Augie AcresAugie Acres

Presentation by Bryan Schmid and Presentation by Bryan Schmid and Stephanie DillingStephanie Dilling

Sustainability Summit 4/21/09Sustainability Summit 4/21/09

DescriptionDescription

Four vacant, blighted parcelsFour vacant, blighted parcels Located one block northwest of main Located one block northwest of main

campuscampus Unbuildable due to soil subsidenceUnbuildable due to soil subsidence Adjacent to five similar parcels owned by Adjacent to five similar parcels owned by

the City of Rock Islandthe City of Rock Island

Bryan Schmid4/20/09

Bryan Schmid4/13/09

BeginningsBeginnings

Environmental Learning Community final Environmental Learning Community final projectproject

Interdepartmental coordinated researchInterdepartmental coordinated research BiologyBiology BusinessBusiness GeographyGeography

Help from Jim Johansen, one of Help from Jim Johansen, one of Augustana’s Farm-to-Fork farmersAugustana’s Farm-to-Fork farmers

Academic Tie-insAcademic Tie-ins

Learning CommunityLearning Community Two related courses centered around the Two related courses centered around the

environmentenvironment Class projectsClass projects

Local Culture house Local Culture house Work at Wesley AcresWork at Wesley Acres

Potential for other departments to utilize Potential for other departments to utilize the sitethe site

GoalsGoals

SUSTAINABILITYSUSTAINABILITY Augment existing programs:Augment existing programs:

Farm-to-ForkFarm-to-Fork Buy Fresh, Buy Local Quad CitiesBuy Fresh, Buy Local Quad Cities Augustana’s Environmental Action Plan Augustana’s Environmental Action Plan

Spread knowledge of simple agricultural Spread knowledge of simple agricultural processesprocesses

Benefit numerous academic departmentsBenefit numerous academic departments

GoalsGoals

Develop a fiscally responsible projectDevelop a fiscally responsible project Keep project costs to a minimumKeep project costs to a minimum Provide Food Services with a less expensive Provide Food Services with a less expensive

productproduct Connect Augustana and the surrounding Connect Augustana and the surrounding

communitycommunity

Short-Term GoalsShort-Term Goals

Turn the following sets of crops this year:Turn the following sets of crops this year: Early: Spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, cabbage, radishes, Early: Spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, cabbage, radishes,

beets, peas, herbs, potatoes, onionsbeets, peas, herbs, potatoes, onions Middle: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, carrots, Middle: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, carrots,

green beansgreen beans Late: Spinach, lettuce, raspberries, garlic (harvested in Late: Spinach, lettuce, raspberries, garlic (harvested in

spring), spring), Generate interest from student bodyGenerate interest from student body

First-year coursesFirst-year courses Environmental coursesEnvironmental courses New major: Environmental studiesNew major: Environmental studies

Create a student group to sustain interestCreate a student group to sustain interest

Current StatusCurrent Status

Group had a clean-up in Group had a clean-up in early Aprilearly April

Tilled April 17Tilled April 17thth Planted numerous crops Planted numerous crops

sincesince Student group being Student group being

charteredchartered Developing marketingDeveloping marketing Addressing ongoing Addressing ongoing

concernsconcerns

Long-Term PlansLong-Term Plans

If successful, expansion is possible and If successful, expansion is possible and encouragedencouraged

Orchard from heirloom rootstockOrchard from heirloom rootstock Campus-wide involvementCampus-wide involvement Edible rain gardenEdible rain garden Cyclical process of supplying food for Cyclical process of supplying food for

campuscampus

Sustainability AspectsSustainability Aspects

Reuse of blighted, vacant property not fit Reuse of blighted, vacant property not fit for buildingfor building

Local produce Local produce Minimal carbon footprint Minimal carbon footprint Organic agricultureOrganic agriculture Fiscally self sustainable in the long-termFiscally self sustainable in the long-term Catching runoff in rain gardenCatching runoff in rain garden Stabilization of a compromised slopeStabilization of a compromised slope

Learning ExperiencesLearning Experiences

Get things started earlyGet things started early Communicate clearly and regularlyCommunicate clearly and regularly Think creativelyThink creatively Use any available resources on campus Use any available resources on campus

and onlineand online Reciprocity – Give and receiveReciprocity – Give and receive PersistencePersistence Set reasonable goalsSet reasonable goals

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Jim Johansen of Wesley AcresJim Johansen of Wesley Acres Drs. Charles Mahaffey and Jason PetersDrs. Charles Mahaffey and Jason Peters Mary Chappell, City of Rock IslandMary Chappell, City of Rock Island The Augustana administrationThe Augustana administration Sustainability Committee of Augustana Sustainability Committee of Augustana

CollegeCollege All who have given time to the projectAll who have given time to the project

Thank YouThank You