Kripalu Center For Yoga & Health Landscape Management Plan by The Conway School

Through a comprehensive landscape management plan, Kripalu can move its property towards greater ecological resiliency. This report provides recommendations to bring Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape management in line with its mission of fostering the welfare of the whole. The recommendations address current management practices, as well as looking at how a system of management zones can be applied to patterns across the site, now and into the future.

Kripalu

center for yoga & health

The Conway School is the only institution of its kind in North America. Its focus is sustainable landscape planning and design. Each year, through its accredited, ten-month graduate program just eighteen to nineteen students from diverse backgrounds are immersed in a range of applied landscape studies, ranging in scale from residences to regions. Graduates go on to play significant professional roles in various aspects of landscape planning and design.

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN THE CONWAY SCHOOL â&#x20AC;˘ WINTER 2012 SHANA HOSTETTER & KATRINA MANIS

“Kripalu’s vision is to build a new kind of educational institution, one dedicated to the inquiry of what creates a fulﬁlled human life. From our point of view, human fulﬁllment is the critical challenge of our time and the answer to many of our societal problems. The only way we can address the complexity of our personal lives and society as a whole is for more of us to explore, understand, and experience what it means to live an integrated life in which we feel fully alive, connected to others, and committed to fostering the welfare of the whole. we call this exploring the yoga of life.” - Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Kripalu

center for yoga & health LandScape Management plan The Conway School â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 2012 SHana Hostetter & Katrina Manis

Thank you... to the staff at Kripalu: David Surrenda, David Lipsius, Nestor Riva, Moose, Kevin Darcy, and everyone who contributed valuable input during our time at Kripalu. Again and again, guests told us that the people at Kripalu were what made it such a special place. We could not agree more.

Thank you also to our faculty, for their expertise, guidance, and humor.

Contents Executive Summary

Goals

Context

Ecological patterns

Human patterns

Zone Recommendations

Cross-Property recommendations

Case Studies

CONCLUSION

References

Photo Credits

Appendices

The new annex is one of Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first initiatives in a push towards greater sustainability on site.

EXECutive Summary Kripalu needs a comprehensive plan to guide landscape changes within a frame of ecological stewardship. This report outlines a landscape management plan for the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. It establishes the project goals and looks at the context of the Kripalu Center’s property. It also looks at ecological and human patterns across the property, in particular the management of the landscape. In assessing the management of the site, this report breaks the property down into four broad areas, each with its own motivation. The Preservation area focuses on preserving the artifacts from the original estate. Conservation focuses on protecting the ecologically sensitive areas near the Stockbridge Bowl. Operation focuses on the day-to-day management of Kripalu as a retreat, and the Main Building deals with the built environment of the main building, annex, and parking lots. Kripalu is very conscious of its ecological responsibility and manages the property with sustainability in mind. This report identifies key areas in which the landscape management practices could be improved. The report outlines changes that will shift the borders of the current management areas in order to better support ecological processes on the property. These new management zones are used to organize guidelines for landscape changes across the property.

There are areas at Kripalu that see high use, sometimes to the point where uses conflict. Conversely, there are areas on the site that Kripalu expends resources to maintain, but are hardly used by people. Redirecting activities into these underused areas could help reduce this conflict and make better use of resources. Water quality in the neighboring Stockbridge Bowl is a major concern for the area surrounding the lake, and there are several opportunities for Kripalu to better control stormwater on the site before it reaches the Bowl. Replacing lawn with meadows and mid-successional plant communities would help infiltrate more water while also creating new wildlife habitat. Guests to Kripalu sometimes face difficulty in finding their way around the site, and aren’t given sufficient direction on the land itself. More trail cues would make it easier for guests to enjoy the property. Adding further information about other local trail systems would also make it easier for guests to explore and add to their experience of the landscape. Trail cues will vary with each management zone and will indicate the character of each zone to guests. Education is a common element of all the changes on the site. Not only is it important to help guests understand the changes, but by doing so Kripalu’s property can become a living laboratory. Through their experiences on the site, guests can learn and take away messages about, and techniques for, making landscapes more resilient.

