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Mad About Meadows
In October 2001, the Philadelphia Water Department’s (PWD) Environmental Projects Advisory Committee (EPAC) kicked-off a “Mad About Meadows” project on the department’s Somerton Tanks property, in partnership with the William H. Loesche School’s 5th grade and the Friends of the Poquessing Watershed. Twenty-nine students were guided in planting three species of native shrubs (Pasture Rose, American Plum and Gray Dogwood – which will attract butterflies), a food plot consisting of sorghum, millet, buckwheat and sunflowers (to attract and feed birds) and seeding a 20 x 35 foot area of the grounds with meadow-mix grasses to provide ground cover. All these plants will develop into a characteristic “mini-meadow.”
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PWD employees from the Biosolids Recycling Center roto-tilled the area ahead of time, so that the students had an easy time of it. Initially, the hand-held spreaders did not work too well – they were jamming – but the students provided ample dispersion by tossing the seed by hand – onto the ground, and at each other. Two bird boxes were also erected. The students’ teacher was elated. Local dog-walkers and neighbors inquired and gave a positive response – they offered to watch over the area, and even to water it. |
(Click on the photo for a larger view)
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(Click on the photo for a larger view) |
The real payoff will come in the spring, when the growth begins to sprout. Students and EPAC members will return at that time to observe, learn more about the plants and their process of growth, document it, groom the area and generally, to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Special thanks goes out to PWD’s Superintendent of Water Conveyance Systems, for cooperating in this worthwhile venture, and to the Fairmount Park Commission’s Natural Lands Restoration and Environmental Education Program (NLREEP) for donating the twelve native shrubs. (Later in the spring of 2002, Russell Gardens, Richboro, PA, donated additional plants, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission donated food plot mix and more bird boxes).
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| Prior to the field activity, there was a classroom period when the EPAC members spoke to the students about their own environmental interests, activities and jobs, and explained how to select native plants, their season of bloom, and arrangements for planting. The “Mad About Meadows” project has received a Public Service Learning Alliance mini-grant. The project’s purpose is to instruct students about ecological/biological careers and to encourage environmental stewardship. The Somerton project does this, and it is also an academic endeavor: the students will use mathematics and geography for mapping the meadow; they will perform research into the plants and wildlife of a meadow; they will use | |
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scientific methodology in assessing and documenting their findings. The project will also allow students to exercise decision making, assume responsibility and enhance their self esteem. EPAC is composed of Water Department employees with the mission of implementing environmentally-friendly, cost-saving improvements and practices on departmental property, and to include a public education component when appropriate, such as in this wholesome project.
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(Click on the photo for a larger view) |
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