Humanity is outstripping the Earth’s resources by 50 percent — essentially using the resources of one and a half Earths every year, according to the 2012 Living Planet Report, produced by conservation agency the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47421743/ns/technology_and_science-science/

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Renovation. Courtesy of the National Park Service

Who or what has the most potential to be the drivers in implementing  the SITES rating system and sustainable sites methodologies?  The SITES Pilot Projects Phase is still underway and presently three projects have been certified.  But where will this new approach get the most traction at the largest scale?

While the federal government system is usually not touted in the media for innovation and cost savings, it may be the place where the most number of projects originate or are being developed using the SITES model.

What does this mean to the rest of us? Can federal initiatives carry over to landscape architects who may not be working on federal projects but are looking for ways to introduce SITES to clients and other professionals?

A little background:

President Obama’s Executive Order (EO) 15314 in October, 2009 got it started by setting sustainability goals for Federal agencies.   Our office is working on federal projects and, given my passion for site sustainability topics, when EO 15314 was issued, I figured it would be a short time before everyone would be talking environmental sustainability goals for site development – municipalities, institutions, businesses and even my neighbor!

The reality is that, while policy may be set with the stroke of a pen, creating the tools for implementing policy takes time, if it happens at all.

Narragansett Wind Solar Green Roof. Courtesy of EPA.

A few months ago, there it was, on the Sustainable Sites Initiative website   the Guidance for Federal Agencies on Sustainable Practices for Designed Landscapes  (Federal Guidelines)  in an easy to read format and downloadable. And it was based in part on the SITES credit system!

Next question – how might the Federal Guidelines help with education and implementation of sustainable design practices in the non-Federal realm?

I decided to experiment with this new document.  I had meetings scheduled with folks outside of our profession, to which I had already introduced the SITES rating system.  In those earlier meetings these professionals expressed some mild interest in SITES, but nothing I would call enthusiastic. My guess was that the professional community was being barraged by other green rating systems and viewed SITES in that context. I sensed (and heard) “Will SITES really happen?” or “Let’s wait and see,” and “Why would our clients want to do this?”

So my very small experiment included one company who did not have any federal work and one company that did a lot of federal work.  I printed out a couple of copies of the Federal Guidelines (on recycled paper), brought them to the meeting and talked about the Federal Guidelines and the SITES rating system together.  I also introduced the idea that the Federal Guidelines were a good “distillation” of SITES and could be used for reference and good sustainable sites practices as well.

The result?  In both cases these professionals seriously reviewed the Federal Guidelines during our meeting, engaged in a more serious discussion about SITES and asked to take a copy of the Federal Guidelines from our meeting.

The other reason for this post is that I had encountered well informed landscape architects (some pretty recently) that were not familiar with the Federal Guidelines.  I figured it was time to sound the horn again and provide some updates about how the Federal Guidelines are working.

I contacted Ray Mims, Conservation and Sustainability Manager, US Botanic Garden (USBG) because he helped lead the Federal working group that developed the Federal Guidelines and was very engaged in working with federal agencies on implementation.  Ray explained that Holly Shimizu, Executive Director, USBG participated in the working group which included a Core Committee and Technical Advisors from federal agencies and institutions from around the country.

Ray was very forthcoming with his own list of federal projects to highlight.  With his help I was able to contact several agency people on the Core Committee who shared ideas on implementation and the evolution of sustainable site development methodologies in their work.

According to Ray, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is including the Federal Guidelines and SITES into its 5-year strategic plan “to address sustainability outside of the building skin”.

Several people associated with development of federal historic properties acknowledged the challenge of implementing the Federal Guidelines and SITES in that context.  Nonetheless, the Development plan for the Department of Homeland Security’s St. Elizabeth’s Campus, a National Historic Landmark, included a “Landscape Integration Plan” that used SITES criteria.

EPA Constitution Rain Gardens. Courtesy of EPA.

Bucky Green, EPA Chief of Sustainable Facilities Practices, noted that GSA is primarily responsible for design and construction of EPA facilities. “But we have implemented many green strategies,” says Bucky.  “These include buildings with green roofs and rainwater harvesting systems, the elimination or conversion of our irrigation systems to highly efficient systems, numerous labs that converted traditional mowed lawns into wildflower meadows, and have incrementally installed native species and wildlife friendly species into our site landscaping.”

Bill Donnelly, ASLA, Smithsonian, acknowledged that SITES and the Federal Guidelines is definitely changing their approach on project planning and design.  “The African American History and Cultural Museum on the Mall (due to open in 2015) is a SITES Pilot Project,” noted Bill. “It includes water features and an irrigation system which will use greywater or water collected on site. Our consultant is handling both the LEED and SITES certification for this project.”