Kripalu’s grounds are beautiful and well maintained. Today there are opportunities to improve ecological sustainability in maintaining the Kripalu landscape.

Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s East Drive entrance welcomes guests with a beautiful park-like setting. 2

goalS Kripalu has spent nearly thirty years in Stockbridge, and now seeks an integrated vision of how to best preserve and sustain its 125-acre site into the future. With such a vision, Kripalu staff will be able to anticipate problems in the landscape, rather than just respond to them. On the property, staff, guests, and landscape all interact in a complex web, but are sometimes at odds with one another. Kripalu hopes to move more towards a dynamic, however, where guest and staff actions and interactions are framed within a lens of ecological responsibility. To that end Kripalu began working with the Conway School in 2010 in an effort to better understand how to align its landscape management with its values. In winter of 2011, a team from Conway created a framework with which to evaluate landscape changes based on the Kripalu Center’s values and mission (Carll et al. 2011). That project analyzed broad landscape patterns across the site and region and provided a philosophical guide to future actions rather than proposing concrete design solutions. A spring 2011 Conway team took these principles and applied them to specific landscape problems (Hepfner and Tompkins 2011). The project analyzed the site for a variety of issues, including views, drainage, and vegetation. Most of the report was devoted to examining issues of vehicular access and circulation, looking at how cars arrive and park. Recommendations addressed specific aspects of the whole site, rather than looking at specific areas on the site.

This winter 2012 report builds on the previous work and evaluates how well Kripalu’s landscape management plan achieves its mission. This is especially important as Kripalu enters a new phase of capital improvements to its buildings, with the ultimate goal of increasing sustainability and creating a more positive stay for guests. Bringing the landscape into this move towards environmental responsibility will complement this process and help Kripalu more effectively steward its resources.

ThiS lanDSCaPe ManageMenT Plan will guiDe FuTure aCTionS on The ProPerTy in orDer To iMProve gueST eXPerienCe anD CreaTe a More reSilienT eCoSySTeM. iT SuggeSTS how To DeveloP anD enhanCe on- anD oFF-SiTe ConneCTionS To naTural anD CulTural aTTraCTionS. To aChieve TheSe goalS, ThiS rePorT iDenTiFieS ZoneS oF ManageMenT BaSeD on eCologiCal ProCeSSeS anD huMan uSe PaTTernS anD reCoMMenDS STraTegieS To align TheSe ZoneS wiTh KriPalu’S eCologiCal MiSSion. A Conway student project in the spring of 2012 will focus on more specific design work. Based on the management zones established herein, that new project will continue to analyze specific regions on the property. It will also develop site details and specific designs to address problem areas and further the management recommendations.

On the property, staff, guests, and landscape all interact in a complex web, but are sometimes at odds with one another. Kripalu hopes to move towards a dynamic wherein guest and staff actions are framed within a lens of ecological responsibility.

KripaLu LandScape ManageMent pLan goaLS

At the time it was built, the Shadow Brook Estate was the largest private residence in the United States. 4

Context The Berkshires The Berkshire region of Western Massachusetts has been attracting visitors for the past two centuries because of its scenic mountain beauty and abundant natural resources. The ancient mountain range was formed when North American and African tectonic plates collided long ago. Over the past 500 million years the mountains have been transformed into what is now a dramatic, verdant landscape. The region’s marble bedrock hints at the prehistoric sea that once occupied the area and has created rich soils and considerable biodiversity.

Yokun Ridge

Kripalu

Kripalu’s property sits on the shore of the Stockbridge Bowl, a lake named for the bowl-like geologic formation it sits in, which was once known as Lake Mahkeenac. Kripalu’s main building sits midway down the slope from the Yokun Ridge (part of the Taconic Mountain Range) to the Bowl itself, and this slope is a major complicating factor for Kripalu. The steep slopes funnel stormwater into the lake, potentially contributing to water quality problems. The Stockbridge Bowl is in the Housatonic River watershed, and water quality is a problem which continues to plague the river as it travels south through Connecticut before emptying into Long Island Sound.

