Under the leadership of island landscaper Emily Aring, a volunteer crew  transformed the library landscape with new soil, new plants, and new vitality on Sept. 29. The deer-, drought- and wind-resistant plants not only beautify the library for the occasion of its 20th anniversary at the Rose Street location, but also serve as models for the challenging conditions island gardeners face.

During the morning session, volunteers learned landscape design principles from Aring and were riveted by islander Rolf Erickson’s story of “humanure.” Erickson has pioneered the transformation of Orcas septage into safe soil, eliminating the labor and expense of transporting the contents of septic tanks 400 miles across the mountains to a treatment plant in Kittitas.  Volunteers Phil Heikennen, Margaret Payne, Pierrette Guimond, Joan Pedrick, Ladd Lindholm, Anita Holliday, David Hughes and Michelle Barach pulled on their gardening gloves and headed outside to execute Aring’s design.

Funds for the project were donated by The Friends of the Library.  Erickson donated 10 yards of “humanure,” and Ray Brogi hauled it for free.  Charlie Nigretto donated 10 yards of his  compost.