Ashley Frost
Service Learning
Final Reflection
I have always enjoyed being outdoors and learning about the environment. IND
209 allowed me to take my interest in the environment and put it to use. I learned about
local and global environmental issues. Most importantly I learned when you get enough
support you can do anything.
Daemen College has supported environmental friendly practices such has having
recycle bins and creating energy efficient buildings. I have contributed to the college’s
environmental commitment by recycling and working on the eco-trail. I have worked
with my classmates on the eco-trail, specifically on the rain garden and the compost pile.
The rain garden controls storm water and has solved past problems with mosquitoes
collecting over the pool of water. We pulled weeds and put it in the compost pile.
Compost piles recycle waste and provide soil. We planted native species because they are
well adapted to the temperature and type of soil of the area. By cleaning up the eco-trail
we are providing a place for students and the community to clear their minds and learn
about nature.
Through these activities we learned about environmental issues. A lot of water is
being wasted through run off water. We learned that one solution is a rain garden. Half
way through the semester we dealt with run off water from the parking by creating a
trench. The trench helped direct the water into the rain garden.
A couple projects that were assigned to us seemed impossible to complete. For
example, the Pelion Garden started off as an empty lot. Personally when I saw the plans I
thought how will we be able to execute these plans, we aren’t professional landscapers.
When we all took on a job and helped each other with each task, we really got moving.
The more people that pitched in, the easier the task seemed. I learned it’s easier to share
your ideas with others and work together to come up with a solution. When you are
dedicated and have the right amount of volunteers to back you up, jobs like the Pelion
Garden don’t seem so challenging anymore.
A lot of Daemen students are not aware of the eco-trail or do not know where it is.
Some students from our class put up signage to help guide the campus community toward
the trail. An environmental concern that needs to be addressed in the future is creating
anti-litter signs. A group of high school or college students are using the trail as a hideout
and have littered on numerous accounts. These anti-litter signs should say to please
respect this space and to not litter. By creating such signs we are stating this is not a
random trail, this is a trail for the community that should be respected.
We helped out at the Pelion Garden and Garden of Stewardship. We learned that
the communities around these garden locations are in desperate need of help. The people
of Buffalo want safe neighborhoods and want to eat healthy. They don’t all want large
yards like us in the suburbs, which is actually a good thing. We learned from Dr. Kegler
that areas that are more densely populated can save resources because they are so close
together. By planting community gardens we are a leading example for those who
thought it was too hard to make one. We are providing food to the soup kitchen at the
Garden of Stewardship through our efforts.
Not everyone has excess fresh and healthy food. I learned this when I went to
Burchfield Penney Art Center to see documentaries about significant environmental
issues effecting Buffalo and Western New York. One of the documentaries showed the
effect a church had on a community by making a community garden. They were so
grateful and once they were shown how to garden, the upkeep was easy for them. I also
learned this through the documentary I watched on Netflix, Food Inc. Healthy food is
usually expensive as compared to junk food that is inexpensive. Families struggle
because they don’t have enough money to feed their family. They know the food they are
providing for their family is unhealthy but that is all they can afford. It’s really sad to see
families suffering from diabetes and obesity because of how they eat. Most of the blame
can be put on the corporations that make the food.
I think Groundwork Buffalo is making an impact in the Buffalo community. This
lot that would otherwise remain empty or collect garbage overtime is now a beautiful
space for the community. Students from City Honors can come over and enjoy it as well
as neighbors. It also makes the neighborhood look friendly for visitors or people who
want move here. Some challenges that the Groundwork Buffalo may encounter is that the
two houses adjacent to the garden may not appreciate so many people collecting by their
house. There is always the chance that someone could come and vandalize the area as
well. The positives of the Pelion Garden override the negatives however. The same goes
for the Garden of Stewardship. If you can take such a small area and turn it into a
community garden in such little time you are definitely going to inspire people. Someone
could be walking past it one day and say hey I can do that at my house too.
I believe Groundwork’s current plans and maintenance are a perfect approach for
these gardens. For example at the Pelion Garden the grass by the street was killed so
there wouldn’t so much upkeep in cutting in the grass for the community. Another
example is at the Garden of Stewardship, some plants were put in boxes off the ground so
they won’t freeze in the cold ground as we approach winter. Projects such as the Pelion
Garden and Garden of Stewardship are supported through volunteer labor and donations
or small community grants. City Honor could have fundraisers to continue to raise money
for the upkeep of the Pelion Garden. In general, we could always recycle materials and
create compost piles for the gardens.
Our roles at the campus and the East side were very similar. Besides doing similar
tasks such as shoveling and such, it shared a goal. The goal was to create an area for the
community to enjoy and learn about nature. I believe that the campus and the East side
shared a challenge of people. At the campus we had to deal with people littering on our
trail. On the East side some people weren’t happy to see us, for example the woman who
yelled at us for using the dumpster. An idea for improving environmental awareness in a
community to make signs, hold workshops and show documentaries. Despite what some
people may believe, people want to be educated. Most people don’t do anything mainly
because they weren’t aware of the problem. Creating signs make areas official and show
people this isn’t just a random trail or an empty lot. I believe documentaries are the most
powerful tools in educating people. I would have never known that a lot of people who
live by the Peace Bridge in Western New York have asthma or cancer. Toxins are being
released from the heavy traffic on the bridge. I learned this from watching the mini
documentary, “Living in the Shadow of the Bridge.” When people see how scary our
environmental problems are, they will want to do something.
I agree to a certain point that environmental issues and economic issues are in
conflict. My perception of what is good for the environment is bad for the economy has
changed as a result of taking this class. Usually installing energy efficient utilities saves
energy and money, but not for the stubborn people out there. For example in the
documentary “Vanishing of the Bees” farmers use pesticides on their crops. This kills off
bugs, saves their crop and therefore saves them money. Pesticides are absorbed by plants
and harm bees and humans. If there aren’t any bees left in the world then there won’t be
any food. If the farmers stop using pesticides, they argue that they will lose out on
making money. I disagree with that argument because many organic farms are still in
business and have found a way to keep their crops alive without harming the
environment. If you take care of the bees you are taking care of yourself. Without bees to
pollinate and keep food growing, we will become extinct. Being alive and healthy is more
important than making a profit. A lot of farmers have monocultures which is not good for
the environment. Diversification helps with pollinating and will make more crops local.
Instead of having a ton of the same crop and importing a different crop into the area you
could start with a variety in the first place. When you support local businesses you are
helping to support yourself in the long run. From watching documentaries and
participating in IND 209 I have learned that solving problems in the environment help
solve economic problems in the long run.
I definitely feel I will participate in future community activities. I love the feeling
of seeing what we accomplished as a group. I feel honored to be able to say that I helped
make the Pelion Garden. I have changed my viewpoints throughout this experience. For
example when I watched Food Inc. on Netflix I was disgusted with corporations. When I
saw the animal cruelty and saw the families’ stories it really affected me. A couple’s
child died from eating a burger that had e-coli. He died in 12 days after ingesting the e-
coli. The mother of the child has gone to meetings and has talked to people around the
U.S to make sure that this never happens to another child again. After seeing a story like
that, you can’t help but want to get out there and do something.
I personally am changing my lifestyle after seeing this documentary and from
what I have learned in other activities I have participated in. I actually sat there while
seeing how meat was packaged and thought to myself, I going to become a vegetarian. I
know I don’t have the will power to give up meat, but I can still choose to make healthier
choices. I asked my dad to take me to the store right after seeing Food Inc. I bought some
foods from the organic aisle and I am no longer supporting fast food restaurants. My dad
and I eat very healthy. I am going to try to change my mom and two brothers’ eating
habits. My mom and brother have high blood pressure and are obese. I want them to live
a long and healthy life. I will use everything I have learned such as the benefits of fresh
food as compared to process foods and help them make better choices.
I wish everyone on campus could take this course. It is a great experience that ties
you to the community around you and is an eye opener. We only have a limited amount
of resources and it is dwindling away every second. I feel empowered to tell my friends
and family to make a difference. I know now that everything I do to help the environment
whether it is as simple as recycling, adds up.