Ecohouse: a Site for Potential
During Intersession 2010, the Green Corridor class developed a new project that aimed to transform the ecohouse lot by creating an urban wildflower garden. Over six intensive weeks, students worked not only to generate a design for the garden, but also to plant and landscape the ecohouse lot.
However, by early September, it had become obvious that the garden and the ecohouse were in a severe state of disrepair: the wildflower project was overgrown, the yard surrounding the houses was unkempt, and the ecohouse itself needed some loving attention. Although the ecohouse has been the site of many innovative projects, over the long summer months, nature began to reclaim the lot.
Tasked with remediating the ecohouse and wildflower garden, students in the Fall 2010 class were asked to complete a site analysis, and generated an immediate action plan.
Over the course of several weeks, major tasks were completed: old furniture, rocks, and rubble were removed from the lot, the unruly lawn was cut and raked, weeds were pulled from the driveway and grass, thorny bushes were discarded, and trees were trimmed. The ecohouse itself was also treated to a rigorous power-washing and window cleaning. And, as a finishing touch, a variety of flowers and shrubs were planted in the front yard.
In little over a month, and after significant hours invested into this project, the restoration team has completely revitalized the ecohouse and the adjacent lot. It is now once again a primed canvas ready to showcase exciting new projects, which will continue to unfold over the course of the Fall semester and beyond.
