Patrick Smith - A Land Remembered

A Land Remembered: Focus on Solomon MacIvey

 

A Land Remembered

The novel A Land Remembered, is full of incredible characters. A Land Remembered focuses on three generations of the MacIvey family who migrated to Florida during the 19^th century. At first there are many struggles that the family has to deal with. They soon adapt to live off the land and start a cattle & citrus business. The character that I thought went through a transformation in the novel was Solomon MacIvey.  

Solomon MacIvey, or Sol, is a third generation MacIvey, who likes to call himself “the least of the MacIveys”. He was born into the cattle business and taught by his father Zech and his grandfather Tobias. After his father dies he decides to leave the wilderness for a new life. This new life was a miserable one because he soon became power hungry, selfish, and obsessed with big business. He uses some of his father’s land to start a business. At first he is saddened by the real estate boom and buildings popping up on either side of his family’s land, however he couldn’t resist the temptation of a profit and soon gave into real estate and created the MacIvey Real Estate and Development Company. Sol soon falls in love with a girl named Bonnie who helps change him. It wasn’t until after her death during a hurricane that he realizes the monster he’s become.
         Sol’s character relates to the environment in two ways: in a positive way before his father’s death, but a negative way after he passes. He realizes he made a mistake of building on the land his father wanted to preserve. I feel that Solomon feels a sense of place in nature, back at Punta Rassa. I believe he has a strong attachment to this place because after he realizes he was utilizing the land wrong, he gives away some of his possessions and returns there as his final resting place.  

  Sadly, Solomon only left behind a physical legacy because he created many buildings and businesses with his family’s name. He realized that he had exploited the land after the damage had already been done, and progress isn’t reversible.

Although Solomon lived a painful life, I choose him because I can feel for him. I feel that he made decisions to misuse the land rather than preserve it because he did not have to go through as many hardships as previous generations had to establish themselves. His parents and grandparents had to create a new life for themselves in the scrub of the Florida wilderness. When Solomon was born he was just taught what they had worked for. He experienced tragedies in his life and using his family’s land for a profit seemed like a good solution. I don’t blame Sol for the choices he made in the novel because I understand his point of view. Like Sol, I am a third generation in America where things come easier for me than they did for my parents or grandparents. My grandparents came from Italy and made a living for themselves. They worked hard and appreciate things differently than I do.

  Overall I enjoyed the book. I thought Patrick Smith did a really awesome job at illustrating early Florida and the hardships that the MacIveys went through.

Grunwald- Endgame

“Florida conservationists had helped stop plume hunts, preserve millions of acres of wetlands, mandate minimum flows to Everglades National Park, and secure the largest nutrient cleanup in history. But the Everglades was still dying.” (Grunwald 78)

Green Mangroves Source: Everglades Foundation Instagram

 Grunwald’s excerpt in the Colloquium reader showed the some of the struggles that lie behind the politics and the process of getting things prepped to improve our nation & society. When the Bush-Gore election was taking place in 2000, I was in the first grade and unaware that any of these environmental issues were taking place. Its interesting to read about all that was going on, especially in our state of Florida. I felt the quote above was a good translation of the article’s purpose. Conservationists are always working to protect and save the Everglades, and no matter how much they did, or how hard they worked, the Everglades was still dying. The excerpt then discusses the tug of war action taken to preserve this unique landscape. 

“The basic message was that it made no sense for the federal government to green-light a major airport at the edge of the everglades at the same time it wanted taxpayers to spend $8 billion to restore the Everglades.” (Grunwald 82)

Source: Cost to the Environment

When a large airport was going to be built on top of the Everglades in Homestead a controversy occurred. The target of many campaigns was Al Gore, who could kill or approve construction of the airport. He stated that he wanted a “balanced solution that would help the economy without hurting the environment” (Grunwald 83). Later Gore stated: “I didn’t think the airport threatened the survival of the Everglades” (Grunwald 84). This whole section of the excerpt seemed like a hug tug of war, constantly pulling back and forth between big business and money, or preserving the environment. I personally feel that Gore’s statement about not realizing that the airport would threaten the Everglades is illogical. It would be taking away land from natural habitat, creating all sorts of pollution and runoff, and septic systems would be draining into the Everglades’ waters.  For an educated politician to not realize this is senseless.

