Antioch College
OP-9: Landscape Management

The Antioch College Landscape Master Plan covers the 92-acre campus, but not our adjacent 973-acre Glen Helen Nature Preserve, which is a nature preserve and managed to maximize its ecological health while fostering environmental education programs and research efforts.

The Antioch College Landscape Master Plan divides our 1065-acre campus into zones that specify various levels of horticultural management and purpose, ranging from the Antioch Farm (managed as a non-certified but functionally organic farm), to our 92-acre main campus grounds, to our 973-acre Glen Helen Nature Preserve. For the purposes of the OP-9 Grounds section of STARS we are focusing on the 92-acre campus areas that are intensively managed (mowed, farmed, horticultural plantings, unmowed naturalized areas on the main campus, etc.). Within the zones on our 92-acre main campus, the Antioch College Campus Landscape Master Plan specifies management without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Pest control, when needed, is applied using IPM monitor and manage approaches and if used we use organic and biocontrol compounds only. The Antioch farm, which comprises 9 acres of growing and grazing land, species the following for fostering healthy soil and water: The farm will use campus leaves, vegetable dining scraps, animal manure and other local “waste” products to create a nutrient-rich soil, high in organic matter, and teaming with microbial life. Special attention will be paid to soil conservation and soil ecology. No synthetic chemicals or fertilizers, which can leach into the local watershed, are be used. Water conservation practices are used. Farming methods meet the USDA organic standards, and are also informed by ecological, biodynamic, and permaculture practices.

From the Landscape Master Plan: Protection of Trees/landscaping during Construction or Renovation Work ---Inform contractors of policy. ---Ensure that protection zones are established around landscaping and trees drip lines. ---Restoration of site if damaged. ---Replacement of trees if destroyed during construction activity. As a rule of thumb, the college will develop a landscape that will have primarily native plantings. The college will develop a systematic plan to remove invasive plant species from our campus using guidelines from the Ohio Invasive Plant Council.

From the Landscape Master Plan: Antioch College will use bio-retention methods (rain gardens, prairie swales, etc) in areas where surface water runoff is problematic or flooding occurs.

All compostable materials (vegetable scraps, coffee grounds & egg shells) are collected by students from the dining hall and composted on the Antioch Farm. Finished compost is later used as organic fertilizer to grow food for the dining hall. All campus leaves are also collected in the fall. They are composted on site or used as mulch for garden beds.

Antioch College has an approved list of Ohio native trees for planting on campus. All new plantings and placements must be approved by the Physical Plant Department. The following guidelines should be followed: ---A tree's mature size and shape must be of the proper scale to fit the site and surrounding buildings. ---Plant an appropriate sized tree under overhead wires. Avoid planting over under-ground utilities. ---Do not plant trees near building foundations or walls. ---Do not plant trees where canopies will reach over roofs or gutters. ---Determine the necessary root growth space for the species you select. ---Plant deciduous trees on the south side of buildings to shade the building in summer but allow the sun's warmth to come through its bare branches in winter. ---Trees planted on the farm can be non-native, but must have approval of Farm manager and Physical plant director prior to planting. ---Planting trees in groupings/communities rather than single plantings ---No dedication/donor plaques ---Look at providence of trees, purchase trees within a 25-50 mile radius In Glen Helen: ---Invasive species are removed through the best practice technique that affords minimum soil disturbance or collateral damage. Direct application of herbicides is expressly preferred over foliar sprays. ---Trails are maintained in rustic condition, with no asphalt paving material applied. Locally sourced or onsite materials are used for trail maintenance purposes whenever possible. In areas of potential erosion, trails may be stabilized with locally sourced crushed limestone or river gravel. Water bars may be used to further correct or prevent erosion on sloped trails. New water bars are preferentially composed of locally-sourced, naturally rot resistant wood such as Eastern red cedar. On steep trails, rough-hewn, preferably repurposed locally sourced limestone may be formed into steps, and stabilized with an underlayment of gravel and mortar. ---In areas of frequent high water, trails may be elevated through use of boardwalks or stepping stones to prevent erosion and protect water quality. Arsenic-based pressure treated lumber will be not used in trail maintenance. Bridges are maintained and rebuilt as needed. ---Trails obstructed by fallen trees will be promptly reopened to prevent visitors from inadvertently creating new trails. To keep visitors on trails, railings may be installed along the trail. Railings will be composed of locally sourced, rot resistant wood. Trail clearings will take into account the aesthetic component, to maintain the feeling of a landscape governed by natural principles. ---Glen Helen staff and volunteers will employ reasonable, diligent, and good faith efforts to manage the property according to the best practices for natural areas restoration and management, as those practices are articulated by professional associations of conservation professionals. ---Land managers have a stated preference to allow native species to expand their range and abundance on their own timetable. Plantings, when done, will utilize species native to the Little Miami River watershed. Preferentially, plants will be local phenotypes, with the highest preference placed on seed stock sourced within Glen Helen.