Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Bellarmine College Preparatory School has two productive greenhouses, and before I began my work there, they lacked a sufficient irrigation system. My name is Troy Thayer and I installed a drip system into two greenhouses. Currently, I hold the position of President within Bellarmineâ€™s Earth Corporation. This club plants native grown plants around the community, and receives income from our annual plant sale. Since I work closely with Earth Corps, I was able to gain funds from the club for this project. I am also a Boy Scout and I decided to incorporate this into my Eagle Scout Project. Members from my troop, Earth Corps, and friends from my community had volunteered.
Before the drip system installation, students were responsible for watering the plants. This was a very ineffective method because the plants were usually watered incorrectly. Since this system was installed, the plants have not died through supersaturating or insufficient use of water. In order for the greenhouses to be functional year round, a timed drip system would allow for growth when human interaction is absent. This drip system was also connected to a manual switch for fertilization, and had a pressurizer installed.
Since the drip system is directed towards the plants and not the floor, this new system of watering has saved a significant amount of water. Before there were many large puddles along the floor, but now the floor remains dry. The drip system hangs from the ceiling, and is placed directly above the tables. There is also a system running throughout the tables.
The greatest outcome from this project was the ability to give back to the community. During the past summers the greenhouses were not operational. This last summer the greenhouses were filled with tomatoes that were donated to local food banks. I spent a total of twenty-one hours planning this project, and it took nine hours to complete. Between fourteen volunteers and me we spent a grand total of eighty-nine hours on the drip system. This has shown me that people can come together to make a change in our world, and I was very glad to lead this project.
My Apprentice Ecologist Project has given me a push to make a change. This project gave me the tools I needed to show my leadership in my community. In order to install this drip system it took many hours of research and design makeups. I also have become ambitious to inform others about ways to save water. The wasted water within the greenhouse was killing the plants and facilitating the growth of weeds on the floor. While greenhouses are places where new life is grown, they are sometimes a large waste of space when they are not in use. This drip system has led to the production of food when the green house is normally vacant. This system promises a future manufacture of food for food banks and other such programs. I hope to use my project as an example of all the good a single drip system can provide.