“As the new millennium dawned, the Everglades was not yet saved. But it was not yet doomed either.” (Grunwald 103)

Everglades Ecosystem Source: Everglades Foundation Instagram

I thought that this final quote was a very powerful statement. I feel it translates to mean that the Everglades is not yet in perfect, pristine condition, however it’s not in peril either. Since this excerpt was written in 2006 large strides have been made in Everglades protection. The Everglades Foundation website states, “During the 2014 session, the Florida Legislature made tremendous strides in the ongoing effort to protect and restore America’s Everglades. The Legislature increased overall funding to $169 million – more than double the previous year’s funding for water quality improvements and restoration.” I bet Grunwald would be happy to see the progress.  

Read more about funding on the Everglades restoration projects Here!

Douglass- The Nature of the Everglades

There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them (Douglass 104)

Image Source: a beautiful everglades sunset 

This quote really amazed me. I have lived in South Florida my entire life. I have taken multiple class trips to the everglades, done projects about mangroves, or saw grass, and not once did it occur to me how lucky I am to have experienced all of it.  “There are no other Everglades in the world” is such a powerful statement. There are so many other natural wonders in the world, like the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls, and in that category, the Everglades seems highly unappreciated. Douglass was so detailed in this excerpt. It seemed more like poetry than facts. I feel that more people should be introduced to the Everglades and all it offers.  

Source: Saw Grass

They call it saw grass. Yet in the botanical sense it is not grass at all so much as fierce, ancient, cutting sedge. (Douglass 108)

  I thought this was an accurate and humorous way to describe saw grass. When I was in 4^th grade my class took a trip to the Everglades. We went on an air boat ride and stopped to take a look at the saw grass. I’ll never forget my reaction to it. My teacher cut a piece down, & passed it around. We all felt the sharp edges and were told to brush it downwards so it wouldn’t cut us. It was so different, and so unique. After reading this excerpt I felt special to have experienced something so unique to such an extraordinary place.

There are not four sharply marked seasons, as in the North. Here winter and spring and summer and fall blend into each other subtly, with nothing like such extremes of heat and cold. Here, actually, there are only two seasons, the wet and the dry. (Douglass 112)

Source: Florida Seasons

As with all the other quotes in this excerpt, I felt extremely connected to this one. Anyone from Florida can tell you that there are no seasons here like there are up north. The leaves don’t change, and the temperatures don’t dramatically drop. We all know that the summer rains pour down every hot afternoon and disappear as quickly as the rolled in. I imagine this would be interesting to someone from a different state or country to experience.

The life and death of the saw grass is only a moment of that flow in which time, the vastest river, carries us all life forward. The water is timeless, forever new and eternal. Only the rock, which time shaped and will outlast, records unimaginable ages. (Douglass 128-129)

Source: Beautiful Everglades

 
 I thought this was a beautiful statement. The Everglades is constantly changing, and so are we. Life is short when you compare it to the amount of history and beauty that the Everglades hold. The water that was in these rivers is not the same water that was there hundreds of years ago, the waters always changing, always flowing. Only the rock has withstood the changes of time. 

Leopold - The Land Ethic

“a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens  from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it” (Leopold 60)
           

Image Source: Leopold Land Ethic

We always think of ethics as applying only to other humans. This statement implies an ethic towards the land. I agree with this quote because it implies that we respect the earth and its creatures as our equals. I feel that this is a powerful statement because it suggests that we make an effort to preserve and protect our planet. When I think about this, it just makes sense. The earth gives us so much, and many of us, including myself, take it for granted. 

“nearly a century of propaganda, conservation still proceeds at a snail’s pace.” (Leopold 62)

My Target Reuseable Bag! Photo By Christina Sabella

Companies are constantly trying to become more “environmentally friendly” or “green”. We continuously see advertisements promoting recycling, saving fuel, etc… For this reason, I disagree with Leopold and feel that conservation is moving at more of a brisk walk than a snails pace. Many companies are promoting “being green” in creative ways and providing incentives to do so. Target for example will give you 5 cents off your total purchase for each reusable bag you use instead of plastic. H&M and Starbucks are in the loop too. You can recycle your old clothes at H&M for a discount on new ones or bring a reusable mug to Starbucks to save 10 cents and a cup from being placed in the trash. Although these are only little things you can do, I believe it’s a step in the right direction and companies are doing the right thing. 

