February 2015: Land Ethic Blog
This month I did not spend as much time in nature as I wanted too. In the month of February I had a lot of obligations that kept me in doors. The weather has been continuously dull towards the end of the month and I feel as if my emotions have reflected the weather. I am the type that loves to sit in the sun. Days when I don’t spend time in the sun I feel sad and as if I am lacking nutrients. Some of the days in February the weather was beautiful outside. Around St. Edwards’s campus there many places around campus where students can spend some time in nature. I love studying outside when the weather is beautiful. As I sit outside around campus I see many different types of plant life and human activity occurring. As I sit I think about what this area looked like before humans lived on earth. I wonder what types of species would be in the area. The human activity has a harsh impact on the earth and it has taken a huge toll on many organisms that were once here. In A Sand County Almanac Aldo Leopold writes, “Cease being intimidated by the argument that a right action is impossible because it does not yield maximum profits, or that a wrong action is to be condoned because it pays.” Many people in the world do not realize the negative things they are doing to the world. 
Sitting on campus I see a lot of plant life that is already familiar to me. Along the top of the soccer field there is a patch of wild dandelions. I am familiar with type of plant already. I researched the plant and learned the scientific name is Taraxaum. Supposedly they are edible and they can help as an herbal medicine to treat infections and liver problems. This remedy is used commonly in Europe, china and North America. I like learning about facts like this about plants around me. (That doesn’t mean I will be going around and eating plants that grown around campus).
One night in February I was taken away by the sunset. I took about 12 pictures of this sunset and they are saved on my phone. Sunsets amaze me and I am constantly amazed by the amazingly beautiful sunset’s that occur. I began to wonder if human activity has effected sunsets in any negative way. I researched and learned that with more pollution the sunsets tend to look redder. Is pollution the cause of the red tint in the sky on this night?
Another time in February I was at Zilker Park and below the running/walking trail along the water. I did not know what body of water I was sitting near so I looked on my Google earth app and learned that I was along the Colorado River. I attached a video to this blog of the beautiful view I was seeing. I love how the trees along the river hang low near the water. I felt good siting in nature at this moment. It effects my emotions greatly and for the month of March I am making a point to spend more time outside.