Week #6

February 11^th, 2013

As usual, Marie Selby is a wonderful place to visit and I was really looking forward to finding about their agriculture initiative. After being handed off from person to person, I landed in front of the desk of the Horticulture Manager/Director, Mr. Mike McLaughlin. Unfortunately Marie Selby does not participate in any crop agriculture such as ECHO, aside from some fruit trees on the grounds.

I had a wonderful time regardless of my disappointment. I did learn they utilize cisterns to collect rain water which they recycle constantly and run through a sprinkler system set up sporadically throughout. The tubes are run up instead of through some of the trees instead of through the ground to cover a larger radius. Mr. McLaughlin touched upon the use of pesticides as well. They do not treat the grounds regularly but only at the onset of a problem, which on the topic of pesticides this week seems to bode well for them! They also use non-toxic pesticides versus utilizing non-organic.

I must say I am on the fence in regard to them being “sustainable.” Yes, they use recycled rain water and non-toxic pesticides but have not begun to use organic pesticides for whatever reason, perhaps cost is a major factor. Unfortunately no, I don’t believe their work is relevant in the developing world as they do not have a central focus on it like ECHO does. It feels though their mission is to continue Mrs. Selby’s dream of sharing her passion of nature with others.

As far as service learning goes, I would enjoy volunteering but it wouldn't be applicable to the course objectives. I would rather use my efforts toward preservation or conservation than being a tour guide.

On an unrelated note, I sat down and watched the short movie they play and learned that Marie Selby has the largest orchid and bromeliad collection in the US – over 20,000 species!!