Growing Greens
A greenhouse will be added to the Southwest corner of the house, where the most sunlight is available. The design will come from consultations with Anna Edey of Solviva. The greenhouse will incorporate solar collection for heat distribution in the house and will produce salad greens for sale to customers. The sale of the greens will provide income for interns as well as contribute to the non-profit.
Reclaiming Water
Catching storm water in winter mitigates the damage done to streams and to Puget Sound. It also conserves water so less is needed in the summer months, lowering our water bills while re-charging the aquifer. The goal of reclaiming water will be achieved in these three ways:
- A holding tank will be installed for catching rainwater from the eastern slope of the roof, storing it for irrigating in the dry season. A solar pump will move the water from its storage area to the existing drip irrigation system. The installation of the catchement system will be done as a community workshop in partnership with the City of Olympia.
- Water from the western slope will be channeled through a series of Flow Forms to purify the water. It will be held in a small but deep pond next to the stone patio on the west side of the yard. There will be a solar pump installed to keep the water pure and move the water into a drip irrigation system for summer watering. The installation of the Flow Form Pond will be done as a community workshop.
- A rain garden will be constructed with cooperation from the City of Olympia. Rain water from the studio roof, the alley and the neighbor’s garage will be diverted to the Rain Garden. This holding area for water utilizes native plants and creates habitat for birds.
Becoming Energy Efficient
Replacing the ancient gas furnace from the 1960s is a priority for conserving energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Research will be conducted to determine the most viable options for heating a large, older home. Selection guidelines will be published for the community. A hybrid of approaches will be chosen from the best technology currently available.
Establishing a Ground Level Public Restroom
Easily accessible and naturally beautiful, the ground-level public restroom will serve workshop participants, visitors, and people who are using the existing sauna for hydro-therapy. In the room with the existing composting toilet, a shower and sink will be added to offer full amenities. Local artisans using found objects and recycled materials will do the craftsmanship.
Creating an Art Studio
Converting 500 sq. feet of basement space into an art studio will be accomplished using recycled and donated materials. The facility will include a pottery studio, art supplies, and classroom space for multiple arts and crafts projects. The Art Studio will provide space, equipment and training for people who plan to form micro-businesses. The training will focus on community building and resource sharing. To cover the operating costs of the studio space, artists will donate samples of their work to generate income for the non-profit.
Launching the Healthy Home Program
The Healthy Home Program is an eight-week course for anyone interested in learning more about creating an eco-friendly home. Topics will include, cleaning practices, gardening, composting with worms, low-cost decorating, shopping guidelines, non-toxic remodeling options and resource sharing. Participants will complete a final project that remains at Fertile Ground as a resource for future classes.
Crafting with Herbs
A series of workshops will be developed with local herbalists to teach herb identification, cultivation and use. Class participants will create herbal preparations and donate a portion of them to Fertile Ground to generate income for the non-profit. Workshop graduates will have the opportunity to build a business using Fertile Ground’s cultivated herbs.
Playing with Children
Fertile Ground will collaborate with local educators and home-school communities to provide opportunities for learning through exploration and play. The Center will be used by educators to enhance curriculum. Additionally, birthday parties, tea parties and other celebrations will be designed to delight, educate and inspire the young guests.
