Science are made from felled trees, as are applied is done in the most judicious fash- the stair treads in Reid Campus Center ion possible.” and Sherwood Athletic Center.lumber is About one-fifth of the campus grounds, also donated for use in Walla Walla High including Ankeny Field, is fertilized with School’s shop classes. Chipped wood from a slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer that branches becomes mulch for pathways in does not contain phosphorous, which can the Whitman students’ community gar- lead to overproduction of algae in water- den. The landscape crew’s respect for ways. The crew has also increased its use wood doesn’t stop there – they even repur- of organic fertilizer. posed an entire house to make room for To maximize water efficiency, this the Fouts Center for Visual Arts. The summer the grounds crew is performing a house now resides at 125 N. Cherry St. water audit, which involves using GPS to Around campus, the crew has reduced mark the coordinates of nearly 6,000 the use of herbicide by heavily mulching sprinkler heads. A computer will then with compost, which increases the vitality simulate the coverage area of each sprin- of the soil and eliminates the need for pes- kler. This helps them use as few sprinkler ticides in shrub and flower beds. Biles said heads as possible. To further reduce water his crew uses about six gallons of Round- use, Biles has incorporated more drought- up® in spot spraying applications each tolerant plants into the landscape. year on 37 acres of landscaped area. “It’s my job to keep it eco-friendly and “on average, people probably use more make it look perfect,” Biles said. “Whit- than that around their own homes,” he man College should be a spectacular, sub- said. “our goal, of course, would be not to tly beautiful place where it’s a joy to be use any herbicide or pesticide, and what is outside.” The Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund The $50,000 sustainabilityrevolving Loan Fund advances the college’s sustainability efforts by supporting projects that conserve resources and improve efficiency. The loans, available to students, staff and faculty, are paid back within five years through energy or resource savings. Past projects funded by the srLF include: 3 the Paper Phoenix Project, which turned old letterhead and envelopes into notepads, 3 the installation of automated hand dryers in Penrose Library, 3 off-campus housing weatherization, 3 the installation of dual-flush toilets in reid Campus Center 3 and the Model Farm Project.(see next item) SAW takes food production to the next level In a greenhouse on the roof of the Hall of science, the group student Agriculture at Whitman grows microgreens it sells to the campus food service, Bon Appétit. First dubbed the Model Farm Project, it all started in the fall of 2009 with a $600 loan from srLF, then grew to become an AsWC-recognized club. With weekly deliveries of microgreens to Bon Appétit, sAW paid back its loan and will use profits to expand into a 1,400-square-foot garden off of Isaacs Avenue, in the alley between Main street and rose street.sAW will grow chard, kale, spinach and other veggies to sell to the dining halls in an effort to increase the amount of local produce available to the Whitman community. Whitman’s land- scape specialists, Whitman’s green team ’74 (kneeling), Biles Bob by headed include, from left to students, staff and faculty make up the sustainability Advisory right, Jeffrey Committee, which serves in an advisory role to the college. Jensen, Tom Headed up by two paid student coordinators, the committee Wagner, richard Dicus, Martin Stolen evaluates practices and policies, promotes campus-wide and Larry Malott. sustainability programs and facilitates the sharing of information not pictured are and resources among Whitman’s many environmental groups. rick Glen, Steve Thompson and Jack Continued on page 26 Mason. July 2012 25
Whitman Magazine July 2012
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