Student creates sustainable seating area – De Flor-Ala

Katie Saxon, chief sustainability officer at the University of North Alabama, is creating a seating area behind the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building as her Capstone Project.

Saxon has been passionate about sustainability since he was fifteen. She learned about the zero waste lifestyle through an article and was interested in learning more, and has been fascinated by more sustainable living ever since.

Saxon originally studied environmental biology, but he took classes from Dr. Gregory Buckley, associate professor of earth sciences, which addressed the topic of zero waste.

“After years of trying to be zero waste, I realized that this is actually not feasible unless you have a lot of money,” says Saxon. “To avoid plastic, everything becomes more expensive. I discussed this with Dr. Buckley talking. I told him that zero waste is not feasible, and he was very excited that I had come to challenge that part of the class.”

From that conversation with Buckley, Saxon learned that UNA offers a sustainability major, so she changed her major.

This year is Saxon’s final Capstone year, meaning she must present a project within the scope of her major. Saxon decided to create an area behind the Science and Technology Building that is filled with native plants and provides a habitat for local wildlife.

“I always want to make a difference, a physical difference, so I tried to figure out what could help me do that,” Saxon said. “Native plants have been very popular on TikTok lately and I wanted to help show people that it is possible to have a beautiful landscape with native plants.”

Saxon’s focus on native plants stems from the harm non-native plants can have on native species. Typically, non-native landscaping is invasive or does not support local wildlife.

Before starting the project, Saxon sought advice from Buckley, who liked the idea of ​​the project and encouraged her to implement it.

“It’s her baby,” Buckley said. “She came up with the idea, and her background as a master gardener, her interest in native plants and her desire to make a difference on campus really lent itself to everything she made of this project. I’m here to help facilitate the things she needs.”

From there, Saxon had to get permission to use the area, and she also had to secure financing for the project. She selected plants from a local nursery, specifically choosing those that are native to the area and thrive in local weather conditions. Having native plants also ensures Saxon that there will be plenty of opportunities for local wildlife to explore new habitats.

“This will provide habitat for many native creatures,” Saxon said. “There are many butterflies and other insects that specifically depend on certain plants, so I want to offer those plants in this landscape that those insects can benefit from. I planted blueberry bushes so students can stop by for snacks. The native honeysuckle is also very important for hummingbirds. The day I came out here to plant them, before I even put it in the ground, a hummingbird came up to it, so that proves to me that it has already been helpful for the hummingbirds.”

Maintenance workers helped Saxon dig some holes for her chosen plants, and she was helped by her husband to plant the plants. In addition to the plants, she also installed a picnic table for students, faculty and staff to use. In the near future, she plans to install trellises for some plants to climb, as well as birdhouses and a birdbath.

“There have been studies showing that when people have access to green spaces, our mental well-being is better,” Saxon said. “That is my intention: to create a beautiful place again in the Science and Technology Building where people can sit and hang out. Really, we have a few benches, and in the spring and summer the bushes next to them do bloom, but I wanted a different spot, and honestly, I wanted a picnic table. I love being able to eat outside.”

Saxon hopes the area can be used by many in the Science and Technology Building, as well as by classes wanting to study the species present in the newly formed habitat. Buckley shares the same desires, and he also hopes to see other parts of campus transformed into green spaces the way Saxon is working to transform them.

Saxon has faced challenges in its project that have slowed progress. The ground in her chosen location is hard and filled with gravel, making it difficult to dig holes for plants. While digging the holes, Saxon even hurt her back due to the difficulty of the ground. In addition, shortly after planting some of her plants, severe storms swept through the area, potentially damaging some plants. Despite these difficulties, Saxon plans to plant more plants to replace those damaged, demonstrating her ability to meet the challenges of a project like this.

“A sustainability challenge is reclaiming these spaces that change the environment,” says Buckley. “She was able to do all that with very little guidance from me. I like to see that students are so passionate about what they do.”

When she finishes her project, Saxon will create a presentation that she will present to the committee on May 2. The committee then heads outside to see the physical results of their hard work.

Saxon’s experience has helped her gain confidence in her ability to educate others about sustainability, which she hopes to do in her future career.