KSU Eco-Garden Local, sustainable, educational

The Revolution is Fertile!

Mission To establish an urban garden on campus

which will serve as an educational demonstration site for sustainable food production and permaculture principles.

Eco Garden Committee The design and planning of the garden

site will be carried out by an eco garden committee consisting of students who are interested in being actively involved with the project. Meetings will take place once a week for informal lessons and planning sessions.

Initial project: raised beds

Raised beds The first project to be carried out will be

the construction and planting of approximately 20 raised beds. The gardening committee will plan and host a workshop event open to all students and staff to construct the beds.

Approximate cost

Long term goals Hugelkultur beds Greenhouse Perennial vegetable garden and food

forest Aquaponics system

Hugelkultur

Raised beds made by layering organic matter and soil over a stack of rotting wood. Hugel beds add loads of nutrients to the deep soil and improve the soil over time as the wood decomposes. The composting process of the wood can increase the temperature of the soil and extend growing the growing season. The first diagram is a hugel bed after 1 month and the second after 20 years.

Greenhouse

Food forest

Keyhole patterningKeyhold patterning maximizes edge while minimizing footpaths, allowing for a greater density of food to be planted

AquaponicsClosed loop system between fish and plants. Fish excrete ammonia which bacteria convert to nitrates and nitrites. Water from the fish tank is pumped into grow beds and the nitrogen feed the plants. The root system of the plants filters and cleans the water as it flows through the system.