Practical Application of Recycling Passion

by Michelle d'Hulst

In Medford's Bear Creek Park, citizens can learn about ways to turn organic debris into enriching humus rather than sending it to the landfill. Since landfills are filling up quickly and burning causes air pollution, the obvious choice for handling organic materials is to compost so the nutrients return to the soil where they improve its tilth and fertility. Backyard composting is also good for the homeowner because it minimizes costs associated with collection, transportation and disposal.

The compost demonstration site was spearheaded by a P.A.C.T. (People Acting can Change Tomorrow) which works to raise awareness of recycling. Landscape Architect, Bonnie Bayard, joined this group in 1987 as a concerned citizen determined to make a difference in her community. When the idea for the compost site emerged, Bayard was the obvious choice to design the conceptual plan and present it to the local city council. Little did she know that this would launch her on a crusade that would occupy her for a lifetime. To date, she has logged over 2,400 hours of volunteer work and over $21,000 in donated materials, labor and services. She still meets once a week to maintain the site and teaches composting skills at the twice monthly seminars.

"I really had a multi-functional vision for the site," Bayard explained. "My vision was to not only create a place for people to learn how to compost in their backyards, but we also wanted to encourage people to use recycled materials in their yards." There is no better way to lead than by example, so broken up concrete from driveways and sidewalks were salvaged to build the site's retaining walls. It took two years to salvage enough material from local construction sites to complete the wall and it took another year to backfill, Bayard said. In addition, benches were donated by Ashland's Oregon Shakespeare Festival and sign posts were salvaged from a demolished building.

The practical message of recycling was carried forth in the new walkway that was completed in early 2000. The paving project was made possible by a $5,300 grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental quality and in-kind donations of materials from several local businesses. From December 1998 to October 1999, concrete artists Lilli Ann and Marvin Rosenberg invested many hours, teaching volunteers the techniques of creating a pathway which relates practical messages about recycling. During six public workshops, park patrons helped create a wonderful collection of artistic paver's, made from recycled materials, that are now set into the concrete at the site. The waste reduction theme is reinforced by a quote from Ben Franklin that is repeated throughout the walkway: "Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without." The pathway also includes a giant sundial activated by a visitor standing on the date at its center and casting a shadow on the time.

The compost Demonstration Site, ten years in the making, contains additional features consistent with the reduce, re-use, recycle theme: drought tolerant landscape, recycled concrete walls, wood chips in bin areas from local arborists, and compost bins. Composting classes are offered twice each month, May through October, on the first Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and the third Saturday at 9:30 p.m. For additional information, call Bonnie Bayard at 541-773-4286.