This presentation highlights how to transform the landscape of urban colleges and universities into a sustainable-edible landscape and community to enhance and promote biodiversity, while reducing environmental and ecological footprints.

1. Edible Low-Maintenance
Landscaping at Clark University
By
Andrea Gialtouridis,
Jenkins Macedo,
Hoang Dao, Matthew Huck

2. Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Core Problem
3. Objectives
4. Benefits
5. Challenges
6. Literature Review
7. Strategic Approach
8. Methods
9. Site Diagram
10. Timeline & Cost Benefit Analysis
11. Future Plan

3. Introduction
What is edible landscaping ?
 Using native plants to
transform the campus
environment
 Replacement of grass with
more sustainable
alternatives
 Provide food
 Habitat for animals

4. Introduction, Continued..
Why Permaculture Design?
 Holistic, Sustainable design system and Philosophy
 The deign principles of permaculture were derived from the science of system
ecology and study pre-industrial examples of sustainable land use
 Use of companion planting to increase ecosystem health while decreasing
maintenance, energy, and water requirements of an area
 "Permaculture designs evolve over time by taking into account plant
relationships and ecosystem function and can become extremely complex
systems that produce a high density of food and materials with minimal input"

5. Introduction, Continued..
What is the role of edible landscaping in sustainable
development?
 Transform nutrient poor areas into vibrant habitat
 Energy and water savings
 Connects people with local food systems
 Paradigm change in the way we conceptualize urban green
spaces
 Increases and reinforces biodiversity

6. Core Problem
 Grass landscaping is unnsustainable
 Grass monocultures upset the nutrient
 Large areas of turf were recently created by Clark
University
 Lots of human labor and input of treated city water
required
 Leads to soil imbalance and limits biodiversity
 Industrial farming has shifted food production out of
the public consciousness and promotes
unsustainable monoculture practices

7. Objectives
 To establish a plot of edible, sustainable garden on campus based on the
principles of permaculture.
 To create and promote awareness of edible, sustainable landscaping and
local food production on campus and in the community.
 To reduce water use and maintenance of a small plot on campus while
improving the aesthetic and ecological value at this site.
 To create an information database for future sustainable landscaping
efforts at Clark and in the community.

8. Benefits
 Reduces energy and water consumption
 Reduces maintenance requirements
 Reduces overall pollution associated with the
transportation and production of food products
 Contribute to a diverse and healthy habitat
 Provide opportunity for fun and education
 Increase the aesthetic appeal of campus

9. Challenges
 Finding funding to purchase plants and other landscaping
materials
 Careful planning – like all plants, food-producing plants
have specific growing requirements.
 Site design - selection of plants and pattern of planting to
maximize ecosystem health
 Coordinating our campus and community resources
 Weather and climate

10. Literature Review
 Conduct a literature review
 permaculture and edible landscaping
 We will review articles, academic journals,
books and related projects.

11. Methods
 A. Primary Research
 Population
 Sampling frame
a) Experts, staff and faculty
b) Sample size ?????
 Sampling Strategy
 Purposive Sampling (nonprobability sampling)
 Data Collection
 Qualitative Research
a) Informal-Interviews
b) Field trips to related programs on college campuses
 Ethical Considerations
 Course IRB approval
 Time Limitations
 Data Analysis
 Unit of Analysis
a) Edible, sustainable landscaping
 Atlas.ti Version 17

12. Methods, Continued...
 B. Action Research
 Site Selection
 Design process and drafting
 Assess and allocate resources and funding
 Acquire approval for project implementation
 Coordinate with students and community to execute
project objectives

13. Site Diagram

14. Timeline & CBAWeek # Date Activities and Description Cost Benefit
6
15-21 October Literature review and background section
1. Landscaping -
>$1000
2. Volunteer
Labor
3. Loss of turn
4. Transportation of
compost (various)
a) Habitat creation
b) Water savings
c) Maintenance savings
d) Local food production, security and
sovereignty
e) Energy savings
f) Aesthetic improvement
g) Increased biodiversity and ecosystem
services
h) Increase awareness of healthy food
systems
i) Harvested produce from the landscape
will be used to prepare meals for students.
j) Decrease GHG emissions through
sustainable practices
k) Reduce landscape maintenance on
campus by Physical Plant
l) Reduce amount of water use towards
irrigation
7 22-28 October
 Survey the plot
 Begin working on design
 Look for focus group contacts
 Identify trees for our plot
 Work on midterm presentation
8 29 Oct-Nov. 4
 Begin talking with focus group
 Work on plot design
 Field trip to UMass
 Work on the paper
9 Nov 5-11
 Find compost and other materials
 Work on the paper
 Field Trip (Wesley University)
 Talking with focus group
 Work on plot design
10 Nov 12-18
 Work on paper
 Talking with focus group
 Continue work on plot design
11 Nov 19-25
 Finalize design
 Planting trees if possible
 Get final approval
12 26 Nov-Dec 2  Work on final paper and presentation
13 3-9 Dec  Depending on funding start preparing nursery for spring

15. Future Plan
 Continue to consult experts
 Field trip to edible landscaping at other colleges
 Await fundings approval
 Complete the design for the proposed plot
 Awaits project approval from campus authorities
 Conduct informal interviews with experts
 Complete data analysis and draft first report
 Complete final report for submission and publication

16. Special Thanks
Dr. Stephen McCauley
Jenny Isler
Sharon Bort
Chip