Gould Farm Ecological Development Toolkit - Winter 2017 by The Conway School

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS AN ECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT Gould Farm is one of our country’s oldest therapeutic communities, located on a 700-acre parcel straddling the border between Monterey and New Marlborough in southwestern Massachusetts. The community has a 23-yearlong land planning relationship with the Conway School, requesting land use plans from Conway students in 1994 and 2016. Like these previous plans, Visions and Pathways aims to help Gould Farm develop a baseline common knowledge for land planning and management. This toolkit provides Gould Farm with conceptual models to help guide decisions regarding the built environment and “form a backbone” (Executive Director Lisanne Finston’s words) for Gould Farm’s evolving landscape vision.

FOR GOULD FARM Monterey, Massachusetts

For over forty years, Conway has offered ten months of intensive, specialized graduate study that prepares students to work as designers or planners solving some of our world’s toughest challenges. The school provides a unique education by taking on important, real-world projects, which students complete with the support of seasoned faculty.

Samantha Battaglia and Jason Hurd The Conway School Winter 2017

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS AN ECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT FOR GOULD FARM Monterey, Massachusetts

By Samantha Battaglia and Jason Hurd • The Conway School • Winter 2017

A wooded access road at Gould Farm.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................9

Community Living............................................................................... 9 Meaningful Work................................................................................. 9 The Land.............................................................................................. 10 2017 Client Request Summary........................................................... 13

INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS................................................................... 15

Design Process................................................................................... 15 Use and Character...............................................................................16 Built Environment............................................................................... 20 Natural Environment........................................................................... 24 Physical Conditions............................................................................ 30 Summary Analysis.............................................................................. 36

RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................ 41

Housing Development Constraints................................................... 42 Selected Development Sites.............................................................. 46 A New Pedestrian Path....................................................................... 60

APPENDICES.......................................................................................... 70 Appendix A: Housing Development Toolkit..................................... 72 Appendix B: Path Design Toolkit...................................................... 80 Appendix C: Energy Toolkit............................................................... 84 Works Cited......................................................................................... 92 Images.................................................................................................. 94

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS CONTENTS

A yellow birch tree stands along Sunset Rock Trail.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gould Farm is one of our country’s oldest therapeutic communities, located on a 700-acre parcel straddling the border between Monterey and New Marlborough in southwestern Massachusetts. The community has a 23-year-long land planning relationship with the Conway School, requesting land use plans from winter Conway students in 1994 and 2016. Like these previous plans, Visions and Pathways aims to help Gould Farm develop a baseline common knowledge for land planning and management and contains a toolkit providing Gould Farm with conceptual models to help guide decisions regarding the built environment and “form a backbone” for Gould Farm’s evolving landscape vision (Lisanne Finston, in conversation). This document looks at Gould Farm’s existing land use patterns, site character, and natural physical conditions (like landform and drainage patterns) to help determine ecologically-appropriate locations for built structures in Gould Farm’s landscape. Gould Farm enjoys rich woodlands, steep slopes, abundant water, productive farm soils, and extensive wildlife habitat, all of which are treasured by residents. These very characteristics also limit future development, challenge current use, and require tough decisions in some cases. To support Gould Farm’s decision-making process, summary analyses show a variety of constraints--including land under Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) or proposed for conservation, protected riverfront areas, and critical habitat--in varying shades of grey to black. The lightest areas are those that present the fewest development challenges. Analyses show that any decisions about development will force Gould Farm to evaluate the importance of various ecological, legal, and physical constraints versus the need for new facilities. Any development around the Farm Hub in the lower campus potentially encroaches on existing forest or agricultural fields. In the upper campus, Gould Farm will need to consider how much to encroach on existing forest cover, critical natural landscape, important habitat, and how much money it is willing to spend developing on less than ideal soils. Physical, natural, and social considerations all guide the design process. Gould Farm residents report diverse needs particularly around community, privacy, and personal space. After two community feedback sessions and multiple feedback discussions with the Building and Grounds ad hoc committee, three potential development sites emerge that could best support new homes, accommodate the range of resident preferences, limit ecological impact, and honor the site’s physical constraints. These sites include the O’Connell House site, the Avalon-McKee housing cluster, and the Kirmont housing cluster. These three sites meet a number of important criteria: they i) build on existing neighborhoods, ii) have more-desirable physical features (e.g. more suitable soils, less limited slope, etc.), and iii) minimize encroachment on special destinations, existing forest, conservation areas, and critical habitat. It is recommend that Gould Farm cluster future development with existing housing close to main town roads, helping avoid impact on the site’s significant natural resources. The recommendations section provides a number of conceptual models that support Gould Farm’s desire for cohesive community clusters providing ample gathering space and personal privacy with options nearer and farther from the Main Quad. The O’Connell development site may provide Gould Farm with the most options for development. This site could fit a small neighborhood cluster, housing guests in transition and staff who need privacy from Upper Campus activity. The site provides enough space for a large, shared, outdoor common with ample personal space between units. The site’s flat, open, southeastern aspect provides opportunities for gardening and solar energy use. Photovoltaics (PV) could help power single-family or small-group housing units in this neighborhood far from the community core. O’Connell can continue providing guest transition space while adding more private housing options for staff. The site fits approximately four single-family units comfortably with adequate privacy, shade, wind protection, and ample solar exposure. The Avalon-McKee development site presents an opportunity for additional guest and staff housing close to the Main Quad. The Avalon neighborhood already provides space for staff and their families, but the site could become a more cohesive, integrated cluster with McKee House and its adjacent common area.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Additional small-group or single-family staff homes could help develop community around the reportedly isolated McKee House. A combined Avalon-McKee neighborhood could help Gould Farm develop more single-family or small-group units close to the Main Quad. As one option, Gould Farm could reduce the size of McKee House’s adjacent common space, keep the existing volleyball court, and add small-group units without encroaching on forest or the Rawson Brook neighborhood’s privacy. The Avalon-McKee neighborhood option fits three homes comfortably. An additional single-family unit in Avalon builds density while maintaining privacy for existing homes, preserving community gathering space and keeps forest intact. One option for the McKee site fits two additional units and creates privacy and community space by adding vegetation. Alternatively, Gould Farm could demolish McKee House, replacing it with smaller guest housing units. The existing volleyball court already has northwest wind protection; Gould Farm could create feelings of prospect and refuge in this area by adding benches and trees, for example. A looped path could enclose the common space, connecting it with the proposed site-wide pedestrian path. The Kirmont development site provides private staff housing options close to the community core, but also additional guest housing options and common space through re-purposing the apple orchard near the Main Quad. A Kirmont neighborhood could fit three additional single-family or small-group units, building density near guest housing while maintaining the solitude and privacy of homes further south along Gould Road. Tree barriers again create privacy between homes. It is recommended the three development sites be connected via a single new pedestrian path following natural topography where possible, running continuously from the O’Connell site in the Lower Campus to the Kirmont site in the Upper Campus. The recommended pedestrian path also connects these sites with other important destinations throughout the landscape (e.g. the Main Quad, the Farm Hub, other existing housing clusters, and common space) while considering the linear development pattern and safety issues along Gould Road. The new path recommendation minimizes slope wherever possible, enhancing the pedestrian experience; it reduces erosion potential by following natural topography and minimizes forest encroachment by working with existing roads and paths. More largely, pathways that follow natural landform (with a gentle grade to shed water) minimize erosion and help keep Gould Farm’s water cycle more intact. Pathways that do not follow natural landform have a higher risk of erosion, as well as higher associated installation costs, maintenance costs, and increased user frustration. This new path has the potential to connect Gould Farm residents, but could unintentionally create more work without proper design. We recommend a professional grading plan to guide construction of the new pedestrian path. The right grading plan could not only create an enjoyable path for pedestrians, but could potentially help mitigate other site problems. For instance, our recommendations site a portion of the new pedestrian path above the intersection at Wellman Road and Gould Road--an area known for it’s drainage issues (Mark Little, in conversation). The path could be graded and vegetated in specific ways to help mitigate drainage issues at that intersection.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Residents work the annual beds near the Harvest Barn. VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

The sun shines over the Farm Hub in the Lower Campus.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION Gould Farm’s Mission “Gould Farm is a therapeutic community that promotes recovery for people with mental health and related challenges through meaningful work, community living, and clinical care. (gouldfarm.org)”

COMMUNITY LIVING Gould Farm’s community begins with its people. The property provides homes for around one hundred residents at any given time. Residents fall into four primary categories:

Guests

Gould Farm provides a home for thirty to forty guests at any given time throughout the year. Guests spend ten months on average at the farm, however stays can range anywhere from six months up to three years depending on individual needs and treatment goals. Five residents at Gould Farm fall into a special subcategory of long-term guests, i.e. guests whose treatment needs required a stay greater than three years (Gould Farm does not currently accept additional long-term guests ). Guests receive a “continuum of services including residential treatment, supported transition, and an extended community in both the Berkshires and the Boston Area.” (From Gould Farm’s “Who We Are” web page)

Staff

Forty full-time and seventeen part-time staff members currently live at Gould Farm in an assortment of single family and single occupancy units throughout the landscape. Some members have roommates while others choose to live alone. Staff members fulfill a variety of duties at Gould Farm: Our on-site clinical staff provides psychiatric evalu-

ations, individual and group counseling, medication monitoring, and coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each guest works with a clinician who will walk beside them through their stay at the Farm. “Our Clinical Team provides one-on-one therapy, case management, and coaching, from orientation to discharge planning. Clinicians are in constant collaboration with the Residential advisors and Work team leaders and provide guidance to all staff to support each individual’s recovery.” The integration of meaningful work, community life, and clinical care ensures a comprehensive treatment process and therapeutic experience.

Volunteers

Gould Farm houses varying numbers of volunteers throughout the year. Most single volunteers reside in the Topside House while volunteers with families often live in single-family units scattered throughout the property. Some residents choose to serve on Gould Farm’s all-volunteer board of directors.

Family

Staff and volunteers often live on site with their families in small single-family housing units scattered throughout who the property’s developed areas. Family members participate in community life and often contribute volunteer hours.

MEANINGFUL WORK Gould Farm supports itself through “meaningful work.” Guests participate in a guided work program with staff and volunteers. Activities include farming, gardening, forestry, dairy production, baking, sugaring, wellness programs, and site maintenance. These intentionally land-based activities help participants connect with the natural landscape and integrate into the farm community. The program helps participants understand their own worth and power as members of a larger supportive community. Beyond its healing aspects, the guided work program also provides home-cooked meals and cord wood (more than 100 cords annually) for the

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

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community, plus value-added retail products sold at the farm’s two retail establishments: the Roadside Café and the Harvest Barn Bakery (Barnes, 1).

Regional and Town Context

Gould Farm’s 700-acre property sits just south of Route 23 in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Located in the Konkaput River watershed, the property straddles the town line between Monterey and New Marlborough. Each town allocates more than seventy-five percent of its land to forest, around fifteen percent to open land, and much smaller percentages to development, water-related use, and mining.

Gould Farm reflects the general historic land use patterns of its surrounding area allocating 500

Forest Open Land Development Water Mining

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

Gould Farm

THE LAND

Gould Farm’s Land Use History

acres of the property to forest, 150 acres to open land, and the remaining 50 acres to development, water, and mining. During the second 2017 community meeting, Gould Farm expressed a general community desire not to encroach on existing forest whenever possible.

1994 Land Use Master Plan

In 1994, Gould Farm requested a study by the Conway School. Titled A Land-Use Master Plan for Conservation and Continuation at Gould Farm, the 1994 plan provided an initial site design with land use recommendations, and described two potential conservation restriction alternatives. In 2006, Gould Farm established an Agricultural Preservation Restriction, protecting 220 acres across the property’s northern third (APR Memo).

2016 Land Use Plan

Twenty-two years later, Gould Farm requested another Conway plan to update its land use strategy. The update made two specific conservation recommendations: a “forever wild” conservation restriction in the property’s extreme southwest corner, and a second conservation restriction that allowed certain uses such as forestry and recreation and sugaring, to cover the property’s southern third. The 2016 Land Use Plan also explored three potential ways to re-purpose Gould Farm’s sand and gravel mining site (called the “gravel pit”) for housing development, renewable energy use, or intensive agroforestry.

