Back to our Agricultural Roots: Pasture Management, Visitor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Back to our Agricultural Roots:

Pasture Management, Visitor Engagement, and Local Partnership at the Clark

Sofia Roitman, Nigel Bates, Chris Stefanik, & Sophia Schmidt

George Inness, “A Pastoral,” c. 1882-85.

Clark, Cows, and Community

Project Goals

• Control invasives
• Solidify partnership with Haley Farm
• Engage visitors with outdoor campus

http://www.iberkshires. com/ckfinder/userfiles/images/1400768663.jpg

Regional Context

• Agricultural history
• Merino sheep (pre-1900s)
• Dairy
• Small-scale agriculture

Haley Farm

Site History

• Cow grazing
• Haley Farm
• Rich Haley and Carl Sweet
• Many invasives
• Walking/hiking trails throughout the

campus

• New opportunities for outdoor

education

INVASIVE MANAGEMENT

Background

• Invasive Biology
• Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
• Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
• Impair pasture health, impede grazing
• Current mowing schedule: July, September/October
• Fails to target roots

Japanese Barberry Multiflora Rose

Potential Management Strategies

• Fire
• Foliar herbicides
• Goat grazing

Eradication is probably impossible. Management is the goal.

Potential Management Strategies

• Fire
• Foliar herbicides
• Goat grazing

http://sar-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/NEW01072010FIRE5.jpg

Potential Management Strategies

Fire

• Burn plan > Burn approval > Burn
• Cost dependent on many variables
• Approved plan good for ~10 yrs.

http://sar-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/NEW01072010FIRE5.jpg

Potential Management Strategies

• Fire
• Foliar herbicides
• Goat grazing

http://pimg.tradeindia.com/00878113/b/1/Pesticide-Sprayer.jpg

Potential Management Strategies

Foliar herbicides

• Glyphosate
• Broadleaf, pre-emergent,

granular herbicide

• Relatively inexpensive method

http://pimg.tradeindia.com/00878113/b/1/Pesticide-Sprayer.jpg

Potential Management Strategies

• Fire
• Foliar herbicides
• Goat grazing

https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/picture-3.png? w=255&h=255

Potential Management Strategies

Goat grazing

• Options:
• Rental
• Short-term purchase/resale
• “Goat share” with Pine Cobble School
• Main concern: Predation
• Fencing
• Guard dogs

https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/picture-3.png? w=255&h=255

Integrated Management Strategies

http://www.varmintsforfun.com/mikes%20jd%20014.jpg

Treatment Relative Effectiveness Relative Cost Prescribed burn + Mowing Low Low Prescribed burn + Herbicide Medium Low Mowing + Herbicide Medium Medium Herbicide + Herbicide High High

http://www.ct. gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/special_bulletins/special_bulletin_feb_2013_ward. pdf

Reseeding!

HALEY FARM AND THE CLARK

Background

• 16 cows grazing on the pasture (20

total)

• Allowed to come and go
• Pattern of movement
• If invasives gone, can keep more cows
• Water source: Haley Farm

Challenges

• Cows getting loose
• Grazing areas overgrown
• Water access
• Financial costs

http://vmbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/cow1.png

Points to Consider

• Liability
• Compensation
• Future possibilities

VISITOR ENGAGEMENT & TEACHING STEWARDSHIP

Clark Visitor Survey

• 42 Clark visitors surveyed
• Sunday (11/15) and Tuesday

(11/17) afternoons

• Attitudes, behaviors,

demographics

http://curbed.com/archives/2015/09/08/clark-art-institute-review-alexandra-lange.php

Survey Results

Survey Results

Stone Hill in one word...

Case Studies

• Old Sturbridge Village
• Hancock Shaker Village
• Shelburne Farms

Hancock Shaker Village

Landscape Additions: Pollinator Meadow

• Interpretive signage
• Bee boxes
• Honey
• Williams Beekeeping Club

https://nativebeeology.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/dsc_0026.jpg

Landscape Additions: Teaching Garden

• Accessibility
• Interpretive signage
• Hands-on learning
• Selling seeds
• Williams Sustainable Growers

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hobart/liberty-elementary-to-host- teaching-garden-harvest-day/

Demonstration Dairy Operation

• Small scale
• Partnership with Greylock Mill?
• Sell products at Clark
• Involve visitors
• Calf barn
• Milking

http://mnlocavore.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P708553.jpg/

Potential milking barn location Potential new path Pollinator meadow Teaching garden

Visitor Engagement:

Programming & Communications

• Media/Communications
• Interpretive signage
• Children’s activities
• Partnership with WRLF

http://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@minnesota/documents/media/kids-hiking-490x250.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LwMgQJwUmIs/T4hh5JZkMsI/AAAAAAAACIc/BhELNDbOfK8/s1600/P1050279. JPG

Final Proposal

Step 1: Revitalize pasture Step 2: Strengthen farmer partnership Step 3: Enhance visitor engagement

Thank you!

Sarah Gardner Matt Noyes Rich Haley Carl Sweet Hank Art Drew Jones Jay Racela Francis Oakley Leslie Reed-Evans Cindy Dickinson Morgan Hartman Roger Bolton

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

References

http://www.shelburnefarms.org/our-work/for-adults http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Berberis_thunbergii.htm http://www.nyis.info/index.php?action=invasive_detail&id=33 Boyd, Kidwell. “Mob Grazing.” Angus Beef Bulletin (28-19): March, 2010. http://www.angusbeefbulletin.com/ArticlePDF/MobGrazing%2003_10%20ABB.pdf Gordon, Kindra. “Mastering Mob Grazing.” ANGUSJournal: August 2010. Gordon, Kindra. “Mob Grazing 101.” http://hereford.org/static/files/0111_MobGrazing.pdf McIver, David. “Intensive Grazing.” The New Farm: May/June 1991. http://www.mcivershappyacres.net/intensive_grazing.html http://www.sheepscreek.com/rural/pasture.html http://www.okfarmersandranchers.org/news/mob-grazing-cattle http://www.mofga.org/Publications/MaineOrganicFarmerGardener/Summer2006/RevitalizingOldFieldsforPastureandHay/tabid/484/Default.aspx http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2726.pdf http://www.williamstown.net/2213/Forest-Fire-Warden