Kripalu is located near the New York state line, in the town of Stockbridge.

including the channeling and improvement of a stream that inspired the estate’s name, “Shadow Brook.” The original “cottage” was briefly the largest private home in America, but economic conditions soon made maintaining the house unfeasible. After its last private owner, Andrew Carnegie, died, his widow turned it over to the Jesuits, who used it as a novitiate to train new brothers.

The Berkshires region is largely rural, and the Stockbridge Bowl is a major scenic and recreational draw. Though the surrounding landscape is dominated by forest, as it is throughout the Berkshires, there is significant residential development and a thriving hospitality industry to serve visitors to the region. There is also an active conservation community that seeks to preserve open space in the region, some of which is directly adjacent to Kripalu.

The Site’s History The Kripalu property has changed hands many times in the last century, and its character has changed with its owners. One constant, though, has always been the sweeping beauty of the Berkshires and the Stockbridge Bowl, created in 1880 by damming a local brook. In 1892, Anson Phelps Stokes built a vacation house overlooking the Bowl on hillsides originally cleared for sheep pastures. The slope down to the lake was molded into a picturesque vista according to a rustic vision featuring an abundance of half-timbered buildings and northern conifer trees. There was elaborate terracing and sculpting of the earth,

As the use of the property changed dramatically, the original estate began to be divided up and sold off, including land that housed a farm that supplied food to the estate and a pond that supplied water. Meanwhile, disaster struck, as the original manor house burnt to the ground in 1956. The Jesuits rebuilt in 1959, on a similarly grand scale, the massive Shadowbrook building that houses much of the Kripalu Center today. They overestimated their potential for growth, however, and essentially abandoned the building after barely a decade of use. The Kripalu Ashram purchased the property in 1983. The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health has become a popular retreat for people from all over the Northeast and beyond. It now has hundreds of employees on the property, with hundreds more guests visiting each week. Yet much of its site infrastructure is still more

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Context

Kripalu’s guests come from all over the country, but most are from the Boston and New York areas.

appropriate to a large country vacation home or an isolated seminary. Parking is a major challenge, as the steep site does not have sufficient flat land to fit easy-to-navigate parking lots for guests and staff. There is also opportunity to improve the water systems, both in supplying freshwater and treating wastewater. The Stockbridge Bowl, which visually anchors the whole landscape, is being silted up and is polluted by runoff from the many developed properties surrounding it (Stockbridge Bowl Association 2011). The history of the site is a rich part of the setting and a huge asset, but its aging infrastructure presents some of the biggest challenges for moving the Kripalu Center forward. Throughout the years, guests have enjoyed the Stockbridge Bowl’s recreational opportunities.

local contExt Kripalu is located in a region where residents value both the ecological and cultural heritage of the area. The scenic beauty of the Berkshires attracted artists throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the best known denizens of Stockbridge, and it was from one of his writings that the name “Shadow Brook” was taken for the original estate on what is now the Kripalu property. Norman Rockwell is another local hero. His paintings immortalized the historic downtown of Stockbridge as an archetypal small New England town, and the buildings he depicted are carefully preserved to maintain the historic connection. Lenox and Stockbridge are also home to the Tanglewood Institute, which borders Kripalu to the north and east. The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood draws hundreds of visitors to concerts in the 6

Tanglewood is Kripalu’s neighbor and the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Yokun Ridge

Kripalu

Stockbridge Bowl The Yokun Ridge borders Kripalu’s property to the north, the Stockbridge Bowl sits on the downslope, to the south.

