A Guide to Getting Your Hands Dirty:
How Campus Green Spaces Promote
Real World Problem Solving
By Kevin Martini
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI
What are campus Green Spaces?
Enabling Structures at WMU:
WMU Office for Sustainability: Mission
The
mission
of
the
Office
for
Sustainability
is
to guide and assist the Western Michigan
University community in fulfilling and
growing
its sustainability commitments.
Through
building
a
diverse
and
flourishing learning
community around
sustainability, we will continually explore and
develop new opportunities to create a culture
of sustainability and improve quality of life for
all.
Campus
Food Waste
Cargo
Bikes
Vermicompost
Student
Farm
Campus
Food
Current Case Studies from WMU
• Greenspace Projects undertaken include:
– Native Landscape Demonstration Garden
– Community Gardens
– Student Farm
– Greenhouse Winter herbs
– Integrated Pest Management
– Grafting Feasibility Test
– Vermicompost Post-Consumer Waste Reduction Pilot
Native Landscape Demonstration Garden
• Size: 8 beds
• Edibles: Raspberries,
Peaches, Pears, Apples,
Thyme, Hops
• Duration: 2 years
• Cooperation with:
Americorps, Landscape
Services, Biological
Sciences
Native Landscape Demonstration Garden
• Size: 8 beds
• Edibles: Raspberries,
Peaches, Pears, Apples,
Thyme, hops
• Duration: 2 years
• Cooperation with:
Americorps, Landscape
Services, Biological
Sciences
Native Landscape Demonstration Garden
• Size: 8 beds
• Edibles: Raspberries,
Peaches, Pears, Apples,
Thyme, hops
• Duration: 2 years
• Cooperation with:
Americorps, Landscape
Services, Biological
Sciences
Native Landscape Demonstration Garden
• Size: 8 beds
• Edibles: Raspberries,
Peaches, Pears, Apples,
Thyme, hops
• Duration: 2 years
• Cooperation with:
Americorps, Landscape
Services, Biological
Sciences
Community Gardens
• Size: ~2,000 square feet
• Duration: 3 years
• Crops: Corn, Arugula, Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes,
Peppers, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Turnips,
Strawberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach,
Eggplants, Squash, Pumpkin, Tomatillo, Okra
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International
• Examples of classroom Skills Enhanced: Geography,
Environmental Studies, Biology, Botany
Community Gardens
• Size: ~2,000 square feet
• Duration: 3 years
• Crops: Corn, Arugula, Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes,
Peppers, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Turnips,
Strawberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach,
Eggplants, Squash, Pumpkin, Tomatillo, Okra
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International
• Examples of classroom Skills Enhanced: Geography,
Environmental Studies, Biology, Botany
Community Gardens
• Size: ~2,000 square feet
• Duration: 3 years
• Crops: Corn, Arugula, Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes,
Peppers, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Turnips,
Strawberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach,
Eggplants, Squash, Pumpkin, Tomatillo, Okra
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International
• Examples of classroom Skills Enhanced: Geography,
Environmental Studies, Biology, Botany
Community Gardens
• Size: ~2,000 square feet
• Duration: 3 years
• Crops: Corn, Arugula, Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes,
Peppers, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Turnips,
Strawberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach,
Eggplants, Squash, Pumpkin, Tomatillo, Okra
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International
• Examples of classroom Skills Enhanced: Geography,
Environmental Studies, Biology, Botany
Community Gardens
• Size: ~2,000 square feet
• Duration: 3 years
• Crops: Corn, Arugula, Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes,
Peppers, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Turnips,
Strawberries, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach,
Eggplants, Squash, Pumpkin, Tomatillo, Okra
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International
• Examples of classroom Skills Enhanced: Geography,
Environmental Studies, Biology, Botany
Student Farm
• Size: ~12,500 square feet
• Crops: Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes, Peppers, Potatoes,
Onions, Beans, Basil, Sage, Magoram, Squash,
Tomatillos, Turnips, Beets, Dill, Strawberries,
Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli, Mushrooms,
Melons
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International, International Business
Student Farm
• Size: ~12,500 square feet
