Bentonville Community Garden Introduction to Soils, EMPACTS Dr. Ted Seibert, Instructor A living lab for all Vanessa Fisher, Cynthia Romero, John Schmohl, Nathan Buchanan and Adrienne Vanmatr
Introduction A community garden is an area of land which is taken care of by those in the community. They are planted all over the world in order to improve local communities. Benefits include: Gives an opportunity for everyone in the community to have hands on experience in the garden Provides learning to all those involved Restores land and allows for the conservation of resources Creates a community Provides nutritious food to those in need
Our Vision Our team wishes to create a low maintenance, organic community garden on a plot of land owned by Northwest Arkansas Community College The low maintenance community garden will help those in need and will assist in the education of elementary students and college students alike. We plan to incorporate the garden with other science classes at NWACC such as: plant biology, soil science, and horticulture. These classes will be able to volunteer to maintain the gardens as part of their curriculum and possible extra credit. Also it will be used to educate all students on planting a garden and NWA ecology. : 1398 SW Westpark Drive Bentonville, AR 72712. - soil samples taken
Soil Science objectives Course objective 1- Students will understand the key principles of soils which include the chemistry of soils, the function of soils structure, the relationship of living systems in the soils and the ecosystem, agriculture as a means of supporting populations and the soil environments. By testing/ sampling the soil we are learned the chemistry and structure of the soil in order to plan for agricultural uses.
Objectives Cont. Course Objective 2- Students will use and have an understanding of the scientific method and how these methods induce the learning of soil science. The scientific method was always a factor as we worked together experimenting with the soils, it also served as a guide to help us through our project. Course objective 3- Students will have an opportunity to apply the learned techniques through a formal laboratory experience. We have applied these techniques and have used these instruments: Soil sampling procedures Field ribbon testing Soil feel test Coring device Deciphering soil test results Ribbon testing off 102
Teamwork and Technology Resources and technology used: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word website, Google Sketch-up, Google Earth, Microsoft Publisher Team work: we learned to coordinate research in the field as well as in the classroom to cover all aspects of the garden from conception to completion Communication: learned how to more effectively communicate in a real world project environment using themes concepts and vocabulary learned in soil science
Soil Results SW Corner NW Corner
Center NE Corner
SE corner Our assortment of soil tests from across the plot indicate that we have a mixture of three different soils Clay Silty clay loam Silty loam Our Soil Amendment recommendations were as follows:
Soil Amendments 42 lbs. of Urea added to entire planting area (130 x160 ) 260 lbs. lime applied to the front 2/3 of property (130 x110 ) Compost added to entire planting area (130 x160 ) 5 lbs. Zinc Sulfate Soy beans in rotation with row crops
Community Collaborations Public School helping corresponding with the principle and science teachers at Thomas Jefferson elementary they agreed that a community garden would be a great learning opportunity for all the kids. NWACC Community Faculty/Staff/Students Classes such as plant biology, soil science, and horticulture, and even the culinary department have recognized the benefits we could gain from a community garden Local Businesses Have graciously offered to donate start up supplies for the garden realizing that it could mean a boost in sales for them in the long run.
Donations Mats. Cost Quantity Donated by Total saved Shovels $8 5 Lowes $40 Wheel Barrow $50 2 Lowes $100 Spades $6 20 Home Depot $120 Riding Mower $900 1 Lowes $900 Shed $400 1 Lowes $400 Shears $18 10 ACE hardware $180 Cedar Mulch $4-30 lbs 100 lbs Soil Amendments Urea-$20 Lime-$39 Zinc sulfate-$60-42 lbs urea -260 lbs lime -5 lbs ZnSO 4 Tractor Supply co. $119 Raised bed mats. (Lumber, nails, braces) $2700 Meeks $2700 4,559 Total savings*
Our Costs Mats. Cost Quantity Total Roto tiller $500 1 $500 Fencing (chicken wire).25 per ft 835 ft $208 Hosing $17-50 ft 200 ft $68 Organic soil 1.35-40 lbs 500 lbs $17 Seeds $42.84 $42.84 Total cost: $835.84
What would we grow? & How would this garden look?
What to grow? Crops Corn Tomato, 'Better Boy' Squash, 'Early Summer Crookneck Organic' Cucumber, 'Spring Swallow Hybrid' Peas, 'Sugar Lace II' Broccoli, 'Packman Hybrid' Radish, 'Organic Sparkler' Asparagus, 'Jersey Knight Hybrid' Cauliflower, 'Amazing' Blueberry- 'Northern Varieties Soy Beans
Flowers Asteraceae Purple coneflower varities Rudbeckia Evening Primrose Cosmos Mix St. Johnswort 'Appalachian Sun' Butterfly bush
Garden Layout Arial view
Herb garden Row crops Raised beds Front Storage shed Compost Wild flower garden
Rear view
Division of Labor John Soil sampling, PowerPoint, elementary outreach Cynthia Soil sampling, Sketch up model, poster, team leader! Nathan Soil sampling, plant research, cost analysis Vanessa Soil sampling, proposal, cost analysis Adrienne Soil sampling, Collected donations
Acknowledgments A big thank you to C. Dianne Phillips, EAST/EMPACTS Facilitator Ted Siebert, Soil Science Instructor Burnetta Hinterthuer, Plant Biology Instructor University of Arkansas soil testing center Thomas Jefferson Elementary school Tanner Clements, EMPACTS Tech Corp
Thank you! Questions?