Benjamin Farm (2 of 3) - Design Proposal

Design Proposal Benjamin Farm - for people, for wildlife... forever

Project Summary: To develop a cost-neutral model for ecologically-driven habitat management of conservation land through the promotion of local commercial animal husbandry.

Objectives: - Invasive Plant Control - Maintain New England Cottontail Habitat - Create Conditions for Profitable Farming - Develop Public Value on the Land

Plan and Design by: Alex Hoxsie Advisors: Professors Mary Myers and Joe Berg Temple University Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture

Table of Contents Project Model

B2

Overview of Cover Types

B3

Invasive Species and their Management

B4

New England Cottontail

B5

Livestock-Driven Solution

B6

Lease-Driven Solution

B7

Experiential Concept 1: Wetland Focus

B8

Experiential Concept 2: Agriculture Focus

B9

Proposed Cover and Circulation Plan

B10

Proposed Site Plan

B12

Detail 1: Main Entrance, CSA, and Event Space

B14

Detail 2: Commercial Farm Complex

B16

Project Model Benjamin Farm follows a triple bottom line model, where the design and site programming aim to satisfy certain environmental, economic, and social goals. The overlap of these three areas represents a comprehensive planning and design solution with the potential to meet all of the various project goals.

In this scheme for Benjamin Farm, it is proposed that commercial animal husbandry, specifically raising goats and sheep, benefits all of the stakeholders involved and helps meet the project goals.

Livestock Solutions

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ronment Envi

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Society

Society

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Browsing by goats has been shown to be successful in controlling invasive plant species in the Northeast. It can also be used to slow the growth of young woody vegetation, preserving early successional habitat that is increasingly rare as a result of human development.

Environment

omy Econ

Providing land for raising livestock creates an economic opportunity for a profitable farm startup in the face of ever rising property values. Using livestock for landscape management represents the avoided cost of traditional land management techniques for SLT.

Economy

Providing opportunities for local farmers preserves Scarborough’s heritage as a farming community and provides an opportunity for agricultural education.

The use of livestock to manage the landscape will improve birding and other wildlife viewing.

Community:

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nomy Eco

Farmer:

Society

SLT:

ironment Env

Stakeholders

The development of a mutually beneficial contract between SLT and the prospective farmer creates incentive for the various stakeholders based on the triple bottom line model that this proposal employs.

Created through Lease Agreement

Created through Lease Agreement

Meadow: Wildlife:

Management Technique:

Scale:

Wetland: Wildlife:

Management Technique:

Scale:

Forest: Wildlife:

Management Technique:

Scale:

Page B3

Invasive Species and their Management Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) Minor Few individuals near existing farmhouse

www.iastate.edu

www.vt.edu

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) Moderate Clusters along forest edge areas

Alex Hoxsie

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Moderate Clusters along forest edge areas and climbing 8-10’ on tree trunks

www.missouri.edu

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) Clusters in abandoned pasture areas, along forest edges, and along existing fence lines

Moderate

www.newmainetimes.org

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Moderate Scattered patches within the abandoned pasture and wetland areas

Alex Hoxsie

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) Individuals and clusters scattered through abandoned pasture, fence lines, and forest edges

Major

Alex Hoxsie

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) Clusters along vforest edge areas

Major

wenonahenvironmentalcommission

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Scattered throughout abandoned pasture areas Alex Hoxsie

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Major

New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) Overview The only native cottontail rabbit in New England, the New England Cottontail (NEC), is the target of conservation actions in Maine that hope to restore habitat for this state-listed species.

Habitat Loss NEC once ranged throughout southern New England and eastern New York. Today, habitat loss due to human development and suppression of natural disturbances has restricted the species to five unconnected subpopulations covering only 14% of their historic range. In Maine, only an estimated 250-400 individuals persist.

Historic Range Extant Populations

Habitat Requirements NEC thrive in thickets - shrubby, early successional habitats - where they can safely browse on herbaceous plant material, as well as the foliage, stems, buds, and bark from woody shrubs. Examples of this habitat type that can easily be managed for on Benjamin Farm are old fields and shrub swamps. Specific habitat requirements include: ≥20-25 Acres Habitat fragmentation is the major threat to the species. Smaller patches have much higher winter mortality rates and cannot support the varied gene pool sustainable NEC populations.

