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Augie Acres Presentation by Bryan Schmid and Stephanie Dilling Sustainability Summit 4/21/09
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Description Four vacant, blighted parcels Located one block northwest of main campus Unbuildable due to soil subsidence Adjacent to five similar parcels owned by the City of Rock Island
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Bryan Schmid 4/20/09
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Bryan Schmid 4/13/09
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Beginnings Environmental Learning Community final project Interdepartmental coordinated research Biology Business Geography Help from Jim Johansen, one of Augustana’s Farm-to-Fork farmers
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Academic Tie-ins Learning Community Two related courses centered around the environment Class projects Local Culture house Work at Wesley Acres Potential for other departments to utilize the site
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Goals SUSTAINABILITY Augment existing programs: Farm-to-Fork Buy Fresh, Buy Local Quad Cities Augustana’s Environmental Action Plan Spread knowledge of simple agricultural processes Benefit numerous academic departments
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Goals Develop a fiscally responsible project Keep project costs to a minimum Provide Food Services with a less expensive product Connect Augustana and the surrounding community
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Short-Term Goals Turn the following sets of crops this year: Early: Spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, cabbage, radishes, beets, peas, herbs, potatoes, onions Middle: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, carrots, green beans Late: Spinach, lettuce, raspberries, garlic (harvested in spring), Generate interest from student body First-year courses Environmental courses New major: Environmental studies Create a student group to sustain interest
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Current Status Group had a clean-up in early April Tilled April 17 th Planted numerous crops since Student group being chartered Developing marketing Addressing ongoing concerns
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Long-Term Plans If successful, expansion is possible and encouraged Orchard from heirloom rootstock Campus-wide involvement Edible rain garden Cyclical process of supplying food for campus
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Sustainability Aspects Reuse of blighted, vacant property not fit for building Local produce Minimal carbon footprint Organic agriculture Fiscally self sustainable in the long-term Catching runoff in rain garden Stabilization of a compromised slope
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Learning Experiences Get things started early Communicate clearly and regularly Think creatively Use any available resources on campus and online Reciprocity – Give and receive Persistence Set reasonable goals
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Acknowledgements Jim Johansen of Wesley Acres Drs. Charles Mahaffey and Jason Peters Mary Chappell, City of Rock Island The Augustana administration Sustainability Committee of Augustana College All who have given time to the project
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Thank You
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