warmer months and serves as a venue for special events year-round. Its annual festivals bring in thousands of people to enjoy both the musical offerings and scenic landscape, but increase congestion and create an acute burst of visitors, and their foot traffic, cars, and waste, to the areas that drain into the Stockbridge Bowl, potentially causing ecological harm. Also bordering Kripalu, and once part of the Shadow Brook Estate, is the Yokun Ridge Reserve, several hundred acres of conservation land owned by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council. The land encompasses much of the Yokun Ridge to the north and west of Kripalu, simultaneously helping protect the ecosystems of the Taconic Mountains and offering an opportunity for recreation. In addition to hiking, the land is also open to mountain biking and hunting, attracting both local residents and visitors to the area. Kripalu’s neighbor to the west was another part of the original Shadow Brook Estate. The Berkshire Country Day School sits on land that originally supported a working farm. Today it is a private school educating children from kindergarten to ninth grade. According to their website, the values they work to instill in their students include respect, citizenship, wellness, and sustainability, a philosophy not unlike that of Kripalu. The presence of so many students literally next door to Kripalu presents an opportunity to integrate their educational process with the rich landscape resources Kripalu has to offer.

The Stockbridge Bowl has many landowners around its shores, which has significant negative impact on the water quality and wildlife habitats in and around it. Not only does the number of people increase the amount of pollution entering the Bowl, but it makes it difficult to control the source of the pollution. Water quality is very important ecologically, however, as the Stockbridge Bowl is home to several threatened and endangered species, including the sedge wren and the boreal marstonia, a small aquatic snail—in fact, it’s the only place the boreal marstonia is found in Massachusetts. The Stockbridge Bowl is regularly dredged to remove sediment that is carried into it by streams and stormwater, potentially disturbing these sensitive species. Additionally, nutrient loading from fertilizers carried into the lake allows many invasive weeds to grow along the shoreline, so the water level is drawn down two to five feet every winter to expose their roots and kill them. As a major landholder on the Bowl, Kripalu could both help ameliorate the effects of the drainage into the lake and serve as an even stronger example of responsible stormwater management to neighboring properties than it already does.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Context

The Stockbridge Bowl is an attractive destination no matter what the season. 8

Ecological Patterns To develop a landscape management plan, it is important to understand the ecological processes across the site. The analyses of major ecological patterns helped identify some of the key management challenges and opportunities at Kripalu.

and receives abundant year-round sun. This provides an environment in which a wide variety of vegetation can thrive. The south-facing slopes are also more enjoyable for guests in the cooler months, as such slopes provide maximum solar exposure.

Slope and Aspect

Drainage

Steep slopes dominate the site, with nearly one-third of the property having slopes of greater than 10 percent. The steepest slopes are to the north, where the land drops from Richmond Mountain Road; around all the parking lots, where the land has been terraced; and along the streams on the property. Not only are these very steep slopes difficult to build on, but they often limit pedestrian and vehicular circulation across them and are prone to erosion even when undisturbed. Even less severe slopes present a physical challenge for pedestrians and can be eroded by stormwater.

Steep slopes speed water flow into the Bowl, especially when they are covered by lawn or pavement. Rather than slowly infiltrating through the soil, stormwater travels as surface water into streams, wetlands, or directly into the Bowl itself. This rapid movement provides little opportunity for water to be filtered of sediment or other pollution. In fact, the slopes can cause surface water to gain velocity and pick up additional sediment as it travels to the Stockbridge Bowl.

The Kripalu site slopes down from Yokun Ridge, north of the property, to the Stockbridge Bowl, at its southern boundary. Accordingly, most of the property faces south

Compounding the problem of drainage is the lack of significant vegetation on many of the slopes on the site. The lawn to the south of the main building is currently mowed about once a week. Not only does this minimize A

Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main building sits on one of the few flat areas between Richmond Mountain Road and the Stockbridge Bowl.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan ECOLOGICAL patterns

Richmond Mtn. rd.