A map of Gould Farm painted on a Roadside Cafe table. VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

2017 Development Toolkit

Both the 1994 and 2016 Conway teams saw themselves providing Gould Farm with important decision making tools that supported the organization’s mission. From the 2016 Land Use Plan: “This land use plan [...] establish[es] a baseline of common knowledge for land use planning. This land use plan, in conjunction with the concurrent Forest Stewardship and Food System plans, offers structure for managing various elements of the landscape within an integrated framework that supports Gould Farm’s mission” (Kokernak and Worthington, 7). Again in 2017 Gould Farm has requested a study by the Conway School, this time looking closely at the property’s built environment. Gould Farm approached the Conway seeking help siting potential housing development, creating more pedestrian friendly circulation patterns, improving activity flow and site character, and recommending renewable energy strategies. Like previous Conway studies, the 2017 toolkit aims to help Gould Farm establish a baseline common knowledge for site-wide land planning and management. More specifically, this toolkit aims to provide Gould Farm with conceptual models to guide its visioning process around the property’s built environment. In Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations, Michael Allison and Jude Kaye argue: A vision is a guiding image of success. In architectural terms, if a mission statement provides a blueprint for an organization’s work- the what, why, and for whom- then the vision is the artist’s rendering of the realization of that mission. Whereas a mission statement answers the questions about why the organization exists and what program(s) it offers, a vision statement answers the question, ‘What will success look like?’ The pursuit of this shared image of success motivates people to work together (Allison and Kaye, 165). Organizationally speaking, a well-articulated vision statement helps a nonprofit understand its direction and make decisions toward a desired future; the same is true in land planning. Gould Farm currently 12

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

does organizational planning in five year increments. The organization has a clear mission statement, sets out annual goals according to a regular five-year planning cycle, and in today’s land planning context, might consider creating a twenty-year visionary statement to help guide planning decisions. Visions and Pathways intends to help Gould Farm move toward a unifying landscape vision-something drawn and clearly articulated--potentially “form[ing] a backbone” for Gould Farm’s evolving landscape vision (Lisanne Finston, in conversation).

2017 CLIENT REQUEST SUMMARY Housing Development Site potential housing development and recommend flexible, adaptable housing models. Pedestrian Access Assess pedestrian and vehicular circulation patterns; recommend more pedestrianfriendly alternatives connecting the two campuses with the Main Quad. Use and Character Assess land use needs and patterns; recommend alternatives that improve activity flow and build on existing character. Energy Investigate on-site energy resources and use; recommend renewable energy strategies for the upper campus and any proposed development sites. Guiding Question How do we bring cohesion to the built environment while aligning with the farms mission?

A bird in flight over the Lower Campus. VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INTRODUCTION

A tapped sugar maple at Gould Farm.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS DESIGN PROCESS In 1958 an Australian mining-engineer-turned-farmdesigner named P.A. Yeomans wrote The Challenge of Landscape: The Development and Practice of Keyline. Based on his experience designing water management systems for mining operations, Yeoman’s developed a farm planning system called the Keyline Scale of Permanence, which structured farm analysis and design beginning with the most permanent and less changable features in the landscape. Yeomans’ work influenced later landscape designers like Bill Mollison and his students Dave Jacke and Darren Doherty. These influential designers all agreed with Yeomans’ primary argument: climate greatly determines landform; landform greatly determines natural drainage patterns and influences water supply; built structures perform poorly when placed in opposition to natural patterns; therefore, natural drainage patterns and water supply should greatly determine the placement of built structures in the landscape.

Why is permanence important? “Natural land or undeveloped land owes its permanence to its association with environment and time. It has reached a degree of balance and is stable. Agricultural land is, however, in a different category. Its degree of stability and permanence is a direct reflection of the people who control and occupy it. Man makes his moves and Nature sooner or later signifies approval or disapproval. If it is approval, man can hold it permanently, but if it's disapproval, Nature reshapes the land again in a fashion that does not suit man.” --P.A. Yeomans, The Challenge of Landscape

The following anlysis looks at Gould Farm's existing land use patterns, site character, natural and physical conditions (like landform and drainage patterns) to help determine where built structures get placed in Gould Farm’s landscape.

Historic Topside House

Owens Shed atop Cabin Knoll A spring and remnant agricultural pond in Gould Farm's western uplands. VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Use and Character ZONES OF USE Observations

Gould Farm dedicates nearly three quarters of its property (approximately 500 acres encompassing much of the property’s southern half and its northern periphery) to either forestry, recreational trails, or unmanaged wildlands. A 2006 Forest Stewardship Program by professional forester Joseph Zorzin prescribes several stand-specific improvement cuts that yield Gould Farm an average $10,000 annually, or 1% of their operating budget (Kokernak and Worthington, 23.) The community harvests over 100 cords of firewood for internal use. (Bill Barnes Memo dated 1/27/2016) Most of the remaining ¼ of the property (approximately 150 acres in the property’s northwest section) is dedicated to farm and production, including annual vegetable crops, livestock (such as cattle and pigs), dairy production, and sugarbush. Two smaller areas south and west of the main quad see use as a community apple orchard, farm storage, cord wood storage, and a new sap house (maple syrup production facility). The remaining fifty acres concentrated predominantly around the main quad (with satellites at the Farm Hub, O’Connell House, and Roadside Cafe) get split between six primary, sometimes overlapping uses: Guest Housing: Most guests live in one of three larger group housing units located near the Main Quad: McKee House, East House, and Orchard House. Guests work with their clinical care team to determine care goals, including if and when to begin transitioning into lives, jobs, or care outside the farm. Transitioning guests live predominantly at O’Connell House in the property’s northeast corner, providing space and privacy from the community core in the upper campus. Staff Housing: Staff live predominantly in small clusters of mixed single-family and group housing units centered primarily around the Main Quad with one satellite located near the lower campus Farm Hub. Existing configurations segregate guest and staff housing. Some Gould Farm residents have sug-

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

gested a different approach that integrates guests and staff within “neighborhoods.” Still other residents suggest integrating single staff and long-term guests into group housing units together. Business and Clinical: Three small areas distributed along the property’s central northern axis are used as administrative, business, and clinical space. The only clinical care space is currently located inside the main house leaving care staff desiring space, particularly in the Lower Campus, but also private outdoor nooks. The Main House provides virtually all administrative and clinical care space at Gould Farm. It also houses the community kitchen, dining area, community meeting space, guest lounge space, and extra storage. The Harvest Barn and Farm Hub provides space for many important community economic functions such as produce and dairy production, bakery and cheese sales, and event space. Gould Farm purchased the Roadside Cafe along Route 23 a few years ago; the cafe has since become the community’s most public face. Featured in O Magazine as one of the United States' top roadside food destinations (citation needed), the Roadside Cafe brings Gould Farm an important income stream while providing meaningful work opportunities for guests, staff, and volunteers. Community Space. Common space sweeps eastward through the Main Quad, including a seldom used basketball court, a pond for winter ice-skating, and the Old Sap House (a beloved structure where community musicians come together and jam). Common space then extends north along Gould Road, encompassing the popular community volleyball court immediately south of McKee House. Waste Water System. Two areas distributed centrally along the property’s east-west axis treat the community’s wastewater. Lagoons in the landscape’s lower eastern side collect and treat community wastewater before pumping it uphill to the recently installed septic and leach field in the property’s western uplands.

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Zones of Use Gould Farm

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Use and Character Gravel Mining. In agreement with Gould Farm, a local contractor mines the sand and gravel deposits located in the property’s northeast corner. The mining contract brings in valuable funds to Gould Farm—$40,000 annually (Lisanne FInston, in conversation). However, both Gould Farm and the contractor both conclude the sand and gravel deposits are almost exhausted. Working together, Gould Farm and the contractor established a hard boundary line for ending excavation illustrated in the 2016 Land Use Plan.

Implications

Gould Farms land use patterns have evolved over a few generations; by and large these patterns seem appropriate for the landscape. The western uplands contain more contiguous forest. As the hills descend into the mid-slope range, forests give way to pasture, and pasture gives way to annual croplands in the property’s lowland. Gould Farm has invested a lot in its wastewater treatment infrastructure, including the treatment lagoons themselves, duct work, piping, plus the recent clear-cutting and installation of the septic and leach field in the western upland. The system relies on an electrical pump that sends treated water back uphill to the septic and leach system. This important system keeps treated water from overflowing into Rawson Brook when water flows surge. If Gould Farm wants long-term system resilience it will have to deal with the question of what happens if that pump should fail. O’Connell House straddles land designated for agricultural and forest trail use; it seems like this configuration provides O’Connell with a welcome amount of privacy despite being next to the most public entrance on the property. Any space that can be freed up for clinical care in existing or new structures of the Lower Campus will help decrease the total amount of transportation required on the property, therefore cutting down on use of vehicles and fossil fuels. Almost every existing land use either converges or

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

abuts the Main Quad common area. Gould Farm will have to make decisions on how those specific uses are configured, particularly how the various areas of staff and guest housing are either integrated or segregated, and how those houses are distributed within the physical and social constraints of the area. No consensus has been reached regarding housing integration as of this writing, however, Gould Farm is actively seeking adaptable housing models allowing long-term flexibility as community decisions are implemented and needs evolve. The buildings immediately surrounding Kirmont House currently sees use as staff housing tucked into the forestry and trails zone. Gould Farm may want to consider integrating more community common space into that area and connecting it with better pedestrian access.

CHARACTER Dividing the property into character zones--dominant spaces of differing functions that provoke contrasting feelings and experiences of the site--benefits the design process. A site's character impacts and guides the design of spaces within the delineated zones. This helps to define the qualities of a space to be protected and preserved as well as those elements that could be improved. Equally important is the determination of the boundaries between zones, assessing the rigidity or porous nature of these edges directs how design may expand or alter their placement. Gould Farm's property exhibits three primary, distinct character zones.

Forested Escape

The serene, treed landscape that comprises most of Gould Farm gives residents space for solitude and time outdoors connecting to nature. The woods are precious landscapes that are valued by residents for their protection, affinity with nature, recreational opportunities, and a sense of refuge. Gould Farm’s woods also connect the Farm to its larger regional context, a predominately forested region.

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Working Landscape Forested Escape

Character Zones Gould Farm

Social Hub

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Built Environment A Working Landscape

Characterized by rolling hills of pasture, vegetable gardens and outbuildings, this part of the landscape is where meaningful work and connection to nature overlap on the farm. It is a critical healing space for Gould Farm guests, providing space for meditative yet engaging work experience, contemplation, education and social activity. The character of this grassy open landscape is disrupted by a gravel pit mine to the east and a square out-parcel of town land for town maintenance outbuildings that is encircled by Gould’s farm pasture. Concentrated in the northern third of the property, this open working landscape is the defining character of the lower campus.

The Social Hub

Social activity is concentrated along the linear strip of Gould Road. This is also where development is concentrated and where most residents live. It balances a busy, social environment, a vibrant, energetic community core, and private domestic space. Overall, Gould Farm is a place for healing, for personal retreat, connection to community and nature. It is predominately forested with a concentrated rural community, aligning with the presiding rural character and working landscape of the region.

HOUSING AND COMMON SPACE

cultural production, vehicle maintenance space, and some retail business space. The Main Quad Common area centers on the Main House in the upper campus and is considered the community’s core space. Functions of the Main Quad include recreation, community gathering space, clinical and administrative space, with a mixture of guest housing and production related buildings.

Implications

As a community, Gould Farm wants to encourage social interaction while accommodating a variety of personal housing preferences amongst residents. Everything from personal privacy to spatial needs to personal opinions about land use will influence the design and location of future Gould Farm housing. Gould Farm also expressed a community preference to build on previously developed sites. Since individual and community housing needs drive much of this project, existing housing and common spaces create some patterns on site that are difficult to change. For instance, the linear concentration of development along town roads will greatly influence how the entire site evolves in the future. Additionally, this linear pattern along town roads leaves much of Gould Farm's forest and croplands largely intact. Approximately twenty percent (140 acres) of total land at Gould Farm is currently developed, leaving approximately 560 acres of largely intact forest and croplands.

Observations

Gould Farm has six existing housing clusters (currently housing all staff residents) distributed linearly north to south along Gould Road. There are two isolated housing units on site. O’Connell House, in the property’s extreme northeast corner, provides transition housing for guests who are ready to engage lives and jobs outside the farm, and McKee House, on Gould Road’s eastern side opposite Avalon, which is isolated because it lacks safe pedestrian access options along Gould Road. Gould Farm has two primary common and mixed use areas on site. The Farm Hub houses most agri20

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

A recently constructed cabin reflects the character of the Cabin Knoll housing cluster.

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O'Connell House

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McKee House

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Rawson Brook Cluster Avalon Cluster

Main Quad

Kirmont Cluster

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Built Environment ACCESS AND CIRCULATION Observations

Three Monterey town roads traverse the site and connect a variety of destinations. Visitors enter Gould Farm primarily via Curtis Road, which extends south from Route 23, passing the O’Connell Transition House and intersecting with Gould Road just north of the Farm Hub. Gould Road extends southeast from River Road to New Marlborough Road connecting the Farm Hub to the Main Quad and Upper Campus housing. Pedestrians and vehicles share town roads across the site and secondary access roads in common areas. It takes about ten minutes to walk a half mile between the Farm Hub and Main Quad along Gould Road with two blind curves, no shoulder, no signs, and no lights. An extensive recreational trail network connects the upper and lower campus. Trails west of Gould Road tend to be much steeper. Diane’s Trail begins just south of O’Connell House, taking pedestrians south along Rawson Brook through natural wetland habitat before turning southwest to connect with the Main Quad.

The road is steep to the Cabin Knoll area. Traffic decreases further south along Gould Road past Rosemary and Kirmont Houses as pavement gives way to a dirt road closed throughout much of the winter. Pedestrians access the trail network from the Main Quad, Cabin Knoll, and Kirmont areas via five trailheads extending southwest through a steep, forested landscape. Pedestrians access Diane’s Trail via a trailhead east of Gould Road in a pasture just south of McKee House.

