The Eco-Management of Christian School Grounds
Managing the Christian school's facilities--buildings, grounds and mobile transportation--from an ecological standpoint is grounded in God's covenant with the whole world: "(9) I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you- the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you-every living creature on earth." (9:12) And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. (13) I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (16) Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.'" (Genesis 9)
God keeps watch over the earth--all creation--and "all living creatures of every kind on the earth" because of this covenant of protection, surviving and thriving. This watch is extended to the results of human creativity provided it resonates with the will of God. Our managing the facilities and grounds of the Christian school in an environmentally responsible and friendly fashion is a part of the covenant between God and us humans.
Comprehensive Planning
Before enumerating specific actions to take, the first step toward eco-facilities management is to develop a long-range, comprehensive plan. To understand the foundation of such plan and to identify its components, the following steps are suggested:
1. Designate a staff person and select a committed group of people to form an oversight committee. The committee becomes responsible for guiding the development of the management plan, for instituting and monitoring practices, and for being alert over time to better and improved approaches, means and technologies of eco-management. Lay the Scriptural and theological basis for actions.
2. Get an overview of what is possible, what assistance is available and the items to be considered.
3. Be prepared for higher upfront costs as the details of eco-efficient management emerge. Switching over to efficient equipment and methodologies is an integral part of ecological, integrated resource management.
4. Develop an all-inclusive framework of the entire property. A landscape architect can assist in doing this. Look inclusively at the "facility" as the management integration of both buildings and grounds. Utilize a landscape architect who envisions a property as a whole rather than one who merely views landscaping as an appendage to buildings.
5. Create an education plan to inform, educate and train users of the buildings and grounds in eco-management. Such a plan can call for special events and training sessions as well as integrate the concerns into the regular curriculum. Education is critical to the success of any conservation program.
6. Redo job descriptions and position titles to reflect responsibilities emerging from the eco-management study and ongoing program. This makes the new staff duties official and creates greater awareness of expectations. Periodic performance reviews should include environmental concerns as a major part of the evaluation. Think creatively about how to develop accountability mechanisms and incentives (including salary considerations) for environmentally responsible performance.
Specific Areas of Resource Management
1. Designing a Garden
* Create a garden with birdbaths, bird feeders, trees, vegetation, ponds, fountains, and small waterfalls.
* Design porous paths that wind through the garden. One can choose from a number of possibilities: stepping stones, wood chips, gravel, pebbles, porous concrete and spaced bricks or concrete blocks, or "recrete" or lumber (natural or recycled plastic).
* Include images and symbols of the Christian faith in strategic spots to remind people of the centrality of the faith in our eco-stewardship. If they include water features, recycle the water.
* Consider xeriscaping wherever possible to conserve water. An efficient approach to landscaping, xeriscaping minimizes water usage by planning and designing, limited turf (lawn) areas, ecologically aware irrigation, soil improvement, mulching, using low-water-demand plants, proper maintenance and careful monitoring.
2. Composting
* Compost leaves, grass clippings, trimmings and food wastes. Choose from a number of possible composting bins or even experiment with several different approaches. Use the compost in the garden areas of the grounds. Mulching in planting beds lessens evaporation, retains moisture and reduces weed growth.
* Aerate the lawn. Punch holes in the lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
* Reduce turf areas, replacing them with native or drought tolerant plants. For those remaining areas, mow the lawn to two inches or more and leave the clippings, which provide nutrients and help retain moisture.
3. Watering
* Monitor the sprinkling system carefully. Limit areas demanding large amounts of water on a regular basis, and conserve water wherever possible. Water early in the morning or late in the evening. Doing this, when temperatures are cooler, minimizes evaporation and allows for deeper penetration of the water.
* Raise the blades on your lawn mower to a total height of 2 to 3 inches. This elevated height helps soil retain moisture limiting the need to irrigate and also slows down the velocity of sheet flow during rain events.
* Investigate using drip irrigation throughout garden and shrubbery areas.
* Water the lawn in several short sessions, if runoff occurs, rather than one long one. This will allow the water to be better absorbed. Study the topological structure of the lawn where runoff occurs to see how it can be changed (such as creating tiers) to prevent the runoff or how choosing a particular turf or other plantings can eliminate runoff.
* Install soil moisture sensors to override irrigation systems and stop watering when it is raining or the soil is still above a certain level of moisture.
* Use gray water for non-potable uses such as plants and explore possibilities of black water utilization. Besides saving water, it's a good fertilizer.
* Harvest rainwater through the creation of a cistern, swales, berms and basins. Assess the topography of the property for the proper design of harvesting structures. Cisterns may be placed anywhere, including the roof.
4. Parking Lots
* Limit--if possible, eliminate--impervious surfaces, such as traditional concrete.
* Use porous surfaces for the parking lot and include "nature spaces" throughout the parking area.
* Be creative with "recovered materials" (such as "recrete" mentioned earlier) when doing landscaping.
* Utilize the most energy-efficient lighting for all outdoor illumination, including the parking area.
* Patrol the entire property systematically to keep it beautiful and neat as a living testimony to the goodness of God's creation.
God is clear about how important the creation and all the earth's creatures are to Him. We are called to be equally clear about our commitment and covenant with the earth as central to our commitment and covenant with God. "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guards keeps watch in vain." (Psalm 127:1)