NEC is very similar in appearance to the more common Eastern Cottontail, which was introduced in the 1800s

20,000 stems/acre - or 46 stems per 10’ X 10’ area - This density of woody stems includes only plants that are ≥20” tall and ≤3” in diameter (See page C8).

Invasive Species Although many native species found on the site Control create the type of habitat that NEC prefer, they tend to do so at the expense of native species that provide a higher quality food source.

Potential Partners and Outside Funding Sources:

Page B5

Livestock-Driven Solution Overview

Selective, or targeted, grazing by livestock is gaining popularity as a land management strategy. This proposal considers utilizing a combination of sheep and goats to help fulfill its ecological and economic goals.

Environment Improves Habitat Sheep and goat droppings are small and widely scattered, fertilizing the landscape.

Browsing by goats improves thicket habitat by increasing stem density and slowing succession.

Grazing by sheep increases native plant diversity in grasslands, which is beneficial for pollinators, erosion control, and water filtration.

Sustainable Lessens the need for petroleum fuels and chemical herbicide application in land management activities.

Invasive Species Goats (and sheep) will feed on a variety of invasive Control species, unlike free roaming browsers (deer) that selectively browse on native plant material.

They can eat plants that are toxic to other animals Goats destroy seeds in their digestive tracts, diminishing the invasive seed bank.

2.4% Nitrogen

Society

Heritage Maintaining a pastoral aesthetic on the property helps to preserve Scarborough’s agricultural heritage in the face of continued suburban development.

Education Combining public lands and commercial agricultural presents an opportunity for educational programming

Economy

Cost Effective Avoided labor and equipment costs create savings for the Land Trust.

Raising livestock on public lands makes farming startups possible in the face of increasing real estate prices and shrinking profit margins in agriculture.

Meat, Dairy, Byproducts from livestock make land management Wool on the site about more than just saving money.

Goat meat production is one of the fastest growing segments of American livestock production.

Goats vs. Sheep - Feeding Patterns Goats Sheep Page B6

Sheep are grazers; they eat herbaceous plants near to the ground (as well as foliage and fresh stems on some young woody species). Goats are browsers; they selectively feed on new stems, buds, bark, and foliage on woody plants up to 7-8’.

Lease-Driven Solution Overview

The development of a progressive lease contract is essential to the success of the project. This document defines the responsibilities of the owner and the leaseholder, particularly the division of labor to fulfill the project’s land management goals. Developing a replicable process for costneutral land management and sustainable farming on public lands has wider implications in revolutionizing conservation, invasive species control, and habitat restoration strategies.

Mutually Beneficial

Sharing Responsibilities

SLT Farmer Affordable, sustainable Access to arable land in land management coastal southern Maine that would be financially Preservation of unfeasible otherwise agricultural heritage Rental of farm buildings Public educational opportunities Private Entrance NEC habitat restoration Retail Space

SLT Farmer General maintenance of Management of meadow structures and roads and NEC habitat areas using goats and sheep Ecological monitoring to assess and prioritize Hosting a specified management actions number of agricultural education events that are Traditional land open to the public management tasks: mowing, cutting, spraying, etc.

Observation Platforms Overview

The observation platforms are inspired by Chilean architect, Rodrigo Sheward Giordano from The School Of Architecture at the University of Talca. His Pinohuacho Observation Deck was designed with the mission of “Bring[ing] architecture where there is none, to reach where the commission is not expecting an answer.” This philosophy, along with the use of natural materials and framed landscapes, is fitting for Benjamin Farm. The structure is humble; it praises the natural materials on the sight and celebrates the landscape it’s a part of.

Side Elevation

Front Elevation

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10 Feet

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10 Feet

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Experiential Concept 1 - Wetland Focus

This concept shows Benjamin Farm as if it was managed primarily for wetland habitat management. Maximizing wetland in this way would have the greatest effect on pasture placement and the least effect on the existing forest cover (which is mostly upland).

