Dixie School Rain Garden: Education and Application of the Compost Tea

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In fall of 2007, the landscape architecture firm of April Philips Design Works, Inc. and the landscape construction company of Cagwin & Dorward, in conjunction with Dixie Elementary School and numerous donors and volunteers, completed a Rain Garden in the drop off loop at Dixie Elementary School in San Rafael, California. The beautification project is a demonstration garden that educates the students and community about ecology, sustainability, as well as being a case study garden to advance sustainable landscaping industry practices beyond the current status quo. We especially wish to thank the Dixie Home and School Club and the Dixie School District for their generosity and support.

Located in a 3,800 sq foot median within the school’s main entry and vehicular drop-off, the derelict looking landscape had never been developed or planted due to insufficient school funding and water conservation requirements. The design team chose to design a garden that would reflect its Mediterranean, coastal bioregion and meet the following goals: 100% zero waste, pesticide free, rely on predominantly native vegetation, use only organic soil amendments to increase permeability and water retention of the local soils. In addition, to use only local recycled and salvaged materials, total reliance on seasonal rain water instead of irrigation and to be designed and built by 100% volunteer effort in order to be economically viable.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Education and Application of the Compost Tea

Jake from Cagwin and Dorward introduced the idea of compost and the application of compost tea to the 3rd grade students. Afterwards, they jointly applied a serving of compost tea to the Dixie Loop. Thanks to the students, teachers and Jake.

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It is a garden that captures and percolates rain water into the garden soil and groundwater. The garden thrives on just sunshine, wind, and rain, without chemical fertilizers and little to no supplemental water.The basin temporarily traps the water, allowing the soil and plant material to work their cleansing magic. The soil is porous enough to absorb water within 48 hours. This keeps the garden from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Native plants work best in rain gardens because they are uniquely adapted to live through extremes of moisture and temperature, while their long roots are helpful for water infiltration. A rain garden can be large or small, and almost any size or shape. Even a small rain garden can make a difference. They require very little maintenance and provide attractive habitat for butterflies, birds and people!

Before the areas we now live, work and play were developed, the rain was absorbed by trees and native plants, soaked into the ground where it replenished groundwater and streams. Today, buildings, roads, parking lots and other hard surfaces prevent rain from infiltrating into soils. When it rains, stormwater washes over impervious surfaces picking up pollutants along the way and washing them into rivers and streams. Stormwater runoff that isn't properly managed can cause flooding, erosion, destroy habitat and contribute to combined sewer overflows (CSOs).

Dixie School Rain Garden

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Education and Application of the Compost Tea

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