Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.78
Liaison Amber Saxton
Submission Date Sept. 9, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

George Mason University
IN-3: Innovation 3

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Danielle Wyman
Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
Office of Sustainability
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Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Innovation Food Forest

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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
The Innovation Food Forest (IFF) emerged as a result of Mason’s first Permaculture Design Certification course. One of the attendees was so inspired by the material she learned during the course, that she designed and installed Mason’s first-ever food forest. Not only is the IFF the first of its kind for campus, it is the first of its kind for the region.

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A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
The IFF is filled with over 100 perennial, food-producing plants like figs, plums, pears, peaches, blueberries, elderberries, persimmons, pomegranates, and many more. The IFF provides a very unique opportunity to members of the campus and local community to interact with nature as they pass by- and grab a snack for free while they’re moving through the IFF’s beautiful, winding path. Additionally, numerous volunteers and student service learners have been donated hundreds of hours of their own time to ensure the IFF’s success.

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A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
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Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
Yes or No
Curriculum No
Research No
Campus Engagement Yes
Public Engagement Yes
Air & Climate No
Buildings No
Dining Services No
Energy No
Grounds Yes
Purchasing No
Transportation No
Waste No
Water Yes
Coordination, Planning & Governance No
Diversity & Affordability No
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment No

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Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data is for FY14

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