Goshen College Environmental Resource Assessment

Thanks to a grant from the Plowshares Project, EcoPax was able to arrange for an assessment of the environmental resources associated with the Goshen College campus.  The assessment was administered in October 2005 by Paul Gallimore of the Environmental Resource Assessment Service.

The points below summarize the recommendations of the report that resulted from the assessment.  (The entire report is available at right as a PDF.)  These do not constitute a plan of action, but we hope that these ideas can stimulate campus-wide discussion about our campus environment and how we care for it.  Ecopax will also be meeting with representatives from the administration and physical plant to discuss how to move forward on some of these opportunities.

Summary of the Report's Recommendations

1. Land Resources

• Develop a Total Land Use plan -- Create and empower a proposed Environmental Committee to oversee management of the property, and develop a total Land Use plan that would cover the agricultural field, Witmer Woods, areas currently in lawns, and areas near buildings.
• Woodland Management -- Perform a woodland inventory to discover the treasure in the woodlands and label some of the rich variety of trees and understory plants nearer the already existing paths and roadways.  Continue a process of planting more trees in the lawn areas that may eventually be allowed to return to forest.
• Make the Transition to Become Free of Commercial Agrichemical Use -- Use of commercial agrichemicals on the lawns and grounds may pollute ground and surface waters, harm the health of those applying these chemicals as well as nearby residents, exterminate beneficial and pollinating insects, and reduce organic matter content in the soil.
  

2. Physical Facilities

• Renovations to Older Buildings -- Major window replacement at the Visitor Center, Westlawn Dining Hall and other buildings will be an ongoing project that will demonstrate positive stewardship of the Goshen College built environment. The ongoing replacement of all leaky, single-glazed windows in each building will dramatically cut heating costs.
• Greenhouse Construction – Several of the wooden framed houses with a good south-facing aspect could benefit from attached solar greenhouses to provide heat in the winter and a space to grow houseplants, seedling flats for garden transplanting in spring, solar drying of herbs, vegetables, and fruits in autumn and winter. These greenhouses would also provide opportunities for horticultural therapy for those who need to regularly renew their connection with nature.
• Celebrate Home Place -- This aspect of coming home and sense of home is worth emphasizing at least once a year.
  

3. Food Gardening, and Nutrition

• Nutrition Awareness – Of all the recommendations we are making, perhaps the one that will immediately reenergize and revitalize the institution the most is to suggest that the College once again take back full responsibility and management for meeting its food needs. A multi-national corporate entity is distant, removed, sometimes inflexible, and problematic, and may not have the commitment to social justice, eco-justice, peacemaking, care for creation, and practices of environmental stewardship for which the College has long been an advocate.
• Lawns and Edible Landscape – For energy savings, food growing, and aesthetic value, start a process to return ornamental lawn into edible landscaping. Considerable support has been expressed to establish a wildscape on the property, and these wildscaping efforts can certainly be expanded. Several of the mowed areas could be interspersed with more fruit and nut trees, vines and berries to provide an attractive and functional edible landscape.
• Celebrate with a Locally Grown Organic Produce Picnic -- Raise consciousness in the greater Elkhart River Valley.
• Encourage Local Food Production and Procurement -- Buy produce in season from local organic growers, and these fresh fruits and vegetables will no doubt be especially appreciated by the college community.
  

4. Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Alternatives

• Utility Conservation -- Consider a college community energy education program in which all determine what their own personal comfort zones are and see that a thermometer is located in each room and that residents adhere to their own needs. The college community has already realized that lighting is a major place to save energy, hence some major lighting improvements have already been undertaken. Consider having the staff take part in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Green Lights" program.
• Energy Conserving Landscaping -- Excellent potential exists for reducing winter heating costs and lowering summer cooling expenses.
• Solar Energy -- Select solar energy sources and applications over the coming years.  We would recommend starting with low-cost projects, moving to solar photovoltaic systems later as momentum builds. 
• Window Shades for Insulation -- Begin a program of having those skilled in sewing to make insulated window shades that could add both beauty and energy efficiency to the interior space.
• Celebration of Solar Energy -- Create energy events to celebrate the sun in the local college community.
  

