MOSS LAWNS IN ORLANDO

https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode319/ ENV 413 Senior Seminar

Senior Seminar is the capstone experience in the interdisciplinary Environmental Studies major. The course emphasizes key ideas from the field of Environmental Studies and their relationship to contemporary environmental issues. Senior Seminar is also a Civic Engagement class, and we will partner with the Orlando Sustainability Office

The course is designed around a field-based research project that requires:

1. A booklet (5.5 by 8.5 inches) containing 2,000 words (not including endnotes) that will: A. Address a component of sustainability identified in the Orlando Greenworks Community Action Plan, and 3 UN Sustainability Goals. B. Apply at least one principle from each of the above categories to define project. C.Integrate research that provides 3 precedents, a set of findings, including costs, benefits and implementation strategy. D.Include endnotes. E. The booklet will be highlighted by at least 3 original charts, drawings, and/or plans that will be the focus of the presentation: 2. A seven-minute presentation limited to 6 slides with up to 4 original charts, drawings, and/or plans that will be the focus of the presentation. Introduction

This project presents a model lawn that will conserve water and create a natural aesthetic to “enhance Orlando’s reputation as ‘The City Beautiful’ by promoting sustainable landscaping practices.”1 A method to advance earth systems, moss has many benefits compared to grass, including reduced water dependence and the ability to absorb significant amounts of CO2. It requires no pesticide treatments, resulting in less chemical runoff, allowing the city to reach its Greenworks Plan goal of increasing the “number of lakes meeting good water quality standard[s].”2 Moss grows in shade or sun and can thrive in nutrient light soil, requiring little maintenance and no mowing. In comparison to lawns, moss gardens are more economically feasible and environmentally friendly. “Outdoor irrigation accounts for up to 50 percent of water use in Florida.”3 Managing lawns require thorough up keep; “using a mower for one hour has the same carbon footprint as a 100-mile car trip”4 while moss gardens mitigate the need for carbon emitting technologies. Implementing moss gardens removes these negative externalities. A section of Lake Eola Park illustrates the projects potential to educate Orlando residents about the benefits of moss as an alternative to traditional grass lawns.

Image courtesy of Google Maps.

1 UN Sustainable Development Goals

Moss’s ability to filtrate water allows for the absorption of heavy metals to be contracted and stored in the inner cell walls, resulting in a higher quality of cleanliness. “After 22 hours of exposure, the moss cells had absorbed up to 74 percent of their dry weight in lead.”5 Aside from lead, research has shown moss to absorb additional toxins including gold, platinum and tin.

Lawn care requires the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers. Every year, 13 billion pounds of toxic pollutants are created in the US in pursuit of lawn maintenance. Additionally, the development of one ton of fertilizers releases two tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.6

Standard lawn maintenance produces “5 or 6 times more CO2 than what is absorbed during photosynthesis.” Lawn mowers emit 16 billion to 41 7 billion pounds of CO2 every year. Moss lawns eliminate carbon-intensive maintenance practices and absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere than grass lawns. 2 Precedents

https://theoutdoornewyorker.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/john-p-humes-japanese- stroll-garden/

John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden, Mill Neck, New York This 7-acre garden has been thriving for over fifty years, enticing residents to stroll through the gardens with scenic views of flowing water. This garden was donated to the Wildlife Sanctuary and is recognized in Outstanding American Gardens, and it is part of a conservation corridor that includes more than 150 acres of the Beaver Brook Watershed, Shu Swamp Preserve and the Upper Francis Pond Preserves. Dogwood and Bald Cypress are incorporated throughout the gardens, diminishing erosion and improving water quality. The garden features eleven different of moss including Plageoniam and Thuidium. Plageoniam is the most abundant species of moss within the garden due to its ability to grow in a variety of environments other than rock surfaces. Research shows that moss can “remove up to 82% arsenic from water within an hour.”8

