The Longhorn Project receives a ‘Gold Merit’ for its irrigation system
2017-10-24
The Longhorn Project (LHP), also known as the Center for Agriculture, Science and Engineering, was founded in 1996 by then Johnson Space Center Director George Abbey. Located at Johnson next to Rocket Park, the LHP comprises a 53-acre tract of land, which consists of a 35-acre pasture for grazing, an 11-acre feedlot and seven-acre garden area with a greenhouse, orchards, composting and a paved patio with a waterfall and pond that is stocked with small fish.
Longhorns graze with a view of Space Center Houston, Johnson Space Center's visitor center, in the background.
A new and welcome addition to the garden area is an irrigation system compliments of Girl Scout Gold Award candidate Gabrielle LaRochelle, who is also a junior at Clear Horizons Early College High School, a member of Robonauts Team 118 and a member of the LHP Garden, Agriculture, Sustainability and Arts (GASA) Club.
Thanks to the Trees for Houston Executive Director Barry Ward, volunteers planted 12 fruit trees in the garden. Helpers came from the Clear Horizon High School Peer Assistance and Leadership Club, GASA and the City of Webster Police Department. Also involved were Johnson team members and mentors Michael Sanchez and Katie Nguyen, as well as LHP Project Manager Henry Wilson and LHP Board Chairman Andrea Wilson. After manually watering the trees for two hours once a week along with her fellow GASA Club members, Gabrielle was inspired to do her Gold Award project at the LHP because it met the requirement of solving a problem that would have sustaining benefit within the community.
Gabrielle, under the guidance of Johnson engineer and GASA mentor Jacque Myrann, designed the irrigation system. In order to do so, she calculated the quantity and cost of supplies required for the project and held a fundraiser to obtain the funds to purchase the supplies. Prior to implementation, Wilson submitted the proposal and design to Johnson for approval. After getting the green light to proceed, Gabrielle was responsible for shopping, coordinating the delivery of the supplies, developing and overseeing the execution plan and managing a workforce of volunteers. She elicited the help of her father and Johnson team member, Joseph LaRochelle, as well Sanchez and the GASA team members. During the course of a few days, the team installed 100 feet of main water line (using PVC pipe) with a control valve on a timed system; 140 feet of branch lines to the 16 trees; an additional 400 feet of water-conserving drip irrigation with future landscaping in mind; and a second 40-foot main water line to accommodate further expansion of the irrigation system.
While Gabrielle doubted herself at times, she felt privileged for having the opportunity to complete the irrigation system at Johnson under the guidance and support her mentors. Gabrielle selected the LHP garden as the site for her Gold Award project in hopes that others will be inspired to contribute in a similar way.
Thanks to her foresight and hard work, Gabrielle did end up receiving the Gold Award after the project's completion.
The Longhorn Project, a nonprofit organization, is a one-of-a-kind hands-on educational program created as a joint venture with Johnson, the Houston Livestock and Rodeo, Clear Creek Independent School District and Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America. For more information, please visit thelonghornproject.com.
Longhorns graze with a view of Space Center Houston, Johnson Space Center's visitor center, in the background.
A new and welcome addition to the garden area is an irrigation system compliments of Girl Scout Gold Award candidate Gabrielle LaRochelle, who is also a junior at Clear Horizons Early College High School, a member of Robonauts Team 118 and a member of the LHP Garden, Agriculture, Sustainability and Arts (GASA) Club.
Thanks to the Trees for Houston Executive Director Barry Ward, volunteers planted 12 fruit trees in the garden. Helpers came from the Clear Horizon High School Peer Assistance and Leadership Club, GASA and the City of Webster Police Department. Also involved were Johnson team members and mentors Michael Sanchez and Katie Nguyen, as well as LHP Project Manager Henry Wilson and LHP Board Chairman Andrea Wilson. After manually watering the trees for two hours once a week along with her fellow GASA Club members, Gabrielle was inspired to do her Gold Award project at the LHP because it met the requirement of solving a problem that would have sustaining benefit within the community.
Gabrielle, under the guidance of Johnson engineer and GASA mentor Jacque Myrann, designed the irrigation system. In order to do so, she calculated the quantity and cost of supplies required for the project and held a fundraiser to obtain the funds to purchase the supplies. Prior to implementation, Wilson submitted the proposal and design to Johnson for approval. After getting the green light to proceed, Gabrielle was responsible for shopping, coordinating the delivery of the supplies, developing and overseeing the execution plan and managing a workforce of volunteers. She elicited the help of her father and Johnson team member, Joseph LaRochelle, as well Sanchez and the GASA team members. During the course of a few days, the team installed 100 feet of main water line (using PVC pipe) with a control valve on a timed system; 140 feet of branch lines to the 16 trees; an additional 400 feet of water-conserving drip irrigation with future landscaping in mind; and a second 40-foot main water line to accommodate further expansion of the irrigation system.
While Gabrielle doubted herself at times, she felt privileged for having the opportunity to complete the irrigation system at Johnson under the guidance and support her mentors. Gabrielle selected the LHP garden as the site for her Gold Award project in hopes that others will be inspired to contribute in a similar way.
Thanks to her foresight and hard work, Gabrielle did end up receiving the Gold Award after the project's completion.
The Longhorn Project, a nonprofit organization, is a one-of-a-kind hands-on educational program created as a joint venture with Johnson, the Houston Livestock and Rodeo, Clear Creek Independent School District and Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America. For more information, please visit thelonghornproject.com.
Stacy Shutts
NASA Johnson Space Center
GASA students install the PVC pipe that will supply water to drip irrigation for fruit trees at the Longhorn Project.
Volunteers beam after a full day of hard work at the Longhorn Project pavilion.
A curious Longhorn evaluates the progress of a new irrigation system.