganisms. These effective microorganisms help to break down the food waste to turn it into nutrient-rich organic compost. The compost is created in only a month and then can be used as an organic fertilizer for use in gardens and around the farm at EARTH.

Banana Paper Produced at EARTH

EARTH developed a system to recycle banana and paper waste into a valuable new product, banana paper. The banana paper is made out of banana stems and outdated textbooks. Each ton of banana paper made saves between 17 and 20 trees and saves over three cubit yards of landfill space.  The banana paper process also creates much less air and water pollution than with the virgin paper process.

The texture of the paper is very unique. I had a clear conscience when we purchased our banana paper at EARTH because I knew no trees had been cut to make the beautiful paper. The variety of products made with the paper included journals, notebooks, stationary, cards, and even business cards. The products sold support scholarships, research, and university operations at EARTH. I have recently seen banana paper sold at our local Target in Florida which had been made in Costa Rica. My family was excited when we saw it because we knew the inside story of where and how it had been produced!

To see a video of EARTH’s banana production and banana paper project visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT-zn6aiqhU

Father’s Day 2010 Video

In honor of Father’s day, I self choreographed this ballet to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Cinderella”.

Integrated Animal Production System at EARTH University, CR

The Integrated farm at EARTH University was established in 1993. Its purpose is to teach students about animal production as well as a learning center for local farmers and visitors. The Integrate farm is unique in that it practices sustainable farming methods. Not even animal manure is wasted. They are run through a biodigestor to great methane gas which is used in the production of energy for cooking and generating electricity on the campus. After the gas is extracted, the byproducts can be used as an organic fertilizer which reduces the need for harmful chemical fertilizers.

This is the corral where the cows are milked. This process is educational for the students and can be experienced hands on. The sows have access to pastures, and are given and adequate amount of feed, water, and minerals to increase their milk production. Through the sale of male calves, milk, organic fertilizers, and pigs raised at the farm, EARTH receives income which benefits the University.

Goats are another animal EARTH raises. Goats have free range of grass and provide lawn care services in return.

Pigs are fed scraps from the cafeteria which is better for the environment. The animal manure is then moved into the biodigester where decomposition and the removal of harmful bacteria takes place.

The picture to the left shows the biodigester which starts the production of methane gas. As the manure level rises, it flows into the sedimentation canals pictured on the right.

 

Finally it flows into the decomposition pond. Algae growing on the water helps with decomposition. Tilapia live in the pond and alligators feed on the fish and algae. The methane gas created in the biodigestor can be used to create energy and the byproducts are used as organic fertilizer. The excess water can be reused in future processes.

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