5. Waste Management and Resource Recovery

• Review Waste Management Practices Annually -- Conduct a comprehensive waste audit with students, staff, and faculty.  Ensure that all discarded materials that can be returned to the commercial stream in some fashion (metal, glass, appropriate plastics, office paper, newspapers, cardboard, furniture, wooden pallets, etc.) are returned to beneficial streams. The current recycling program can be clarified and expanded.
• Use products comprised of secondary materials – We may think by source-separating and setting recyclables out for collection that we have recycled. But it is only when we purchase products made of secondary materials that we have closed the loop and actually practiced the complete cycle of recycling. Toner cartridges for copying machines and printers, office paper, toilet paper (“Second Nature” is one brand name that is made from 100% post-consumer recycled fiber), paper towels, and other materials could be of the highest available post-consumer recycled fiber content.  Ensure that the recycling program is being followed vigorously in every building, and initiate a composting program. Recycled-fiber toilet tissue is available, and the hope is that a concerted effort can be made to ensure that every product used on campus, wherever possible, will contain at least some fraction of secondary materials. 
• Compost -- Grass clippings and leaves are already being composted or used for mulch. Food scraps (non-meat products) could be composted in vermin-proof bins. 
• Celebrating through a Yard Sale -- a traditional way to encourage simplifying one's life and putting useful materials back in circulation.
  

6. Water Resources

• Water Conservation -- All environmentally aware people should take upon themselves the task of conserving water as a precious resource.
• Drinking Water Quality -- Ensure the health of every student, staff person, and visitor.
• Garden Pools and Ponds -- Create water/land harmony on the landscape.
• Water Celebrations -- The gift of life itself.
  

7. Wildlife Enhancement and Wildscape Creation

• Create a Bird Sanctuary -- Bird habitat is diminishing worldwide. Sanctuaries can help raise human consciousness about our impacts on the natural world, and also help the birds find suitable places for food, water, cover, and reproductive habitat. Perhaps the entire campus be designated a bird sanctuary.
• Continue Efforts to Design and Create a Wildscape -- A deliberate effort at placing wildflowers in scenic areas will be an ornamental addition, drastically reduce expensive and exploitative lawn care, and enhance habitat for wildlife. Perhaps all lawn areas exclusive of Frisbee, hackeysack, picnicking and other recreational and athletic pursuits can be designated as wildscape.
  

8. Transportation and Parking

• Automotive Policy -- Make an annual review of the automobile policy that manages fleet care for the entire Goshen College community.  Can the college reduce dependence on the private automobile as much as possible through public transportation, bike use, car-pooling, proper care and maintenance, and ongoing instruction of persons? Biofuels are currently available and generate fewer emissions than petroleum based fuels. Perhaps the College is ready to utilize biodiesel in some of its vehicles as well as in the emergency electrical generator. Prepare for the future of solar-electric, hydrogen, and fuel cell vehicles and incorporate them as part of the fleet when they become commercially available. Hybrid-electric vehicles are already on the market and are highly recommended.
• Parking -- Develop a parking policy geared to creating additional parking only when absolutely needed. Refrain from blacktopping areas that are currently in green space. Plant trees near and within parking areas to provide shade and cooling in summer and to add greenery and bird habitat.
  

9. Community Relations

• Eco-Center -- Place some local and bioregional ecological information where students, staff, and visitors may have easy access to it.  Initially, perhaps a corner of the library would be one location to consider.
• Celebrate Sacred Sites -- The college community may have certain sacred sites that need recognition and acknowledgement.
  

10. Indoor Environment

• Interior Environmental Considerations -- A whole variety of questions should be asked related to homemaking practices that could be improved.  While the list could be quite formidable, some basic questions could be as follows:
• Are all areas of living, dining and recreation properly aired during the day, whenever possible?
• Are the areas where new carpet may be installed fully aired for a few days or weeks to get rid of the toxic substances such as formaldehyde? 
• Do people use aerosol sprays or air fresheners in dormitory rooms?  Can non-aerosol substitutes be applied? 
• Houseplants -- Indoor space can never have too many houseplants, and they inspire us to reconnect with nature even indoors. Consider adding these plants especially when office workers and residents appreciate them and even take care of them.  Some plants take very little care and are worth adding or recommending as gifts from relatives and friends.