My final blog post

        Over the course of this semester my love for the world around me has truly grown. I have always appreciated being outside and in nature, but the class has helped evolve my understanding of the world we live in and what we need to do in order to preserve it for future generations. Throughout the semester I have made a couple of small changes to help make the earth a greener place to live. I used to buy plastic water bottles because they were so convenient.  I have however been using the same plastic water bottle for most of the semester, I wash it out and refill it every day. I take shorter showers and I am always getting on my roommates about our electricity usage, partly because it helps save money, but also because it is better for the environment. Before this class I never thought about what place in the world my food was being grown. I also never thought about the repercussions of things as small as microbeads getting into our Great Lakes. Environmental literature has given me a deeper understanding of nature and what we as people need to do in order to utilize but also protect the earth however we can.

            The part of the class that resonated with me the most was when we started talking about farming. I myself am not a big poetry reader, so I had never read a Wendell Berry poem. His poetry is beautiful and I really appreciate his views on the world we live in, and what needs to be done to protect it. I love learning and talking about things that I can relate back to my own life; and farming is something that I can do that with. I grew up in a small farm town, and although my family does nothing even remotely close to farming, many people in our area do. This includes my boyfriend who I have been dating for almost two years. So over the past couple of years I have started to spend more time in nature, fields, and on farms. I have learned about the process of raising animals and certain crops.

            The blogging assignment in general has also been a learning experience. I think I might enjoy blogging about something that I had larger passion for, or an area that I had more knowledge in more so than something I am being told to write about. Even with that in mind, it was a good tool to practice writing skills. Anytime you practice anything it becomes easier, and so creating a couple of blog posts each month was a good way to keep writing and learning. It was cool to read other students blog posts as well. I also liked the fact that we could read other students posts. This is a great tool to use when you are experiencing writers block. You don’t copy other students work, but reading it helps can help spark ideas for yourself and can also make you more confident that you are on the right track. Overall I enjoyed the class and the blogging process. I have learned a lot and my love for the environment has grown and will continue to grow after the class is over.

                

Winter through Keno's eyes

Just the other day it snowed for the first time this fall/winter season. To college students the snow means it’s time to pull out their boots and long winter jackets, in order to make the walk to class a little more bearable. To high school students the snow means there is a greater chance of snow days. It also means bundling up for classes; because in high school they seem to wait as long as they can without turning on the furnaces. To children the snow is another toy. It is something to shape into snow men, forts, and angels. For the parents of those children the snow means purchasing new snow equipment for kids, and paying more to heat the house.  These of course are all generalizations. For some people snow brings happiness, while others dread its arrival. It can be both beautiful and dangerous, all at the same time. It can bring mixed emotions for many, including myself.

                When the snow arrived this year I had two thoughts. One of those thoughts was I’m glad that it is already the end of the semester; because there is nothing enjoyable about walking to class in the snow. The other thought I had was, I can’t wait to let Keno outside, because I know how excited he is going to be. Keno is my brother’s dog; but he is more like a family dog. My brother got keno a little over a year ago and he has brought so much joy to our lives. He is a beautiful miniature Australian shepherd. He is very shy, and gets very scared around new people, but he loves my family. I think this makes us like him even more. His reaction, when he sees me or one of my family members, is priceless. Keno spends almost half of his time at my parent’s house because my brother works and attends school full time. Last year we learned that Keno was a big fan of the snow! He loves it so much! I dread going outside in the cold, but his excitement makes it almost worth it.

                To Keno the snow is something to be celebrated. When he goes outside he will run, dig, or just lay down; but no matter what he does, you can tell he is enjoying it. The excitement illuminates from his cute, little face. The first thing he does when he arrives at my parent’s house is run to his toy basket (yes, he has a toy basket at “Grandma’s” house).  He grabs a Frisbee out of the toy basket and hustles over to the door. He wants to go outside and play. He does this no matter what the weather is (unless it is raining, he doesn’t like the rain). But when it is snowing he will stay outside as long as he can and play. The snow even makes it so that he will play by himself. He tosses the Frisbee himself with his mouth and retrieves it out of the snow using his paws and mouth. He can, and will, entertain himself with this for as long as someone will stay outside with him. To keno the snow is not a nuisance. To Keno the snow is a magical substance that adds to the already exciting place, that is our back yard.

Winter Weather Brings Mixed Feelings

           As the holidays begin to approach, so does the colder weather. With the colder weather comes snow and frost. With the snow and frost comes beautiful yet dangerous scenery. As a photo enthusiast, I myself look forward to the powdery white substance falling from the sky, as it will create a stunning backdrop for portraits. However, as a college student who likes to drive home on the weekends, I dread the retched icy matter making its way to the ground.  How could something so marvelous looking be so harmful?

                Snow is a beautiful back drop for any scene. Think about it; have you ever heard someone say “it looks so dreary and dark outside,” after a fresh snow? Well I haven’t. It makes the outside light up; frosts our mountain tops and covers the boring leafless trees. In Michigan, when it snows, people often say that “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” This form of precipitation that forms a glowing white blanket on the ground is equated to a holiday known to bring joy and happiness to people. It brings smiles to children’s faces. It can be used as a free toy for kids, as it is malleable, and can be turned into snowmen and forts alike. It’s a reason to bring out other toys, such as snow mobiles and snow boards. There is a whole industry that makes its money from snow fall. I think it is safe to say that snow would be missed by many if it were to disappear forever. 

                For some though, the snow brings more worries. As Michigan residents, we have the nuisance of lake effect snow. Our great lakes, that serve us so well, make it so that every winter our areas get pummeled with the form of frozen precipitation known as snow. This snow can create dangerous conditions to live in. Because we live in the modern age of technology, people are always on the go. Because people are always on the go, our roads are not lightly traveled. In 2014, 20 minutes from where I live, snow caused a 193 car pile-up on I-94. This accident caused 22 injuries and 1 death. With 193 vehicles, these numbers were lucky. The cold weather and snow create icy road conditions that can be dangerous and even deadly. Snow is one of the leading causes of automobile accidents. It is also dangerous to be trapped in the snow without shelter. It can cause frostbite, and even death.

                This one substance brings about both joy and despair. If it were to disappear it would bring about both sadness and relief. Sadness that we would no longer have the beauty and pleasure that comes with it. But relief that the conditions that come with it would then be extinct.