Implications

The blind curves along Gould Road create moderate potential for accident or injury. Despite the fairly quick walk along Gould Road between the campuses, steep slopes and blind curves mean most community members prefer driving between the two campuses. These steeper slopes also mean the southwestern trail network sees little use.

Design Directions

The design will look for ways to improve pedestrian safety site-wide. Any alternate pedestrian access recommendations should provide a gentle grade with a comparable walk-time between campuses.

Pedestrians access the trail network from the Farm Hub and Gravel Pit areas via four trailheads extending southwest through a hilly, mostly-forested landscape. Vehicles and pedestrians access the gravel pit area via a dirt road extending southwest before curving southeast around the town DPW land. Several parking areas surround the Main Quad common area with overflow parking along Gould Road immediately south of East House. The Cabin Knoll area contains two parking areas immediately south and east of the Retreat House. The Kirmont area contains four parking areas for residents.

Pedestrians and vehicles share roads site-wide.

Two delivery spaces are located at the northeast and northwest corners of the Main House. Wetland soils and vegetation impede pedestrian circulation along the western side of the ice skating pond between the new sap house, basketball court, and maintenance building. Two blind curves pose a safety hazard along Gould Road. 22

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Upper Campus VehicularTraffic Pedestrian Traffic Blind Curves

Highway Traffic Lighter Rural Traffic Trail System Blind Curves

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Natural Environment FOREST AND OPEN SPACE Observations

Gould Farm comprises 700 acres located immediately south of Route 23 in Monterey, MA. The property’s extreme southwestern corner is a drier hilly ridge straddling the town line of New Marlborough. The ridge slopes to the northeast toward Rawson Brook and to the southwest toward the Konkaput River. The property includes: • 500 acres of forest and trails from the property’s south wrapping around a central built environment. • 200 acres of open land concentrated mostly in the lower campus comprises a mixture of pasture and croplands that surround buildings and infrastructure. • A perennial Rawson Brook flows north through the property's eastern side supporting wetlands along the way before emptying into the Konkaput River shedding southwest. • A gravel and sand mine operation in the property’s northwest corner. • 11 acres belonging to Monterey's Department of Public Works (DPW) in the property’s northeast corner. The property is generally organized with more public spaces in the northern half (referred to as the

Lower Campus) and more private community space in the southern half (referred to as the Upper Campus) including the primary community common in the main quad. Much of the the lower campus is managed as open space--either buildings, cropland, hay fields, or animal pasture-- including more public and business-oriented spaces than the Upper Campus. The upper campus houses generally more private administrative, clinical, and community-oriented spaces in the property’s southern half. Development follows a generally linear pattern along both Gould Road and Curtis Road with some scattered development east and west of the main quad. Most buildings on site are plugged into a waste water lagoon system which collects septic and wastewater downhill in three lagoons where wastewater is treated and then pumped back uphill via electric pump into a recently installed septic and leach field in the property’s western upland.

Implications

Both forested and open land are very important to Gould Farm’s mission. Guided work therapy happens in both of these environments, supporting the Gould Farm community. Gould Farm has invested significantly in its built environment. Given these factors, Gould Farm has a preference for developing on previously developed sites where appropriate.

A hay field in the Lower Campus. 24

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VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Natural Environment CRITICAL ECOLOGY

What is BioMap 2? BioMap 2 is a geographic database layer produced by ecologists and other scientists in partnership with the Massachusetts state government that identified two million acres statewide as being of highest conservation value. "The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and The Nature Conservancy's Massachusetts Program developed BioMap2 in 2010 as a conservation plan to protect the state's biodiversity. BioMap2 is designed to guide strategic biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts over the next decade by focusing land protection and stewardship on the areas that are most critical for ensuring the long term persistence of rare and other native species and their habitats, exemplary natural communities, and a diversity of ecosystems" (The Mass GIS Data BioMap2 webpage). BioMap2 contains two primary components: "Core habitat identifies specific areas necessary to promote long term persistence of species of conservation concern (those listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act as well as additional species identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan), exemplary natural communities, and intact ecosystems." (The Mass GIS Data BioMap2 webpage). "Critical natural landscape identifies and prioritizes intact landscapes in Massachusetts that are better able to support ecological processes and disturbance regimes, and a wide array of species and habitats over long time frames." (The Mass GIS Data BioMap2 webpage)

Jefferson Salamander 26

American Bittern

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Observations

Aquatic Core habitat along Rawson Brook provides breeding habitat for certain fish species. Habitat for Species of Conservation Concern include the Jefferson salamander habitat in the propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southwest corner, wood turtle habitat along Rawson Brook, ocellated darner dragonfly habitat along Rawson Brook, and the American bittern habitat, also along Rawson Brook. Critical Natural Landscape covers most of the propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s southern half, connecting and providing a buffer for these important habitats.

Implications

Many buildings already encroach on critical ecology. Any eastward development from the Main Quad would encroach on important habitat, while any westward development from the Main Quad would encroach on critical natural landscape. Certainly habitat for species of conservation concern takes priority over critical natural landscape (CNL), CNL provides an important buffer for these habitats and therefore should be assessed for its ecological value. Regarding development, Gould Farm will have to wrestle with how much it values these critical habitats versus how much it needs additional housing and convenience to central functions. There will inevitably be trade-offs between conservation and development.

Ocellated Darner Dragonfly

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Natural Environment PROTECTED LANDS Observations

As of 2006, an Agricultural Preservation Restriction protects the property’s northern third. Two areas are under consideration for conservation restrictions south of the Upper Campus: 2016 Recommendation Option 1: A “Forever Wild” restriction covering (# acres) in the property’s southwest corner. 2016 Recommendation Option 2: A larger restriction covering the property’s southern third would allow for certain uses such as trails, timber harvest and sugaring. The Riverfront Protection Act creates a 200-foot protected area on either side of Rawson Brook. The Wetland Protection Act creates a 100-foot buffer around all wetlands. Any development within these protected areas requires approval by the local conservation commission. Some buildings, particularly in the Rawson Brook housing cluster, already encroach on the protected riverfront and may count as grandfathered development, potentially opening more options for that area.

Committee decision regarding proposed conservation restrictions will greatly impact future land planning decisions. The Riverfront Protection Act and Wetland Protection Act constrain intensive use and development within these regulated areas. Any significant intervention in these areas requires prior approval from the local conservation commission. If the buildings which already sit within the Riverfront Resource Area were built prior to the Riverfront Protection Act, they may count as “previous development” under the Redevelopment Clause. This would allow for more design options for that area.

Design Directions

Gould Farm should postpone development within the 2016 conservation recommendation areas until the board of directors can reach a decision regarding conservation restriction boundaries. This decision would affect the property's southern third.

Implications

The Agricultural Preservation Restriction restricts development to farm-related buildings only.

Looking north over Rawson Brook from Curtis Rd. 28

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Physical Conditions GEOLOGY AND SOILS Observations

Surficial geology greatly influences Gould Farm’s landform and soils. According to the Massachusetts Geographical Information System Database, glacial till covers the entire site. Glacial till comprises a poorly-sorted mix of evenly-distributed, multiplesized particles (Kokernak and Worthington, 40). Melting glacial ice also deposited approximately 80 acres of sand and gravel in the property’s northwest corner which Gould Farm has mined over the last few decades. Consistent with the geology, data from the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) show most on-site soils are very limited for dwellings with basements. Soil limitations across the site could include any of the following: • Flooding and pooling • Depth to saturated zone • Depth to hard bedrock • Large stones • Steep slope All unrestricted soils lay in the property’s northern half centered along Gould Road and Curtis Road. The Upper Campus shows somewhat limited and very limited soils for dwellings of all types. Data show soils with fewer limitations for dwellings without basements east and west of the Main Quad, however, these areas often contain wetlands and may not be suitable for development. All soils on site have some soil limitations for path and trail use. The property’s northeast and southwest corners (about half the total area of the site) are generally very limited for paths and trails. This is due primarily to steep slopes in the southwest and pooling in the northeastern corner wetlands. Large areas with only somewhat limiting features run parallel with town roads (again, about half the total site).

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Implications

Gould Farm's glacial till surficial geology means that any potential development sites could include a variety of restrictive soil features. While glacial till tends to drain well because of its uneven nature, it can be more difficult or costly to develop as well. The restrictive soil features resulting from glacial till do not mean it is impossible to build in these areas. But choosing to build in areas with more soil limitations generally means higher construction costs, maintenance costs, and ecological disturbance. Placing paths or trails in areas with very limited soils means potentially higher construction and maintenance costs, a more difficult installation, and more environmental impact. NRCS maps tend to show a fairly coarse level of detail. Therefore, data shown here should always be verified by a professional on the ground before any implementation begins.

Design Directions

Constrain dwellings with basements to unrestricted or somewhat limited soils immediately surrounding the Lower Campus and Main Quad. Constrain dwellings without basements to unrestricted or somewhat limited soils at the Lower Campus and Upper Campus Confine pedestrian path options to areas showing somewhat limited soils unless counter-indicated by some other factor.

Soils for Dwellings Without Basements

Soils for Dwellings With Basements Soils for Paths and Trails

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Physical Conditions LANDFORM AND DRAINAGE

Design Direction

Observations

The property’s main ridge curves southward through the property’s western side before turning eastward. Three-quarters of the property sheds northeastward into Rawson Brook, eventually connecting to the Konkaput flowing southwest. Onequarter of the property sheds westward directly into the Konkaput River. Six primary ridges and five primary valleys run generally east to west across the site Generally, terrain is much flatter (less than 15%) northeast of Gould Road and much steeper (greater than 15%) southwest of Gould Rd.

Any future design should prioritize watershed health by: • Using a maximum 1:200 grade on roads and paths where possible to minimize erosion. Steeper paths may require a special toolkit to minimize erosion, including techniques like rolling dips and french drains. • Repairing damaged areas by establishing ground cover • Avoiding further disturbance in steeper, forested areas

The intersection of Gould Road and Wellman Road shows signs of pooling and erosion. The spring and clear-cut swath both drain into the problem area and show signs of erosion. A steep 10% grade extends south along Gould Road and sheds toward the problem area. Pastures show signs of overgrazing and erosion immediately uphill from the problem area.

Implications

Steeper slopes in the property's southwest corner pose obstacles for westward housing development and existing trail system use. The placement of Gould Road is less than ideal because it runs against the natural drainage lines of the land, taking vehicles and pedestrians through one of the lowest and wettest parts of the property. The forest clearing uphill from the problem area exposes steep landform near a natural spring, contributing to erosion problems downhill. Mitigating this problem area will require an integrated whole systems approach that considers the effect of landform, water, and access at this location.

Road design and land management practices contribute to erosion issues along Gould Road 32

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Rawson Brook

Gravel Pit

Main Ridge

Pooling and Erosion

Primary Ridge Surficial Drainage

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Physical Conditions SOLAR POTENTIAL Sunlight availability, panel surface area, orientation, and angle each affect the total power any solar array produces. For this reason, solar fields require open space, unobstructed sunlight exposure, a southern or southwest aspect, and close proximity to where power will be used. These criteria guard against conveyance, or the significant loss of energy. Overall there are not many options for large-scale solar energy systems at Gould Farm. South facing slopes are a rare feature, generally scattered throughout the landscape in small patches forested patches. An alternative might be smaller-scale applications for individual buildings or building clusters. Cleared land with a southern aspect sits in the property's extreme northeast corner, abutting Route 23. While this site has good aspect, it may not provide an aesthetically pleasing entrance to the property. This site partially sits in the protected riverfront resource area, far from dense development needing power. The second largest patch of southern facing slope lies within the Agricultural Preservation Restriction, just west of the O'Connell community garden. In this location solar energy is limited in distribution, being only accessible to Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell house. Its impact on pasture land, forest and views from the main road of entry to the farm and the community garden may have negative affects on the human services of Gould Farm. Assessment of whether solar fields are an authorized structure within the APR would also be needed. The only southern aspect that overlaps with built infrastructure is North of the Main Quad bordered by forest in the Avalon neighborhood. Although the scattered buildings, trees and roads in this area limit solar production on a large scale, the location next to the main quad, at the core of the built environment in the upper campus provides the most energy efficient conveyance option of the sites with southern aspect.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

A small patch of southern slope abuts Rawson Brook and the eastern border in the southern third of the property. Situated within intact forest and the riverfront resource protection area, any development in this location would involve disruption of critical habitat and clear-cutting to accommodate human access and panels. The largest uninterrupted area of south facing slope lines the majority of the southern property boundary. This area is forested and within critical natural landscape that has been recommended for conservation restriction by the Conway 2016 Land Use Plan. Although this large expanse of land seems promising in size it is limited by its distance from the upper campus and the inevitable damage and interference with the forested landscape that a solar field requires.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Summary Analysis DEVELOPMENT CONSTRAINTS Gould Farm enjoys rich woodlands, steep slopes, abundant water, productive farm soils, and extensive wildlife habitat, all of which are treasured by residents and farm staff. These very characteristics also limit future development, and challenge current use in some cases. The constraints--including land proposed for conservation, or under APR, river setbacks, and critical habitat--are shown in varying shades of grey to black. The lightest areas are those that present the fewest challenges.

