Loma Vista Elementary School, Ventura CA

Description

40 people turned out for the final workday to complete an Ocean Friendly Garden at Loma Vista Elementary School in Ventura, CA. Loma Vista was this year’s school chosen for the Midtown Ventura Community Council (MVCC) Adopt-A-School Program, and it was its biggest project done yet.

Several partners made this daunting 5,938 sq. ft project do-able. Landscape architect, Brian Brodersen (http://www.brodersenassoc.com/), along with designer Laura Bauer, provided pro-bono services in created the design. The design called for turning the warm-season turf grass in front of (west) and adjacent (south) to the Administration building into a beautiful, 100% native landscape that directs rainwater from School roofs and sidewalks into the garden (plants purchased at Matilija Nursery, http://www.matilijanursery.com/).

A number of workdays took place over a four-month period. Removal of turf grass and excavation of swales and mounding of berms were done prior to the workdays. One workday focused on sheet mulching (http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/killing-the-lawn), while another was for installing plants. Brian and Laura placed all the plants on their intended spots. Then Renee Roth, a Qualified Trainer with G3/Green Gardens Group and a City of Ventura employee, demonstrated proper planting technique, the G3 way (http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/5388). Compost tea, donated by Ventura Coop (http://venturacoop.blogspot.com/), was applied to all plants as well as during the sheet mulching process. MVCC board members, David Ferrin and Dan Long, put in lots of labor and some specialized skills (David crafted the gabion benches). Brian, David, Laura and Renee have attended professional training by G3/Green Gardens Group, sponsored by a state grant awarded to Surfrider. Parents of School students also participated.

For the Surfrider-Ventura County Chapter, it’s the second time it has partnered with MVCC on a school project (click here, www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/a-in-partnerships-for-school-bio-swale, to read about project at Will Rogers Elementary School). The School’s principal, Marlene McMullen, was at every workday. Once again, Jill Sarick, Environmental Specialist with the City of Ventura helped coordinate (use of City tools?) and lent a hand. Richard Saint, Ventura Unified School Districts’ Facilities Services Department, came on the final day and learned what he can take back to all the schools’ landscapes.

David figured out the swale water holding capacity and roof runoff calculations for a rainstorm’s “first flush” (http://www.beachapedia.org/First_Flush). While the design drawing shows 1 drain connection to the southerly garden, if and when all 3 downspout from the administration building are re-directed, the gardens are able to absorb the first flush. While this project will need watering to get it established, it will require little to no irrigation when established (assuming average rainfall) and create habitat for local birds, butterflies, bees and insects. There will be many learning opportunities ahead for School students, parents and teachers!