Groundwork Guyandotte Southern WV

2015 Project and Planning Summary

Program Manager

Kenneth Goode

Introduction

At the beginning of this year, two organizations, Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association (UGWA) and Groundwork Wyoming County (GWWC), merged to form a new organization, Groundwork Guyandotte Southern West Virginia. During the merger, the Board and staff discussed the scope of the projects and programs we could be involved in and a plan of action to accomplish these objectives and goals.

In the interest of public health and safety, it was decided the Guyandotte watershed and landscape should be the primary objective to education, research, and best management practices. Groundwork Guyandotte SWV wishes to impact the region in several observable ways.

1. Enhances environmental sustainability by responding to development challenges with solutions that involves sensitivity to natural systems. At the site design and planning level, Groundwork Guyandotte will integrate sustainability measures into all projects. Groundwork will work to protect natural resources and educate communities about being active in conservation.

2. Contributes to economic sustainability by assisting policy makers, business owners, and property/land owners to improve long-term value of residential and commercial property. These benefits include agricultural development and growth, improved land and water quality, environmental education and natural resource sustainability, and access to heritage/cultural tourism and recreation.

3. Promotes public health and well-being by making connections between human wellness and the outdoor environment. Agricultural and watershed projects bring a positive effect to mental and physical health of individuals and communities that provide immediate and lasting therapeutic benefits.

4. Builds inclusive communities by creating attractive and functional places. Groundwork Guyandotte wishes to encourage people to engage in their surroundings, strengthening social cohesion, which results in healthier, more dynamic communities.

5. Encourages watershed/landscape awareness and stewardship by increasing our understanding of the local environment and the role humans play in it. In cultivating a symbiotic and iterative relationship between people and their environment, the practice encourages protection, stewardship and understanding of the landscape and watershed.

Site Design and Planning

It was decided by the board and staff of Groundwork Guyandotte that there were 4 sites in Wyoming County that would suit our planning and development ideas. The four sites are strategically placed across the county in a way that makes community involvement more accommodating, especially for a farmer’s market association that is currently being formed and an environmental education/agricultural component.

The 4 sites are Baileysville Community Center (Old High School), Bud Community Center (Old Grade School), Groundwork Office and Coal Heritage Museum (Old UMWA Meeting Hall), and Wyoming County High School Courtyards.

Baileysville Community Center

The Baileysville site offers the most acreage and building capacity for an agricultural site and would produce large amounts of produce.

Farming: The old high school baseball field can provide up to five 100 x 100 foot plots with 20 foot alley ways for tractors and such.

Greenhouses: The parking area above the old football field offers 200 x 50 foot of space for relatively large greenhouses in a linear formation which is close to the community center building and would allow for electrical and water supply.

Recreation: The tennis court and basketball gymnasium provide for many recreational programs. Also there is a large cafeteria which can be used for programming.

Cooking: The kitchen inside the old cafeteria is ready for culinary science programming. Indoor vegetation: Inside the building is a science lab that can be used for hydroponics

and winter growing. Planting plan: 5 agricultural plots will be one based on vegetative placement in species

groups in a grid pattern. The site receives sunlight from morning to dusk and has the potential for an irrigation system to water such a large, water thirsty, vegetative site.

Bud Community Center

The Bud site is only about a third or fourth the size of Baileysville, but the advantage is the position of the property in the center of the community along with a convenience store.

Farming: The lower property is relatively flat and can provide a 100 x 50 L shaped area for gardening.

Greenhouse: The upper grade can offer space for a 20 x 40 greenhouse with rain barrels and gravity feed drip irrigation system.

Recreation: An outdoor basketball court exists with adjacent asphalt area that could be converted in a tennis court and opposite area for sand volleyball court.

Infrastructure: Because the building is the victim of years of neglect, it is in architectural disrepair and should be assessed for environmental hazards. The site has water supply and waste connections and should be considered for a park space with a community garden component.

Planting plan: The site is going to be in one L-shaped pattern with small plots for community gardening spaces. Grouping of plant species can be done in grid groups or in a mixture of species to accommodate green infrastructure and irrigation system.

Groundwork Office and Coal Heritage Museum

The Itmann site is our hub of operation and offers Groundwork the ability to create a base of administration and environmental education. Also heritage/cultural tourism can be promoted there along the Coal Heritage Highway.

Gardening: The property is in a U shaped pattern around the building which is 80 x 20 foot. Twenty 4 x 4 foot raised beds can be utilized for intensive gardening along with stone bed along the foundation.

Greenhouse: An estimated 16 x 30 foot structure can be erected on the western side of the property to extend growing season and plant material mobility.

Infrastructure: The building allows for a guttering system to retrieve water and send it to rain barrels placed around the building for drip irrigation. Also having a main water supply will be crucial during the summer months.

Planting plan: The raised garden beds will be planted using a tier system, tall plants in the back with smaller plants going forward to the front of the property. An intensive plan of grouping plant species can be done also to provide the best possible yields for green infrastructure.

Wyoming County High School Courtyards

Working with the Board of Education allows for Groundwork to invest in the environmental education of students and teach agricultural practices and inclusive gardening.

Gardening: The raised architectural block beds allow for plant species grouping and intensive mixed grouping of plant material in placement and selection. The geometry of the beds, seat walls and pathways of pedestrian travel provide for an outdoor classroom.

Infrastructure: The 130 x 60 foot rectangular structure provides water and drainage systems. This is useful during hot dry days when the architecture of the courtyard pushes heat index up to critical levels.

Programming: The courtyard is best used as an outdoor classroom where students of all classes can function in the space best based on school curriculum. Groundwork will work with teachers and administrators continually on this to improve any oversights.

Planting plans: The arrangements and plant material should be based on classroom needs and seasonality.