We all survived the first night at Earth. I think it got a bad reputation...it was actually relatively cool over night but the raining conditions overnight helped our cause. Breakfast was a montage of fruit, granola, yogurt, and different rice dishes. The jambalaya-type rice dish was my favorite. After breakfast, we began our 4 hour tour of the various activities that take place throughout the University. First up was a short video giving us an overview of Earth University and its mission. The big theme of the video was about the students being "agents for change". Not only does the university provide students with the agricultural skills and knowledge, but they encourage them to be leaders and bring about change when they go back to their respective hometowns after graduation. This message and mentality is what makes Earth unique and special in my opinion. They admit students who are already leaders in their own respect, but they give them a mindset and value set that they can use to be successful in wherever they may end up.
Next up was the BANANAS!! With our guide Miguel, we walked through the banana fields to see how these trees grow and how they are harvested. First off is the banana fruit that grows from the tree. The leaves of the fruit will later fold downward and expose the stems that will eventually become the banana fruit.
Once the banana matures, it will be ready for harvest via machete. The blue bags protect against insects and create a microclimate that is critical for the maturity of bananas. After a tree is harvested, the old tree is cut and folded down so that it will decompose and recycle nutrients back into the ground. Typically, there is approximately 90-100 bananas per bunch and a foam padding is used to separate the different bunches on a single tree. The bunches are then loaded onto a train pulley type of system where they are either mechanically or human delivered to the banana processing plant.
Once the bananas arrive at the processing plant, the foam padding is removed and any defective bananas (small size or bruised) are removed and used to sell in local markets or used to make baby food. The bananas then go through a car wash where any dirt or insects are removed with soap and water. After this, the big bunch is separated into small bunches (say 8 bananas or so) and then the smaller bunches are again washed with just water. Plant workers then remove the small bunches and place them on the conveyor belt where they are grouped and tagged with stickers. Finally, the bananas are packaged into boxes and placed into shipping containers to be exported.
While the banana process was very interesting, I was even more impressed with the agricultural projects undertaken by the students. They strive to grow healthy and organic products using other substrates besides soil. Specifically, they use rice husks, charcoal, and coconut fibers as their soil type mixture. This process goes back to their mission for their students to be agents of change. In their hometowns, they may not have access to fertile soil or may not be able to afford the tools and resources need to plant a farm. With this alternative method, they can re-use what is already present around them and utilize cheaper materials. It is so vital for students to be able to use the skills they learn at Earth in any situation and this project process helps them accomplish this.
Lastly the Question of the Day,
As a student or employee are there any principles or concepts that you take with you from EARTH to benefit your organization or other businesses in the U.S.? Discuss and give examples.
I think that the principles and values instilled and taught at Earth University can be applied to almost any business situation. Firstly, "agents of change" can positively benefit any business. No business can survive if they never change or adapt over time. Being open to new ideas and new techniques is critical to future growth and success. Throughout history, leaders such as Benjamin Franklin, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King made it their mission to introduce new ways of thinking. Initially they may have been met with resistance, but looking back on them now we can see that they had a forward thinking mindset. Specifically in my case, I work at UL in Lee Hall in the Academic Success Center. One of the biggest services we provide to students is free tutoring. We have to be able to not only find good tutors, but to ensure that the tutoring is effective. We have to be able to perform quality control and make sure that it is being successful, so we must be open to change and fix whatever isn't working.
Another concept that is applicable to the business world is Earth's policy of no waste. Earth students find alternative materials and techniques to grow and produce plants using non-soil substrates. It illustrates that concept of one man's trash is another man's treasure. It shows that we can always use materials outside of the box and find other ways of doing things. I think this is readily applicable in any business industry. There is always companies that create similar services or products, but they may do the same thing all in different ways. To me, businesses must be able to think outside of the box and constantly come up with techniques to better their process and improve efficiency. For businesses, I think they can recycle their materials or find ways to donate them where they can be useful. They will be eco-friendly and better their reputation. Businesses constantly should be maintaining their public image because it can make or break their success.
To continue the adventures tomorrow,
Katie Simon
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