RTe. 183

Stockbridge BOwl

Water on the site moves through streams and wetlands to the Stockbridge Bowl.

the above ground vegetation, but it compacts the soil, further limiting infiltration. This is a pattern repeated around the Stockbridge Bowl, across many different properties. The abundance of lawn and lack of filtration is a major reason the Bowl is regularly dredged to remove sediment and drawn-down to kill weeds along the shoreline (Stockbridge Bowl Association 2011), potentially destroying the habitat of sensitive species in the process.

Endangered Species The Berkshires are home to many threatened and endangered species, and the southeastern part of Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property has been identified as rare species habitat by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. There are several species known to be in the area. The Jefferson salamander, Ambystoma jeffersonianum, is a state species of special concern that breeds in wetlands and vernal pools. Across the state, these salamanders are losing their wetland habitats to development, which is a threat to their health and continued existence in New England. They have been identified on Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Massachusetts Audubon Society land to the north of Kripalu.

The sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis, has also been identified in the wildlife sanctuary. This bird is endangered in Massachusetts and nests in wet meadows with tall grasses and sedges. Throughout the state, these meadows have been disappearing due to hydrologic changes, agriculture, and the invasion of non-native species. And the boreal marstonia, Marstonia lustrica, is a state endangered species whose only home in Massachusetts is the Stockbridge Bowl. While its habitat has actually increased as lake eutrophication has encouraged the growth of invasive plants, yearly drawdown of the lake by the Stockbridge Bowl Association to expose and kill those weeds could prove devastating to the species. All these creaturesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; habitats are primarily in areas already protected by wetland restrictions. But their situations underscore the importance of conserving these sensitive ecosystems and managing for their health, and provide people with additional incentive to protect them. In their mission to create a more balanced, resilient landscape, Kripalu has the opportunity to help preserve these fragile species.

The Effects of Stormwater Runoff on the Stockbridge Bowl and Its Inhabitants The Stockbridge Bowl, home of the endangered boreal marstonia, is surrounded by development, including houses, lawns, and paved roads.

Stormwater flows into the Stockbridge Bowl with little filtration. The Bowl suffers from eutrophication and excessive weed growth because of the levels of phosphorus in the runoff.

The Stockbridge Bowl is drawn down annually to starve and kill these weeds, simultaneously potentially damaging the boreal marstoniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s habitat (NHESP, 2008).

Kripalu Landscape Management plan ECOLOGICAL patterns

Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy is inspired by Eastern traditions. 12

huMan PaTTernS Though Kripalu is dedicated to protecting the natural world, the organization’s primary focus is on the human experience. Thus, human patterns on the site are vital to determining appropriate management.

Human activitiES Guests and staff use the property for a variety of activities, including walking, swimming, yoga, and meditation. Most of the property is open to walking and hiking, thanks to paved roads and walkways and an extensive trail system. Steep slopes are the major barrier to movement on the site, both because they are too difficult to walk up and can be too vulnerable to erosion to be walked upon. Swimming, kayaking, and other water sports are naturally confined to the lake itself, and the lakefront acts as a staging ground for them. Activities like outdoor yoga are restricted to the few flat or shallowly sloped areas on the site, at the top of the South Lawn and on the site of the former mansion. Overall, human use of Kripalu’s property is concentrated around the main building, the Mansion Lawn, and the area—including the roads—in between. This sometimes

In warmer weather, guests use lawns to practice yoga.

creates problems when these uses conflict. It also leaves large areas of the property potentially underused. Use of these areas could help to reduce the conflicts on the more congested parts of the site. For example, many people who come to Kripalu like to meditate outdoors, but their concentration may be disturbed by walkers or people gathering and talking together. There is also a safety risk for those meditating as they walk when they share the road with cars. Creating more spots for meditation in areas that currently see little use would make it easier for guests to find peace and quiet away from more vigorous activities. Similarly, Kripalu has a strong focus on yoga but a shortage of appropriate outdoor space in which to do it. While faculty may take a class outside in good weather, both the top of the South Lawn and the Mansion Lawn are high-traffic pedestrian areas and are bordered by busy roads. Not only would these other activities distract from the class, but the presence of the class may dissuade others from enjoying those spaces. By creating a clearly differentiated outdoor space for yoga that is insulated from these distractions, various activities could coexist better.

Guests can take guided hikes to off-site trails. Because they are not well marked, some trails are hard to find without guides.

KripaLu LandScape ManageMent pLan huMan patternS

likEd and diSlikEd placES A 2010 survey of Kripalu staff gathered information about places at Kripalu that they thought worked well and areas that needed improvement. While some areas were universally liked, such as the Mansion Lawn and orchard, or disliked, such as the parking lots, other areas received more mixed reactions. The East Drive, for example, was lauded for being “peaceful and contemplative” and a “subtle, warm invitation” to Kripalu, but the conflict between pedestrians and cars was also mentioned. Similarly, the front lawn was appreciated for its expansive feel and the views it afforded, but the comment that “the amount of mowed grass needs to be addressed” was echoed by many.

Unsurprisingly, areas that received the most comments, positive or negative, were also the areas that saw the most use. The parking lots and several areas around the main building had largely negative comments, while the artifacts and areas around the mansion site were well-loved. Negative comments largely revolved around disharmonious experiences and unsustainable features of the site, while positive ones focused on natural beauty, history, and a mindful environment—in short, staff preferred areas that had qualities that were most in line with Kripalu’s mission.

Mansion Lawn Lakehouse Beach Parking Lots

South Lawn

Main Building Entrance East Gate Entrance

Front Door Meditation Garden

Steep Slope by Orchard

East Drive Earth’s Altar

Problem Areas

Labyrinth Orchard Camperdown Elm Row of Sugar Maples Historic Stonework Yoga Lawn

Favorite Places

While some areas were either favored or disliked by staff, many received mixed sentiments.

Guests travel to favorite places on the property such as (left to right) the historical Camperdown elm tree from the original estate or the Earth’s Altar, but must contend with difficult slopes.

Land Use Kripalu’s function as a major retreat requires a variety of land uses, from extremely built to extremely natural. Dayto-day operations require a large amount of infrastructure, including buildings, wells, roads, and parking lots, and nearly a tenth of the site is covered by impervious surfaces. Kripalu’s buildings include the main building and annex, a house for invited presenters, a building to house volunteers and groundskeeping equipment, a lake house, and a wastewater treatment facility. These built parts of the landscape are located in various places around the property, but have a major physical and psychological impact on the landscape nonetheless. The main building alone has a footprint of over an acre, and its monumental size dwarfs people and structures on the site.

There is also a variety of other land uses on smaller portions of the property. North of the main building is a small orchard started by the Jesuits, the apples of which are still pressed into cider. A large area south of Route 183 is devoted to a leach field. Near the Stockbridge Bowl and along the westernmost stream are areas of wetlands. Some of these land uses are inherently more in sync with Kripalu’s mission because they are left as open space, but even in areas of high use Kripalu’s needs as an organization can be balanced with their mission for ecological sustainability.

The majority of Kripalu’s property, however, is forested. Some of the trees are native species that have grown up out of cleared fields, but there are also many non-native conifers and ornamental species that were part of the planting from the original manor. Additionally, nearly forty acres of Kripalu’s property are devoted to lawn.

Richmond Mountain Rd.

LAND USE/LAND COVER RTE. 183

Stockbridge Bowl

URBAN PUBLIC COMMERCIAL POWERLINE/UTILITY VERY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CROPLAND BRUSHLAND/SUCCESSIONAL PASTURE OPEN LAND FOREST FORESTED WETLAND NON-FORESTED WETLAND PARTICIPATION RECREATION WATER-BASED RECREATION WATER

