The Olallie Garden Steering Committee decided early on that one of our goals during the garden creation process was to be as green as possible. It was a challenge and an opportunity for sure. We had to be creative and maximize our resources. We looked at everything; the structures and elements in the garden, the way we did the work and what to do with the bits of stuff that accumulates as you progress. So here we are many months later and Katherine reminded me the other day of all the ways in which we walked our talk and unfurled our shades of green:
1. Reclaimed door to the tool shed from ReStore.
2. Green roof on tool shed creates oxygen.
3. Collecting water in the rain barrel.
4. Siding on the tool shed was reclaimed wood from Earthwise.
5. Transplanted shrubs instead of getting rid of them.
6. Composted yard waste with Cedar Grove.
7. Recycled wood scraps.
8. Re-used bench forms so we did not have to make a lot.
9. Used less cement in Rammed Earth Benches, than in traditional concrete.
10. The path is made from compacted gravel, not concrete.
11. Consolidated delivery loads and times.
12. Reused the straw from last years Charlotte’s Web school production.
13. Used grass seed for NW conditions.
14. Pruned plants instead of removing.
15. Planted grass seed in the fall to make use of the rainy season.
16. Recycled our cans and bottles from the work parties.
17. Made paths to go around existing plants and hills.
18. Used soil excavated from the paths and put it into the planting beds.
19. Designed the garden to minimize mowing/weed wacking.
20. Removed Rosa rugosa, exotic possibly invasive plant.
21. Re-positioned existing boulders.
22. Used re-claimed slate from ReStore as a message board on the demonstration shed building.
23. Placed all excess gravel under the ramp.
24. Place excess rocks under the demonstration tool shed.
25. Wood stakes used for the path were donated to the ReStore.
26. Recruited volunteers locally and lots of volunteers came on bikes or walked to the site.
27. Encouraged volunteers to bring their own water bottles.
28. Used “bad” gravel as fill.
29. Used leftover grout for colorant in the rammed earth benches.
30. Most of our communications were via the internet.
31. Used excavated soil to fill in existing ruts.
32. Used tools from volunteers, instead of buying new tools.
33. Group lunches, were purchased locally which saved car gas.
34. We used hand/human powered tampers for the REB instead of gas powered tools.
35. Re-donated reclaimed lumber or or traded excess lumber for another material.
36. GLSA tended and harvested veggies and watered critical plants, instead of adult volunteers driving to school to take care of plants and also drive to foodbank.
37. Some materials came from a local hardware store, instead of driving farther for cheaper products.
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