Oregon Tilth

Areas such as the one above will receive new species that will hold up better during the winter season where soil can become slush and mud Lewis & Clark is proud to work with Oregon Tilth to enhance sustainability on campus. Our grounds team participates in Oregon Tilth’s rigorous Organic Land Care Accreditation program, which requires us to meet and maintain certain standards of sustainable groundskeeping. This accreditation with Oregon Tilth was made possible by the motivation and passion of our grounds team, who approach landscaping with considerations of sustainability, financial efficiency, positively impacting the community, and improving the environment. Their goal is to enhance the natural ecosystems that are a part of our campus while refining the landscape to meet the needs of a campus community.

 

Accredited Organic Land Care Suzie Spencer is the groundskeeper responsible for spearheading this accreditation. She and Gabe Bishop began the Organic Land Care program in June 2012 with the Manor House grounds. Later that year, it was expanded to include the residence halls of Forest, Hartzfeld, Holmes, and the apartments. Spencer describes the program as “far beyond simply maintenance, as it incorporates a holistic view of landscaping that reflects nature’s methods and is responsible with our precious resources.”  All Lewis & Clark groundskeepers are accredited with Oregon Tilth’s program, and use methods such as eliminating conventional pesticides, mulching bare soil, and planting for improved habitat in order to better align our landscape with nature’s system.

 

For more information, contact Suzie Spencer at sspencer@lclark.edu.