Groundwork Guyandotte Southern WV merged two organizations in 2015 to focus on projects in the Guyandotte watershed. The organization aims to enhance environmental sustainability, contribute to economic sustainability, promote public health, build inclusive communities, and encourage watershed stewardship. The document outlines plans for 4 sites in Wyoming County - Baileysville Community Center, Bud Community Center, Groundwork's office/Coal Heritage Museum, and Wyoming County High School courtyards. Plans include community gardens, greenhouses, and agricultural plots at the sites to support education programs and a farmer's market association. Planting plans and infrastructure needs are described for each site.

1. Groundwork Guyandotte Southern WV
2015 Project and Planning Summary
Program Manager
Kenneth Goode

2. Introduction
At the beginning of this year, two organizations, Upper Guyandotte Watershed
Association (UGWA) and Groundwork Wyoming County (GWWC), merged to form a new
organization, Groundwork Guyandotte Southern West Virginia. During the merger, the Board
and staff discussed the scope of the projects and programs we could be involved in and a plan
of action to accomplish these objectives and goals.
In the interest of public health and safety, it was decided the Guyandotte watershed and
landscape should be the primary objective to education, research, and best management
practices. Groundwork Guyandotte SWV wishes to impact the region in several observable
ways.
1. Enhances environmental sustainability by responding to development challenges with
solutions that involves sensitivity to natural systems. At the site design and planning
level, Groundwork Guyandotte will integrate sustainability measures into all projects.
Groundwork will work to protect natural resources and educate communities about
being active in conservation.
2. Contributes to economic sustainability by assisting policy makers, business owners, and
property/land owners to improve long-term value of residential and commercial
property. These benefits include agricultural development and growth, improved land
and water quality, environmental education and natural resource sustainability, and
access to heritage/cultural tourism and recreation.
3. Promotes public health and well-being by making connections between human
wellness and the outdoor environment. Agricultural and watershed projects bring a
positive effect to mental and physical health of individuals and communities that
provide immediate and lasting therapeutic benefits.
4. Builds inclusive communities by creating attractive and functional places. Groundwork
Guyandotte wishes to encourage people to engage in their surroundings, strengthening
social cohesion, which results in healthier, more dynamic communities.
5. Encourages watershed/landscape awareness and stewardship by increasing our
understanding of the local environment and the role humans play in it. In cultivating a
symbiotic and iterative relationship between people and their environment, the practice
encourages protection, stewardship and understanding of the landscape and
watershed.

3. Site Design and Planning
It was decided by the board and staff of Groundwork Guyandotte that there were 4 sites
in Wyoming County that would suit our planning and development ideas. The four sites are
strategically placed across the county in a way that makes community involvement more
accommodating, especially for a farmer’s market association that is currently being formed and
an environmental education/agricultural component.
The 4 sites are Baileysville Community Center (Old High School), Bud Community Center
(Old Grade School), Groundwork Office and Coal Heritage Museum (Old UMWA Meeting Hall),
and Wyoming County High School Courtyards.
Baileysville Community Center
The Baileysville site offers the most acreage and building capacity for an agricultural site
and would produce large amounts of produce.
 Farming: The old high school baseball field can provide up to five 100 x 100 foot plots
with 20 foot alley ways for tractors and such.
 Greenhouses: The parking area above the old football field offers 200 x 50 foot of space
for relatively large greenhouses in a linear formation which is close to the community
center building and would allow for electrical and water supply.
 Recreation: The tennis court and basketball gymnasium provide for many recreational
programs. Also there is a large cafeteria which can be used for programming.
 Cooking: The kitchen inside the old cafeteria is ready for culinary science programming.
 Indoor vegetation: Inside the building is a science lab that can be used for hydroponics
and winter growing.
 Planting plan: 5 agricultural plots will be one based on vegetative placement in species
groups in a grid pattern. The site receives sunlight from morning to dusk and has the
potential for an irrigation system to water such a large, water thirsty, vegetative site.
Bud Community Center
The Bud site is only about a third or fourth the size of Baileysville, but the advantage is
the position of the property in the center of the community along with a convenience store.
 Farming: The lower property is relatively flat and can provide a 100 x 50 L shaped area
for gardening.
 Greenhouse: The upper grade can offer space for a 20 x 40 greenhouse with rain
barrels and gravity feed drip irrigation system.

4.  Recreation: An outdoor basketball court exists with adjacent asphalt area that could be
converted in a tennis court and opposite area for sand volleyball court.
 Infrastructure: Because the building is the victim of years of neglect, it is in
architectural disrepair and should be assessed for environmental hazards. The site has
water supply and waste connections and should be considered for a park space with a
community garden component.
 Planting plan: The site is going to be in one L-shaped pattern with small plots for
community gardening spaces. Grouping of plant species can be done in grid groups or in
a mixture of species to accommodate green infrastructure and irrigation system.
Groundwork Office and Coal Heritage Museum
The Itmann site is our hub of operation and offers Groundwork the ability to create a
base of administration and environmental education. Also heritage/cultural tourism can be
promoted there along the Coal Heritage Highway.
 Gardening: The property is in a U shaped pattern around the building which is 80 x 20
foot. Twenty 4 x 4 foot raised beds can be utilized for intensive gardening along with
stone bed along the foundation.
 Greenhouse: An estimated 16 x 30 foot structure can be erected on the western side of
the property to extend growing season and plant material mobility.
 Infrastructure: The building allows for a guttering system to retrieve water and send it
to rain barrels placed around the building for drip irrigation. Also having a main water
supply will be crucial during the summer months.
 Planting plan: The raised garden beds will be planted using a tier system, tall plants in
the back with smaller plants going forward to the front of the property. An intensive
plan of grouping plant species can be done also to provide the best possible yields for
green infrastructure.
Wyoming County High School Courtyards
Working with the Board of Education allows for Groundwork to invest in the
environmental education of students and teach agricultural practices and inclusive gardening.
 Gardening: The raised architectural block beds allow for plant species grouping and
intensive mixed grouping of plant material in placement and selection. The geometry
of the beds, seat walls and pathways of pedestrian travel provide for an outdoor
classroom.

5.  Infrastructure: The 130 x 60 foot rectangular structure provides water and drainage
systems. This is useful during hot dry days when the architecture of the courtyard
pushes heat index up to critical levels.
 Programming: The courtyard is best used as an outdoor classroom where students of
all classes can function in the space best based on school curriculum. Groundwork will
work with teachers and administrators continually on this to improve any oversights.
 Planting plans: The arrangements and plant material should be based on classroom
needs and seasonality.