Observations

Many existing housing clusters already encroach on existing forest cover, important habitat, critical natural landscape, limiting soil features, and the protected riverfront. The most suitable areas for housing development follow the general linear development pattern along Curtis Road and Gould Road-- roads that form the community’s spine. These areas sit on soils that vary from not limited (in the lower campus, primarily around the farm hub and O’Connell House) to somewhat limited (in the upper campus) for dwellings without basements, intermingled with buildings, cropland, pasture, and existing forest. Surrounding areas show increasingly less suitability for development further east and west of Gould Rd. Most of the northern third of the property is restricted under the APR Most of the southern third of the property is under consideration for conservation restriction Areas in the middle of the property include a mixture of existing forest cover, protected and regulated riverfront to the east, critical natural landscape west of Gould Road, and valuable conservation habitat primarily in the upper campus and along Rawson Brook. Overall, the property's soils limit dwellings (with or without basements), either due to slope (west of Gould Road) or wetland soils to the east.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

Implications

Gould Farm as a community prefers to develop on existing housing clusters while minimizing encroachment on existing forest cover and areas of high ecological value. Any future development forces Gould Farm to evaluate the importance of ecological, legal, and physical constraints versus the need for new facilities. Any development around the farm hub in the lower campus must be in compliance with the APR. In the Upper Campus, Gould Farm will need to consider how much it is will to encroach on existing forest cover, critical natural landscape, important habitat, and how much it is willing to spend developming on less than ideal soils. The area immediately surrounding O’Connell House may provide Gould Farm with the most flexibility in terms of development. Much of the data represented in this map are considered course-level data and should therefore be verified by a professional on the ground prior to any implementation.

Design Directions

Future development, including housing, should be clustered with existing housing, close to Gould Road, and avoid impact on significant natural resources. Determining where new units could go requires input from the community.

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Summary Analysis ACCESS CONSTRAINTS These maps illustrate pedestrian access constraints at Gould Farm, displayed by value according to community member feedback. The lighter areas are more suitable for path and trail placement, and darker areas indicate less suitable areas.

Observations

Social Context Note: Given the property’s land use history, Gould Farm expressed a general community desire to avoid encroaching on current forest cover (shown on the following maps in dark grey) wherever possible. Pedestrian access constraints at Gould Farm follow a similar pattern to housing development constraints, with the most suitable areas for pedestrian paths and trails following the linear development patterns along Gould Rd. and Curtis Rd. There are fewer limitations within the APR protected area for paths and trails than there are for housing development, particularly surrounding O’Connell House in the NE and the gravel pit in the northwest. Natural landforms on the property include: one main ridge, six primary ridges, and five primary valleys, creating five primary land units southwest of Wellman Rd. and Gould Rd. A hilltop on the property’s extreme north end sends two primary ridges and one primary valley eastward into the landscape, creating a sixth primary land unit around the potential development site near O’Connell House. The intersection at Wellman Rd. and Gould Rd. shows signs of erosion and pooling.

Implications

Fewer limitations within APR protected areas mean more freedom and options for paths and trails in the lower campus. Pathways that follow the natural landforms on-site should minimize erosion and help maintain an 38

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

intact water cycle at Gould Farm. Pathways that do not honor natural landforms have a higher risk of erosion, as well as higher associated installation and maintenance costs and increased user frustration. A well-placed path placed above the intersection at Wellman Rd. and Gould Rd. could potentially help mitigate drainage issues. Because the primary land unit around O’Connell has a more gentle grade, there is more potential to move the path off-contour without increasing erosion or maintenance costs.

Design Direction

Connect the three potential development sites with one contiguous pedestrian path following natural topography where possible from the lower campus to the upper campus. The path should connect potential future development sites as well as other important destinations in the upper and lower campuses (for example: the main quad, the farm hub, existing housing clusters, and other common space). Honor the linear development pattern along Gould Rd. while increasing safety by providing pedestrian separation from vehicles. Path design should minimize slope to enhance pedestrian experience Minimize encroachment on the larger, intact portions of forest east and west of Gould Rd. Look for ADA accessible opportunities.

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Looking northwest at the Sheep Barn from Gould Road. 40

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Housing Development Constraints Housing Development Requests Gould Farm needs additional housing; it has requested help to design and locate the most appropriate sites for buildings to provide individual living quarters for staff, retiring staff, long-term guests and guests who stay for an average of ten months. Additional housing should be flexible in its ability to house different groups of residents as the farm’s living arrangements and resident needs inevitably change over time. Locating areas for new development is the main focus of this plan. The location of additional housing will direct the future use of the landscape and the farm’s other goals of siting renewable energy, improving activity flow and developing safe and efficient circulation patterns.

Existing Housing Pattern Gould Farm has a scattered development pattern, with most homes linearly distributed along the central spine of Gould Road. The pattern for scattered development can be traced back to the actions of Gould Farm’s founders Agnes and William Gould, who invited friends to build summer homes on the land provided the buildings would be deeded to the farm. These homes are currently used by a variety of residents at the farm, including staff and volunteers. The community is organized around seven approximate “neighborhoods”: O’Connell, Dairy Dell, Topside, Avalon, McKee, Rawson Brook and Kirmont.

Community Needs Community members wish to maintain a balance between private and communal living, requesting spaces for community gathering while preserving space for solitude and retreat. For staff specifically, it is important that any new homes preserve the privacy of existing homes on site outside of the main hub. Residents also agree that McKee House (an isolated guest group home) and groups of single families in existing sub-communities on the farm could benefit from additional housing that fosters community. The daily activities and

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

work patterns of residents at the farm require that pedestrian and vehicular access to the main house and Main Quad be maintained and provided where necessary. Gould Farm is a place that is constantly changing and the built environment needs to be able to adapt and change use as programs, resident needs and funding evolve over time.

Cluster Development Cluster development is a planning pattern that is characterized by accessible communal green space, semi-enclosed form and safe, pedestrianonly circulation. It can meet the needs of Gould Farm residents by providing privacy, community gathering space and room for adaptation. This planning pattern can be applied on a small-scale and to reorient and connect existing neighborhoods at Gould Farm. A comprehensive explanation of cluster development principles can be found in Appendix A.

Homes at Gould Farm VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Resident Needs At a second community meeting, residents of Gould Farm voiced their needs surrounding housing unit preferences, proximity to the Main q\ Quad, forest conservation and privacy. There was a consensus that new development should not further encroach on intact forest and privacy and retreat space should be preserved in areas where staff live while enhancing connection to community in others by building density and allocating centrally located pedestrian-friendly outdoor gathering spaces. More specifically Gould Farm would like to site locations for additional staff and guest housing, building cohesive clusters for housing for staff with families, adding private homes for staff and allocating guest housing close to the Main Quad. Among the community there were mixed preferences about how close homes should be to the Main Quad; some residents want to be able to access the Main Quad with a short walk while others would like to keep their distance from this hub of activity.

The Selection of Sites Potential sites for development were selected based on the analysis of restricting landscape features and community input. The community suggested six locations and sites determined through landscape analysis indicated eight additional sites, the majority of them concentrated in the Upper Campus with the exception of Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell and Dairy Dell. The community evaluated the maps that illustrated both of these groupings of development sites, determining assets and constraints for each. Through this discussion, the best locations for future housing were limited to the three areas highlighted in yellow. These areas are located around or within existing neighborhoods and include desired physical landscape features like suitable soils, limited slope and minimal encroachment on special resident destinations in 44

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

the landscape, intact forest and critical habitat. The social landscape helped shape these selected sites, guided by the diversity of resident needs: preserving privacy in specific locations like Rawson Brook and Kirmont, creating cohesive community gathering areas for staff with families, providing options for community gathering and sufficient personal space in cluster developments and variable distances to the main quad. The three neighborhoods that best support new homes, accommodate the range of resident preferences, limit ecological impact and align with the physical landscape constraints of Gould Farm, are the Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Avalon/ McKee and Kirmont neighborhoods.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Selected Development Sites SUMMARY ASSESSMENT Site Character The O’Connell residence is a single home for guests in transition, located along Curtis Road at the furthest point from the Main Quad of any housing at Gould Farm. This south-facing, open landscape is a sunny, warm environment. It features open, pastoral views of overgrown fields, grazing farm animals and a forested edge. O’Connell is a private nook, set apart from the main hub of activity and other buildings but remains connected to the community by the main roads and a few trails. It is also located at the primary entrance to the site, experiencing the most traffic.

SOCIAL

Assets

Constraints

• Opportunity for shared outdoor recreational space.

• Distant and isolated from main quad lonely and hard to connect with community.

• Opportunity for both guest and staff housing. • Near existing staff garden. • Distance from main quad provides space for privacy and retreat from work and community. • Enough land to provide large areas of personal space per building unit.

PHYSICAL

• No restrictive features. • Suitable soils for dwelling with or without basements.

• Some O’Connell residents want neighbors, but development might not sit well with all residents • Close to the primary entrance to Gould Farm from Rt. 23 and therefore most public.

• Opportunity for large-scale solar may outweigh the sites use for housing.

• Flat land and a southeast aspect, ideal environment for passive and active solar as well as outdoor recreational space and largescale solar field. • Good agricultural soils provide opportunity for ornamental and food producing gardens.

Implications for Development This development site has potential to become a small neighborhood cluster, housing guests in transition and staff who need privacy from the activity of the upper campus. There is enough space for a large, shared outdoor common and a large amount of personal space in between building units. The soils are appropriate for gardening and a flat, open, southeast aspect provides much potential for harvesting solar energy.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

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Selected Development Sites CONCEPT O’CONNELL NEIGHBORHOOD This neighborhood is appropriate for Gould Farm if they would like to harvest solar energy to heat homes and add a neighborhood far from the community core for additional transition house space or more private staff homes. This space fits approximately four units with assumed dimensions based on existing staff housing. Four units sit comfortably with adequate room for privacy and for northwest wind barriers that don’t shade the solar panels of adjacent homes. Four new homes encircle a shared green space. The front entrance of each home is oriented towards the common, providing a sense of connection to the community. Homes are a minimum of 50 feet apart with vegetative barriers to delineate personal yard space, protect from cold northwest winds and create a sense of privacy or retreat. This community cluster is intended for additional staff housing (either currently working or retired staff members); its distance from the Main Quad satisfies the need to disconnect from the social atmosphere of work. The shared green space could accommodate a variety of outdoor recreational activities; it can be adapted to the community’s needs and is a large enough setting to include a playground, community gardens, shaded seating and sport activities. This space balances a need for privacy with the opportunity to connect with neighbors. A parking lot at the perimeter of this community off Curtis Road provides room for 10 cars, and is shaded by a grove of trees to the south. Siting one communal parking lot preserves the community common as a safe, pedestrian-only center, minimizes disruption to the landscape by conserving green space, and concentrates impermeable surface near the road.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Renewable Energy The southeast exposure of this property presents opportunity for active and passive solar. The buildings are oriented so that the largest surface of roof faces south, maximizing solar energy gain from roof-mounted solar collectors and passive solar into each building.

Circulation A looped pedestrian path encircles the commons connecting the neighborhood homes. The O’Connell community is also connected to the broader community by Diane’s Trail and the new proposed path. The new proposed path provides the option for a pleasant, long, leisurely walk for residents through the community gardens, outdoor recreational space and pasture to the farm, other neighborhoods and the Main Quad. Considering the distance to the main house, O’Connell residents will need to have access to a car for efficient transportation means and an alternative when weather conditions are undesirable for walking.

Four new homes with planted privacy barriers embrace a large common space. A roadside parking lot could accommodate up to 10 cars. The pedestrian-only trail becomes the southern anchor for a site-wide trial up to the Main Quad and beyond. Treed Northwest Wind Barrier

Communal Greenspace Connecting Pathway

Solar Panels

Tall Shrubs

Added Building

Parking Lot

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Selected Development Sites SUMMARY ASSESSMENT: AVALON, MCKEE Site Character Avalon and the McKee area are small neighborhoods of intermixed guest and staff housing adjacent to the Main Quad. The Rawson Brook neighborhood comprises small homes, nearby the Farm’s main hub but surrounded by forests and close to the brook. Its context creates a sense of privacy and solitude for residents. The exception to the privacy of this area is McKee House, a guest group home located along Gould Road, between Rawson Brook and the main house. McKee House is an oddity in the landscape because it is surrounded by open lands with no neighboring buildings and is across the road from the Main Quad. There is a sense of exposure to and isolation from the broader community. Avalon is a cluster of homes located in the forest, conveniently situated next to the Main Quad. Depending on the scope of forest edge bordering homes, this neighborhood provides both public (open, busy) and private (quiet, personal) space.

SOCIAL

Assets

Constraints

• Close to the Main Quad

• Doesn’t provide more retreat space for staff.

