Business Forum Climbers Run Preserve Jim MacKenzie, President - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Chesapeake 2016 Business Forum

Climbers Run Preserve Jim MacKenzie, President Octoraro Native Plant Nursery

Environmental Stewardship Good for Business

• Water Quantity
• Water Quality
• Storm Water Mngt
• Land Management
• Raw Products
• Waste Stream
• Carbon Footprint
• Energy Use
• Safety / Efficiency

Water Sources for Irrigation Both Surface water & Ground water

Drip irrigation

• 75-80% less water use than
• verhead irrigation
• Water goes directly to the

roots of the plants

• Reduces runoff
• Requires good filtration –

emitters get easily blocked

• Requires on-going

maintenance

• Bunny’s love the tubing

Surface Water Filtration

• Sand filters are the best
• Removes fine sediment

that can clog irrigation emitters

• Automatic back

flushing systems keeps filters clean

Water Quality Passive Water Quality Improvement Facility Created Wetlands – treatment of runoff

• Water runoff is directed

into created wetlands (from two nurseries and 150 ac ag field treated with biosolids)

• Nutrients taken up by

wetland plants

• Water “treated” prior to

return to Octoraro Creek

Stormwater Management

• Manage and minimize

stormwater damage to nursery property

• Direct to where runoff

can be infiltrated and/or treated

• Floodplain management

Land Management Maintenance - Invasive Plants & Floodplain Management

• Invasive Plant

Management – techniques can include manual or machine removal, herbicides, biological controls

• Primary problem

plants, Japanese hops, mile-a- minute, Multiflora rose in the floodplain

Soil (less) Media Ingredients for growing plant

• Pine fines / shredded

bark mixes – by- product of forestry industry

• Reduce peat use /

percentage

• Increase use of

composts (leaf, animal waste, hybrid) – chemistry can be challenge

• Course sand

Waste Stream

• Reuse / Recycle our

plastic pots

• Recycle plastic poly

cover to composite lumber industry

• Recycle nursery /
• ffice waste

Reduce Carbon Foot Print – Energy Use

• Amish work force - pick

up and drive home our work force in one vehicle

• Electric vehicles / utility

carts

• New Office – natural

light, increase insulation values (working on solar

• ptions)

Safety & Efficiency – Work Areas

• All-weather
• Cleanliness
• Safety – body

mechanics

• Efficiency – reduce

handling

• Work flow study
• Product flow in the

nursery