It all started with a design charette of designers and horticulturists who brainstormed a new landscape design for the entire 6-acre site right there on the National Mall - a process and and plan that might serve as a model for other public institutions (as Landscape Architecture Magazine suggested in a 2008 article). So many people wanted to help with the redesign that after 40 people were invited, 75 actually showed up to offer their advice.
VEGETABLE GARDEN
And a small, little-noticed vegetable garden on the grounds morphed into something much more after Secretary Vilsack came along. Actually, jogged along on his usual route along the Mall. Seeing all the tourists walking by, it dawned on him that the grounds of the USDA headquarters was a perfect spot for demonstrating to the public some growing techniques and the importance of fruits and vegetables. It's right on mission for the agency!
So it developed that the first new garden element to be implemented - in time for Earth Day, in fact - was a 1,300-square-foot vegetable garden that, if all goes according to plan, will be Certified Organic (great news!) It's the result of another advisory team that was assembled - of 47 experts including people from the Rodale Institute, Seed Savers and several gardening groups. Then Robert Snieckus, Natinoal Landscaspe Architect for the NRCS; Matt Arnn, Area Landscape Architect for the Forest Service; and Valerie Frances, executive director of the National Organic Standards Board, were tasked with getting it all ready (in about 3 weeks, in time for Earth Day). They credit the "enormous help" from the Office of Operations chief John Crew and his - well, crew - and the staff of Melwood Place with getting it done in time. The plan for the veg garden is shown below, and here's what it includes:
Compost for the garden was donated (happily) by the Rodale Institute. Because the garden's primary purpose is educational, there will be signs and possibly even videos explaining what it is and how the produce is grown. And the People's Garden already has a website. The garden will be tended by trained gardeners from Melwood, a nearby nonprofit that employs developmentally disabled adults. Also, gardeners among the USDA staff will be helping out. What a terrific break from the office! OVER THE NEXT 3-4 YEARS, SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING QUOTING THE BOSS
But back to the big plan for the whole 6 acres. This year the changes will include design work for bioswales, the installation of two or three rain gardens, and replacement of many of the ailing street trees. More changes coming soon include replacing the conventional institutional landscaping - manicured lawn and meatball-shaped shrubs, even a recently planted Norway maple (an invasive menace), bedding plants replaced three times a year, English ivy, and nonporous pavement - with landcape elements like
Secetary Vilsack told a Washington Post reporter: "If I had to summarize the vision I have for this department in one word, it would be 'sustainable'. Wonderful!
