Over 400,000 quarries have been left abandoned and seemingly in a state of disrepair once their resources have been depleted or no longer valued. Before 1977, there were no laws or regulations in place to protect these sites. Owners and contractors were able to leave the site as is with tools, machinery, jagged rocks, slabs of cut stone, trash, and anything in between. This project explores the oldest marble quarry in the country, the Norcross-West marble quarry located in Dorset, Vermont. The design answers the question of how to repurpose this site by combining the site history to create educational opportunities, vegetation implementation to create habitats for at risk species, and sustainable practices such as marble carving and rainwater collection create a space that fulfills needs within the site that have long sense been forgotten. These practices reform the space and set a precedent for the dozens of other nearby abandoned and active quarry sites.
Abstract
The current infrastructure of horticulture in the United States of America, lacks BIPOC representation. The purpose of the review and research is to address the effects of white dominance in horticulture and combat the current system to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for BIPOC in horticulture. By juxtaposing past, present, and future contributions to horticulture from BIPOC individuals to the current concepts exhibited in horticulture we observe 3 things: The contributions of BIPOC ideas to Horticulture, the current representation of BIPOC individuals in horticulture, and the theorized future with solutions applied. This research is based on existing diversity equity and inclusion research seen in other fields, which theoretically will apply in the same context with horticulture. Under this assumption, it can be understood that horticulture is not the sole perpetrator in non-inclusive work environments for BIPOC but is rather a subcategory of the many organizations and communities within the United States that are systemically oppressive to BIPOC.
Keywords: [BIPOC, horticulture, diversity in horticulture, inclusion in horticulture, colonization, culture, anti-racism, equity, colonialism]
The intent of this design is to increase vegetative coverage by at least 50% to capture more rainfall, improve urban heat island effect, and improve aesthetic value. As well as to diversify plant pallet for an increase in biodiversity as well as aesthetic improvement, to ensure that the new bed designs still allow access to equipment that are necessary for daily operation, and to ensure that the bed designs are accessible to all.
Four interpretation design signs for educational opportunities for the intended audiences of tour groups ranging from elementary school-aged to adulthood.
Cincinnati has dealt with the effects of combined sewer overflows for decades. Although overflow levels are steadily improving, there is still more to be done. Since 2002, the city has been attempting to renovate their old system to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act. This has proved extremely costly and difficult to complete with over 3,000 miles of public sewers with the antiquated combined sewer overflow system. Green roofs have become a proven tool in reducing combined sewer overflows. This project aims to explain how a municipal sewer district can promote the reduction of stormwater runoff through native plant landscaping and green roof education.
In 2010, the Metropolitan Sewer District, the agency responsible for waste water treatment in the Greater Cincinnati area, installed a green roof on one of their Mill Creek Plant buildings, however, it has been neglected and is not reaching its full potential. Through research on green roof’s effects on combined sewer overflow, an improved green roof design, and educational signage this study aims to create an educational, visually pleasing, native focused, and functional green roof that still allows employees ease of access to necessary equipment. MSD can encourage an increase of green roofs throughout the city and this study creates a comprehensive plan to use green roofs as a promotional tool.