Find out more about the above on these websites:

Target's Sustainable Living

H&M's Reduce Waste

Starbucks Reuseable Cups Goals

“in our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial.” (Leopold 65) 

            Many parents, teachers, businesses 

Image Source: Teaching Conservation

 and governments are trying to make conserving the earth an easy task, however Leopold believes that we have made it trivial, or of little importance. I’d like to disagree, mostly because this article was written in 1949 & I feel a lot has changed. I believe that education is the first step in creating a more sustainable future, and this class is a perfect example. Thousands of students leave this university with the knowledge and experiences to help better out planet and create a sustainable tomorrow. I also believe that 65 years ago many people may not have been concerned with conservation because there was, what seemed like, an abundant supply of goods. Now with more technology, people can look into the future if conservation programs are not put in place. For these reasons I believe that conservation efforts are not trivial, but rather pertinent.

“One basic weakness in a conservation system based wholly on economic motives is that most members of the land community have no economic value.” (Leopold 65)

           

Image Source: Eco Friendly Production

 

 I agree with this quote. I feel that our conversation system is highly based on economics. Most big business owners believe that most things worth preserving aren’t worth much value, so in turn, they are not protected. They also believe in saving a few bucks. Often times a more sustainable production method or using better resources is more expensive than earth damaging methods. It is because of this that companies often opt for cheaper and more destructive methods.

Louv-Nature Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment

"nearly 40 percent of American schools either eliminated or were considering eliminating recess."(Louv 1)

Image Source: Jump!

As an education major I spend plenty of time in schools, interning and observing. One question I find myself often asking is when the children get recess or gym. I’m often disappointed in the response. The majority of schools I have been too do not provide children with the indulgence of having recess and physical education in the same day. P.E is usually once a week. Recess is often only earned with good classroom behavior, or only given on Fridays. One school I went to even had a system of “inside recess”. As this excerpt from Louv supports, I believe that children need time outside with nature, and fresh air to unwind from the day’s work. I believe that school board officials are constantly pushing a harder more academically involved curriculum. School days are longer, and activities that are considered non-academic are being cut. Sadly this includes music, art, gym, and recess. All of which I believe to be vital to a child’s mental and physical health. 

"many parents notice significant changes in their children's stress levels and hyperactivity when they spend time outside" (Louv 4)

Image Source: Children Running

I strongly agree with this statement from Louv. Being outside allows a child to roam free and experience new things in a constantly changing environment. If a child is kept inside all day there are limits on what can be done, or played with.  Children that are surrounded by walls all day need time to unwind and use up stored energy. If they sit on the couch all day, none of their energy would be used. By running around in a boundless area children can reduce their energy levels in a healthy way, which can create a healthier, happier child. 



"the greener a girl's view from home, the better she concentrates, the less she acts impulsively, and the longer she can delay gratification." (Louv 8)

My View From Home. Photo By Christina Sabella

  I feel that this statement is debatable. I do not agree with this quote for the reason that everyone is different, regardless of where or how they are raised. Using my family as an example, my younger sister and I are 20 months apart, and were raised in the same way, by the same parents, in the same house. We live in a suburban area, however we live on a canal at the boarder of the Sawgrass and always played outside. We were always seeing new animals and learning about nature. I consider myself a “rule follower”, I don’t like to step outside my comfort zone, and I don’t act impulsively. My sister on the other hands is out of bounds, and most definitely not a rule follower in any sense. She acts impulsively and cannot delay gratification. Even though we both grew up with the same amount of “green”, we are both completely different people. This is why I consider this statement to be true only in some cases. 

"To take nature and natural play away from children may be tantamount to withholding oxygen." (Louv 11) 
 

Baby Christina!

I do feel like Louv is exaggerating with this statement, however, I feel it serves its purpose. Louv is stressing that removing environmental and physical play from a child’s life is equal to withholding oxygen. Natural play helps expand a child’s imagination and allows them to explore the world on their own terms. Children who are cooped up inside on electronics are often exposed to violence at an early age. These children have less vivid imaginations than those who are allowed to explore and let their imaginations run wild. I believe natural play can also teach children a lot about the world around them and can help them create a love of nature within themselves. 