3 Precedents

https://www.mountainmoss.com/blogs/mountain-moss/learning-moss-garden

Leila Barnes Cheatham Learning Moss Garden, Highlands, North Carolina Created in January 2012, at the Highlands Biological Center, this garden provides an educational opportunity for the public. Labels identify the different types of moss in the garden, including Thuidium, Entodon, and Climacium. The space “sets the stage for educational programs about the beauty and environmental benefits of ,”9 such as its ability to thrive on less water and sequester more carbon dioxide than grass. Moss is able to grow in all types of climactic conditions and doesn't need healthy or nutrient-rich soil in order to thrive. The garden’s creator, Annie Martin, provided one of the first educational moss gardens in the country.10 The research center also offers an intensive, one- week course where participants study mosses in depth. Students can receive academic credit for attending the workshop, where participants take part in experiential learning in the field and in the lab understanding the botanical structures of bryophytes.

4 Precedents

Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon Moss gardens are integral to the Portland Japanese Garden, which emulates the classic Japanese culture and blends it with the native flora of Oregon such as the vine maple, shore pine, and Oregon Grape Holly. It is a testament to the centuries long practice of moss gardening in Japan, a privilege previously reserved for the elite. The garden was established after Portland became the sister city of Sapporo, Japan in 1958. It provides a peaceful place for “visitors to rest and reflect on the essence and brevity of life,”11 and temporarily forget modern-day problems. It was originally planned by Professor Tono and is now cared for by the Garden Curator, Sadafumi Uchiyama. Uchiyama comes from a family of gardeners and was trained in the art as he grew up in Japan. Coupled with his degrees in landscape architecture, Uchiyama blends Japanese styles with the native landscape of the Pacific Northwest.12

https://japanesegarden.org/garden-spaces/natural-garden/

5 Xeric Moss Garden Project Site

Figure 1 exhibits a site for a moss garden in Lake Eola Park at the corner of the intersection of East Robinson street and North Eola Drive. Courtesy of Google Maps.

A zone near the Lake Eola Pagoda located in downtown Orlando at the corner of the intersection of East Robinson Street and North Eola Drive, can be an eminent area to exhibit a moss garden. This location provides an ideal climate for moss to thrive year round in an area that currently has a grass lawn consisting of approximately 21,600 square feet. Our moss lawn will cover approximately 14,000 square feet extending 70 feet from the fence behind the live oaks. This area offers a shady environment that will allow moss to flourish. With grass being the “single largest most irrigated agricultural ‘crop’ in America,”13 moss can be implemented as a sustainable alternative. Moss gardens fulfill Orlando’s “desires to improve environmental quality through the retention and installation of , including improved air and water quality through removal of carbon dioxide and the generation of oxygen.”14

6 Detailed Garden Design

Figure 2 displays one fourth portion of the projected site. The proposed layout of the landscape is shown below. Courtesy of Google Maps.

Legend Scale: 1 inch= 10 feet Area exhibits 1/12 of an acre

Coral Bean

Live Oak

Muhly Grass Chapman Oak

Leucobryum Coontie Albidum (moss)

Bench Moss Expansion Area

Gravel Pathway

Figure 3 represents one quarter of the proposed project site. This vegetation includes flora native to Florida’s xeric habitats.

7 Costs

Xeric Size Quantity Price Total Price Vegetation

Chapman Oak 1 gallon 16 $7.75 $124.00 Muhly Grass 3 gallon 50 $7.95 $397.50 Coral Bean 3 gallon 16 $17.99 $287.84 Coontie 1 gallon 28 $12.99 $363.72 1000 6 $3,699.99 $22,199.99 albidum square feet

Grand Total: $23,373.05

Purchases Quantity Price Total

Plant identification signs 12 $6.90 $82.80

At-home moss lawn 1 $985.00 $985.00 educational board

Benches 8 $206.00 $1,648.00

Gravel pathway 70 ft. $10/linear ft. $700.00

Grand Total: $3,415.80

Benefits No mowing = no carbon emissions; “According to the EPA, one gas lawn mower emits 89 pounds of CO2 and 34 pounds of other pollutants per year.”15 Water conservation & reduced erosion

