SUSTAINABILITY FUND SMALL GRANTS FOR IDEAS THAT MIGHT FURTHER THE POWER OF SUNY Jamie Adams Sustainability Program Coordinator SUNY Oswego 165 Wilber Hall Oswego, NY 13126 (315) 312-2873 jamie.adams@oswego.edu
Title: Permaculture Living Laboratory at SUNY Oswego Duration: 9 months (March 14 to November 14) Requested Funding: $7,500 Summary: SUNY Oswego proposes develop and execute the first phase of a Permaculture Living Laboratory on campus. This grant opportunity would fund the first phase of this initiative; designing and installing the laboratory space and developing permaculture-related coursework and research opportunities. Permaculture is an ethics-based design process for creating resilient, regenerative and self-regulating organic systems. Using permaculture principles and techniques, we aim to mimic natural systems to create a thoughtfully designed and resourceful landscape. The living laboratory is intended to be an experimental 1/10-acre community garden space stewarded by the cooperative and multi-disciplinary efforts of the campus community. The laboratory will act as a resource for campus and community members to observe, interact with, influence and study. Upon maturity, the garden will provide community members with an abundance of nutrient-rich and organic food. As designed, the living laboratory will be the first of several components of the larger permaculture initiative. SUNY Oswego will take responsibility for the dissemination of all development, design, implementation and curricular finding amongst our SUNY peers. Our success will be measured by: the completed installation of the living laboratory on campus, course materials and curriculum developed and implemented, and documented student, faculty and community involvement. The Nature of this Project: The nature of the Permaculture Living Laboratory at SUNY Oswego is to design, create, install and utilize a 1/10 th acre permaculture garden on our campus to service students, faculty, staff and the greater Oswego community. In design and sustained implementation, the lab will serve as an experimental space for the campus community to develop a greater awareness of natural systems and the beneficial interactions among plant, insect and animal species. Permaculture, as a concept and a practice, is a clearly observable and interactive example of sustainability in all of its forms; functioning in a productive, malleable fashion within the existing environment.
As we envision it, the Permaculture Living Laboratory and corresponding academic work will accelerate the institutions accomplishments in the areas of sustainability and meet our specific institutional goals in sustainability. Climate/Environment Increasing bio-diversity by introducing perennial flora and fostering sound habitat for native species Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by using only renewable energies, introducing carbon-sequestering plant life and harnessing local waste Maximizing the use of natural resources through water management techniques such as bio-remediation and harvesting Creating a sustainable and regenerative landscape through the fostering of a selfregulating ecosystem Curriculum/Learning Increasing awareness and knowledge of sustainable design and implementation by way of the projects visibility Enhancing local and global opportunities to learn and serve by way of study abroad courses and service learning programs allowing students gain and apply sustainability know-how Expanding on-campus research opportunities pertaining to issues of sustainability Creating environmental stewards and responsible global citizens through Permaculture Design Certification course Actualizing global sustainability initiatives by partnering with NGOs on permaculture related service projects Community/Lifestyle Advocating for sustainable lifestyles by educating others about local and organic foods Encouraging students to identify as stakeholders in the stewardship of the Great Lakes Region Serving as a regional leader in the Slow Food Movement Coordinating with local sustainability groups and permaculturists to share resources and knowledge Actualizing area sustainability initiatives and related community development projects through leadership and coordination of local networks and resources Communication/Engagement
Promoting SUNY Oswego s commitment to sustainability by emerging as a regional leader in campus permaculture Documenting achievements through local media outlets, social media sites, blogs, promotional events and speaker s series to increase community and campus engagement Hosting area K-12 student groups for permaculture talks and demonstrations at the living laboratory Coursework will be developed around the existence and productivity of the living laboratory in a crosscurricular format, engaging students actively studying sustainability and sustainable behavior, as well as students who have not yet become as fully aware of the active role sustainability plays in their lives and futures. The garden will be open that is to say, not gated or restricted in any way at all times to the campus and greater community, and interaction will be encouraged. Any and all organic foods that the garden produces will be open for collection by the greater Oswego community and donated to the local food banks. The Permaculture Living Laboratory at SUNY Oswego is a larger initiative that is designed to exist in perpetuity. This funding will allow us to begin a program that will, very literally, sustain itself for the future generations of students, faculty and staff at SUNY Oswego, and continue to affect the lives of all members of our campus and greater community.
Small Grant Sustainability Fund Proposed Budget March 1st-November 1st 2013 SUNY Oswego / Jamie Adams $7,500 Requested Request SUNY Match Total A) Equipment 1 Hand Tools $325 $200 $525 2 $0 $0 $0 3 $0 $0 $0 B) Materials/Supplies 1 Soil Test - Cornell Cooperative Extension $75 $0 $75 2 Soil Amendments $300 $200 $500 3 Compost (45 yards) $750 $375 $1,125 4 Wood Chips (45 yards) $500 $175 $675 5 Plants/Seeds $1,550 $450 $2,000 6 $0 $0 $0 7 $0 $0 $0 C) Travel E) Other 1 $0 $0 $0 2 $0 $0 $0 D) Student / Participant Support Costs Project Manager (2 semesters) Summer Student Garden Intern (10 hrs/week 15 weeks) 1 semester $3,000 $2,000 $5,000 $1,000 $500 $1,500 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 1 $0 $0 $0 2 $0 $0 $0 Total Direct Costs: $7,500 $3,900 $11,400