Post on 16-Apr-2017
Route to Roots
Stanley Jones and Alice Jamieson Girls’ Academy Historical Garden Project
maintenance &Sustainability Plan
on-going challenges after installation….
upkeep, watering, weeds, litter and addition of organic materials.
A sustainable management maintenance plan is required to reduce volunteer time and coordination efforts, but maximizing the available resources….
maintenance &Sustainability Plan
50+ page document, samples available to look at; available by email in pdf; work in progress!
That’s why we created a
For Root to Routes, our Historical Garden Project
Based on the stewardship model
supported by CBE and the Calgary
Zoo
Plus appendices of all the garden drawings and irrigation map
Highlights of our maintenance &Sustainability Plan
COMPLETE PHASES BEFORE MOVING AHEAD
MAINTENANCE BUDGET
STEWARDSHIP AND CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
DETAILED MOISTURE STRATEGY
YEARLY CALENDAR OF MAINTENANCE TO DO’S
STATEMENT OF INTENT
BUCKS FOR BUCKETS FUNDRAISER
Project Overview Page 4-14Statement of Intent of ProjecBackground and Vision of Project
Route to Roots Timeline Page 15Ensuring Stewardship and Sustainability of Naturalization Projects: Stewardship Model Page 16Roles of Green Committee Page 19-21Areas of Concern Page 22Use of Site/Project Page 22Care of Site Page 24Enhancement of Site, Landowner involvement Page 25Ecological Considerations Page 27Compaction, Pest Strategies Page 27Connecting Curriculum to Maintenance Page 28Maintenance Tools Page 30Moisture Strategy/Irrigation System Page 32Weeding, plant replacement, trimming/pruning Page 34Maintenance Budget and Funds Page 35Rejuvenating Neglected Project/Sunset Clause Page 36-37Student Garden Club Page 38Maintenance Plan in a Nutshell (All Seasons) Page 39Summer Maintenance Plan Page 40Annual Maintenance Inventory Page 41Garden Maintenance Resources Page 42Sample Spreadsheet used when organizing maintenance Page 43Supplies and Suppliers Page 44Emergency Contact Information Page 45
APPENDICES Drawings and Plant List of All GardensMaintain Your Schoolyard Garden – Cherryland ElementaryRough Plan Irrigation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our PLAN includes the history and vision and statement of intent of the project, Route to Roots:
“May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, The foresight to know where you are going, And the insight to know when you have gone too far”
Like our gardens, our plan is a ‘living’ document!
WEED ---take out what is no longer needed; outgrown concepts/plans
PLANT --- new ideas, record inspiration and perspiration
MANAGE --- Expectations! Keep it real for the committee, and the community (ie: realistic, attainable, manageable….not perfect)
IDEAL?
REALITY!
EASILY AND NATURALLY MAINTAINED (sigh)
detailed job descriptions for each role on the committee: parent representative/design lead, project manager, teachers and students,history group, fundraising/grants committeecommunity, curriculum liaison
$5,000, 2010 $4,000, 2011 $3,000 2012
$2,000 2013and onwards
And they commit to a maintenance budget for R2R (as long as these funds are within their means to reach):
We have an amazing Parent Council who support the project
BUCKSFOR BUCKETS
$$$$ FUNDRAISER$50 donation to fill a bucket for a classTo provide items to help the classes help care for and explore the gardens including:
SunhatsSunscreenMagnifying glassWater bucketsGardening glovesMeasuring Tape$50 donation to fill a bucket for a class
IRRIGATION SYSTEMAdds value and is sustainable for the future if maintained
Early phases – needs water for 2 years, especially for historically relevant (non indigenous) plans. Indigenous plants also need water during dry seasons (and are thriving with irrigation)
Watch out for initial challenges with leaks, and water overuse that results
Ensures buy in of volunteers by automating important but labour intensive tasks
Promotes eco awareness at Stanley Jones – water can be collected from school runoff in a 10,000 gallon tank, if school decides to go that route
What are our greatest challenges ?
What are we doing to overcome these?
Integrating stewardship and maintenance into the school & surrounding community
Curriculum Liaison Year Ahead PlanningPresent project to new teachers
Quackgrass Dig deep below roots for new gardensPaid landscaper to assist last summer to get on top of, need to stay on top of
Signage coming off rocks Adhere signs to sides, not tops of rock
Maintenance of gardens in summer Families commit to week in summer, also pay for landscaper for seasonal work, irrigation system; co-operation and communication with school caretakers
Finances to get on top of maintenance issues
Maintenance Fund
Vandalism and/or unintended plant destruction
Fence areas in high traffic zones until established; educate students; other building occupants on weekends/eves
Landscape fabric and pathway material
Use stronger fabric for high traffic zonesPaving with asphalt to define path
Route to roots YEARLY MAINTENANCE CALENDAR
January Break
February Plan Dates for April Clean Up and May planting daysSchedule March Walk AboutAnnounce Walk About in Newsletter
March Do WALK ABOUTSchedule Weeding DaySchedule Planting DayWrite Article for April newsletter re: WEEDING DAY
April Do Walk About to Assess Existing Gardens Earth DayCreate List, and PrioritizePresent list to the Parent Council Weeding DayPlan Deliveries of mulch, soil and plantsWrite Article for May newsletter re: PLANTING DAY
May Irrigation Start Up Planting Day (last Friday in May)
June Landscaper Clean Up/Weeding/Edging
July Families adopt a week or a gardenCheck irrigation for leaks
August Families adopt a week Landscaper Before School Clean if neededHarvest vegetables
September Volunteer Recognition for Summer Care and project volunteers leaving schoolIntroduce New Teachers to Project
October Irrigation Shut DownFall Clean Up and Harvest Day
November Indoor School Projects: Writing Articles,
December Break
What we’d like to leave you with…
NATURAL BEAUTY
opportunities
Inspiration
A Sustainable Environment
A PLAN
A STRUCTURE
"It doesn't matter how many say it cannot be done or how many people have tried it before; it's important to realize that whatever you're doing, it's your first attempt at it.“ ~ Wally Amos