Weekend Duty Blog - September 20-22, 2019

 Avery & Quinn  

                After being trained on how to drive and operate vehicles such as the RTV and Tractor with a trailer or counter weight attached, we were all set for our weekend duties around the Fanshawe campus. After meeting up with Jeff early Friday morning, a tour took place of the gardens and areas which were to be maintained for the weekend. After carefully listening to and consulting with Jeff we were on our own. No one left to fall back on but each other. Off to C block to fetch the RTV and Tractor trailer, which will aid us in transporting equipment and plant matter. Once we had the automobiles we could finally grab the required tools for the day which consisted of hand saws, shovels, garden hoes, metal stakes, twine, rakes and more. To start off the day we took a journey to the corner of a building near the bus stops. This area was in need of a combination of plants and shrubs to fill in its gaps and empty spaces. A second garden bed was also needing to be created on the opposite side of the walk way to the building. Using Sand Cherries, Golden Birch and Rino Rose we effectively gave to garden a fuller look.

After dealing with the A building garden bed a tree was needed to give an empty garden life at the opposite side of the bus stop area. We calculated which way the wind would blow the most frequently and staked the tree accordingly.

                Now that the tree had been set and centered, an area behind the R2 residence had to be mulched, so we headed over with the trailer!

                A section of garden near D building courtyard area needed to be altered heavily due to the possibility of a hiding spot for criminal activity. We removed several Taxus and a handful of dead spruce from the lower part of the garden. After that we pruned the above tree so the foliage was about shoulder height giving it a nice open concept

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Now that our list of duties had been completed, we head back to the green house to fill out accession sheets of all the plants we had planted during or time at the school. Overall this was a great hands on experience of what it is like in the real world work force.