• Avalon is a great spot for single family dwellings and it builds on an existing community. • Development near McKee increases community around this isolated guest house. • McKee presents an opportunity for new guest housing closer to the main house. • Keeps development from encroaching on private staff housing in Rawson Brook.

PHYSICAL

• McKee site builds on existing open space without encroaching on intact forest

• Avalon - encroaches on intact forest and critical natural landscape in an area that is already heavily developed

• North of McKee there are steep and variable slopes that could help buffer cold northwest • NE aspect winds. • Avalon is close to open areas of south aspect that are ideal for harvesting solar energy.

Implications for Development These development sites present opportunity for additional guest and staff housing close to the Main Quad. The Avalon neighborhood presents opportunity to integrate staff with families on site into a more cohesive cluster development while the site surrounding McKee House could be smaller guest or staff homes to help development community surrounding the isolated McKee guest house.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Selected Development Sites CONCEPT AVALON AND MCKEE, TOGETHER This neighborhood is appropriate for Gould Farm if they would like to develop more single-family housing close to the Main Quad and if they decide to keep McKee House and integrate it into a community without encroaching on the forest and privacy of Rawson Brook. The Avalon and McKee neighborhood fits three homes comfortably, a single housing unit in Avalon builds density while maintaining privacy around existing Avalon homes, preserving space for community gathering and keeping the forest that wraps around each building intact and functioning as semi-enclosed privacy barrier. East of Gould Road, the McKee neighborhood fits two additional units based on existing staff housing footprints, conserving personal space with added vegetation, community space large enough to allow for seating, a privacy barrier from the road and the existing volleyball court. Development of the Avalon and McKee neighborhoods also clusters housing around a common green space, although taking different forms within each neighborhood. In Avalon, which residents mentioned is a great spot for single family dwellings, a pedestrian path encircles the common space in between four current homes with the option to extend to one more home nestled in the woods. The community green space creates a central point of connection between neighbors. Benches, vegetation and a potentially a play space for children invite residents into this pocket park just north of the main quad. In the McKee neighborhood, new housing for staff or guests increases a sense of community for the guests living in McKee House protecting intact forest and the privacy of current staff homes in the Rawson Brook area. The common space functions as an eddy along the larger proposed path, inviting the broader community in. Sufficient space is preserved for a volleyball court and benches 52

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

backed by vegetation provide outdoor gathering space in pockets of shade, encouraging social contact in the neighborhood. Low lying shrubs border the road adding privacy, a sense of enclosure and safety.

Renewable Energy Tall evergreens buffer the north and west sides of the home from cold northwest winter winds, and defining space around homes for personal outdoor space and gardens.

Circulation These neighborhoods are served by the proposed site-wide path which runs east of McKee house and south of Avalon. The path connects the two neighborhoods to each other and the larger site. A pedestrian crosswalk helps to safely link walking residents from the McKee neighborhood to the main quad and the main quad to the lower campus. This also provides a safe option for pedestrians to avoid the blind curve just north of McKee on Gould Rd. The proposed path uses the McKee common green space as a connecting node and midway destination in between the upper and lower campus, inviting the broader community into the commons.

An additional house and pocket park in between Avalon homes, and added greenspace and homes on the east of Gould Road help connect the isolated McKee House to the larger community. Treed Northwest Wind Barrier

Tall Shrubs

Added Building Benches

Volleyball Court

Connecting Pathway

Communal Greenspace

Crosswalk

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Selected Development Sites CONCEPT ALTERNATIVE MCKEE REMOVED This design alternative is appropriate for Gould Farm if they demolish McKee House and would like to build a small neighborhood of guest group homes or staff homes that are more closely integrated with their neighbors. Four homes, based on existing staff housing footprints, fit comfortably in the McKee Rawson neighborhood, not encroaching on the privacy of staff homes or the forest of Rawson Brook. Each unit has space for private backyards and space is allocated for community use between the four units. Alternatively, McKee House is torn down and replaced by smaller, group homes for guests. A larger common green space has the same northwest wind protection, a looped path enclosing the common space, connection to the proposed site-wide path and community gathering space featuring benches, trees and a volleyball court.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

This map illustrates what a cluster development in the McKee-Rawson area could look like if McKee were demolished.

Treed Northwest Wind Barrier

Added Building Connecting Pathway Volleyball Court Communal Greenspace

Benches

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Selected Development Sites SUMMARY ASSESSMENT: KIRMONT AREA Site Character The Kirmont neighborhood is located along the southern portion of Gould Road. Housing units branch off of the road to the east and west. This setting is quiet, forested and private yet close to the Main House. Staff, some with families reside here although it lacks communal space for gathering and playing outdoors. Without a park, children convene and play on the road, reducing the safety and sense of security of this neighborhood.

SOCIAL

Assets

Constraints

• Close to community core.

• Difficult to create common gathering space on linear narrow strip of land.

• Builds on existing neighborhood. • Less traffic. • Private atmosphere surrounding by intact woods.

PHYSICAL

• Limited options for common space (orchard is steep)

• Limited restricting landscape features.

• Northeast aspect.

• Buildings could be earth bermed.

• Close to marshes. • Encroaches on existing intact forest. • Far from lagoon (expensive to pump waste from further away). • Southern building site encroaches on perimeter of conservation restriction made by 2016 Conway team and critical natural landscape.

Implications for Development These development sites present opportunity for private additional staff housing close to the community core. Current residents could benefit from additional common green space.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Selected Development Sites CONCEPT KIRMONT AND THE ORCHARD The Kirmont neighborhood is an appropriate development area if Gould Farm is looking to repurpose the orchard, create more guest housing and community green space around the Main Quad and provide additional private staff homes. Three staff homes based on existing staff housing footprints are added to the Kirmont neighborhood, building density and community gathering space around guest housing while maintaining the solitude and privacy inherent to the homes further south and set back into the woods. Again space is allocated for privacy from surrounding homes and vegetative barriers reinforce this. Expansion of the Kirmont neighborhood maintains privacy around current homes while a series of paths and additional common spaces provide areas for neighborhood connection. The orchard is repurposed as a large community green space, providing incentive to steward and restore unproductive fruit trees. Peripheral benches face broad views, backed with vegetation to provide a sense of comfort and delight. Common areas provide safe alternative spaces for children to play outdoors, eliminating the need to use the road as a place space. An additional home is integrated around Orchard House and East House clusters. Evergreen trees provide a sense of enclosure, privacy and comfort. Facades of homes are shielded with vegetation from cold northwest winds and/or new pedestrian paths.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Conserving Energy Tall evergreens buffer the north and west sides of buildings from cold winter winds, and define areas around homes for personal outdoor space and gardens.

Circulation The proposed site-wide path encircles the orchard on the southern side of Orchard House and extends parallel to Gould Road along contour, completing site-wide pedestrian circulation by connecting to the existing southern forest trail network. Three defined crosswalks with good sightlines along Gould Road provide safe access to the Main Quad for residents who live on the east side of the road.

Additional staff homes maintain the linear alignment of existing homes in Kirmont, and the orchard is repurposed as a community gathering space. A site-wide trail could wrap around the orchard common, linking Kirmont to the Main Quad and the Lower Campus.

Communal Greenspace

Added Building Tall Shrubs

Connecting Pathway

Benches

Orchard & Communal Greenspace

Treed Northwest Wind Barrier

Crosswalk

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

A New Pedestrian Path RECOMMENDED ROUTE Path Section 1: O’Connell Area

The new pedestrian path begins along the forested edge in the O’Connell development site’s northern corner. In the future, Gould Farm could potentially extend the pedestrian path further north to the Roadside Cafe if the neighboring parcel just north of O’Connell House could be purchased or an if an easement could be obtained. The path moves pedestrians southeast along a near-contour grade before turning southwest, moving past O’Connell House and through the adjacent crop and hay fields. At this point, the path moves off contour until becoming parallel with Curtis Rd. in order to avoid intact forest cover and very limited soils for paths and trail use.This section of the path ends as pedestrians move through a crosswalk on the northern side of the intersection of Curtis Road and Gould Road.

Path Section 2: Farm Hub Area

After crossing the intersection at Curtis and Gould, pedestrians continue southwest up a gentle hill along an existing dirt road immediately north of the Farm Hub. The path then turns south after passing the pole barn, moving up a ridgeline before connecting to an existing forest trail moving near contour and turning southeast. Emerging from the forest edge, the path brings pedestrians out into open land near the Sheep Barn’s western corner, connecting to an existing dirt access road before continuing southeast near contour to once again meet Gould Road.This section of the path ends as pedestrians move through a crosswalk where the existing dirt access road meets Gould Road.

Path Section 3: Topside Area

Continuing southeast and near contour, the path wraps around the northern side of the Topside Lookout before turning southwest and moving over the hill’s crest. The path section which crests the hill would not meet ADA accessibility guidelines. For an ADA accessible alternative, a path could continue further southeast near contour taking

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

pedestrians through existing pasture and a forested wetland (wetland crossings require some more detailed site design and Conservation Commission approval) before turning southwest near the Main Quad. After cresting the hill, pedestrians move through another crosswalk at Gould Road and enter the Topside/Rockside common space before turning southeast into the forest line. This section ends as pedestrians turn northeast, again meeting Gould Road and a safe crosswalk with adequate sightlines in both directions.

Path Section 4: McKee-Rawson Area Crossing Gould Road, pedestrians turn southeast along a ridgeline descending gently into existing pasture and passing McKee House along its eastern side near contour before moving through the McKee-Rawson potential development site. This section of the path ends turning southwest, moving pedestrians through another crosswalk at Gould Road.

Path Section 5: Avalon, Main Quad, and Kirmont

Pedestrians move southwest past the Avalon development site along an existing dirt access road to enter the Main Quad. The path takes pedestrians south across the ice skating pond, past the existing maintenance building and new community center building site. Turning southeast again, the path moves past Orchard House’s southwest corner and through the apple orchard near contour before connecting the Kirmont development site. The path then moves through the Kirmont development site and existing forest continuing near contour southeast. This section of the path ends connecting to an existing trail just west of Gould Road in the property’s extreme southeast corner. This connection would help complete a continuous walkable circuit through the upper and lower campuses comprised of existing trails, roads, and the new pedestrian path.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Renewable Energy Solar There are no existing large patches of open land with a southern aspect close enough to the upper campus to ensure efficient conveyance of energy. To avoid encroachment of solar panels on critical habitat, intact forest and the riverfront resource protection area while remaining within suitable distance from the upper campus, two alternative methods have been considered: solar collection on the roofs of small-scale structures and groundmounted panels on open lands with a north, east or west aspect. As mentioned in the 2016 land use report, the impact of sited renewable energy systems on the culture of care and human services at Gould Farm needs further discussion, particularly when systems interfere with areas used for the meaningful work program or farming practices. Before moving forward with implementation of these technologies it is important to decide which buildings will be powered and to calculate how many solar panels and how much land will be needed to provide sufficient power.

North, East, West Aspect Panels Given the limiting number of suitable south-facing slopes and the overarching northeast aspect of Gould Farm, locating solar panels on open land that varies from a southern aspect increases the options for potential solar sites. Criteria for siting solar panels on a northeast or northwest aspect include elevated panels, a 5% or less slope and a calculated angle. The main drawback of siting solar panels on land with a north aspect is that more open land and panels are required to match the amount of energy production that is possible on a south facing slope. It is important to consider the impact that solar arrays may have on the capability of land to provide human services within the upper campus and consensus needs to be developed around which cleared lands would be most suitable.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Solar Carport

Micro-hydro

The Avalon neighborhood just north of the Main Quad is the only neighborhood of homes with a southern aspect. In this location there is potential to harvest and consume the sun’s energy with minimal energy loss through transportation to the source of output. Considering the limited amount of open space, small scale solar production where panels are roof mounted on homes and outbuildings are an efficient use of space. In cleared space, parking lots could be created or existing lots could be augmented to include a solar carport or shade canopy, utilizing the thermal mass of the asphalt, they could serve multiple functions; providing protection from snow and sun and energy for the core community.

The continuous stream of water flowing south to north in Rawson Brook could be an energy source through a micro-hydro system, which uses a turbine, waterwheel or pump to convert the energy of moving water into rotational energy and then electricity. Micro-hydro systems typically use run-ofthe-river systems where a reservoir is not required and production capacity of these systems averages 100 kilowatts of electricity. A run-of-the-river method works by diverting water from the watercourse through a channel or pipeline, transporting it to a waterwheel or turbine, generating energy for a mechanical system or a system producing electrical power.

Refer to the beginning of Appendix C for tips and criteria on how to effectively harvest the sun’s energy using solar collectors on small scale structures.

In order for a micro-hydro system to be viable there needs to be an adequate, obtainable amount of falling water. Other important site specific aspects that need to be evaluated include potential for power output, zoning bylaw requirements and the impact on species and critical habitat within the riverfront resource protection area. To understand the quantity of power available in Rawson Brook, the flow (amount of water falling) and the head (vertical interval of the falling water) need to be calculated and inserted into this equation: [net head (feet) × flow (gpm)] ÷ 10 = Watt output. In terms of economic viability it is important to note that these systems are known for their durability and inexpensive maintenance costs (‘Microhydropower Systems’).

