Tools for Transformation
Funded Proposals
Sustainable Community Landscapes
College of Forest Resources
Ecosystem Sciences Division
We live in an increasingly urbanized world, where green space is becoming less
common and more highly valued. Community landscapes provide an extension of the
livable environment. Unfortunately, many public landscapes are neither well managed
nor sustainable, with poor plant selection and maintenance. A variety of problems
make such places unattractive and unhealthy for plants, animals, and humans. We
have formed the Sustainable Community Landscapes (SCL) consortium to restore these
declining landscapes. Sustainable or ecologically friendly landscapes consume less
water, have reduced needs for fertilizer and pesticides, and avoid the use of
non-native, invasive species. By applying plant and soil sciences, the SCL
consortium serves to integrate the efforts of educational, non-profit, community,
governmental, and industry groups in designing, building and restoring sustainable
landscapes in public spaces. SCL is dedicated to increasing the percentage of
sustainable yet aesthetically pleasing urban landscapes in the Puget Sound region.
We are devoted to helping the community to recognize and apply sustainable
management practices as preferable alternatives to current practices.
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Contact:
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Linda Chalker-Scott
Associate Professor, Ecosystem Sciences Division
lindacs@u.washington.edu
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Allocation:
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$50,000
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Date Funded:
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April 2001
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Progress Report, January 2002
- 2001 Highlights and Accomplishments
See also the Sustainable
Community Landscapes 2001 Highlights page on their
website for more links and pictures.
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January
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Had our first steering committee meeting of the year; this group now meets monthly
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Hired a full-time program coordinator (Angie Cahill)
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Met with Edmonds Community College and Seattle Public School staff to
discuss
connections and partnerships with other educational institutes
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February
- March
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Began research on the effects of compost tea on cherry blossom brown rot
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Held our first panel discussion - Homeowner Misapplication of Pesticides
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Created a Request for Proposals (RFP), available online
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Angie joined the Natural Resource Stewardship Network (NRSN) as a resource committee
member to review grant pre-proposals and provide technical assistance to grantees
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Gathered data for our study on the relative effectiveness of mulch and herbicide
applications in suppressing weed growth and encouraging survival and growth of desired
species in restoration sites receiving no aftercare
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Received a Tools for Transformation (TFT) grant from the University of Washington; as
part of the agreement, TFT will fund SCL for one year, followed by a year of funding
by the College of Forest Resources (CFR)
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Began a landscape rehabilitation project at Garfield High School
- May
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Held our second panel discussion - Dealing With Drought in the Landscape
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Survived the firebombing of Merrill Hall, loss of our offices
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Reviewed pre-proposals by prospective NRSN grantees
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Received a Seattle Public Utilities QuickSTEP grant for the GHS landscape
rehabilitation
- June
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Completed the landscape rehabilitation project at Garfield; posted pictures and a
project overview on our web page
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Added summaries of student projects and research to our web page
- July
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Met with several community groups about potential projects and partnerships
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Planned our next panel discussion
- August
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Held a panel discussion - Can Restoration and Aesthetics Coexist?
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Provided informational materials for attendees of the International Plant Propagators
Society (IPPS) meeting
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Reviewed grant pre-proposals with the NRSN resource group
- September
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Angie attended the Oregon Sustainability Forum
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Determined 7 sites for fall quarter landscape rehabilitation projects; met with
community groups
- October
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Carried out a trial run of a study on fertilizer runoff from turf, working with the
King County Hazardous Waste Management Program
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Began fall quarter restoration projects:
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Performed site analysis and created design schemes and management plans for Matthews
Beach, Garfield High School, and three sites within Frink Park
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Performed analysis, site preparation, and installation of new landscaping at NOVA
High
School and SeaTran land at the intersection of Matthews Ave. and Sand Point
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Presented the SCL program to the UW Urban Horticulture seminar class
- November
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Presented three posters at the CFR-sponsored Center for Urban Horticulture -
Washington Park Arboretum showcase
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Held a panel discussion - What Role Do Community Members Play in the Success of
Landscape Restorations?
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Met with Melissa Keigley regarding partnering with SERNW (Society for Ecological
Restoration Northwest) and other organizations to organize and sponsor a series of
hands-on workshops for restoration practitioners
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Reviewed grant pre-proposals with the NRSN resource committee
- December
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Completed the 7 fall quarter landscape restoration projects
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Held a poster session to present the landscape rehabilitation plans to community
members and other interested parties
- Year-end Summary
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2001 was a busy and successful year for Sustainable Community Landscapes. It was our
first full year of operation, and we completed a number of projects and began many new
partnerships and activities. Our four panel discussions had a combined attendance of
over 100 people, and our dynamic speakers provided great insight and expertise. With
help from UW's Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry students and community
groups, we installed more sustainable, aesthetically pleasing landscapes at three
public sites. We also performed site analyses and created design and management plans
for five more sites. Our director and program coordinator gave presentations and
provided technical assistance to a number of groups, ranging from the Association of
Women in Horticulture to Friends of Louisa Boren Park to University of Washington
classes. During the year, we added over 30 new partners to the consortium. As a result
of these partnerships, we are planning diverse activities for 2002, including an
educational symposium, additional panel discussions, and a series of hands-on
restoration workshops. We look forward to working with our many wonderful partners for
many years to come.
Tools for Transformation
Funded Proposals
