Improving Dal's natural environment

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Kim Plaxton
July 9, 2009 7:59 AM

Strategy to reduce garbage especially around the campus residences!!

Patricia Lee Men Chin
July 9, 2009 11:28 AM

Reinforcement of non-smoking policy to drastically reduce smoking-related litter.

FJ
July 9, 2009 11:46 AM

I think Dal needs to focus more on it's man-made environment than worrying about a few trees.

Is there not a better way to spend tuition money, than to count trees? Plant some or do something useful. I mean, c'mon.

Students don't go to a "city" school to get back to nature, but they do expect world class facilties, which Dal is seriously lacking.

Todd Bishop
July 9, 2009 12:35 PM

Two things:

Dalhousie should tear up a chunk of its vast lawns and turn it into a community garden where students, staff and faculty could grow food that could then be used in the residences, or donated to underfunded students. This is a no-brainer for a university promoting its new sustainabilty agenda.

Restore part of the campus to the natural Acadian forest, which Nova Scotia is a part of. Replant this area with red spruce, sugar maple, yellow birch, hemlock and other representative trees of the Acadian Forest.

Rohan Maitzen
July 9, 2009 6:24 PM

"Reinforcement of non-smoking policy to drastically reduce smoking-related litter."

I heartily second this. Grass, shrubs, and pavements around campus continue to be littered with butts; you still can rarely walk out of the library or the McCain building, or across the main quad, without breathing in second-hand smoke.

Michael McIntyre
July 9, 2009 6:38 PM

I'm going to have to reiterate what FJ said, I think that there are many more useful purposes for tuition money. I personally wouldn't support the costs associated with 1) tearing up lawns around campus, 2) gardening supplies or 3) maintenance costs for these vegetable gardens. I'd also like to just point out that my favourite thing about Dal's campus is the abundant grass, it just brightens up the whole campus in the summertime.

Michael McIntyre
July 9, 2009 6:38 PM

I'm going to have to reiterate what FJ said, I think that there are many more useful purposes for tuition money. I personally wouldn't support the costs associated with 1) tearing up lawns around campus, 2) gardening supplies or 3) maintenance costs for these vegetable gardens. I'd also like to just point out that my favourite thing about Dal's campus is the abundant grass, it just brightens up the whole campus in the summertime.

Marge N Favarra
July 9, 2009 9:45 PM

The leader of sustainability draws a salary of $250,000 and this is what the program comes up with? Shouldn't they look at the larger environment in which Dal exists? Is there any hard science in sustainability or is it a feel good movement? Counting tree species for aesthetics is not the way to make the university more sustainable. If this is our future, then maybe I am ready for the box.

Marge N Favarra
July 9, 2009 9:45 PM

The leader of sustainability draws a salary of $250,000 and this is what the program comes up with? Shouldn't they look at the larger environment in which Dal exists? Is there any hard science in sustainability or is it a feel good movement? Counting tree species for aesthetics is not the way to make the university more sustainable. If this is our future, then maybe I am ready for the box.

Rochelle Owen
July 10, 2009 8:56 AM

Hi, I am the Director of the Office of Sustainability a Dal. The team is doing an inventory that will establish a biodiversity baseline, identify carbon sequestration potential which is an ecological and economic benefit, looking at tree health, and other attributes. This will help in future planning. Student summer funding is a special program and to give you some piece of mind I don't earn that much as a salary.

Rochelle Owen
July 10, 2009 8:56 AM

Hi, I am the Director of the Office of Sustainability a Dal. The team is doing an inventory that will establish a biodiversity baseline, identify carbon sequestration potential which is an ecological and economic benefit, looking at tree health, and other attributes. This will help in future planning. Student summer funding is a special program and to give you some piece of mind I don't earn that much as a salary.

Peter MacLachlan
July 10, 2009 7:24 PM

While the gardens in front of the A&A building are beautiful, I think it would be nicer if they were perennial gardens that didn't need to be ripped up in early spring and again later after the tulips have bloomed. There are so many beautiful plants like hostas that return year after year.

I also love the wetlands area behind the MacDonald building and the oak grove behind the LSC; I think these are great natural spaces and more areas like this should be encouraged.

I like the idea of converting some spaces to vegetable gardens too -- such as the quad in LSC that no one uses -- and even tapping the maple trees for sap in the spring.

N. Jackson
July 12, 2009 4:00 PM

When planning future infrastructure Dal could consider green roofs like those in National Geographic's May issue. Green roofs are basically gardens on the roofs of buildings.

Hilary
July 15, 2009 2:03 PM

A community garden would be wonderful!!

Spencer Fowlie
July 18, 2009 2:09 PM

Dal should really take advantage of the coursework that students have been engaged in pertaining to these issues. Biology, Env. Science, community design students have plenty to say and to show. If Dal needs ideas, there are tons to pick from students who have been studying green spaces issues on campus since they arrived.

I specifically would like to see more gardening education. A more practical side to course work would be hugely beneficial for those who prefer to learn hands on. Course credit as an incentive for upkeep of more diverse greenspaces perhaps?

Spencer Fowlie
July 18, 2009 2:09 PM

Dal should really take advantage of the coursework that students have been engaged in pertaining to these issues. Biology, Env. Science, community design students have plenty to say and to show. If Dal needs ideas, there are tons to pick from students who have been studying green spaces issues on campus since they arrived.

I specifically would like to see more gardening education. A more practical side to course work would be hugely beneficial for those who prefer to learn hands on. Course credit as an incentive for upkeep of more diverse greenspaces perhaps?

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