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.jpghttp://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 NoyesRich HaleyCarl Sweet

Hank ArtDrew JonesJay Racela

Francis OakleyLeslie Reed-EvansCindy DickinsonMorgan Hartman

Roger Bolton

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Referenceshttp://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.htmlhttp://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