Grounds
Vision: The College of St. Benedict will use a sustainable approach to beautify and manage the landscape environment in support of the Benedictine value sense of place, maintaining the landscape in a sustainable manner while, at the same time, provide sufficient green space for recreation and events.
Goals:
- Incorporate sustainability principles into the College's landscape master plan.
- Reduce the need for fossil fuel powered equipment by 10% by replacing with electric and/or manual tools where possible without unduly sacrificing efficiency.
- Reduce the use of chemicals for fertilizer and ice melt by 25% by 2020. More information on composting here.
- Increase the square footage of natural areas including prairie and native plants by 12% by 2015.
- Reduce the need for irrigation by 25% by 2020.
- Implement the use of gauges for the irrigation system.
CSB incorporates sustainability principles into its landscape management practices. These principles guide our enjoyment and use of land for recreation, sports, conservation and habitat. These principles have also helped guide the creation of the CSB Landscape Master Plan, which is nearly complete.
This plan will provide a systematic approach to reducing the amount of turf (and therefore the amount of gasoline powered mowing equipment needed) and water used for irrigation, while increasing the use of native plants in the landscape (some of which have already been planted to increase habitat) and the reuse of water through effective storm water management.
