Post from Sammi Smoot
Removing the plastic liner from the bog garden: February 25, 2012
We had a short but very productive work day removing the plastic tarp from under the garden.
Marine biology graduate students: Leslie Wicks, Bec Mortensen, Tim O’Donnell, Nicole Kollars, Ashley Shaw, Carly Altizer, Sarah Doty, Meredith Smylie, and Jaqueline Leidig removing the plastic liner from the bog garden.
Rain Barrel Installation with Dave Joyner from Clemson Extension: February 28th 2012
Students from Dr. Brian Fisher’s sustainability class, came to help install the rain barrels. Dave Joyner from Clemson Extension and Jeffrey Swatkowski, a graduate student in the Master’s of Environmental Studies (MES) program, helped to design the rain collection system made up of a 1500 gallon cistern that and 8 50-gallon rain barrels. Between both systems, estimated capture is 41,000 gallons of water per year (based on 50% capture). There’s a whole lot of water that comes off of GML! There are four rain barrels attached to each porch that are daisy chained together. For more information on how to build your own rain barrel and install it in your home visit the website: http://www.clemson.edu/public/psatv/env/rain_barrel.html
Dave Joyner teaching a undergraduate student about making a rain barrel collection system.
Rain Garden Workshop led by Kim Counts from Clemson Carolina Clear: March 16th 2012
People from throughout the College of Charleston campus attended a free garden planning, design, and planting in coastal South Carolina. Representatives from CofC’s Masters of Environmental Studies, SC Department of Natural Resources, CofC Grounds, Grice Marine Lab, and unaffiliated members of the public attended the event. The workshop was led by Kim Counts from Clemson Carolina Clear and sponsored by: Grice Marine Lab, CofC Marine Biology Graduate Student Association, CofC Office of Sustainability, Carolina Clear, Clemson Cooperative Extension, and the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium.
ABC News4, a local Charleston news station was also there for photographs and interviews that were featured on the Friday night news. Links to the articles from the College of Charleston’s and ABCNews4 websites are below.
Kim Counts showing rain garden workshop attendees where to place each of the plants.
(Top) Attendees filling in the rain garden with a layer of mushroom compost and cedar mulch. The garden site already has a lot of sand but you want to make sure the rain garden is composed of 60% sand to help with percolation.
(Bottom) MES student Jennifer Saunders watering our finished rain garden! J
CofC News: http://news.cofc.edu/2012/03/13/free-rain-garden-workshop-offered/
ABC News 4 story: http://www.abcnews4.com/story/17180028/cofc-green-teaching-lab-to-open-next-month