Solar Carport

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Illustration of a micro-hydro system.

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SMALL-SCALE WIND ENERGY

Vertical Axis Turbines

Wind energy is generated by systems that use turbines to harvest kinetic energy through windpowered rotational movement and generators that convert kinetic energy to electricity. It is a clean, renewable source of energy that does not alter the chemical composition of a landscape. Main drawbacks of wind energy include disruption to migratory patterns, impact on populations of birds and bats, and creation of an undesirable mechanical aesthetic in rural landscapes (Brown).

Advantages

Although there is potential for generating energy with wind turbines in these areas, zoning bylaws restrict the height of built structures to 35 feet, eliminating the potential for regular wind turbines to capture wind at a height of 164 feet. Alternatively, vertical axis turbines are smaller structures that can fit within the limitations of zoning bylaws for more localized power.

Vertical axis wind turbines need less space along a horizontal axis so they can be arranged closer together than horizontal turbines, ensuring a higher power density and more efficient use of space. The lower location of transmission and generator parts allows for increased safety and easier accessibility for maintenance. These turbines are also more likely to capture wind from all four directions and the smaller scale turbines are more appropriate for densely populated areas, providing a lower noise volume and decreased risk of blade ejection (Ragheb).

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

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Drawbacks

Vertical axis winds turbines are a less efficient and established form of wind energy. Their current lack of presence within the commercial market limits options and increases the cost (Brown). The use of these systems is controversial because they produce less energy than horizontal wind turbines, are not as cost effective or reliable, and are more easily worn out by the elements. Overall cost and functionality are the primary drawbacks (Boyd).

Overall Concerns

Although small-scale wind turbines are a renewable source of energy that help to reduce energy cost, negative environment impact and fossil fuel use, the benefits of wind turbines have to be assessed with a cost-benefit analysis along with their potential impact on rural character, place-based identity, the well-being of residents and the landscape. Studies have shown that wind turbines may cause visual disturbance and noise annoyance that disrupt sleep patterns and cause psychological distress to residents living nearby. Sound disturbance rates are also typically higher in areas that are quieter environments to begin with. It is important to note that the farm is a quiet environment for healing and is used by a community in need of retreat space. Therefore, it is recommended that Gould Farm be mindful of the potential emotional impact of wind turbines on the health of their residents (Bakker et. al).

SMALL-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY Generally and excluding wind energy systems, renewable energy should be considered on a small-scale for the development of any additional individual units. All new housing infrastructure could benefit from the low operating cost and limited environmental impact provided by renewable energy systems. Even on a northeast or northwest aspect, like most homes at Gould Farm, the 66

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benefits of passive and active solar, draft-free insulation, planted buffers and an open southern aspect are significant given the appropriate implementation of design considerations. For more information on small-scale renewable energy refer to Appendix C.

Looking northeast beyond the Sheep Barn..

Residents pick annual crops near the Harvest Barn.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Next Steps Recommendation Summary The preceding recommendations suggest how new housing can be provided within the existing neighborhood structure of Gould Farm. These sites can help to increase the sense of community at Gould Farm while balancing the need for privacy among farm residents. Outdoor recreational space can serve as a connecting node between small neighborhoods and a safe and engaging pedestrian trail can link the lower and upper campuses. The following appendices give examples of principles and practices for buildings, renewable energy and paths that will shape new development while protecting the farm’s valued natural resources.

NEXT STEPS Overall • Create a long-term vision using resident housing and landscape preferences as a foundation.

Development • Evaluate structural integrity of buildings and determine a cost benefit tipping point to guide decisions to renovate where possible and reconstruct where necessary. • Make a plan and allocate funding to restore disturbed land post-development.

Circulation • Consider and determine what Gould Farm’s long term water supply needs are. • Draft designs for how water may be harvested along proposed site-wide path. • Create a grading plan for the proposed sitewide path.

Landscaping • Draft detailed site specific designs for the communal green space within the main quad.

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Residents pick annual crops near the Harvest Barn. VISIONS AND PATHWAYS RECOMMENDATIONS

Looking northeast beyond the Sheep Barn.. 70

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APPENDICES

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Appendix A: Housing Development Toolkit Building On Present Neighborhoods The existing development pattern at Gould Farm evolved incrementally and randomly. This built environment master plan provides a template for a well conceived, orderly build-out for a long term coherent vision. Gould Farm has identified clustered development as a fitting template to reform existing neighborhoods in the community that could benefit from additional housing units. Cluster development is a planning pattern that presents an opportunity to encourage a sense of community while also providing private space. It is characterized by accessible communal green space, semi-enclosed form and safe pedestrian only circulation. Clustered development is attractive because it offers the opportunity for spatial organization to support the communal environment inherent to the farm and its healing mission. It is also capable of providing a private atmosphere with added vegetative barriers and sufficient spacing between homes. Selectively building density around existing neighborhoods helps to contain development, limiting encroachment on more private neighborhoods and protecting open space by preventing development from further fragmenting landscape, sprawling into critical habitat, agricultural land and space for recreational activity. Protecting open space also helps to maintain the rural character of the pastoral and forested landscapes that distinguish Gould Farm (Durrett and McCamant 173).

Pedestrian paths connect cluster developments.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA: LARGE SCALE 1. Low-Impact Development Development can have a less invasive effect on landscape and ecological systems by reducing the overall footprint of built infrastructure. Key actions include: •

Site development in areas of the landscape where infrastructure is already present; avoid development in areas of critical natural landscape, agricultural soils and within the riverfront resource protection area.

•

When possible, reduce landscape disturbance and material use by building within existing neighborhoods.

•

Avoid erosion and subsequent loss of nutrients and organic matter by building on suitable soils, preserving trees, reducing impermeable surfaces, directing stormwater runoff into rain gardens and collecting rainwater from rooftops (Chapin 79).

Basic cluster development design with communal greenspace, semi-enclosed neighborhood and parking designated along the perimeter.

2. Connecting and Defining the Main Quad Maintaining the central location and further defining the Main Quad as the focal point of social activity for the broader community on site is key. For the broader neighborhood the Main Quad houses the most communal facilities as well as educational and social events. This social focal point is the primary node of activity that brings the larger community together. This function can be maintained if the Main Quad remains accessible for vehicles and pedestrians, keeps a cohesive aesthetic with its surrounding neighborhood and maintains a variety of differing uses (Hester 78). Neighborhood cluster developments should not be located too far from the community core to avoid isolation from community life and erosion to the overall cohesive sense of community (Durrett and McCamant 176).

3. Basic Criteria for Clustered Development Clustered development can help create more harmonious neighborhoods located within the larger neighborhood of the farm (Chapin 8). The shared outdoor space functions as a commu-

Multiple & obvious entrances and exits to common areas

nity center among individual private homes, facilitating meaningful relationships between neighbors, promoting stewardship, and providing a sense of security, place and identity while still allowing space for privacy and seclusion, individualized entranceways and personal gardens (Chapin 8). •

Include common land for outdoor gathering space in between housing.

•

Invite the broader community by providing access to common lands with public paths and a semi-enclosed housing arrangement.

•

Common land should open onto a larger expanse of landscape.

•

Limit circulation within the common gathering space to pedestrians; keep cars peripheral.

•

Incorporate up to 16 individual households and no fewer than 4 households (Chapin 8)

SPATIAL CONFIGURATIONS Some suggested site models for the orientation of groups of buildings include using dwellings to frame a pedestrian street, a courtyard, a combination of street and courtyard or encompassing all around one building (Durrett and McCamant 173).

Pedestrian Street

Courtyard

Street and Courtyard

Covered Street

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GUIDING DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND CRITERIA: SMALL SCALE The master plan aims to support a strong sense of community by providing neighborhoods with comfortable outdoor space for social exchanges, privacy and fitting within the infrastructural and physical landscape constraints of the site. Although each neighborhood must adapt to the site constraints particular to its location, there are guiding principles that are fundamental to clustered development.

1. Pedestrian Priority •

Pedestrian only neighborhoods with parking concentrated along the edge of the development provide an atmosphere that is safer for residents; it encourages walking, socializing and efficient use of parking space. (Durrett and McCamant 38).

increases the likelihood that residents will partake in communal activities and events (Durrett and McCamant 176).

3. Provide Transition Space Between Public and Private •

Within cluster developments, community gathering space and spaces for solitude are provided. Hierarchy of space, layering private, semi-private and common spaces in succession in order to ease the transition of residents from private to public spaces helps to define and align appropriate use of these spaces.

•

Differing levels of privacy can be delineated with simple physical characteristics like a level change, physical barriers like fences or even an alteration of plant groundcover (Durrett and McCamant 177).

•

“Soft edges” along home exteriors-comfortable, semi-private, resting areas oriented towards the commons, a garden patio or porch-help to ease the transition between the privacy of a home and the commons. These spaces encourage residents to spend time outdoors and to move informally in between spaces (Durrett and McCamant 178).

•

Soft building edges can be defined with plants, a trellis or pergola, low-lying fences or a change in path material. In order to prevent disconnection they should be less than 15-20 ft deep (Durrett and McCamant 178).

2. Connect to the Broader Community •

•

Invite the broader community into the commons by providing access to common lands with paths and a semi-enclosed housing arrangement. Circulation of pedestrians can be used as an organizational tool for building layout. Pedestrian walkways can follow a linear pattern serving as a central spine through a neighborhood or they can converge at a central courtyard following a radial grid much like town centers in Europe.

•

Limited pedestrian entrances to clustered developments will encourage chance encounters among residents.

•

Circulation routes can encourage connection to the common house (the Main House in the case of Gould Farm). Ideally residents should pass through the central common areas on a daily basis, as part of their routine. This

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4. Sightlines Towards the Commons Kitchens should be located at the front of the home, facing the common gathering area, allowing for easy supervision of children and a heightened awareness of neighborhood activities (Chapin 66).

5. Nested Homes

7. Low Profile, Small Footprint

“Nesting houses” requires that the “open faces” of buildings face the “closed face” of adjacent buildings. Porches and large windows characterize an open facade while skylights and high windows distinguish a closed facade. Orientation of windows and buildings can help ensure privacy within a clustered development (Chapin 66).

For individual buildings this involves decreasing the dimensions of housing units, using low profiles and incorporating renewable energy and green building materials.

6. Outdoor Gathering Space

• Multi-family housing: 840 square feet

Provide shared, accessible open space in between buildings. Siting informal gathering space in the landscape with strategically placed tables and benches, outdoor recreational space like volleyball or play structures for children, all encourage social contact in neighborhoods (Durrett and McCamant 38).

Example dimensions: • Private residence: 580 -1120 square feet • Single family housing: 1389 square feet • Co-housing : 895 square feet Note smaller units are more common and desirable when living in a community with adequate common space and facilities that supplement the purpose of additional spaces in private dwellings, specifically kitchens, laundry rooms, guest rooms, workshops etc. (Durrett and McCamant 188).

Communal and Individual Orientation

Nested Homes

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Pedestrian-only neighborhoods create a pleasant and comfortable environment.

Transition from public to private space.

Public Private

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Semi-Public

Private

8. Design For Adaptability Adaptable and flexible building form is particularly applicable for staff with small families who would like to have the opportunity for their homes to expand and adapt to accommodate fluctuations in family size. Adaptation of the built environment can be facilitated through various strategies: flexible building form, modular structures and anticipating further growth by preparing development plans in advance. Hester defines adaptability in natural systems as the “capability of an ecosystem to modify itself in response to a changing environment while minimizing unnecessary stress and use of vital resources” (Hester, 255). The built environment can mimic this capability by relying on a simple form as a core armature or spatial configuration (Hester, 260).

Basic Building Layout and Material Suggestions •

Include a bedroom with its own separate entrance or a shared room between two separate dwellings (Durrett and McCamant 191).

•

In terms of materials, timber frames are durable and can be recycled into other built forms (Brand 195).

•

In terms of construction methods, post and beam construction can easily be dismantled, altered and reused (Durrett and McCamant 189).

Concepts •

Simplicity in form allows for individuality to emerge over time and can be easily added to and subdivided into smaller units (Hester, 264). “Be square. The only configuration of space that grows well and subdivides well and is really efficient to use is the rectangle” (Brand 192).

•

Always allocate space for growth in individual buildings and on a site scale, have a “core plan” with the option to expand upon in the future (Durrett and McCamant 189).

•

Form should not be intended to provide for a single, set use rather form should imply how a structure could be used leaving its intended purpose open ended enough to invite change and growth (Hester 271).

•

Within developments it is also important to maintain diversity in the size of units, how they are arranged and spatial use, providing many options on how to best respond to change (Durrett and McCamant 189). This would allow Gould Farm to more readily adapt their structures to suit the changing needs of residents.

Basic Armature or Framework

Simple & Flexible vs. Complicated Form

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A simple form can be easily modified and added to.

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Homes Oriented Towards the Common

Communal Greenspace

Pedestrian Walkways

Conceptual drawing of cluster development.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

Appendix B: Path Design Toolkit WHAT KIND OF PATH SUITS BOTH HUMANS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT? “Create site specific solutions using natural landforms and processes.” (Erosion Control Field Guide by Craig Sponholtz and Avery C. Anderson)

Drainage and Erosion Control: How Much? Where? How Fast?