• Crops: Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes, Peppers, Potatoes,
Onions, Beans, Basil, Sage, Magoram, Squash,
Tomatillos, Turnips, Beets, Dill, Strawberries,
Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli, Mushrooms,
Melons
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International, International Business
Student Farm
• Size: ~12,500 square feet
• Crops: Kale, Carrots, Tomatoes, Peppers, Potatoes,
Onions, Beans, Basil, Sage, Magoram, Squash,
Tomatillos, Turnips, Beets, Dill, Strawberries,
Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli, Mushrooms,
Melons
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Common Ground, Seedsavers Exchange,
Landscape Services, Catering Services, Tillers
International, International Business
[Insert Farm Time Lapse Here]
Greenhouse Winter Herb Production
• Herbs Grown: Chives, Opal Basil, Thai Basil, Queen
Siam Basil, Genoese Basil, Slo-bolt Parsley, Curled
Leaf Parsley, Marjoram, Sage, Cilanto
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Catering Services
• Academic Involvement: Dietetics Internship
program from the College of Education and Human
Development
Greenhouse Winter Herb Production
• Herbs Grown: Chives, Opal Basil, Thai Basil, Queen
Siam Basil, Genoese Basil, Slo-bolt Parsley, Curled
Leaf Parsley, Marjoram, Sage, Cilanto
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Catering Services
• Academic Involvement: Dietetics Internship
program from the College of Education and Human
Development
Greenhouse Winter Herb Production
• Herbs Grown: Chives, Opal Basil, Thai Basil, Queen
Siam Basil, Genoese Basil, Slo-bolt Parsley, Curled
Leaf Parsley, Marjoram, Sage, Cilanto
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Catering Services
• Academic Involvement: Dietetics Internship
program from the College of Education and Human
Development
Integrated Pest Management: A shift from preventative
applications of synthetic agrochemical to systems which try
to minimize negative by treating crop fields as microcosms,
with complex pest-predator-produce relationships.
Integrated Pest Management Projects
• Location: Greenhouse, Student Farm,
Community Garden, Native Landscape
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services
• Academic Involvement: Masters in
International Development
Administration program from the
Political Science Department
• Purpose: To experiment with
developing a sustainable yet effective
pest management regime to minimize
damage to installations including
native landscape areas, greenhouse
rooms, community gardens and the
student farm
Integrated Pest Management Projects
• Location: Greenhouse, Student Farm,
Community Garden, Native Landscape
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services
• Academic Involvement: Masters in
International Development
Administration program from the
Political Science Department
• Purpose: To experiment with
developing a sustainable yet effective
pest management regime to minimize
damage to installations including
native landscape areas, greenhouse
rooms, community gardens and the
student farm
Integrated Pest Management Projects
• Location: Greenhouse, Student Farm,
Community Garden, Native Landscape
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services
• Academic Involvement: Masters in
International Development
Administration program from the
Political Science Department
• Purpose: To experiment with
developing a sustainable yet effective
pest management regime to minimize
damage to installations including
native landscape areas, greenhouse
rooms, community gardens and the
student farm
Integrated Pest Management Projects
• Location: Greenhouse, Student Farm,
Community Garden, Native Landscape
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services
• Academic Involvement: Masters in
International Development
Administration program from the
Political Science Department
• Purpose: To experiment with
developing a sustainable yet effective
pest management regime to minimize
damage to installations including
native landscape areas, greenhouse
rooms, community gardens and the
student farm
Integrated Pest Management Projects
Grafting Feasibility Test
• Location: Finch Greenhouse
• Size: 20 pieces of rootstock, 30
grafts, 3 successful grafts
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services, MSU Arborist
• Purpose: To experiment with
grafting the once prevalent in
Kalamazoo Cork Elm (Ulmus
thomasii) to a more disease
resistant rootstock, Chinese Elm
(Ulmus parvifolia) to place into
on-campus displays and native
landscape areas
• Classroom Skills Enhanced:
biology (in lieu of a formal
botany program)
Grafting Feasibility Test
