Foundation Grants
ATHERTON FAMILY
FOUNDATION 2005-2006
FINAL REPORT
Project Mulch & Irrigation Upgrade
AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Friends of the DT Fleming Arboretum
PO Box 101
Makawao HI 96768
CONTACT NAME, TITLE AND PHONE
Martha Vockrodt-Moran,
President
808-572-1097
AWARD DATE: October 19, 2005
FOUNDATION NAME: Atherton Family Foundation
GRANT ID NUMBER: 20051400
GRANT AMOUNT: $3,000
GRANT PURPOSE Project Mulch & Irrigation Upgrade
Automation of the Arboretum Irrigation System
Project objectives were achieved by installing upgraded irrigation timers. Their new technology allows for each station once a week watering during evening hours. Stations now do not have to share watering times. When batteries are changed, programming remains in the timer’s memory.
Challenges: There were none thanks to the professional installation by David Duey of Duey Irrigation, Inc.
Modifications to original plan and their impact: No modifications were made to the original plan as stated in our grant proposal.
Unexpected benefits that occurred as a result of the project: The new “Hunter” timers are user friendly. Programming is easy to understand. With no overlapping of running times for each station causing poor water pressure, irrigation efficiency is easy to monitor.
Before installation of the new “Hunter” timers, an irrigation specialist was hired every six months to change batteries because with the old “Rainbird” timers were difficult to program. Memory was lost with a lapse of current when batteries were replaced. Calculating watering times was difficult with overlapping stations and unequal water pressure on upper slopes of Arboretum.
Programming is not a problem any more because the “Hunter” timer is easy to understand. Also, now changing the batteries every six month is effortless since “Hunter” timers maintain memory when there is a lapse of current.
Over all impact on your clients, staff and organization: An efficient irrigation system is essential for Arboretum health. Optimal natural soil moisture can be replicated. The older system had unreliable short duration timers requiring constant manual adjustments. Volunteer hours are now spent on other projects.
April 2006 began the dry spell in Ulupalakua. The irrigation system has saved many hours of hand watering. Upgraded irrigation has prevented over watering, therefore, conserving water.
If and how the project will be self-sustaining after the grant period ends: The irrigation system is checked regularly. Parts are repaired or replaced as needed. Batteries are changed every six months. Supplies are paid for by FOFA.
Since installation of the updated irrigation timers by David Duey, the irrigation system has been monitored by volunteer labor.
Budget: Original project cost, as stated in our grant proposal, was $1,200. Requesting $1,000. The total cost was $1,070:
6 service hours @ $55 / hr: $330.00
7 Hunter Battery Controllers @ $97 / ea: 679.00
14 waterproof connectors @ $1.30 / ea: 18.20
General Excise tax @ 4.166%: 42.80
Total cost paid to David Duey: $ 1070.00
David Duey did additional irrigation work at no charge – relocating the meter and changing three new ball valves. Supplies were paid for by individual donors to FOFA.
Project Mulch
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