Construction work for SAWA started!

Construction work at SAWA has started!
There has been plenty of activity at the site since this week, as the construction site is being laid out and ground work has started.

Big bags filled for brown roof

First, the top layer of soil was excavated to make room for the foundation. This soil is not simply disposed of; ten bigbags were filled to the brim at the construction site. This soil will be temporarily stored and reused for SAWA's brown roof.

The soil on which SAWA is being built is full of seeds from plants that were already there or spontaneously arrived. By preserving the top few inches of soil from the construction site, the seeds already in the soil are spared. The soil is then mixed with recycled gravel and placed back on the roof of SAWA's low-rise building, allowing the native plants to grow there. With this brown roof, SAWA is contributing to an environment that will become attractive to more species of insects and birds. And so the black redstart, a frequently spotted guest in the Lloyd Quarter, can continue to get its favorite snacks at SAWA.

Photo black redstart: ©Barky, Early Birds