Susan Spain, Project Executive for the National Mall Plan project noted that the National Park Service “has developed the Green Parks Plan, all projects have integrated multi-disciplinary teams and strong public engagement.”  One of the evaluation criteria for the National Mall Design Competition was “Environmental, Functional and Operational Sustainability”.   Also, Susan provided information on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Renovation.  The new design reduces the amount of water presently needed to fill the Pool by over 2 million gallons or a one-third reduction.  The old Pool also required potable city water and periodic refilling, and the new Pool will use re-circulated, filtered water from the Tidal Basin, which will be cleaner and better for public health and safety and wildlife habitat.

US Tax Court Building Plaza. Courtesy of GSA.

Darren DeStefano, Horticulturist, GSA Public Building Service provided information on the US Tax Court, in downtown DC, which has a landscape plaza over a sunken freeway in the urban core and is a SITES Pilot Project.  “The landscape plaza now functions as a biological system, converting stormwater and carbon (from vehicular emissions) into cellulose, oxygen and habitat,” says Darren.  ”Also, the plantings process over 30,000 gallon of stormwater, and have significantly lowered maintenance.  The defunct central fountain was converted to an extensive green roof and serves as an education and demonstration example.”

US Tax Court demonstration rain garden. Courtesy of GSA.

After my own experience with the Federal Guidelines and contact with some very dedicated people who are doing good work, I am more confident and hopeful that the SITES model may actually be embraced by “municipalities, institutions, businesses and my neighbor”.

I believe there is value in regular updates on the implementation of the Federal Guidelines in this PPN venue. Do others in this group feel the same?   What aspects are you most interested in? What concerns you?  Let’s hear from you!

Celebrating twenty years of promoting environmentally safe and beneficial landscape practices, the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA) held their early March annual conference in Springfield, MA. While originally a New England organization, the group’s influence has spread to the mid-Atlantic states; ELA now boasts over 300 professional, business, and community members.

This year’s conference was held over two days and offered intensive workshops on urban landscapes and wetland restorations, as well as individual presentations on design, pest management, soil and water. CEU credits were given to landscape architects, as well as arborists, master gardeners, foresters, and pesticide applicators. Presenters included a practitioner from California who spoke on “water neutral” gardens using gray water, as well as a geneticist who dug deep into the subject of soil microbes and the use of beneficial biological products.

And right outside the presentation rooms, a vibrant and product-filled room boasted environmentally friendly items, such as gray and black water systems, non-chemical herbicides, compost, and fish fertilizers. Educational programs, including George Washington University and the Massachusetts Conway School of Design showcased their sustainable programs with teachers, students, and project presentation boards. Nearby a temporary bookstore contained books for purchase on various ecological subjects; documentaries were previewed throughout the two days in an adjacent room.

But it wasn’t all serious stuff….after an optional trip to the Smith College greenhouse bulb display, a 20^th birthday party was held at the nearby hotel where most guests stayed. Following the second day of presentations, a jazz hour with drinks and hor d’oeurves warmed up the crowd for the dinner and the keynote address, “Landscapes Coming Full Circle: Cultivating Resilience in a Time of Transition,” given by Ben Falk.

While dealing with environmentally important topics, the ELA staff made sure that the guests and speakers had a really good time – and will return another year. Take a look at the ELA website http://www.ecolandscaping.org/ for information about the annual conference as well as programs throughout the year.

The ASLA annual meeting is just around the corner. This year’s schedule includes an amazing array of education sessions and field trips and the largest Expo hall yet. And of course there are also a variety of formal and informal events for networking, socializing, and recognizing leaders in our industry. Of this there is of course a great deal of offerings related to sustainable design including workshops, education sessions, and roundtable discussions on the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). You can review the full schedule online as well as many of the education session handouts.

Leaders and members of the ASLA Sustainable Design and Development Professional Practice Network (SDD PPN) are giving a variety of talks throughout the conference, and we will be meeting to network on Tuesday, November 1st, 9:15–10:45 am in the Expo Hall.

And don’t forget many of the workshops and education sessions will gain you Continuing Education Units (CEUs) Currently:

• 75 qualify for GBCI credit to maintain your LEED credential
• 66 qualify for AICP credit
• 60 qualify for AIA credit
• 120 are approved by the Florida Board of Landscape Architecture
• 105 are approved by the New York State Board for Landscape Architecture

We look forward to seeing you there!

re-posted from sustainablesites.org

Recently, Wheaton, Illinois held its annual summer festival that draws around 15,000 people over three days. The event typically has three main sections: an area for carnival rides, an area for entertainment and food and an area featuring a vintage car show. Connecting these areas is a street closed to traffic,Hale Street. Restaurants and shops along Hale Street stay open during the festival, hoping to increase business. In past years, their efforts were not successful. People mainly used the street to walk between the different areas and events. Sales did not increase.

