Sustainable Landscaping on Campus

Submitted by Niles Barnes on June 8, 2009 - 11:46am
in

The AASHE Resource Center now has resources in every major category with the release of a new list of campus sustainable landscaping policies, practices and plans. Perhaps given less attention then other areas of campus sustainability, campus grounds do play an important role - often designed to be beautiful and welcoming, increasingly, they are also being designed with an eye to water efficiency and without the use of pesticides.

Although we have been fortunate to have ample rain here in Kentucky this Spring, many states are facing droughts and it is a great time to look at some of the many benefits of xeriscape and water efficient landscaping. Campuses like Florida State University and the University of Florida have commitments to xeriscaping (a landscaping philosophy that emphasizes using native and drought-resistant plants which do not require supplemental irrigation).  Broward Community College also emphasizes the use of native planting, while the University of Delaware utilizes a bioswale at one of their parking lots.

In addition, AASHE's STARS Program includes a section on "Grounds" as well. I encourage readers to visit any of the above mentioned resources and post your comments and suggestions. In particular, I would be interested to hear how campuses have engaged students in promoting sustainable campus grounds management. 

 

 

 


Comments

Grounds issues at U Victoria

Submitted by Niles Barnes on June 8, 2009 - 2:12pm.
Although saving water and native planting is of concern at the University of Victoria, a larger immediate concern has been the overpopulation of rabbits that are burrowing around campus and eating the landscape. See the NY Times Dot Earth blog for more on this somewhat humorous story. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/rabbits-gone-wild-on-canadi...

Edible Landscapes

Submitted by Sam Hummel on June 9, 2009 - 1:56pm.

I look forward to the day when one more design criteria is added to campus landscaping - food production! I really believe students will enjoy being able to go out and pick apples, pears, persimmons, plums, oranges, lemons (pick your climate zone) off trees planted around campus buildings and quadrangles. In fact, I think those will be moments that they will remember nostalgically as alumni. And, it may even inspire them to plant a fruit tree when they buy their first home.

There are many edibles in addition to fruit trees that make for beautiful landscaping, such as edible annuals like red cabbage and hot peppers. They can present beautifully for weeks before being pulled out and used in the campus kitchen. Vines are another option. Think how lucky summer school attendees would be to find a grape vine in the back of each dormitory, or some blackberries.

It's true that fruit trees and vines take more tending (pruning in the spring, for example), but I'll be a crew of students could be recruited who would love to learn how to prune and provide the labor each spring.

Some campuses have

Submitted by Niles Barnes on June 10, 2009 - 11:28am.
Some campuses have experimented (successfully!) with edible landscapes - Check out McGill http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2008/11/mcgill-campus.html and MIT - http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/04/earthboxes-coming-to-a-mit-garag... When I was at U of K, we scoured the campus for persimmons and pawpaw's (aka, Kentucky Banana Mango) - delicious edible fruit!

Yes! Edible Landscapes

Submitted by Paul Montgomery on July 9, 2009 - 3:47pm.

We at Naropa University are gradually taking steps in this direction also. Taking a systems perspective on our ecological footprint is essential. Growing food to be consumed locally reduces our reliance on global shipping and supply chains. The result of this allows us to conserve huge amounts of oil. Edible landscaping is perhaps one of the most practical ways to support sustainable landscaping.