If all goes according to plan, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry bushes will soon line the front lawn of Tank Hall. The fruit bushes are being planted as part of a project meant to make use of Tank’s newly treeless lawn.

The removal of Tank’s beloved ash tree earlier this term sparked “more interest in landscaping in general,” explained Ground Services Manager Dennis Greive. With the tree gone, Tank’s already-spacious lawn now has much more open grass and therefore many landscaping options.

Students brought the idea to the table. Tank Housing Loose Ends Coordinator Kyla Neilan and OSCA Environmental Concerns Committee Chair Marc Fidelman, both College seniors, and OSCA Operations Manager junior David Vohden approached Greive and Keith Watkins, director of Facilities Operations, about landscaping projects beyond replacing the fallen tree. The College was receptive to many of their proposals; a native herb garden and fruit trees are likely additions to the lawn.

The entire landscaping process, from organization to planting, necessitates effort on the part of students and the grounds department. According to Neilan, the student response to the plans was at first “overwhelmingly positive.”

Unfortunately, she added, it has become “underwhelmingly participatory” over time. For the most part, Neilan, Fidelman and Vohden are the only students involved at this time.

“Everyone seems to think the stuff we suggested were good ideas, but few want to actually be a part of the process of making Tank’s new front yard happen,” said Neilan.

Still, she remains hopeful that “this will change once we start digging the ground. The kids who are involved so far are committed, and so are the people in the College with whom we’re working.”

Neilan refers to the efforts of Greive, Watkins and the rest of the grounds department. Greive is currently looking into obtaining apple, pear and shade trees for the lawn.

Greive is excited that this project involves both students and College employees. Such cooperative work, he said, “draws the grounds staff and the students closer together.”

About such landscaping projects, he added: “They get the students to buy into the grounds as an asset, as something to protect and to appreciate.”

The College grounds department and student volunteers often work together on various landscaping efforts. Previous projects include a butterfly garden at Harvey (Spanish House) and a native herb garden at Harkness. According to Greive, “The co-ops are especially active in [such projects].”

The berry bushes must be planted within the first weeks of October if they are going to be properly set before winter descends. The fruit trees also need to be planted this fall.

Greive explained that participants had been planning to support local farms in these endeavors: “We thought it would be appropriate to use berry bush divisions from the George Jones Memorial Farm rather than to buy something that has to be transported in.”

Unfortunately, this plan is not feasible. According to Neilan, “[Jones Farm] only has bushes that are too old, with roots too interwoven to successfully unearth, or too young [to transfer successfully].”

Instead, participants plan to order the bushes from a local nursery, which will still cut down on resources expended in transportation.

In other news, Tank diners and residents may have to wait a bit longer to craft furniture from their former ash tree. Neilan explained: “It may take up to a year to process the wood.”

Neilan expressed overall enthusiasm for Tank’s “permaculture makeover,” and encourages more activity in this area. “Imagine what we could do with Old B’s expanse of grass or how pretty an edible garden would look outside Keep,” she said.

Greive had similar feelings about potential landscaping projects. “We always have lots of support for student involvement in landscaping.”

Right now, volunteers lie in wait for the grounds department to schedule a planting day. Students and community members interested in helping with the project should contact Neilan at kyla.neilan@oberlin.edu.