• Location: Finch Greenhouse
• Size: 20 pieces of rootstock, 30
grafts, 3 successful grafts
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services, MSU Arborist
• Purpose: To experiment with
grafting the once prevalent in
Kalamazoo Cork Elm (Ulmus
thomasii) to a more disease
resistant rootstock, Chinese Elm
(Ulmus parvifolia) to place into
on-campus displays and native
landscape areas
• Classroom Skills Enhanced:
biology (in lieu of a formal
botany program)
Grafting Feasibility Test
• Location: Finch Greenhouse
• Size: 20 pieces of rootstock, 30
grafts, 3 successful grafts
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services, MSU Arborist
• Purpose: To experiment with
grafting the once prevalent in
Kalamazoo Cork Elm (Ulmus
thomasii) to a more disease
resistant rootstock, Chinese Elm
(Ulmus parvifolia) to place into
on-campus displays and native
landscape areas
• Classroom Skills Enhanced:
biology (in lieu of a formal
botany program)
Grafting Feasibility Test
• Location: Finch Greenhouse
• Size: 20 pieces of rootstock, 30
grafts, 3 successful grafts
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services, MSU Arborist
• Purpose: To experiment with
grafting the once prevalent in
Kalamazoo Cork Elm (Ulmus
thomasii) to a more disease
resistant rootstock, Chinese Elm
(Ulmus parvifolia) to place into
on-campus displays and native
landscape areas
• Classroom Skills Enhanced:
biology (in lieu of a formal
botany program)
Grafting Feasibility Test
• Location: Finch Greenhouse
• Size: 20 pieces of rootstock, 30
grafts, 3 successful grafts
• Cooperation with: Department of
Biological Sciences, Landscape
Services, MSU Arborist
• Purpose: To experiment with
grafting the once prevalent in
Kalamazoo Cork Elm (Ulmus
thomasii) to a more disease
resistant rootstock, Chinese Elm
(Ulmus parvifolia) to place into
on-campus displays and native
landscape areas
• Classroom Skills Enhanced:
biology (in lieu of a formal
botany program)
Grafting
Feasibility Test
Cork Elm bud opening
up after a successful
take of a scion
[Insert Bud-opening Time Lapse Here]
Vermi-compost Pilot Study for
Postconsumer Food Waste Reduction
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Dining Services, Catering Services,
Landscape Services
• Size: 5 containers, each with 8 bins
• Starting Worm Pop: 24,000
• Purpose: Experiment with methods of using
vermicomposting to reduce waste from various
campus food sources, including cafes, cafeterias,
department offices and catered events
Vermi-compost Pilot Study for
Postconsumer Food Waste Reduction
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Dining Services, Catering Services,
Landscape Services
• Size: 5 containers, each with 8 bins
• Starting Worm Pop: 24,000
• Purpose: Experiment with methods of using
vermicomposting to reduce waste from various
campus food sources, including cafes, cafeterias,
department offices and catered events
Vermi-compost Pilot Study for
Postconsumer Food Waste Reduction
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Dining Services, Catering Services,
Landscape Services
• Size: 5 containers, each with 8 bins
• Starting Worm Pop: 24,000
• Purpose: Experiment with methods of using
vermicomposting to reduce waste from various
campus food sources, including cafes, cafeterias,
department offices and catered events
Vermi-compost Pilot Study for
Postconsumer Food Waste Reduction
• Cooperation with: Department of Biological
Sciences, Dining Services, Catering Services,
Landscape Services
• Size: 5 containers, each with 8 bins
• Starting Worm Pop: 24,000
• Purpose: Experiment with methods of using
vermicomposting to reduce waste from various
campus food sources, including cafes, cafeterias,
department offices and catered events
The unique, hands-on nature of green space
research allows for inclusion of multifaceted
direct learning experiences, which ultimately
supplement and enhance traditional classroom
learning while aiding in the development of real
world problem solving skills.
• Overall, greenspace
research has involved
the following
academic programs:
– MIDA program from
the Political Science
Department
– Dietetics internship
program from college
of health and human
services
– Standing extra-credit
opportunity with
Environmental
Studies Program
• Internships Involving
the following
departments:
– Political Science
• MIDA
– Environmental Studies
– Biology
– Chemistry
– Geography
• Urban Planning
– Dietetics
– Fine Arts
– Business
Contact Information
• Kevin Martini
– Office for Sustainability
– Graduate Assistant
– Kevin.P.Martini@wmich.edu
• Office for Sustainability
– http://www.wmich.edu/sustainability
– WMU-Sustainability@wmich.edu