Page B8

NEC Habitat Water Quality/Headwater Protection Wildlife Education Less farming infrastructure Boardwalk trails

Experiential Concept 2 - Agriculture Focus

This concept shows Benjamin Farm as if it was managed primarily as pasture for livestock. Maximizing pasture in this way would suggest a focus on grazing livestock (sheep and cows) rather than browsers. This concept also supports clearing upland forest areas for additional pasture space. With expanded grazing potential comes the need for more livestock housing and processing facilities.

Supports most livestock Clearing forest areas Agricultural education More farming infrastructure Farmers’ market Page B9

Benjamin Farm Proposed Cover and Circulation Plan

P ROP O S E D COVE R T YPES Wetland (NEC Habitat) (30ac.)

Meadow (27.25ac.)

Pasture (24ac.)

Forest (32ac.)

Agricultural (6.75 ac.)

Existing Road The proposed cover type distribution at Benjamin Farm was determined through analysis of existing conditions and the location of pasture areas from the site’s past. Based on the importance of New England Cottontail habitat, priority is being given to maximizing scrub-shrub wetland and altering the shape of forest areas to increase shrubby edge habitat.

The trail system is designed to let users experience the different cover types on the site. Its configuration was also influenced by the desire to demonstrate changes in light, vegetation, scale, etc. as visitors pass from one plant community to another. This method for trail layout diversifies the outdoor recreation component of the project, while simultaneously increasing opportunities for educational installations and signage.

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Ra c he l C a rs o n N ati o na l W i l d l i fe Ref uge

T RA I L EX P ERI EN C ES Pasture

Forest-Wetland

Pasture -Meadow

Wetland

Pasture-Forest

Wetland-Meadow

Pasture-Wetland

Meadow

Forest

Agriculture-Crops

Forest-Meadow

Agriculture-Livestock Page B11

Benjamin Farm Proposed Site Plan

DETAIL 1

Main Entrance, CSA, and Event Space

In this proposal for Benjamin Farm, the site represents a merger of agriculture, public recreation, and ecological restoration. While agricultural activity and ecological restoration exist in contradiction to each other under traditional land management strategies, this model creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the two. The use of livestock to manage wildlife habitat makes this possible; creating conditions for a profitable business through invasive species control and preservation of early successional habitat.

The development of recreational trails and observation platforms further cements this new relationship between agriculture and ecological restoration. In addition to the physical connection of these once-opposing landscapes via the trail network, the establishment of large event spaces, a CSA, improved habitat for wildlife viewing, and opportunities for environmental and farm education (see Detail 1 and Detail 2 on pages B14 and B16, respectively) create added incentive for community support in achieving the economic, environmental, and social goals of the project.

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500

1000 Feet

Wetland Platform

DETAIL 2

Commercial Farm Complex

Hilltop Forest Platform

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Detail 1: Main Entrance, CSA, and Event Space Garage and Sheds Processing Building

CSA Observation Platform Farmers’ Market/Fair Space SLT Offices Event Barn

Lawn Area

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Scale: 1”= 50’

Drainage Crossing Section

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20

40 Feet

Centralized Activity

The main entrance and parking area located on Pleasant Hill Rd concentrate group activity where access is the easiest and where it will have minimal impact on habitat areas. This space is also ideal for CSA members to pickup their weekly shares.

The proposed buildings and lawn space lend themselves to a wide range of group activities, from weddings and reunions to farmer’s markets and educational programming.

Artificial Habitat Structures at Meadow Edge

Crossing Drainageection S

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Detail 2: Commercial Farm Complex Livestock Housing - 1875 ft² Pasture

Livestock Housing - 4000 ft² Existing Barn - 1400 ft² Processing Building - 625 ft²

Paddock

Pasture

Paddock Paddock Scale: 1”= 50’

Paddock

Central Hill Section

Central Hill Platform Page B16

Central Hill Section

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50

100 Feet

Heritage + Commerce + Education

The other area of concentrated activity on the site is the farm complex. A separate entrance, additional farm structures, and a paddock and pasture network support a profitable local livestock business. Views from site’s central hill and the path network create opportunities for visitors to enjoy a pastoral aesthetic that connects to the region’s history. Encouraging interaction between visitors and the farmers also encourages education and awareness related to relevant farming issues in a rapidly developing area.

Pasture Path Experience

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Plan and Design by: Alex Hoxsie Advisors: Professors Mary Myers and Joe Berg Temple University Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture