UVM GREENHOUSE FACILITIES
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UVM GREENHOUSE POLICY
Greenhouse
Director's Responsibilities and Authority
1.
The
greenhouse director (also called greenhouse manager in this document)
has full responsibility and authority for general operations
of the greenhouse.
Responsibilities
include:
- plant cultivation for research and teaching
programs
- student instruction
- implementation of Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) systems
- record keeping for pesticide use (State of
- monitoring and maintenance of the physical
structure and internal systems and equipment.
- operating and troubleshooting the
computerized QCOM climate control system.
- budget management and development of
projected expenditures.
- outreach to the University community and
general public.
2.
The
Greenhouse Director's immediate supervisor is the Associate Dean
in the College of Agriculture and Life Science (CALS) . The greenhouse
manager meets with two committees,
the CALS Research and Teaching Facilities Board and the Faculty
Greenhouse
Advisory Committee.
The CALS
Research and Teaching Facilities Committee is responsible for the
management of the Horticultural and
The Faculty
Greenhouse Advisory Committee is composed of faculty members who use the
greenhouse for research, education and extension programs. Members represent
the
A faculty
member, who represents greenhouse users, is selected from this committee to
become a member of the CALS Research and Teaching Facilities Board.
Policy
statements are formulated by the Faculty Greenhouse Advisory Committee and
verified by the CALS Research and Facilities Board.
3. The
greenhouse manager supervises the greenhouse research technicians, holiday staff,
college workstudy students and volunteers.
Use
of the University Greenhouse
Occasionally,
the greenhouse is used to its full capacity. Space will be allocated before the
beginning of each semester using the following order for priority. 'Sponsored'
is defined as a project which is funded through the University budget system.
All projects using greenhouse space must pay for the space they occupy.
FIRST
PRIORITY
Instruction: Listed
undergraduate and graduate courses offered regularly in the Division of
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension.
SECOND
PRIORITY
Instruction: Courses
not regularly offered by the Division of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension.
Research
and Extension: Non-sponsored projects within the Division of Agriculture,
Natural Resources
THIRD
PRIORITY
Instruction: Listed
courses outside the Division of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension.
Greenhouse
Use Requests Forms
1. Faculty
members, who need greenhouse space, must return a Greenhouse Bench Space
Request Form before the beginning of each research project or course. Annual
planning forms will be sent to current and prospective greenhouse users
November 1st of each year for the following calendar year. Information pertaining to budget numbers,
bench space needed, time-frame, type of research, number of faculty, staff or
students participating in the project/course, materials, and specific horticultural
care are included on the form.
2. A
separate environmental risk form requesting information concerning toxic or
biohazardous materials must accompany each bench space request form.
3. Faculty
members are requested to update both forms before August 1st for fall semester;
Nov. 1st for spring semester; April 1st for summer semester.
4. Faculty
members must use the same form(s) for undergraduate or graduate student
projects.
Fee
Structures
The
greenhouse operations budget is an income/expense, 3 - ledger budget. The
largest proportion of income for this budget is derived from assessed
greenhouse space fees. Smaller revenues are generated from providing
horticultural supplies for research projects. The financial year is July 1st
thru June 30th.
1. Faculty
members from College of Agriculture and Life Science who are using the
greenhouse for research projects have their greenhouse fee paid through an
approved Hatch budget or funded research project.
2.
Expenses for regular department courses will be paid through a CALS college
greenhouse fund.
Special
projects must be approved for funding by the greenhouse fund prior to
inception.
3. Faculty
who are outside of CALS have their space fee drawn from their individual
research or course
4.
Extension faculty who are using the greenhouse for demonstration have their
space fee drawn from
Services
provided for greenhouse users
1. Environmental
control: The UVM greenhouses have been designed to offer a range of
temperatures throughout the year. Target temperatures can be set above 35° during the
winter season and above 65° (daytime) during the summer season. Users can designate a
daytime, nighttime, second daytime and nighttime target temperature range.
Humidification and dehumidification are available with some exceptions.
A high and
low temperature alarm limit is designated for each compartment. In the case
that a temperature alarm limit is reached, the greenhouse manager, assistant
greenhouse manager, Stafford Bldg. physical plant manager and service
operations are notified by phone and computer monitor. This service is
available 24 hours a day. Response time is within 2 hours usually.
2. Horticultural
care: Upon request and when possible, the greenhouse staff will provide
basic horticultural care for plant material grown for a research project or
instruction. Faculty are required to provide
written instructions on the 'Bench Space Request Form' to insure proper care.
Researchers
must provide two sets of written instructions for any special required
treatments for plant material. In addition, it is required that a placard with
special instructions be placed near research benches.
Basic
horticultural care entails:
- Daily watering, both morning and early
afternoon.
- Plant fertilization with soluble general
purpose 20-10-20 (150 ppm nitrogen) and a micro-nutrients, S.T.E.M. as needed
or designated.
- Integrated pest management: Weekly
scouting, cultural, biological, and chemical treatments for insect and disease
problems.
New plant
material for instruction
Faculty
who request new plant material for laboratory sessions will give the greenhouse
manager a written set of instructions six weeks before the semester. Early
notice insures that desired seeds, seedlings or plants will be available when
needed. Instructions should include ordering dates, sowing dates, number of
plants needed, soil mix requested, container size and quantity.
Plants-on-loan
for instruction
Before one
or more plants can be removed from the greenhouse for instruction, the
greenhouse manager or assistant manager will be notified by note or phone
message. A record of plants-on-loan will include:
- course number
- name and phone number of person responsible
for borrowed plant(s).
- name of plants
- date borrowed
- date returned
There are
occasions when plants from UVM's collection are needed for laboratory work. In
order to reserve plants, particularly if a precise stage is needed (ie. open
flower blooms), a written request is required. When possible, notify the
greenhouse manager at the beginning of the semester. Otherwise six weeks notice
is required.
In case of
unfortunate plant loss or death while on loan, the department assuming
responsibility for the plants will incur costs associated with plant
replacement.
Plants may
not be taken from the greenhouse without prior notification.
Services
not provided for greenhouse users:
Research
teams are responsible for set-up, break-down and regular weekly inspections of
their projects. Break-down includes discarding, composting or autoclaving plant
material. Research teams are responsible for washing and disinfecting pots,
trays, troughs and slants. Materials must be cleaned within one month of
project completion.
Research
teams are responsible for leaving the greenhouse as they found it. All
mechanical equipment should be operating. Benches should be returned to their
original configuration. Benches and floor area should be free of plant debris.
Any damage will be repaired at the expense of the PI whose team left the
problem.
Both the
headhouse and greenhouse compartments should be cleaned after class laboratory
sessions. Benches, counter-tops and
floor areas should be swept. Greenhouse staff will disinfect these areas.
Materials
provided for greenhouse users
1. CALS
Instruction: Soil media, pots, disposable containers, trays and labels are
available for courses offered through CALS. Special supplies or equipment
needed for teaching will not be provided by the greenhouse.
2. Pesticides:
Routine pesticide applications will be the greenhouse manager's and assistant
manager's responsibility. Extra-ordinary or staff needs (such as using special
techniques) pesticide applications (one product used more than once a week)
will be the responsibility of the teaching or research budgets.
3. Tools:
Basic greenhouse tools (pruners, knives, hammers, timers etc.) may be borrowed
for short periods of time. Returned tools should be clean, disinfected and in
good working order. Replacing broken equipment will be the responsibility of
the user.
Materials
not provided for greenhouse users
1. NON-CALS
instruction: College instruction budgets will be invoiced for materials.
2. Research
Projects: Research budgets are responsible for all horticultural supplies
including media, pots, trays, hydroponic equipment, labels, and stakes.
- Small
scale research: Pilot research projects using very small amounts of material
may have material cost waived.
3.
Artificial lighting: The greenhouse cannot supply artificial lighting for
research programs. High pressure sodium or metal halide lamps that are
currently being used in greenhouse compartments belong to discreet research
programs.
Whenever
possible, compartments with artificial lighting will be locked to prevent
problems with theft. When compartments cannot be locked, the individual
lighting units should be chained and locked for protection.
The west
bay compartments 7 through 11 have been designated as areas for extended
daylength or other photoperiod or light interruption-type manipulations. The
east bay compartments have been designated as areas for natural light. If at
anytime, the light regime in one compartment conflicts with the surrounding
compartments, the research team(s) or teaching faculty will be responsible for
blocking out the compartment to eliminate interference with adjacent research
or instruction programs.
4.
Personal use of the greenhouse, media or pots is not permitted.
Plants-on-loan
for UVM's community
Requests
for decorative plants-on-loan for special events or university functions on
UVM's campus can be fulfilled at the greenhouse manager's discretion.
The
department or unit borrowing decorative plants are responsible for setting up
an appointment with the greenhouse manager to select plants. The 'borrower' is
responsible for plant(s) pick-up and return as well as plant care throughout
the loan period and environment protection (wind, frost, etc.)
In case of
unfortunate plant loss, the department or unit borrowing the plant(s) will
incur any cost associated with plant replacement.
Security
1. The
greenhouse and headhouse are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to use the facility during these
hours. The greenhouse is open to the public during these hours. During 'off
hours,' the north and south entrances to the greenhouse are locked.
2.
Faculty, staff and students who must use the greenhouse during off hours must
notify the greenhouse manager and campus security. Please inform the manager
about the duration of off hours attendance.
3.
Replacing lost keys will be the responsibility of the user or will be done by
the manager at a cost of $10.00 per key to the individual’s budget.
4. If keys
are lost, please report their loss to the greenhouse manager immediately.
5. Locked
compartments should remained locked.
6. Any
suspicious activity should be reported to the greenhouse manager or campus
security.
Worker
Protection Standards
UVM
employees who work in the greenhouse as faculty, staff or student must complete
the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
training with fifteen working days from the starting date of employment. After
completing the training, each employee will receive a verbal and written review
of the greenhouse's WPS procedure.
Pesticide
Applicator's Training
We
strongly suggest and encourage individuals who work in the greenhouse to
complete the Vermont Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Applicator's
Training (PAT) which would include the core, ornamental (category 3A) and
research and demonstration (category 10) exams. Both the greenhouse manager and
assistant manager are required to be certified through VT Dept. of Ag. PAT program.
Pesticides
1. To
sustain certification in the PAT program, an annual record of pesticide
applications is submitted to the VT Dept. of Agriculture. Pesticide records are
kept on weekly WPS pesticide treatment sheets and a separate log for amounts of
material used. Both the greenhouse manager and assistant manager are
responsible for submitting these records.
2. UVM's
Chemical Safety Coordinator receives an annual record of pesticides stored at
the greenhouse. Name of material, manufacturer, EPA registration number, and
volume of material is submitted. The annual record of chemical materials is
posted on the door.
3. All
pesticides are stored in the pesticide room within the headhouse. The
greenhouse manager and assistant manager have a key to this room. Pesticides
may not be stored outside of the room or stored in containers without the
manufacturer's label.
4. Before
a pesticide is sprayed or released in a greenhouse compartment, the name of the
pesticide, active ingredient, EPA registration number, date, time of
application and restricted entry interval (REI) is posted on the central
information board. At the time of application, the compartment door is locked
and a warning sign is posted on the door. The pesticide sign remains on the
door until the REI time has expired.
5.
Pesticide application in the nursery area must conform to UVM's agreement with
the city of
Crop
Protection and
1. No
smoking is permitted in the greenhouse or headhouse.
2. All new
plant material entering the greenhouse must be inspected for insect and
pathogen problems. When space is available, compartment five or seven will
become a quarantine room. New plants will be held for observation for two
weeks.
Plant
material may be denied entry into the greenhouse if found to be infested with
insects or pathogens. It will be the principle investigator or instructor's
responsibility to eliminate pest/pathogen problems prior to entry.
3.
Herbicide application in the nursery will conform to UVM's agreement with the
city of
4. Only
WPS trained personnel with the appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE)
will be allowed entry into a pesticide treated area before the (REI) has
lapsed.
5. All
pesticide containers will be disposed through UVM's Environmental Safety
Facility.
QCOM
- Computer System
1. Any
requests for changes in the computer program must be made to the manager. Only
the manager authorizes access to the QCOM electronic and control systems. NO
CHANGES may be made without prior permission from the manager.
2. In case
of an emergency with QCOM, the greenhouse manager and assistant manager, the Stafford
Bldg. physical plant manager, and service operations must be notified.
Guided
tours are available to schools and community organizations at the Manager's
discretion. There is no fee for a tour.
Failure to
follow any part of the greenhouse policy will result in permanent loss of
greenhouse privileges.
Last modified February 24 2009 11:22 PM