Roads and paths need at least a slight grade to shed water properly, remain dry and usable. All roads and paths with any grade move water from somewhere to somewhere else. This means designers must plan how much, how fast, and where that water goes. Whenever water moves across land, it takes nutrients with it; we call this ongoing natural process erosion. Erosion is happening in every landscape, every moment of every day. Yeomans described soil erosion as “an opposing force working against the permanence of [the] land which should be [our] most permanent possession” (29). Because soil erosion in New England results mainly from water moving across a landscape, designers, owners, and land users must understand basic landform geometry and how that geometry influences surficial water flow.

Pathway Design and Construction

Land designers and planners use the terms positive drainage and negative drainage to discuss how water moves across landscape relative to some structure. For instance, a building has positive drainage if water flows away from its foundation; the same building has negative drainage if water flows toward its foundation. These terms can also be applied to paths and roads. A path has positive drainage if water flows away from its base; the same path has negative drainage where water flows toward its base. Negative drainage presents problems for built structures in the landscape. The foundations of buildings with negative drainage quickly erode leading to costly repairs or an unusable structure. Similarly, a path’s base with negative drainage quickly erodes, creating mucky

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

conditions, costly repairs, or an unusable path. Positive drainage means dry, usable paths. Negative drainage means wet, muddy, unusable paths. Ensuring proper path drainage is paramount. But what happens to that water once it leaves the path’s surface? Without proper planning, a path might divert water toward an unintended area. For instance, a steep grade may cause water to flow too quickly across an unvegetated area, creating erosion. Alternatively, a path may shed water toward a low area creating pooling issues. Once water leaves a path’s surface, land users must think consciously about where that water goes and how fast. Faster-moving water takes more nutrients with it. Slower-moving water takes less nutrients with it. Thus slowing, spreading, and storing water whenever possible on-site can help mitigate problems further down the watershed. Pathways placed near to contour (with a gradient of 1:200-400) or along the apex of a ridge help slow water down, reduce erosion, and promote an intact water cycle. Erosion is a natural process and we can never stop it in our landscapes completely. But we can design roads and paths that minimize erosion and slow water down by following natural landform. Poor road and path placement could mean a soggy spot where you didn’t expect one; it could mean regular maintenance costs that you’d rather not pay. At its most extreme, poor placement can mean severe erosion cuts that undermine both the path itself and the land’s natural water cycle. Moreover, poor path design and placement undermines the land’s stability as a future resource base. Every nutrient that sheds from poorly placed paths undermines our landscape as a dependable future resource base. Thus, minimizing erosion by proper design and planning upfront helps ensure better ecological functioning in designed landscapes our landscapes will support our communities for the long haul.

We suggest the following path templates to help address a variety of site-specific issues at Gould Farm:

For Ridgeline Paths Crown Without Swales

Crown Without Swales

Ridgeline paths offer many advantages over paths placed elsewhere in the landscape. The natural topography of ridges offers a ready-made “crowned” shape-an ideal pattern for proper drainage that lowers the risk of erosion.

Crown With Swales

Because ridgeline paths naturally have positive drainage, they can be constructed with or without drainage swales/diversion drains. Depending on her goals, a landowner may choose to install drainage swales that harvest water from ridgeline paths by diverting that water into a nearby pond or vegetated detention basin. But if harvesting or diverting water isn’t a goal, a ridgeline path can again be constructed without drainage swales.

Crown With Swales

Insloped With Swale

For Paths Moving Across Slope Insloped With Swale

This template is best suited for paths moving across gentler slopes or through forested areas where minimal impact is desired.

Crown With Swales

This template is more appropriate for paths moving across steeper slopes or through open areas where more impact is acceptable.

For Paths Through Flat or Low Areas Elevated

This template is most appropriate for flatter land or depressions where pooling is a risk occur. Path construction involves importing fill materials that raise the path, creating positive drainage.

Elevated

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HELPFUL TOOLS Roads and paths that have gradients over 1:200 require strategies and tools to reduce water’s speed and volume. These helpful tools adapted from “The Regrarians Long Report” can help slow water down:

and rebound. These paths could then be sown with a soil-stabilizing seed mix to further increase stability and reduce erosion.

For more help

Refer to “Water Harvesting from Low Standard Rural Roads” for more information on road design and construction.

Rolling Dips

These structures resemble speed bumps but do not create the same issues for vehicles with low ground clearance. “Roll-in-roll-outs” remedy this by creating a larger more gentle change to the road’s profile rather than a sharp, abrupt embankment.

French Drains

French drains reduce damage to road surfaces and decrease water speed by diverting water through rock-lined channels. They function well provided regular maintenance is carried out including bi-monthly cleanings in rainy seasons.

Wet Area Crossing Dams

These dams allow all-weather access across wet gullies but also help develop ephemeral wetlands, which increase biodiversity. Wetland plants tend to self-establish in these systems, though can of course be introduced. Frogs take care of mosquitoes and small carnivorous fish can be installed to also predate upon these pests. A trickle pipe can also be installed to release overflow water from these systems. These lows can also run through low profile overflow drains in the embankment itself and are all-weather when a gravel surface is applied.

Vegetation and Mulch

Paths on the property should where possible follow ridgelines and gentle gradients and are designated as such our recommendations. Where gradients are steeper than 25% or where traction is limited, paths can be coated with a 1:1 mixture of gravel (10-25mm) and woodchips to provide both traction

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ADA ACCESSIBILITY Depending on use, Gould Farm may want some paths to meet accessibility standards set forth under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

• 5% Maximum grade without rails • 9% Maximum grade with rails and landings every 30 feet

• Only certain surface materials can be used

PATHS AND ZONING According to local Monterey zoning ordinance, Gould Farm can create pedestrian paths near town roads; those paths can include crosswalks that intersect town roads where necessary. Any path or crosswalk proposals intersecting town roads require a letter of agreement between the town and Gould Farm specifically stating who owns and maintains the path and crosswalks.

Minimum Path Width 48 inches.

Grade

Walkways with a running slope greater than 1:20 (5%) should have ramps. Nowhere shall the cross-slope of walkways exceed 1:50 (2%). Sidewalks on streets and ways shall be considered walkways, with the exception that if the slope of the natural topography exceeds 1:20 (5%) a ramp is not required.

Level Changes

Walkways shall have continuous common surfaces, not interrupted by steps or changes in level greater than ¼ inch (6mm). Changes in level between ¼ inch and ½ inch (6mm-13mm) shall be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2 (50%).

Surface

Walkway surfaces shall be stable, and firm and shall lie generally in a continuous plane with a minimum of surface warping.

Drainage

Grading and drainage shall be designed to minimize pooling of water or accumulation of ice or flow of water across walkways.

Intersections

Wherever a walkway crosses or joins streets, public ways, driveways or parking lots, it shall comply with the following: The intersecting surfaces shall blend to a common level with a slope no greater than 1:20 (5%).

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Appendix C: Energy Toolkit Gould Farm seeks to reduce its energy consumption and costs. The farm is home to a legacy of older buildings that are poorly insulated and have old, inefficient heating systems. The farm would like to retrofit these buildings over time for greater efficiency, as well as incorporate renewable energy systems as they develop new buildings. This section discusses the application of renewable energy to new building units, suggests how to retrofit old buildings and how orientation, permeable surfaces and vegetation can be used to aid in heating and cooling structures. Additionally, the potential to reduce energy consumption within human cultivated landscapes is explored with an emphasis on designed plant communities, lawn reduction and stormwater management as strategies to minimize maintenance while preserving resources and increasing biodiversity. It is important to note that Gould Farm should consider that all renewable energy recommendations have the option to be tied into the grid or to function independently additional investment and consideration of energy storage.

Solar Using the sun’s energy has many benefits. It is a source of non-polluting energy in infinite supply that brightens and warms a home on cold, dark winter days and it is free after the initial cost. Some drawbacks of solar energy are that it needs to be part of the original building design in order to supply and harvest energy at its maximum capacity, it is not always available, it is less practical in northern latitudes and it requires thermal storage to be effective (Pahl 39).

Passive Solar Passive solar design uses the house structure to store, control and distribute the sun’s heat (Pahl 25). For passive solar orientation and suitable sites, the ideal site would have southern exposure that is unobstructed and a natural physical landscape feature like a slope or a stand of evergreens that 84

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can protect year-round from cold northwestern winds. More specific orientation of the home within the site would ideally be within a range of 30 degrees east or west of true south. Overall southern orientation is a key to maximizing the potential for solar collection (Pahl 54). Drawbacks include active overheating in hot summer months. Passive solar heat gain can be direct, indirect or isolated. In direct gain, the structure itself functions as a large solar collector, the collected heat is amplified by thermal mass and slowly released into the building where it is absorbed by the floors and walls (Reed 54). Indirect gain uses an external wall as the solar collector. This wall consists of an airy gap sandwiched between a dark colored surface and a transparent material, allowing hot air to rise inside the wall. Vents at the top and lower portion of the wall guide hot air into the home and out into the sunwing. An isolated sunroom adjacent to a living area collects the sun’s heat and transfers it to the building through convection (with fans) or conduction (through a shared wall).

Passive Solar Design Considerations • Align homes along an east-west axis with the longest building side facing south or southeast and providing room for many south-facing windows. (This orientation also allows for a larger surface area for roof-mounted solar collectors for active solar.) • Southern window surface area should be 7-10% of the ground floor area • Limit windows on the north building facade • Keep building form compact to ease heating • Use windows with low-emissivity coatings, which reduce heat loss by 30-50% (Reed 54)

Design Elements

Basic Passive Solar Elements Adapted From Greg Pahl ‘Natural Home Heating’ Pg. 56

• Aperture: area that facilitates light into building • Absorber: characteristically firm and dark outer surface of thermal mass element • Thermal Mass: material that is placed in back of or underneath the absorber surface to provide heat storage • Distribution: the procedure by which solar heat is circulated from where it is collected and stored to other quarters of the building. Methods usually use radiation, convection and conduction. • Control: elements that facilitate or encourage heat flow to prevent the building from overheating in the warmer months (Pahl 56).

Windows and Insulation Hot and cool air can be lost through the windows, the roof, basement and/or gaps in framing in buildings. The loss of hot and cold air can be dramatically reduced with comprehensive insulation throughout a building. • Minimum R-values are: R40 for walls, R20 for basements and R60 for roofs • Add windows along the southern facade of the home • Upgrade single-pane windows to double or triple pane windows • Invest in windows with low-e coatings • Invest in window glazing and gas filled windows • Install thermally non conductive window frames (Pahl, 61) Note that with airtight insulation it is important to provide a non-toxic interior.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

Active Solar

Active solar differs from passive solar in its use of solar collectors to harvest energy from the sun. These solar collectors heat water or air and use fans or pumps to transport the heat (Pahl 26). The drawbacks of active solar include expensive initial investment and installation and the potential to still need a backup heating system (Pahl 26).

Design Requirements •

The building’s southern facade should not be shaded between the hours of 9am and 3pm when exposure to the sun is crucial.

•

Ground-or roof-mounted frames can be used to orient the solar collectors within 30 degrees of true south along an east-west axis line, ensuring maximum capture of the sun’s energy (Pahl 65). Frames provide flexibility and multiple alternatives for locating solar collectors on or adjacent to the home. This helps to overcome present orientation and architectural barriers that are already present when retrofitting a building’s heating system (Pahl 65).

•

Consider the solar insolation (the amount of “peak sun hours”) for MA when calculating the needed size of solar collectors.

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Active solar should provide no less than 40% of a building’s heating needs in order to be viable economically (Pahl 66).

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Appropriate system size: the solar collector surface area should be 12-30% of the building’s flooring surface

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The building should be appropriately weatherized with insulation, storm windows etc. (Pahl, 66)

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If possible the angle of incidence of the solar collector should be adjusted to accommodate the shifting location of the sun’s height in the sky.

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To calculate the optimal angles for a fixed collector in winter: add 15 degrees to the angle of latitude and subtract 15 in the summer (Pahl 67).

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

Solar Hot Water Heat from the sun can be used to heat a domestic hot water system. In this system the sun’s warmth heats antifreeze liquid that is then transferred to the domestic hot water system using a heat exchanger. This process needs well-insulated storage tanks and solar collectors and has similar design considerations for siting and storage as active solar (“Renewable Energy”).

A simple active solar hot-air system without storage Adapted from Greg Pahl, Natural Home Heating, pg. 69

Solar Collector

Blower

Hot Air Control System

Cold Air

Retrofitting Current Buildings Strategies to reduce energy consumption and save money. •

Adding insulation to walls, basements, roofs, underneath concrete pads and sealing up cracks to reduce drafts

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Invest in energy star appliances

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Install storm windows

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Exchange conventional lighting fixtures for LED light bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps which have a longer lifespan and consume less electricity.

