2011 Environmental Achievement Awards

The 2011 Environmental Achievement Awards were given out by Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) and the Olmsted County Environmental Commission on January 26 at the Rochester Golf and Country Club. Awards honor individuals, organizations, schools and businesses that have made a significant contribution in 2011 towards environmental quality. Read about all of the amazing winners on RPUs website.

RNeighbors was proud to nominate the Friedell Butterfly garden for the education category. With a strong partnership of businesses, youth, nonprofit and government, this land went from being a barren sand lot to a flourishing outdoor classroom. With coordination by RNeighbors, it was designed by Herring EcoLogistics and planted with help from the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, the Pond and Garden Tour, Seneca Foods and most importantly, Friedell students.

Working from a design from Herring EcoLogistics, 75 cubic yards of compost from Olmsted County and 35 cubic yards of wood chips from the Forestry Department were combined to create a nutrient rich area in which the native plants would thrive. Butterfly Weed, Swamp Milkweed, New England Aster, Rocky Minnesota Blazing Star, Indian Grass, Rigid Goldenrod, Columbine, Wild Strawberry plants and Cherry, Apple, and Larch trees were planted by Friedell students with the oversight of RNeighborWoods volunteers.

Originally this garden was created to augment an established science class curriculum based on the lifecycle of butterflies. Although the garden is less than a year old, the creative science teachers at Friedell have their science classes out working in the space on different projects and over 175 students have utilized the garden in data-gathering inquires, observations and experiments.

With a school motto of “our small-ness is huge” there is no doubt that the impact of this Friedell garden will continue to grow, as the native plants and butterfly traffic does. For photos of the full project and the awards check out RNeighbors on facebook.

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