The area, however, had potential to be a popular gathering spot. With a bit of financial assistance from the Downtown Association,Hale Streetwas transformed, without breaking the bank. A local landscape architect created “Park on Hale” – seven maple trees in colorful planters  with flowers and benches were placed in the middle of the street.

The simple change made a dramatic difference. This year, the street filled with families. The weather was hot like years past, but festival-goers this year found a new stopping point with sitting areas under the trees. Restaurants were packed. Children began to perform in the street at a small stage. Benches set around the planters were full.

A new festival midway was born.

A few simple trees had made a space come to life. They helped transform an asphalt street into a fun and lively family entertainment park for two days.

mama don't let your babies grow up to plant veggies

You can’t have a lifestyle trend such as urban farming or edible frontyards without some controversy. Did you know that there really are many cities and towns with old bylaws or zoning codes that prohibit a person from actually eating any food they grow in their own yard!  While some cities such as San Francisco, New York, Baltimore, Seattle and Detroit have begun to change laws and policy in support of urban agriculture, and as this trend continues to thrive because of food safety and security issues, the growing foodie locavore movement and urban hipster cred, many citizens in other cities and towns have been threatend with jail time or fines for planting a garden or organic farm on their own property. Yes, it seems that vegetable gardens are just not good for you or the community in these towns. Who knew planting a garden or creating an urban agriculture landscape could be the sign of a budding citizen activist. Let the revolution unfold. Here is a round up of some of the latest news of people who want to live a healthier lifestyle and grow their own food but now are being treated like criminals for doing so.

In Vancouver Island, Dirk Becker may soon be joining the lady in Michigan who was recently threatened with 93 days in jail for growing a garden in her front yard.  Becker, of Lantzville, British Columbia turned his 2.5 acre property which was a gravel pit into a thriving organic farm. The Beckers were cited under the  ”unsightly premises”  bylaw for having piles of manure on their property.  According to the post on Grist.org  the letter came on the very day 8,000 compost bins were distributed to residents in their community. So gravel pit = okay but beautiful organic farm with real soil = not okay.  Read the rest of the story and decide for yourself.

Now take the story of Julie Bass in Oak Park, Michigan where after her front yard was torn up to replace a sewer line, she decided to plant a vegetable garden instead of the lawn that was originally there. But instead of being praised for her decision, she has been cited by code enforcement as a misdemeanor because they say that the edible garden is not a “suitable” front yard choice. City code says that all unpaved portions of a site shall be planted with grass or groundcover or shrubbery or other suitable live plant material.  According to the Planning Director,  suitable means common and since there are no other vegetable gardens in the city’s  front yards the Bass garden is unsuitable. But, a quick look at Websters will tell you otherwise. You be the judge – does Julia Bass deserve jail time for planting a vegetable garden that even her neighbors might enjoy?  Read more in this excerpt from the source.

Bass edible front yard - suitable or not suitable?

Source: http://www.nps.gov

Did you know that the US spends upwards of $138 billion annually to manage both plant and animal invasive species that threaten and impact crops, managed forests, recreation areas, and wildlife habitats? This does not account for the extensive invasive management efforts by private land owners and managers, non-profit groups, and volunteer crews.  And did you know that there are studies that directly link development to exotic plant invasions, as well as profit driven nursery industries. These are just some of the reasons that the Sustainable Sites Initiative requires you to document that you are not planting an invasive plant with Prerequisite 4.2.

We often assume that nurseries wouldn’t sell us an invasive plant. While this is the law, the law only pertains to plants listed in the national data base of invasive plants. While there is a pretty extensive list of nationally recognized invasive plants, many states and local regions are battling invasive plants that are still widely sold at local nurseries.

Many of us don’t take the time to educate ourselves or others on the project team about  local invasive plants when working on a project. I personally know of a couple of cases where the landscape contractor unknowingly substituted invasive plants on habitat restoration projects when they were unable to obtain all the plants specified in the planting plan.

So how do you educate yourself, your plant supplier, your contractor, and others? There are local organizations that can usually help educate you and provide you with lists of local known invasives, as well as species of concern. These may include state and regional Invasive Plant Councils, local Soil and Water Conservation District offices, local Forest Service Offices, Universities, and others. Many government agencies and regional organizations produce free resources such as Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: Identification and Control,  A Management Guide for Invasive Plants of Southern Forests, and Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. There is an amazing amount of information available online; a web search using the word ‘invasive’ and your local area may bring up some local lists or links.

Here are a few helpful resources:

Plant Wise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America, National Invasive Species Council, the Student Conservation Association and many others. Their webpage has a great deal of resources and links, especially links to state and local invasive species organizations and lists. www.beplantwise.org

USDA Invasive Plants Page has a wealth of information on invasive species including profiles and images of some of the worst offenders  www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/main.shtml

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health also has many resources and information on invasive species and their management, including links to many publications available online.  www.invasive.org