Harmful runoff is eliminated, protecting our drinking water supply

Financial savings on lawn maintenance

Absorbs CO2 instead of contributing to climate change as CO2 emissions due to lawn care are “four times greater than the amount of carbon stored by grass”16

8 Mesic Residential Moss Lawn Site

Monthly Cost Comparison Grass Lawn Moss Lawn (1/8 acre) (1/8 acre) Mowing $89.44 N/A Fertilizer $32.29 N/A Pesticide $45.00 N/A Irrigation 13,568 gallons; $24.18 1,650 gallons; $2.94 Total Monthly Cost: $190.73 $2.94 Yearly Cost: $1,762.60 (162,816 gal) 35.28 (19,800 gal) Figure 4 demonstrates a monthly and yearly cost comparison between a one eighth acre traditional grass lawn vs a one eighth acre moss lawn.

Legend Scale:Scale: 11 inchinch == 1010 feetfeet 1/81/8 acreacre plotplot ofof landland

Driveway

House

FloridaFlorida PinxterPinxter AzaleaAzalea IndianIndian PinkPink FlowerFlower Leucobryum Magnolia Albidum (moss)

Beautyberry Coontie American Plum tree Moss expansion area

Figure 5 shows a one eighth acre plot of land with a design for a moss lawn in a mesic habitat featuring plants native to Florida.

9 Implementation

To start, a small part of the field will be converted into a moss garden. The grass will be ripped up, removing weeds and additional debris. A soil test will be administered to determine the most suitable pH, which is approximately a pH level of 5.5. Afterwards, the area will be replaced with moss and accompanied with native vegetation. The moss will take some time to take hold, but once it does, very little maintenance is needed. A pathway made of gravel will be included to facilitate movement throughout the garden. Small signs will identify the different plants and an educational board will explain the benefits and cost comparison of having a moss lawn at home instead of a traditional grass lawn. This park will allow Orlando residents to experience a moss garden for themselves and learn about the benefits of having one at home, encouraging residents to convert their lawns from grass to moss.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331085010076862446/

10 Funding

Brevard County provides grants estimating around $2,000 for sustainable and creative landscaping practices, using native vegetation that does not require much maintenance and utilizes minimal amounts of water.18 Another organization called Planting Grants provides up to $3,000 worth of funding for projects that implement native Florida wildflowers and vegetation in a public areas that exhibits powerful educational elements.19 In addition, the Florida Wildflower Foundation is funding Orlando with a $3,000 grant for a meadow located in Exploration Gardens, consisting of native flowers and vegetation. This meadow requires no mowing and is designed to eventually be combined with a native tree walk.20

Welcome to our moss garden at Lake Eola Park! Enjoy the beauty and serenity that comes with spending time in nature. Here you can find native Florida species that are adapted to Moss Benefits: xeric (dry) habitats as well as leucobryum albidum – the moss • No mowing required. that covers the ground! Moss is an ancient that has • No need for fertilizer or existed on Earth since before the dinosaurs. Japanese gardens pesticide. are renowned for their use of moss to create a visually • Less water use than appealing and enticing greenspace. Here you can experience the traditional grass lawns. wonder and happiness that comes from being in a moss garden • Reduced water dependency and learn about why you should implement a moss lawn at your helps us fight against Florida’s home! impending water crisis. • Eliminates polluted water Monthly Cost Comparison runoff that hurts our drinking Grass Lawn Moss Lawn “There are occasions when you water sources. (1/8 acre) (1/8 acre) can hear the mysterious Mowing $89.44 N/A language of the Earth, in water, • Absorbs carbon dioxide from Fertilizer $32.29 N/A or coming through the trees, our atmosphere, fighting Pesticide $45.00 N/A emanating from the mosses, against climate change. Irrigation 13,568 gallons; $24.18 1,650 gallons; $2.94 seeping through the under Total Monthly Cost: $190.73 $2.94 currents of the soil, but you have • Can filter out harmful toxins Yearly Cost: $1,762.60 (162,816 gal) 35.28 (19,800 gal) to be willing to wait and receive.” such as lead and arsenic. -John Hay Chart demonstrates the benefits of having a moss lawn compared to a grass lawn of the same size. Both the estimated monthly and yearly costs are shown.

