OUTSIDE Collab 2023: A Year of Growth: A Journey Through Sustainable Landscapes at Sunbridge
Station 1: Basecamp Boundary Planting Research Plots
The boundary planting is approximately 15,000 ft2 and is organized in 16 plots. A wood chip walking trail allows guests to explore the garden and interpretive signs help to educate the public on the research and the benefits of native plants. Attendees will hear from the research and implementation teams on the goals, objectives, lessons learned over the last year, and future opportunities relating to this exciting project.
Speakers:
Brooke Moffis, Patrick Bohlen
Station 2: Soil Compost Amendments Experiment
The gardens and model homes at Sunbridge allow us to trial many different species for their ability to function well in a residential environment. It is a living laboratory for science and discovery in the field of sustainable landscaping. Most urban soils are disturbed by the construction and site development process. One of our research goals at Sunbridge is to learn how to amend the soil and select native plants that can thrive in these conditions. To assess the effects of soil compost amendments on plant growth and survival, eight plots were amended with compost provided by LifeSoils and eight were not. During this session, participants will learn more about the amendments used and the lessons learned.
Speakers:
Mark Singleton, Darren Midlane
Station 3: Weslyn Park Model Homes Landscape Design
When planning for Weslyn Park, Tavistock requested input from a cross-functional interdisciplinary workgroup of OUTSIDE Collaborative members to produce sustainable landscaping designs for 12 model homes at Weslyn Park. The workgroup focused on the general objective that landscapes should be designed to promote soil fertility, maximize community and ecological amenities, and minimize/eliminate irrigation, fertilizer, pesticide, and other supplemental inputs while preserving important commercial objectives for the appearance and feasibility of the landscapes. During this tour, participants will get to see the model homes up close and see these landscapes in action.
Speakers:
Kody Smith, Jonan Bueno, Kristen Farmer, Greg Bryla
Station 4: Weslyn Park Model Homes Landscape Maintenance
Explore the world of landscape maintenance and sustainability at Weslyn Park Model Homes Landscape Design. Explore the execution process, water usage data, lessons learned, and cost considerations from the team maintaining the landscapes. We will explore innovative strategies that can enhance the curb appeal of future neighborhoods while further reducing water consumption and expenses. Get inspired with practical ideas and actionable steps to create, build and maintain sustainable native and Florida-friendly landscapes.
Speakers:
Timothee Sallin, Jimmy Rogers, Pierce Jones
