| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.97 |
| Liaison | Holly Andersen |
| Submission Date | May 13, 2021 |
Bennington College
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.92 / 2.00 |
Total campus area:
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides | 141.64 Hectares |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed | 0.40 Hectares |
| Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices | 6.07 Hectares |
| Total area of managed grounds | 148.12 Hectares |
A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Bennington College owns about 175 acres of woodland, out of the 365 on the main college campus. The meadows are grown and hayed once each year. The only areas where there are chemicals are in the main area of campus that contains student housing and dining services where there are concerns about animals and insects.
Percentage of grounds managed organically:
A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Bennington College maintains its meadows, wetlands, farms, and other landscape organically. They undergo occasional storm management and periodic mowing as required only. While some meadows are mowed only once a year, other landscapes on the main campus are once or twice a week as necessary. This regular practice of maintenance is handled by the Buildings and Grounds department of the college.
Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Pembroke Landscaping/Gallivan are some landscape management companies that perform weeding whenever required. Herbicides are spread on some brick grounds, edges of housing, or other such areas as required. The two important trees species of Vermont, Dutch elm and Ash, undergo preventive treatments. About 30 important trees are treated with fungicide/pesticide.
A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
All the fields are intentionally plants with a meadow mix. When a tree is removed, one is replaced in kind. We are developing a tree stewardship manual that will be in next years submission.
A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Water use and especially storm water is designed and renewed each each because our ACT 250 status. You can learn more about that here: https://nrb.vermont.gov/act250-program. We have a bond on campus that is maintained and invasive species are removed.
A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
We take any dead wood, if it is in good condition, and make cutting boards and other objects out of them. When we have a lot of wood we get the wood cut down to use as flooring or in furniture design.
A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
We plant apple trees on campus and then collect them and use them in the dining halls.
A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
We have a beautiful campus and are respectful and thoughtful about its care and maintenance.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Thank you.
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.