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Install low-flow water fixtures

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Replace old inefficient heating and cooling systems

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Install a programmable thermostat

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Provide separate zones in larger buildings so some areas remain cooler while others retain heat (‘8 Ways to a Greener Lifestyle’)

Note that adding insulation is a multi-faceted approach that is best done during the major retrofit of a building.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

LANDSCAPE AND ENERGY

Shade Cools Buildings

An Open Southern Aspect Warms Buildings

Provide external sources of shade in summer months for the walls, roof and windows of a home to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the building. Shade limits the amount of solar radiation of the structure which creates cooler interior temperatures in the home (Reed 21). Mid-late afternoon and early-mid morning are times of day when it is most vital to provide shade for your home (Reed 23). The shape of the building and its orientation within the landscape and its relation to the sun will determine specifically where to site plants in the landscape to aid in shading (Reed 24). Basic rules include shading the southern facade of the buildings in the summer. In general, deciduous vegetation is ideal because its seasonal shift in foliage protects from sun in the summer while allowing light/heat to reach the house in colder months (Reed 25). Built-in overhangs, vines, low lying deciduous vegetation like shrubs are ideal because unlike deciduous trees they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pose a threat to the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foundation (Reed 58).

Facilitate the greatest amount of light into a building at midday to help heat the building in winter (Reed 57). For buildings in cold climates, where heating in the winter is a priority, open space that extends between the southeast and southwest landscape of the home is critical. Take advantage of sunlight between 9AM and 3PM especially in winter months by creating and maintaining open space that extends southeast and southwest (Reed 57).

Planted Buffers Reduce Heat Loss from Winter Winds In the winter, cold winds from the north and northwest extract heat from buildings by increasing the exchange rate of air between indoor and outdoor spaces, bringing more cold air in and warm are out, and forcing cold air in between small gaps in infrastructure (Reed 63). The velocity at which cold winds reach a building can be decreased with a physical obstruction like a windbreak. Windbreaks options include planted evergreen buffers adjacent to the building, a landform alteration or structures in the landscape situated north or northwest of the building to deflect winds.

Orientation and Vegetation Help to Cool Buildings Cool the air simply by encouraging and incorporating more vegetation in the surrounding landscape. Plants use heat from surrounding air to transpire moisture with their foliage, resulting in cooler air temperatures. Identify the dominant direction of winds and avoid blocking these channels with infrastructure or vegetation and direct summer breezes towards indoor and outdoor living spaces (Reed 42).

A evergreen buffer redirects wind

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

Prevent the ground from absorbing heat that may radiate into adjacent buildings by adding vegetation, avoiding pavement and bare soil around the perimeter of buildings. Surrounding buildings with permeable materials that permit rain to percolate and surfaces that reflect heat (Reed 52).

Plant Placement and Management Schemes

Residents of Gould Farm have expressed a need for low maintenance landscapes. Alternative landscaping practices like reducing lawn, planting designed plant communities and managing water use help decrease maintenance, conserve energy and encourage interactive management. Within this model there is opportunity to incorporate engaging landscape activities into the meaningful work program at Gould Farm.

competitive strategies (Rainer, West 43, 47). •

Work with the physical constraints of your landscape because “each site, with its unique soil conditions and light levels, favors plants with specific shapes and functions” (Rainer, West 47). Rather than working to amend the physical constraints of a site, work with it by using plants that thrive within and are adapted to the existing site condition. This expends less energy while developing “a strong sense of place,” a unique plant community specific to a landscape (Rainer, West 49). This extends to coordinating plants with soil conditions (existing fertility, soil pH, moisture levels) and climatic context (average rainfall, length of the growing season and available heat/sunlight).

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Cover the ground densely and vertically layer plants based on their shape or structure (Rainer, West 50). Intentionally plant thick groundcovers to avoid bare soil because it creates an empty niche that weeds will fill (Rainer, West 50).

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To maintain an appealing aesthetic an orderly frame can be used to give coherence to a “wild” looking plant community. Examples include mowed edges along a meadow planting, hedges or structures like fences, walls or paths (Rainer, West 58).

•

Value management instead of maintenance. In a plant community, human roles shift from one of maintaining single plants to managing and preserving an entire community of plants. Regular maintenance activities like pruning, spraying, mulching and watering are replaced with management activities like selective plant additions or removal, burning and mowing. Emphasis is placed on preserving the system’s unity which consists of the balance among species and foundational functional layers. This also includes allowing for “self design” within communities as disturbance, competition and succession create dynamic shifts and inevitable adaptations in species and plant distribution (Rainer, West 61). It is important to note that plant community management is an interactive

Plant Communities are SelfSustaining

Designed plant communities are groupings of compatible species, inspired by the layers, relationships, resilience and dynamism of wild plant communities (Rainer, West 17). This conceptual framework differs from traditional landscape design because it looks beyond ornamental qualities and plants as isolated, individual objects within a garden (Rainer, West 18). As resilient systems, plant communities are capable of adapting to disturbance, resisting invasive plants or pests, efficiently allocating resources and recycling their own energy (Reed 76). The self-sufficient nature of plant communities requires external inputs of resources including human energy spent on weeding, watering, applying amendment and fertilizer (Reed 76). Designed plant communities at Gould Farm can significantly reduce the cost, time and energy spent on landscape maintenance (Reed 75).

Essential Principles for Creating Self-Sustaining Plant Communities •

Plant communities are related populations where compatible plants interact and species composition adapts and changes as the community establishes itself. Plants within designed communities are not isolated individuals, they are part of a system within which it is important to consider the interaction of and align with compatible relationships and

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

process; it should be informed by specific design goals in order to provide guidance for management intervention (Rainer, West 62). •

Allow the plant community to adapt over time. This means plant diversity may decrease and the amount of surface area they cover will be altered as the community adapts to its changing context.

•

Plants may need additional help in establishment, particularly watering.

Aside from enhancing the common areas of neighborhoods there is potential for the management of plant communities to become an activity that is integrated with Gould’s meaningful work program replacing lawn mowing. This activity could provide opportunities to learn about ecological systems and plant identification while spending therapeautic time outdoors. There is also potential to align with the Farm’s mission by connecting guests to the landscape, and providing an avenue in which they can contribute to their community by maintaining enjoyable common spaces.

Meadow plant community.

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

A diverse plant community lining a path.

Lawns: High Maintenance and a Low Return Gould Farm has a substantial amount of lawn in the Upper Campus. These mowed spaces are mainly surrounding buildings and within common areas in the landscape. Lawn maintenance has become part of the meaningful work program but doesn’t entirely fit with the mission of the farm and is used more as an overflow activity when other activities are full of participants. Lawns are high maintenance landscapes, requiring regular mowing, watering and in some cases application of fertilizer and pesticides to maintain a sleek green carpet aesthetic. Disadvantages to lawns include how energy intensive they are in terms of human labor and fossil fuel use, the occasional use of toxic chemicals like herbicides and an overall lack of biodiversity. Eliminating or simply reducing lawn could be beneficial but before doing so it is important to assess where lawn is really needed for recreational use and where it is not thriving (Reed 91). Initial actions for lawn reduction could include discontinued mowing in selected areas. These areas of “liberated lawn” can be replaced with: •

Mowing the edges of a wild patch and adding grass and flower meadow species for texture, color and enhanced diversity (Reed 93)

•

A patch of shrubs, grove of trees, turf of lowgrowing mixed grasses or edible landscapes of berry bushes, fruit and nut trees or a vegetable garden.

More broadly this landscape could also become a community of plants that is reflective of the region’s flora (Reed 94). The overarching goal is to minimize the amount of managed landscape and maximize the amount of wild or partially wild land.

Using Water Efficiently Another way to minimize energy use at Gould Farm is to manage the use of water effectively to ensure less stormwater runoff, erosion, and the need for watering. Using water efficiently means that water is absorbed by the landscape which reduces erosion and pollution that would result in the need for costly landscape repairs in the future. Water management at Gould Farm could take the form of collecting rainwater, managing stormwater runoff with topography and aligning the moisture needs of planted species with the climate’s expected rainfall and site specific soil moisture content (Reed 100). Basic stormwater management practices include: •

Minimizing bare ground

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Collecting rainwater from roofs for watering vegetation

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Reducing impermeable surfaces

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Aligning gardens and paths with the slope of the landscape-on contour to help slow water and absorb run-off

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Using basic earthworks (eg. swales) to direct water to where you need it

Groundcover VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

Works Cited Center for EcoTechnology. “8 Ways to a Greener Lifestyle.” N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. Alexander, Christopher, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein, Max Jacobson, Ingrid Fiksdahl-King, and Shlomo Angel. A Pattern Language: towns, buildings, construction. New York, NY: Oxford U Press, 1977. Print. Bakker, R.h., E. Pedersen, G.p. Van Den Berg, R.e. Stewart, W. Lok, and J. Bouma. “Impact of wind turbine sound on annoyance, self-reported sleep disturbance and psychological distress.” Science of The Total Environment 425 (2012): 42-51. Web. Boyd, Robynne. “The Quest for Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Despite Failures.” Scientific American Blog Network. Scientific American, 06 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. Brand, Stewart. How buildings learn: what happens after they’re built. London: Penguin , 2012. Print. Brown, Matthew. “Vertical Axis Wind Turbines.” Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. N.p., 13 Dec. 2016. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. Chapin, Ross. Pocket Neighborhoods: creating small-scale community in a large-scale world. Newtown, CT: The Taunton Press, 2011. Print. Hester, Randolph T. Design for Ecological Democracy. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2006. Print. McCamant, Kathryn M., and Charles R. Durret. Cohousing: a contemporary approach to housing ourselves. 1st ed. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1988. Print. “Microhydropower Systems.” Microhydropower Systems | Department of Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. Pahl, Greg. Natural home heating: the complete guide to renewable energy options. White River Junction (Vt.): Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2003. Print. Ragheb, Magdi. “Vertical axis wind turbines.” University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1 (2011). Journal. Rainer, Thomas, and Claudia West. Planting in a post-wild world: designing plant communities for resilient landscapes. Portland, OR: Timber Press Inc., 2015. Print. Reed, Sue. Energy-Wise Landscape Design. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers, 2010. Print. 92

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Center for EcoTechnology . “Renewable Energy.” N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2017. Anderson, Katherine, Grey Angell, and Daniel Schell. A Land-Use Master Plan for Conservation and Continuation at Gould Farm. Rep. N.p.: n.p., 1994. Print. Barnes, Bill. “Re: Conway Project, Comments On Things That Has Changed Since the 1994 Report Was Written.” Letter to Wayne Burkhart, Lisanne Finston, Mark Little, Tyler Manton, Bob Rausch, Steve Snyder, Cheryl Whilby. 1 Feb. 2016. MS. Gould Farm, n.p. Doherty, Darren. The Regrarians Long Report. Rep. N.p.: n.p., 2015. Print. “Home Page.” Gould Farm. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. <http://www.gouldfarm.org/>. Kokernak, Grant, and Faren Worthington. Gould Farm Land Use Plan. Rep. N.p.: n.p., 2016. Print. “MassGIS Data - BioMap2.” Mass.gov. N.p., 27 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. ”Who we are.” Gould Farm. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. <http://www.gouldfarm.org/who-we-are/>. Yeomans, P.A. The Challenge of Landscape: The Development and Practice of Keyline. Sydney: Keyline Publishing PTY. LTD., 1958. Print.

GIS DATA SOURCES Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Information Technology Division: EOT Roads 2008, 1:5000 Contours, MassDEP Hydrograpy, National Wetland Inventory, Structures (building foot prints), Soils of Monterey and New Marlborough. Custom geoprocessing by Mark Little Custom geoprocessing by Sam Battaglia Custom geoprocessing by Jason Hurd

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

Images Plant Community

Rimerman, Deane. “Suzannes_Last_Solstice_Garden_Party10.” Flickr. Yahoo!, 02 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Meadow Edge

Marks, David. “Meadow’s edge.” Flickr. Yahoo!, 02 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017 Solar Field

Agriculture, U.S. Department of. “20110420-RD-LSC-0107.” Flickr. Yahoo!, 03 Oct. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.. Vertical Axis Turbine

Ramasamy, Natesh. “Wind Turbine @ Olympic Park, Stratford, London!!!” Flickr. Yahoo!, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2017. Groundcover

K, Jackie. “Groundcover.” Flickr. Yahoo!, 13 May 2010. Web. 24 Mar. 2017. Ed. American Bittern. N.d. Web. <http://forums.steves-digicams.com/pentax-samsung-dslr-kmount-mirrorless/208060-american-bittern.html#b>. Harding, James. Wood Turtle. N.d. N.p. May, Karlee. Jefferson Salamander. N.d. Focus On Conservation. Web. <https://focusonconservation.wordpress.com/tag/burlington/>. Slemmons, Caleb. Oscellated Darner Dragonfly. N.d. Web. <http://www.nhptv.org/wild/ Aeshnidae.asp>. All other images in this document belong to the authors or Robin Howson (used with her permission).

VISIONS AND PATHWAYS APPENDICES

FOR GOULD FARM Monterey, Massachusetts

Samantha Battaglia and Jason Hurd The Conway School Winter 2017