so, the aim of this project is to test different roadside seed mixes and the affects of different saline and fertilizer solutions on these mixes to ideally come up with a mix that's going to have some salt, saline resistance, as well as be pollinator-friendly. we also have an outdoor experiment, and that's to look at the effect of cover crops in suppressing weeds before establishing butterfly meadows, also using native plants. what we're doing i think is definitely a hot-button topic in the industry, especially for municipalities, and so coming across anybody else in my industry, whenever i bring up the fact that we're working on something like this, they have a lot of questions, they have their own two cents. so, it really is an exciting point of engagement with a lot of different facets of the industry.
well, i always think that it's really important for students to see beyond the classroom. and to see that there are applications in the real world for the knowledge that they're gaining. i've certainly gained a better knowledge and understanding of plant materials, down from species identification to sort of biochemical features and physiological features of some of these plants and so, just understanding all those things in greater detail is only more and more exciting and beneficial to me, in my industry. it's great working with the students, because you see how enthusiastic they are. they really put a lot of time and effort into it, and it's been a terrific experience. we did apply for a project next year - it's elaborating on this project.
we do have an outdoor venue planned for next summer, so we want to take the greenhouse experiment and move it outside. it's exciting to think that we could facilitate and cultivate healthier ecosystems tomorrow. there's optimism, which is great.