Grasslands 2010 - How We Rocked
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We recognize that the health of a human community ultimately depends on the health of the ecosystem in which we live.
At Clear Sky we live in the Rocky Mountain Trench’s grasslands ecosystem, and in 2010 we developed our first replicable, hands-on educational course about restoration and reclamation of our endangered grasslands, and the Trench's unique ecology.
The replicable course “TOOLS FOR CHANGE -- A HOLISTIC APPROACH” consists of interdependent indoor/outdoor modules providing tools to evaluate our property, and to take action for grasslands restoration and reclamation.
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We offered a terrific and unique course, developed and taught by two excellent instructors: landscape architect Leslie Lowe and Rocky Mountain Naturalists president Peter Davidson. The course introduced sound yet accessible science to build capacity among laypeople to restore and reclaim grasslands in our community. This course is distinctive in its combination of science (weed management, wildlife biology and agronomy) and aesthetics (landscape architecture), and its non-specialist angle: click here to fastforward to the course module subjects. |
| The course (offered twice, in June & Sept) attracted a diverse group of dedicated course participants, who generously shared their own experiences and perspectives, and diligently and generously helped create an experimental grasslands reclamation plot at Clear Sky -- thank you. Please stay in touch, or let us know you want to join us, in our efforts to help our communities enjoy the benefits of healthier grasslands. |
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In addition to the reclamation plot, Clear Sky started a small experimental DIY native plants nursery in our ag field, to compare growth rates and other qualities. Right away both were put to good use as educational and motivational tools for Clear Sky visitors; please consider them community resources. Contact us if you'd like to arrange a visit. |
Thanks to our remarkable course participants, we've started a fledgling native seeds exchange, to try to address the challenges of sourcing native seeds in our area -- hooray for sharing! Contact us if you'd like to be a part of sharing native seeds. |
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Environmental sustainability relies on economic sustainability, and vice versa, with social sustainability the glue that connects these two, and (for Clear Sky) spiritual sustainability the engine that shapes our vision and keeps us motivated and inspired. We're exploring different environmental services compensation programs and conservation offset programs, which we hope will help our communities to link environmental and economic health more directly. |
| Our surveys invited our intrepid course participants to provide useful feedback on how they thought we could improve our courses, and what they'd like to learn in future courses. We're working to create an ongoing dialogue with the community so we can get educated about the tools that people want and need, and try to develop and offer those. Let us know if you're looking for knowledge or tools to address particular grasslands challenges, or want to be part of the discussion about our community's grasslands needs. |
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Our 2010 grasslands project inspired Clear Sky to begin undertaking the development of a sustainable Land Use Masterplan for our entire 310 acres. This is going to be useful for our sustainable development, and very cool, and we look forward to sharing it with our community as an educational tool. |
2010 Grasslands Restoration/Reclamation Course Modules
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Outdoor Module Topics: |
- Economic and ecological value of grasslands
- Ecology of the Rocky Mountain Trench (our region), including the impacts of planning decisions
- Future trends, and organizations affecting ecological planning in our region
- Native plant design:
Choosing your plants, buying plants, preparing planting beds and soil amendments
Choosing seeds, sourcing seeds, preparing planting beds and soil amendments
- Seeding methods
- What to do if you're short on time & funds
- Maintenance and weed control
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Biogeoclimatic zones
Native plant ID
Non-indigenous species
Weed control
Levels of disturbance (comparing and contrasting)
Native Plant Design: Soil and prep for seeding, seed collection, seeds vs. plugs
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