Multi-modal draft (Major project 2)

Written proposal with details:

• Emailed the Head of Ground Keeping discussing lawn care around campus (3/19/24)
• (Made a group name) “flower power” (3/20/24)
• Email Laura Wyeth to get support and resources on how to conduct the project. Because of her experience with plant ecology (3/20/24)
• Submit a Grant (4/7/24) to be funded for flower seeds. A grant of $65

• Have a meeting scheduled with the head of groundskeeping (4/17/24)

• Meeting with heads of groundskeeping on 4/10/24 (Aidan and Mason)

We met with Richard Drosdowich, the Grounds Supervisor at SUNY New Paltz. He informed us about the no-mow designated zones at the Gunk, Esopus pond, lot 35, baseball pit, oil tanks by route 32, border of back athletic fields, and behind the satellite area. Groundskeeping works with Lisa Mitten, the Sustainability Coordinator, to ensure that the wildlife zones are maintained sustainably. Richard Drosdowich also discussed how they choose what height to mow the grass and how as the weather gets hotter, they increase the mowing height to prevent it from burning. He said that for most of the shrubs, trees, and other plants, they are limited to choosing them based on what is available rather than what is best suited to our campus environment. This gave us helpful insight into how the campus chooses to maintain the large lawns and the numerous areas that are devoted to ecologically friendly practices.

• Professor Wyeth’s responses to the email (4/4/24)
• Meeting with Professor Wyeth, Professor Christy-Robinson, and Solva (4/11/24)

Professor Christy-Robinson and I met with Professor Wyeth to discuss existing biodiversity sites on campus and review the most effective way to plant our wildflower seeds. Initially, we planned on simply scattering the seeds in the pollinator meadow by the gunk, however, Professor Wyeth explained that if we were to only sprinkle the seeds without sowing them, they would mostly be eaten by birds and insects before they had a chance to germinate. So, we agreed that the most impactful way to use our seeds is by digging holes and properly planting the seeds. Professor Wyeth also confirmed that SUNY New Paltz groundskeeping is always very open to altering its mowing and maintenance practices to better protect the natural environment.

• Create an Instagram account (@npflowerpower) Create electronic posters promoting paper-making event (4/8/24)

The post informs students and others about the benefits of recycling paper and encourages others to attend the event. (Meant to encourage students to recycle used paper, and regenerate new paper out of the old. This will be used to reduce paper waste.)

Written out steps on how to make paper: Seed Paper Recipe (3/20/24) (posted on Instagram)

• Work on proposal (4/8/24)
• Made a test batch of recycled paper with Professor Heather Christy-Robinson and some members of Flower Power (4/13/24)

At this meeting we were able to practice the papermaking process in order to work out potential issues or questions prior to the actual event. We ripped up newspapers, toilet paper rolls, receipts, and old papers to create the new paper. We figured out how to use the blenders and discovered the correct ratio of water to blended paper. Different group members were able to make several practice sheets of paper and learned the process well enough to be able to demonstrate the techniques for the people attending the paper recycling event. During this meeting we also decided to start pre-ripping paper in order to have some materials prepared ahead of time.

• Grant offer was denied (4/12/24)
• Professor Heather Christy-Robinson reached out to Lisa Mitten for funding (4/15/24) Funding was confirmed, so Solva and Bria made their way to Hudson Valley Seed Co on (4/17/24) to pick up the North-Eastern Wildflower Mix.

Below is the flier for the event: