Fluvanna Middle School Pond Project

Plan

The Fluvanna Middle School Pond Project will integrate the use of plants and wildlife in a renewable habitat. Ms. Lang and her students will research, develop, and implement the design ideas along with the help of interested Fluvanna Master Gardeners. Donations for materials and time are welcome.

The pond is already dug, dimensions 3 feet deep by five feet wide, and holds water without a liner. It faces south, in full sun at present ( a deciduous tree is in front of the pond ) and is located in front of the school under Ms. Lang's classroom.

It is bordered by large stones and aging mulch. Donations are requested for more fist sized stones and any kind of mulch to widen the area around the pond to prevent mowing of the planted material.

A sign will be made by the class identifying the pond area as a protected habitat.

Construction of a fence around the pond will be made of materials that Ms. Lang already has instead off a "living fence" proposed earlier. Juanita Barone evaluated the site and felt some form of non-thorny shrubbery could be used to protect and beautify the site. Donations of plant material are requested.

Plans to extend the pond to include a beach staging area will be accomplished with the class and the interested Fluvanna Master Gardeners at a scheduled time, weather permitting. Donations for coarse sand and small river rocks are requested.

Donations of plant material are requested. Cat tails and pond iris are desirable for filtering the pond environment. The spreading of the plant material will be kept in check by the students harvesting the cat tails for an edible root project.

The pond is already a home for frogs and salamanders. Plans for making toad houses and stepping stones were discussed. Ms. Lang has access to clay and a kiln. The class will research how to make a "good" toad house and this project can be done during inclement weather.

Donations of gold fish are requested.

Ms. Lang has some of the raw materials for cement to make the stepping stones. The class will make the stepping stones and place them around to pond for dry access. Ideas for the design and any molds for the stepping stones are requested.

The surrounding bird habitat includes plans for birdfeeders and birdhouses. The class has already researched the plans for birdhouses for cliff swallows, wrens, and blue birds. Ms. Lang has the Plexiglas needed for both projects. The class would construct the birdhouses and feeders. Donations for wood are requested.

Ms. Lang has honeysuckle and trumpet vines to plant around the feeder poles to attract the hummingbirds.

Donations for a bench and a locked tool box for a spade, post hole digger and gardening tools are needed.

A project time was selected with Ms. Lang and her students for March 9th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Depending on the weather plans were made to add the beach area, install a fence outside, or build toad houses, make stepping stones inside.

Volunteers are welcome to join in the plan.

Project Committee

Juanita Barone – Master Gardener
Vicki Buffmire – Master Gardener Intern
Marion Lang – Fluvanna Middle School

Date: February 10, 2005