Climate Change is Affecting More than Just Cucumbers
Amazement hit me the moment I stepped foot into the spacious hall and a wonderful shock followed soon after when I saw the myriad of students that came to Cal PolyÕs ÒFocus the NationÓ symposium. Lively chatter before the session hinted at the excitement bubbling within the attendees. When Tom Jones, the Dean of the College of Environmental Design, asked how many students were from outside the college, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of raised hands. I expected that many of the attendees would be majoring in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design as our educations are so strongly rooted in sustainability, but it was refreshing to find that so many others were interested in learning about climate change solutions. I believe the turnout showed that climate change is one of the most important issues on the minds of our generation today because it is an immediate challenge that awaits our future.
I attended several
of the lectures during the dayÕs events and I found the speech of Ryan Rich, an
organic farmer of the Four Elements Farm in San Luis Obispo, to be particularly
informative. Ryan, also President
of California Certified Organic Farmers for the Central Coast, spoke about his
experiences during 14 years of organic farming in relation to the changes in
climate. To hear of the techniques
involved in organic farming was fascinating, but hearing about the drastic
changes in climate over the decades affecting these techniques, the seasons,
the crops, and the surrounding ecosystem was unsettling. Ryan explained that typically every
year, cold snaps occur and kill off the cucumber beetles. This cold snap is necessary to curb the
beetle population. If unhindered, the beetlesÕ numbers would exponentially
multiply and the mass of insects would have the ability to wipe out the entire
crop. Because no such cold snap
materialized a few seasons ago, Mother Nature gave free rein to the beetles,
which resulted in the loss of his cucumber yield. Ryan reminisced the times when farmers could accurately
predict the length of the seasons and the day to harvest. His experiences portrayed how the
erratic climate today distresses farmers because they are completely at the
weatherÕs mercy. Ryan described
another occasion when there had not been just one cold snap, but five that
proceeded to defoliate the fruit trees he had been pampering for three
seasons. As this was the season
Ryan was hoping to cash in on his investment, he was demoralized due to the
damage the trees sustained and nearly became penniless. I couldnÕt help but ask myself why
anyone would want to continue farming when faced with the chance that an
upredictable weather change could completely obliterate your investment.
I found RyanÕs speech to be the most powerful because his account showed that even the smallest change in climate could have a radical impact on an industry that we all depend on for survival. His story also revealed that climate change is having an unprecedented effect on the organisms and ecosystems surrounding agricultural fields (example of the population upsurge in cucumber beetles); it is troubling that any modifications to an ecosystem will directly impact that ecosystem, which will also create a domino effect in linking ecosystems. Deterioration in species biodiversity eventually will have a severe impact on our way of life. Ryan wasnÕt completely pessimistic as he said that farmers are learning to alter their methods and that they are adapting to the changing climate. It was clear that the crisis facing the agriculture industry would continue to escalate with the increase in global warming. RyanÕs story made a lasting impression on all that were present. It was noticeable that he didnÕt prepare his speech and he spoke candidly about his experiences. His down-to-earth demeanor and the immediacy of his speech made him likeable and generated empathy within the crowd.
The impression left on me at ÒFocus the NationÓ was one full of hope. I was ecstatic that so many people my age felt their health and futures were invested in learning about possible solutions to the global warming dilemma. I witnessed an awakening to environmental issues in some and saw the deepening of convictions in others. The organizers didnÕt just preach sustainability, but also acted on it by making the event as ÒgreenÓ as possible. A few ways they made the event sustainable included printing programs on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper, providing event t-shirts made of 100% sustainable organic cotton, and by collecting all food waste during meal more students would see these actions as a positive step forward and some would begin to take action themselves. The organizersÕ objective for ÒFocus the NationÓ was to create a space for dialogue and action and they succeeded in strengthening the existing grassroots movement at Cal Poly. With a bit of luck and some dedication on our part, students may be able to create change within their campuses and then extend this change outward to their surrounding communities. ÒFocus the NationÓ showed us that each one of us could perform acts on a smaller scale that would help to create changes needed to become a more sustainable society. I am now hoping that the multitude of students that attended this event at 1700 universities nationwide will collectively use their voices and votes to initiate a ÒgreenÓ revolution.