Prop Roots

Prop Roots of Mangrove trees

Whichcamefirst- theTenThousandIslandsorthe mangrovetrees?

Without thesupport ofthelowlymangrove trees the Ten ThousandIslands mighteasilybereducedtoperhapsonlyten. Theaerialprop rootswhichextend tentacle-likefrom the maintrunkarethe verylife-bloodoftheisland. Sincethe TenThousand Islands, ofwhich Everglades City and Chokoloskee arebut two, owe their veryexistence to the mangrove tree and it's "roots that walk," it isfelt that thisproject,too,issupportedbyPropRoots.

The Everglades City High School students involved in this project are:

Katy Ballance

Cindy Collins

Della Collins

Kathy Corkrean

Julie Davidson

Mitchell House

Tami Hurley

Tod Johnson

Jenny Kreider

Jon Kreider

Cheryl Lewis

Randy McMillian

Joy Moore

Mary Platt

Betty Posada

Valerie Wheeler

Michael Woods

The original volume of Prop Roots was devoted to food and cooking; the way the local people have learned to enjoy the natural bounty that surrounds. Prop Roots, Vol II is devoted to people of the area who have become known as hermits.

Most definitions of hermits state that hermits are persons who live alone, away from other people and have abandoned society-perhaps for religious reasons. We studied the lives of seven hermits as well as hearing about other hermits of the past. In no case was religion mentioned as a reason for seeking a life away from civilization. Nor did any of "our" hermits avoid people or seem to dislike being around people. On the contrary, they seemed to enjoy visitors and were friendly and more than willing to discuss their chosen life style.

Mr. Seely, the hermit of Dismal Key, has become a very special person to the students involved in this project. He was always willing to talk with us, to allow many pictures of his home to be taken and supply information he thought would be helpful.