Prepared By Chester Co.
Conservation District Office
WEST CHESTER (Chester)
Depending on point of view, green
space can mean dollars in the form
of trees to a lumber company, a
hassle in clearing to a developer,
or peace and fresh air to a conser
vationist But, as we exist in a
developing area, we must work
with those with varying interests.
The best and wisest planning for
trees and other green space is criti
cal. With little extra effort, simply
greater knowledge of alternatives,
less of our open lands need to
come to paved endings.
When open lands are converted
to impervious developed areas
(buildings, parking lots, etc.), one
of the major drawbacks is the loss
of overland flow, the natural
course for the water to re-enter the
TOPROrECTVOURTOBACCOFROM DISEASE.
entire plant safe from disease and allows it to reach its lull potential.
And the results? A healthier plant and higher quality tobacco.
Ridomil. On a cost per acre basis, it’s the best defense
shield a tobacco plant can get. flitlnmSl
For answers to tobacco questions, |l||i||B|Hl
call FumeyTbdd on te uSSrfftwMiai’
line, sponsored by Ciba-Geigy. 1-800-862-2229.
CIBA-GEIGY C 1989 Ciba-Geigy, Agricultural Division, PO. Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419 Ahiays read and (oBow label directions
What Is Green Space Wofirth?
ground. Man made systems often
divert this water to a speam or
other waterway, depriving the
area of needed groundwater. In
addition, the receiving Waterway
is more subject to flooding during
wet seasons due to unnatural
increases in water contribution.
There are many ways t 6 reduce
these negative impacts, whether
you are a homeowner or a large
scale developer.
All too often trees are removed
to expedite a construction project.
Trees and brush are a prime source
of oxygen,‘animal habitat, shade,
and pollution uptake. Each tree
should be carefully considered
before it is disturbed. Work
around trees whenever possible.
Innovative ways to pave around
trees can be rewarding and pleas
ing to the eye. An extra 10-15
DEFENSE SHIELD
ACTIVATED COMMANDER,
* WE'RE SAFE NOW. a
square feet around the base of the
free provides a means for water to
re-enter the ground at that point.
Alternatives To
Paving
There arc many alternatives
available ova* the usual concrete
for paved surfaces. Concrete lat
tice pavers are designed to allow
water to pass through spaces in the
material where grass or herbs can
also thrive. Normal traffic or a
lawntnower keeps the greens at
bay. A patio or sidewalk can be
planned with a favorite herb
(thyme is commonly used in Eng
land). When the plants are walked
over, oils are released with a
pleasant aroma.
Porous asphalt is another alter
native. The main difference to that
of conventional asphalt or con
crete is the space available in the
ipaterial to retain water, allowing
it to soak through to the underly
ing ground. Any of these methods
can be used for driveways, park
ing lots, sidewalks, patios, basin
spillways, and more.
The more trees and brush the
better...planting can be well
planned to serve a number of pur
poses. If your area is one with
noise, wind, pollution, unslightly
structures, or direct sunlight,
plantings can alleviate these nega
tives. While many species attract
an abundance of birds and other
wildlife, most desirable are the
natives of your area. Natural
defenses of these species will usu
ally eliminate any need for pest
control. Soil type, ground mois
ture, and sun exposure should also
be considered when choosing
plantings.
Build Up-
Not Out
Building up instead of out util
izes open space most efficiently.
Many buildings require a ground
level design, but many houses or
office buildings could use far less
ground with as much inner space.
Natural ground cover, that is,
undeveloped open space, distri
butes water coming into its system
in the following percentages: 10%
run-off, 40% evapotranspiration,
25% shallow infiltration, and 25%
deep infiltration. In contrast, land
that has been paved has 55% run
off, 30% evapotranspiration, 10%
shallow infiltration, and 5% deep
infiltration.
As can be seen, there are major
increases in run-off from deve
loped land which causes acceler
ated erosion and related problems.
The great decrease in infiltration
deprives vegetation and ground
water systems of natural waters.
Also, infiltration through the
ground is the primary means that
pollutants are filtered out of the
water. To minimize these effects,
impervious surfaces can be
planned wisely, incorporating as
much open space into the design
as possible. You will benefit from
this equally as much as the
environment.
For more information on these
topics, please write or call the
Chester County Conservation Dis
trict at 235 West Market Street,
West Chester, PA 19382. Our
phone number is 215-696-5126.
Slide
Program
Offered
On LISA
ATLANTA, Ga. One of the
hottest topics among people in
agriculture today is the issue of
“low-imput sustainable agricul
ture” (LISA). This movement
grew out of concerns for ground
water quality and other challenges
toward conventional production
agriculture in the U.S.
In response to the many ques
tions surrounding the LISA effort,
the Potash & Phosphate Institute
(PPI) has prepared a set of 45 col
or 35mm slides, with printed
scrip. The program is titled:
“Low-Input Sustainable Agricul
ture (LISA) and the Groundwater
Issue: What Is It? What Does It
Represent? What Are The
Alternatives?”
With emphasis on sound agro
nomic information, the slide prog
ram explains that conventional
production agriculture, with far
mers adopting best management
practices, remains the best
approach to assure profitability,
input conservation and efficiency,
environmental protection, and
sustainable food supplies.
The color slide set with senpt is
available at a cost of $15.00 plus
postage. For more information,
contact; Circulation Department,
Potash & Phosphate Institute
(PPI) 2801 Buford Hwy, N.E.,
t