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Award Date: May 17, 2005
Foundation Name: A&B Foundation
Grant Purpose: Project Mulch
Grant Amount: $1,000

Project objectives achieved as state in proposal:  Mulch objectives were achieved, conserving water and revitalizing soil health.  Weed and erosion control were improved.

Challenges encountered:  The Arboretum is on a hillside.  The upper trails are a challenge to deliver mulch, requiring two people per wheelbarrow.  Trees on the upper side of the trails are also difficult to reach.  The trails are too narrow for delivery by machine.

Modifications to original plan:  Only $5,5,00 of the $8,500 was raised for the Project Mulch in 2005.  The project was put on hold while more grant writing was being worked on.

An excellent opportunity opened up during this time.  Already mulched and composted chips (three years old) were discovered and available for sale.  Rather than chipping on site, and then composting the chips for mulch, these chips were already composted and ready for use.  (Wood chips need to be composted before using or they deplete nitrogen from the soil.)  This well composted mulch has provided immediate nutrition to the Arboretum and the ultimate objective of this grant – Arboretum health, was achieved.

Unexpected benefits that occurred as a result of the project: 

• The mulch acted as immediate nutrition to the Arboretum with new growth and tree health beyond expectations.

• With the positive results of the much and its micro-organisms, the Arboretum has taken a new direction…more organic and natural.  Chemicals and sprays may negatively affect the natural balance in the newly revitalized soil.  Herbicides for weed control have been reduced and replaced with manual labor.

• Hand weeding is easy around trees that are mulched.  Weeds are so easy to pull, a tool is almost unnecessary.

• Insecticide sprays are minimal due to the health of the trees.  In the case of damaging insects,   Cambium injection is used rather than soil injection so as not to negatively affect soil micro-organisms. 

• Chemical fertilizers are only used at initial planting at the bottom of the hole, at this time.

• Irrigation has been reduced since mulch helps retain even moisture.

Over all impact on your clients, staff and organization: The health and preservation of the Arboretum and its trees is FOFA’s mission.  The mulch has had amazing response in the Arboretum.  It was the missing ingredient simulating a native Hawaiian forest and health of the Arboretum.  The trees have never been healthier.

If and how the project will be self-sustaining:  There is a supply of composted mulch at this time for top dressing and new plantings.  Some trees will be top dressed again with larger diameter coverage.  The remainder compost pile for Project Mulch will supply compost into 2007.

A $4,000 grant proposal has been written to carry on Project Mulch Phase II - chipping on site.  The quantity of chips will be greater.  Properly maintained, they will provide mulch for the next few years.

 

 

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