Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.83
Liaison Hannah Spirrison
Submission Date March 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Antioch College
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
1,065 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach 0 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials 92 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 92 Acres

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):

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.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
0

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
---

A brief description of the IPM program:
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Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
100

A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:

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.


A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:

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.


A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:

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.


A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):

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.


A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
---

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):

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.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.