[SLI-public] Sustainable Landscaping

[Margaret Woodruff]

Good morning from Charlotte VT!
We share the Town Green here with the Town Hall and it is considered a
municipal space.  Thanks to advocacy on the part of our garden
coordinators, we've been able to include a number of sustainable practices
in the lawn maintenance contracts and overall garden care:
1. "Raise the Blade:" http://lawntolake.wpengine.com/?page_id=13

2.  Multipurpose Library Gardens:  Our library expansion project provided
us with an opportunity to redesign the garden spaces around the building.
This developed into a 9-part course called "Permaculture in Action."  We
now host a pollinator welcome garden, rain garden and food gardens. I've
attached some photos and information below.

This is a very helpful conversation!
Margaret

On Tue, Aug 22, 2023 at 4:02 PM Lisa Laico - WAR via SLI-Public <
sli-public at lists.suffolknet.org> wrote:

> Hello, everyone -
>
> Crowd-sourcing this question.  Our library is fortunate enough to be
> situated on a couple of acres of property, with rather extensive lawns.
> For three years, we did not treat the lawns with any kinds of fertilizers,
> herbicides, etc.  It was an environmentally-minded choice.  The result
> after 3 years was that the grass was decimated - huge patches of mud and
> weeds caused by a grub infestation.  It was really unattractive and as a
> practical matter, not something you'd want to have a picnic on, or even
> stroll around.  So we resumed treatment and after 2 seasons, the lawn is
> back.  However,  patrons are beginning to complain.  One advanced the
> theory that peppermint oil is the cure for all our lawn problems.  I'm not
> so sure.
>
> The State DEC has provided me with a list of "reduced-risk" pesticides,
> such as microbial treatments, bio-pesticides and horticultural oils, but
> explicitly declined to comment on their efficacy.  They also provided the
> EPA's list of more conventional reduced-risk pesticides.
>
> Our pest control company does have some organic treatments but says they
> are not for commercial applications and that we would not be happy with the
> results.
>
> So:  if your library has extensive lawn and you've encountered the same
> issue -- balancing aesthetics against the concern about safety and impact
> on ground water, etc. -- what solutions have you found effective?  I would
> love any feedback from anyone who's successfully navigated this.  Thank you!
>
> Lisa
>
> Lisa Laico, Director
> Albert Wisner Public Library <https://www.albertwisnerlibrary.org>
> 1 McFarland Drive
> Warwick, NY   10990
> 845.986.1047, ext. 102
> AWPL Sustainability Team
>
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>


-- 
Margaret Woodruff (she/her)
Director
Charlotte Library
PO Box 120
115 Ferry Road
Charlotte, VT  05445
802.425.3864
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 Charlotte Library 7.28.22-3.jpg
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kkYOIAWFeGBd4RgOnHjHnpJ7ZXghVOgn/view?usp=drive_web>
 Charlotte Library 7.28.22-35.jpg
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/15M56jYV_koJ5eEGN6nQmkOX-HotOv76F/view?usp=drive_web>
 Charlotte Library 7.28.22-36.jpg
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v1kVJbzqHf5U35_175eGmQslB-3WNOrY/view?usp=drive_web>
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