Pine Manor Journal

In this field trip we were again asked what sustainability means and what are the ways in which we can improve in regard to this. I have never considered myself as a very sustainable individual granted. I do try and limit my effects to such things but nonetheless after having gone to pine manor it opened my mind to other solutions that can help limit our impact on our planet. 

One thing that tends to be out of our hands in one way or another is that of food, which is what pine manor takes into account and helps with in its community. This can be seen in their garden in which they grow food to be donated to those in need, while also providing a place for volunteer labor in which residents are able to harvest food for themselves when assisting in the garden. 

Ex. 1

This garden has a variety of vegetables, each of which can be substituted for most vegetables that would be bought at the store. This prevents a great amount of car fumes from being produced not only from the gas cars of the individual's buying food but also from other fumes produced from other transportation vehicles. "Industrialized agriculture uses a method of planting called monoculture, designed to boost efficiency," this again brings about production of carbon in a much greater amount since certain terrains need more help than others. Although it is not a simple process growing one's own food would prove beneficial to both the planet and one's own health.  This is mentioned in the textbook "by definition, it involves manipulating environments and ecosystems," which is something that goes back to bettering in terms of sustainability. 

Ex. 2

Pine manor does not just stop there with their community assistance they also have a variety of programs one of which is that of cooking, where individuals learn to cook with the very ingredients the community has grown. At first this may seem like a simple assistance, but we must take into account that this means that individuals taking these classes will begin to eat and make their own food at home thus cutting back car fumes being produced as well as lowering the need for corporation who provide fast foods. Which produce a number of problems for the environment due to the population's desires. The textbook also notes that "health can be impacted by too much food or food of the wrong kind, resulting in obesity and increased risk of disease," which can be prevented by cooking with homegrown ingredients. 

Ex. 3

They also accept clothing donations; these donations are then given to individuals in need of this. This assists greatly in helping struggling individuals but also recycles the clothing that would simply be discarded after being used for a time. This limits what goes into landfills, as well what would usually be burned producing more greenhouse gasses. All of these collectively is what impressed me the most, the fact that such a small operation could still do great things in the name of their community and sustainability. 

Paniagua, Ricardo. (Ex. 1) Pine Manor Garden photo 1, 1 Feb.

Paniagua, Ricardo. (Ex. 2) Pine Manor Garden photo 2, 1 Feb.

Paniagua, Ricardo. (Ex. 3) Pine Manor Culinary Program, 1 Feb. 

Robertson, Margaret. Sustainability Principles and Practice, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021. ProQuest eBook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/fgcu/detail.action?docID=6457832.