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

Clark, Cows, and Community George Inness, “A Pastoral,” c. 1882-85.

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 Treatment Relative Relative Effectiveness Cost Prescribed burn + Low Low Mowing Prescribed burn + Medium Low Herbicide Mowing + Herbicide Medium Medium Reseeding! Herbicide + Herbicide High High http://www.ct. gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/special_bulletins/special_bulletin_feb_2013_ward. http://www.varmintsforfun.com/mikes%20jd%20014.jpg pdf

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