University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Green Fund Application

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in partnership with Oshkosh Student Association and the Office of Sustainability

Office of Sustainability Phone: 424-1191

Student Sustainability Representative (Coty Sorby) Email: sorbyc68@uwosh.edu

More contact information at www.uwosh.edu/sustainability/about-us

Last Revised: September 3rd, 2014

Green Fund Application

Project Title: Permaculture Demonstration Site, Outdoor Classroom & Greenhouse (PSCG) Budget Requested: $12,000 Date Submitted: February 4th, 2015 Applicant/Project Leader: Coty Sorby Contact Information: Last Name: Sorby First Name: Coty Email: sorbyc68@uwosh.edu Daytime Phone: (920) 427-3670 Role (Undergraduate, Graduate, Organization, Club): Senior Faculty Advisor (If Applicable): Brian Kermath (Sustainability Director) Project Group: Group may consist of garden club, campus sustainability office and campus sustainability council members as many are champions of sustainability and have voiced interest in helping or getting their students involved. However, I will do most of the planning and execution by myself with the help of sustainability director Brian Kermath and interim grounds director Lisa Mick.

Please carefully consider the application criteria before you begin. Consult the FAQ for further guidance. Application text may replace italicized instructions below. Length (before any appendices) cannot exceed 4 pages. I. Project Overview Permaculture: See this link for full description/definition. Relevant Comparison Project: See this 9-minute video link for a look at a Permaculture project at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This project received honors from the President of the United States when it won the 2012 “Champions of Change Challenge” – a national program.

Project Summary: The Permaculture demonstration site, outdoor classroom & greenhouse involves transforming current green-space on campus into a dynamic, ecologically, and academically meaningful, as well as, highly edible landscape. The proposed site is that of the Oviatt House (see page 10). Other potential sites to consider are that of the old Swart daycare playground and the green space in front of Halsey (south side). There are three phases to this proposal, the Permaculture demonstration site (phase 1), the outdoor classroom (phase 2) and the greenhouse (phase 3). I will discuss only the Permaculture demonstration site in detail; the other phases are separate aspects of one plan as funding becomes available. To be clear, this proposal is only for the permaculture demonstration site. The other phases are to express future potential proposals of a greater concept. Permaculture is essentially a combination of ecological design-science applied to edible landscaping. It is a framework intended to give any person or community the tools needed to sustainably develop food and natural medicine production, species habitat, zones of relaxation, pleasing aesthetics, all while continuously receiving annual surpluses that grow over time, while maintenance invariably decreases over time to little or nothing other than harvesting and minor pruning. The Permaculture demonstration site combines raised organic vegetable beds for gardening, a diverse mix of native annual and perennial flowers, herbs, and significant quantities of edible and medicinal plants. Other elements are mushroom logs, rain barrels/cistern, a composting/vermi-composting (worm composting) area, prairie plots, large stone accents, winding pathways, grape and “super-fruit” arbors, benches, micro pond(s), and even chickens or a beehive (currently not allowed in Oshkosh). This site, over time, will become an edible food forest. With proper signage, pathways, mulch, stone, and fencing, this site will draw students, staff, faculty, and visitors into its aesthetically pleasing design. It will function as a unique “place”, with seating, a park-like atmosphere, and a vivid display of how to design sustainable, beautiful, and productive landscapes in urban environments. Innumerable teaching moments for professors exist in this kind of environment – a living laboratory. Project Eligibility: This project is crafted with the intention of building a culture of sustainability on campus from the ground up (pun intended). This project makes a significant statement that says UWO is on the cutting edge of sustainability. We understand that this kind of project reflects a vital aspect of our society that needs to be revisited. By developing a

productive, aesthetically pleasing, and dynamic landscaped environment, enmeshed in sustainability and resiliency, we will show thousands of students another concept of what kind of human habitat is possible. A kind that helps get people excited about working outdoors, building ecological resiliency and food security for generations to come. This project can change many people’s minds about food and landscaping – It is a proven model of success. Specifically, the Permaculture demonstration site will offer a new setting for students to investigate on campus. It offers a gathering place to learn about various green and sustainable processes. Passersby will see organic gardening, fruit trees, flowers, and a vast assortment of flowering, fruiting, and support species that they will have access to learning about. Not only from the signage explaining the project, but also as part of classroom activities and various workshops that could be designed around the site. Furthermore, the site would be a visible symbol to the community that further builds a culture of sustainability on campus via exposure and invitation. So many aspects of campus sustainability are beyond the sight, reach, and comprehension of students. The Permaculture site seeks to bring students in and get them excited about changing their physical environment in a healthy, healing, and productive way. Timeframe/Milestones: Anticipated start date would be mid-April to early May depending on funding and resource availability. Anticipated completion would be by start of 2015’s fall semester (Early September). Greatest uncertainties revolve around availability of desired plant material – based on time of order (e.g. purchases later in winter/spring are likely to become harder to find). The project will have certain “instant levels” of success through the initial transformation of the landscape and plantings. Further success can be realized by hosting workshops and various classes at the site. This place would be tremendously valuable for a number of students in majors such as environmental studies, biology, chemistry, urban planning, and education classes specifically. However, business, nursing, social work, social justice, as well as, the University Studies Program (USP) in general (and others) will have numerous ways to tie into the concept too. Creating business plans, holistic lifestyle management plans, healing through gardening, and teaching new considerations/methods of urban planning and policy are just a few of the possibilities of the Permaculture demonstration site.

Stakeholders: Primary stakeholders are the university grounds staff and interim grounds director Lisa Mick. Primary support comes from sourcing materials such as compost, mulch, stone, and transportation of materials. However, this project intends to be completely designed and maintained without grounds support. Further exploration of whether grounds can support this project materially or with manpower for initial startup phase is not known at this time (update to follow). II. Project Implementation Tasks and Responsibilities:

III. Financials Funding is preferred by early march so that arrangements in plant materials and inter-university coordination and planning can be in place for a mid-late April start in project implementation. Detailed expenses:

Type of Activity – Task Estimated Time Required

Group Member in Charge

Planning/Organization 3 Weeks Coty Sorby Ordering/Receiving 3-4 Days Coty Sorby

Design 1 Week Coty Sorby Implementation 5-7 Weeks Coty Sorby

Expense Description Estimated Cost

Plant/Fungi Material ≈ $4,000 Labor & Fuel/Machine Rent Depends on Grounds ≈ $1,500 Mulch, Stone, Compost, etc. ≈ $500

Tables, Benches, Arbors ≈ $2,000 Fence & Gates ≈ $ 2,000

Earthworks, Pond ≈ $250 Signage (2-3 Large Signs) ≈ $1,750

Outdoor Classroom (Phase 2) ≈ $2,000 – $15,000 Greenhouse (Phase 3) ≈ $5,000 – $60,000

Detailed revenues:

IV. Additional information: I have 2-6 years experience in the following categories:

• Organic gardening

• Permaculture site design/build • Mushroom growing (on logs) • Beekeeping & chicken raising

• Native and perennial plant propagation & planting Similar Projects (links and short (< 12 minutes) videos):

• University of Massachusetts Amherst Permaculture Garden (9:27) • Food Park at Edgewood Gardens, Florida (11:46) • UWO Sustainability website explaining Permaculture

Revenue Source Amount Requested Confirmed?

UWO Green Fund $12,000 No

Potential Fundraiser Unknown No

Permaculture Design Example 1

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Permaculture Design Example 2

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Permaculture Design Example 3

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Preliminary Site Design for UWO (By Coty Sorby)