| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 29.38 |
| Liaison | Brandon Hoover |
| Submission Date | Aug. 31, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Messiah University
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.04 / 2.00 |
Brandon
Hoover Director of Sustainability Operations |
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 0 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 1.25 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 64.50 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 65.75 Acres |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
We have 55 acres between cemetery hill and the back 40 the we do not mow or maintain. Another five acres have been or are about to be converted to hard fescue on steep slopes with no mowing and only spot treated for weeds
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
on campus limit treatments to only twice per year with a preemergent herbicide and then spot spray for weeds. Landscape beds receive only one herbicide application early in the growing season and are then weeded by hand with minor spot spraying as needed. Athletic fields have no restricted use pesticides applied to them. We try to manage turfgrasses diseases with balanced soil nutrition and soluble spoon feeding applications. We only apply fungicides once the disease is present. Our only preventative applications are for harder to control soil born fungus.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
The 1.25 acre Grantham Community garden is the only space on campus that is managed organically. It is not certified, but it has a strict standard for pesticide use that only certified organic product be used. Additionally, fertilizers are added in the form of manure and compost from on site.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
to remove any invasive species and only work with species native to this area and cultivars that have proven to be resistant to known pest problems.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
on campus we almost exclusively hand water flowers and sodded areas. The irrigation system for athletic fields has been upgraded with a new pump station, Sentinel controls, sprinklers, weather station and soil monitoring sensors. We have the ability to monitor volumetric moisture content in our soils and measure that against real time weather data (E.T. rates) to determine irrigation cycle to replace water loss.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
50% of the clippings from mowing on campus and 100% of the leaves are collected and composted on campus along with food waste and biodegradable products
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
Our focus has been on reducing mowing and landscaped or mulched areas on campus. We have converted areas to native grasses that are not mowed or treated with pesticides. These areas have been very successful at controlling runoff from campus
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.