Figure 6 represents a potential design for an educational board that would be placed in the moss garden. The purpose of this board is to inform visitors on the benefits of implementing a moss lawn at home, encouraging sustainable landscaping.

11 Endnotes 1Green Works Orlando, 2018 Community Action Plan. Web, 41. 2 Ibid, 41. 3 South Florida Water Management District. “Lawn Watering Restrictions.” https://www.sfwmd.gov/community- residents/landscape-irrigation. 4 Hitchler, Lenore. “Grass Lawns are an Ecological Catastrophe.” ONE Only Natural Energy, October 3, 2018. https://www.onlynaturalenergy.com/grass-lawns-are-an-ecological- catastrophe/. 5 Caughill, Patrick. “An Unlikely New Ally Has Emerged in the Fight against Pollution in Water.” Futurism. Futurism, January 19, 2018. https://futurism.com/unlikely-new-ally-emerged-fight- against-pollution-water. 6 Hitchler, Lenore. “Grass Lawns are an Ecological Catastrophe.” ONE Only Natural Energy, October 3, 2018. https://www.onlynaturalenergy.com/grass-lawns-are-an-ecological- catastrophe/. 7 Ibid. 8 Sandhi, Arifin, Tommy Landberg, and Maria Greger. “Phytofiltration of Arsenic by Aquatic Moss (Warnstorfia Fluitans).” Environmental Pollution. Elsevier, November 20, 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S02697491173120 6X. 9 Mountain Moss. “Learning Moss Garden.” https://www.mountainmoss.com/blogs/mountain-moss/learning- moss-garden. 10 Admin. “Marvelous Moss: Mossin' Annie Worships the Lush and Lovely Bryophytes.” Smoky Mountain News. Smoky Mountain News, July 25, 2012. https://www.smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/7937- marvelous-moss-mossin’-annie-worships-the-lush-and-lovely- bryophytes. Endnotes 11 Portland Japanese Garden. “Garden Spaces: Natural Garden.” https://japanesegarden.org/garden-spaces/natural-garden/. 12 “Sadafumi Uchiyama, Garden Curator.” Portland Japanese Garden. Accessed February 28, 2020. https://japanesegarden.org/sadafumi- uchiyama/. 13 Holthaus, Eric. "Lawns are the No. 1 irrigated 'crop' in America. They need to die." Grist. Last modified May 2, 2009. https://grist.org/article/lawns-are-the-no-1-agricultural-crop-in- america-they-need-to-die/. 14 Orlando.gov. http://www.cityoforlando.net/city-planning/wp- content/uploads/sites/27/2014/03/LandscapeCodeFinal2013-12- 09.pdf. 15 Hitchler, Lenore. “Grass Lawns are an Ecological Catastrophe.” ONE Only Natural Energy, October 3, 2018. https://www.onlynaturalenergy.com/grass-lawns-are-an-ecological- catastrophe/. 16 Ibid. 17 Rhoades, Heather. “Moss Gardens – Tips For Growing Moss In Your Garden.” Gardening Know How, May 8, 2018. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/moss/growi ng-moss-gardens.htm. 18 “Grants to Brevard County, Florida Nonprofits for Landscaping Projects Featuring Native Plants.” https://www.grantwatch.com/grant/167494/grants-to-brevard-county- florida-nonprofits-for-landscaping-projects-featuring-native- plants.html. 19 “Planting Grants.” Florida Wildflower Foundation. https://flawildflowers.org/grants/. 20 “Layering Is Key in Orange County Meadow Design.” Florida Wildflower Foundation, December 4, 2017. https://flawildflowers.org/orange-county-meadow/.