 




"contact with nature is as important to children as good nutrition and adequate sleep, then current trends in children's access to nature need to be addressed" (Louv 12)

Image Source: Family Picnic

Ask any pediatrician & they’ll tell you that children need to eat properly, get enough sleep, and enough physical activity to stay healthy, but why don’t they mention time with the environment? I agree with Louv when he says that contact with nature needs to also be addressed. Being outside in the fresh air can help children with many disorders, stressors, or illnesses to cope with these things, relieve stress, and feel better overall. Children spend the majority of their time at home and at school. Free time outside should been seen as essential to a child’s health and implemented regularly during the school day and at home.

Orr - Love It or Lose It: The Coming Biophilia Revolution

 “Biophobia is not OK because it does not distribute fairly the work of keeping the earth or any local place” (Orr 191)

Image Source: Green Earth

Orr supports this quote by using the term “free-rider problem”. He describes this term by stating that it is when an individual or a group receives all the advantages and benefits of membership while doing none of the work to contribute to those advantages. I felt a real connection to this quote and I could see it applied in many ways. A simple example would be working on a group project in class where you would complete all of the work while some students do absolutely nothing. In the end, the entire group receives the same grade. The same goes for the environment. Humans living on this planet can be compared to an extensive group project. Every day the sun rises and gives us a beautiful day. Some people choose to spend the day preserving nature and working to create a more sustainable future. This could be as simple as recycling, saving water, or preserving electricity. On the other hand, there are people who “free-ride” and contribute to the problem, but in the end, these careless people still breathe clean air, drink clean water, and harvest the benefits of clean soil. Humans are not distributing the work fairly and I feel that this could lead to a world of problems in the future. Everyone needs to be on the same page to preserve this earth and the only way we can create a sustainable future is if we distribute the work fairly.


We are bound to living things by what Wilson described as an innate urge to affiliate, or “Biophilia,” which begins in early childhood and “cascades” into cultural and social patterns.” (Orr 194)
 

Image Source: Children Learning in Nature

To me, this quote means that all humans are born with the need to associate themselves with nature. I feel that this is a strong statement, however I think that whether or not Biophilia “cascades into cultural and social patterns” depends on the child’s upbringing and family. All children have a natural curiosity and always feel the need to ask questions, this is also applied to nature. Children love being wet and dirty, finding bugs, and are curious about the natural processes and wonders of the world. The way they are brought up can lead to Biophilia or Biophobia. That is why it is essential for schools to promote a love of nature and feed children’s natural curiosities.

“We should worry a good bit less about whether our progeny will be able to compete as a “world class workforce” and a great deal more about whether they will know how to live sustainably on the earth.” (Orr 206)

Teaching a lesson about Bald Eagles to 3rd Graders at San Carlos Elementary 

As an education major I felt drawn to this quote. I feel that the school system is constantly removing playtime, and things that require imagination and implementing more facts, and topics that can only be proven with evidence. This country is obsessed with preparing children for their life after school in grades as soon as Kindergarten. What happened to recess, gym class, and hours of free play? I agree with Orr, not only because allowing children time to play outside will contribute to their environmental literacy and understanding of sustainability, but it also will allow children to use their imaginations, and act, as children should. In addition to allowing children to have play time outdoors, I believe the first step in helping children create a sustainable future for themselves is education. Schools should create a curriculum which will scaffold the child's environmental literacy. These Images are of a lesson I conducted on Bald Eagles at San Carlos Elementary School.

3rd graders putting together a life cycle worksheet. Images By: Christina

“Protecting animals in the wild while permitting confinement feeding operations and most laboratory use of animals makes no moral sense and diminishes our capacity for Biophilia.” (Orr 208)

Image Source: No Animal Testing

I love all animals so I felt drawn to this quote, and section of Orr’s writing. This quote proves a paradox that we deal with everyday. People fight for preservation of animal habitats, and go to government officials for aid in conserving these animals and their homes, however these same government officials permit cruel laboratory testing and harsh animal conditions. As Orr stated, this makes no moral sense and reduces our capacity for Biophilia. With the abundance of technology that we have today, we should focus on alternative ways to test products rather than harming animals.