(May 25, 2017) Eight Salisbury University students from Dr. Sarah Surak’s senior seminar class created a pollinator garden at the Town of Berlin spray irrigation facility on Purnell Crossing last Wednesday.
Students from the class have been working on conservation projects throughout the town since February, including developing reusable shopping bags and creating a certification program for businesses that use sustainable practices.
Stephen Wrzosek, a spokesman for his group, said the two 100-foot pollinator gardens would essentially create a habitat for bees where they can pick up additional pollen.
“This site is isolated from the normal population and this area receives a lot of nutrients because it is a spray site for the Berlin wastewater treatment plant,” he said.
The facility uses treated wastewater to irrigate a forested area, which can then be harvested for other uses.
“This is part of our capstone project [at Salisbury University],” Wrzosek said. “We’re with the ecology group, so at the beginning of the semester we started trying to find a way to better the ecology of Berlin and surrounding towns. This is helping out with the pollinator population.”
Wrzosek said the students have had an enjoyable time working with Town of Berlin staff.
His group worked closely with Water Resources/Public Works Director Jane Kreiter.
“She’s been extremely helpful along every step of the way, and we recently had a very good town [council] meeting on May 8,” he said. “They’ve all been very helpful and supportive as we’ve been working through this.”
After college, Wrzosek said he would be looking for work in the Maryland State Parks system or the Department of Natural Resources. He is majoring in environmental studies.
Kreiter, on Monday, said she was pleased with the results.
Students from the class have been working on conservation projects throughout the town since February, including developing reusable shopping bags and creating a certification program for businesses that use sustainable practices.
Stephen Wrzosek, a spokesman for his group, said the two 100-foot pollinator gardens would essentially create a habitat for bees where they can pick up additional pollen.
“This site is isolated from the normal population and this area receives a lot of nutrients because it is a spray site for the Berlin wastewater treatment plant,” he said.
The facility uses treated wastewater to irrigate a forested area, which can then be harvested for other uses.
“This is part of our capstone project [at Salisbury University],” Wrzosek said. “We’re with the ecology group, so at the beginning of the semester we started trying to find a way to better the ecology of Berlin and surrounding towns. This is helping out with the pollinator population.”
Wrzosek said the students have had an enjoyable time working with Town of Berlin staff.
His group worked closely with Water Resources/Public Works Director Jane Kreiter.
“She’s been extremely helpful along every step of the way, and we recently had a very good town [council] meeting on May 8,” he said. “They’ve all been very helpful and supportive as we’ve been working through this.”
After college, Wrzosek said he would be looking for work in the Maryland State Parks system or the Department of Natural Resources. He is majoring in environmental studies.
Kreiter, on Monday, said she was pleased with the results.