Most of the land around Kripalu is forested, with limited areas of development.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Human Patterns

trailS There is an extensive trail system across Kripalu that connects many interesting attractions on the property, such as the lakefront, the Mansion Lawn, and the meditation garden. The trail specifics vary significantly. They are dirt, mulch, and gravel; they cross bridges and go up stone steps; they travel through wetlands, forests, and fields. The trails also connect to offsite trail systems, such as those on Berkshire Natural Resource Council land to the northwest or Kennedy Park in Lenox, to the northeast. There are, however, areas where trails are lacking, for various reasons. In some places, there simply aren’t trails that take people directly where they want to go. This sometimes results in guests walking along roadways shared by cars, as with the East Drive. At other times, guests walk directly up steep slopes instead of going out of their way to find a path, such as happens on the South Lawn. While it is possible to take a route that goes gently up the slope through the wooded stream corridor to the east, some guests prefer to charge directly up the lawn itself, which takes them across strenuous slopes of greater than 15 percent grade.

Additionally, the trail system doesn’t have sufficient cues or signs to direct guests on the property. While trails are generally easy to follow once one is already on them, getting there is often hard, and guests have repeatedly identified the need for trailheads across the property. Information about where a trail goes, how long it is, or what might be along the way is not currently available on the trails themselves. In fact, some of that information is not available in writing anywhere—Kripalu’s current trail maps give only a distance and a rough estimate of difficulty and time.

Trails seem to be lacking in some areas, which causes guests to share roads with cars or walk up steep slopes.

Kripalu’s current trails map offers few landmarks and no indication of the terrain.

Richmond Mountain Rd.

RTE. 183

LEGAL RESTRICTIONS PROPERTY BOUNDARY STREAM BUFFER WETLANDS WATER SCENIC MOUNTAIN ACT Stockbridge Bowl

Much of Kripalu’s property is under legal restriction of one kind or another, which dictates some of the organization’s management strategies.

Legal Large portions of Kripalu’s property are regulated under legal protections on altering the land. The Berkshire Scenic Mountain Act, designed to preserve both the scenic character and water quality of the Berkshires, covers the northern portion of the property (see map above). This includes the northern parking lots, orchard, and mansion site. Significant proposed alteration to the landscape must be reviewed by the Stockbridge Conservation Commission to determine whether it would negatively affect either neighbors’ views or watershed resources.

Under the Wetlands Protection Act, the River Protections Act, and Stockbridge’s own wetland bylaws, even more of the property is regulated. Multiple streams on the property each have a hundred-foot buffer around them restricting development. The wetlands near the Bowl have a similar buffer, and the Bowl itself has a larger setback of one hundred fifty feet. Combined, these restrictions cover much of the property, leaving what is now the South Lawn and labyrinth as the only large areas without a major legal constraint. If Kripalu ever wants to expand its operations or make significant landscape changes, these areas south of the main building will be important because they have the fewest legal restrictions.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Human Patterns

CURRENT MANAGEMENT AREAS

A.12

Richmond Mountain Rd.

A.11

A.4 A.17 A.7 A.1

A.2

A.3

A.10

A.9 A.13 A.8

A.14

RTE. 183

A.13

A.16 A.15

A.5

A.15

MANAGEMENT AREAS PRESERVATION CONSERVATION A.6

OPERATION Stockbridge Bowl

MAIN BUILDING

Currently, the property can be divided into four main management areas: Preservation, Conservation, Operation, and the Main Building. See main text for descriptions of each subarea (A.1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A.17).

Management Areas Kripalu’s property is used for a wide range of activities, and its management varies accordingly. Overall, though, it can be divided into four main management areas. The Preservation area, in the east end, is focused on maintaining the historical artifacts from the manor era, both built and natural elements of the landscape. The Conservation area is on the southern end of the property, bordering the lake, and is focused on protecting the natural environment and the Stockbridge Bowl. The Operation area is focused on day-to-day hospitality and generally has the most resources devoted to the landscape. And the final area, the Main Building, focuses on the built environment around the main building. The gatehouse ruins greet guests upon their arrival at the east entrance.

Within these four broad areas are many subareas with varying management regimes, and while the broader areas support Kripalu’s goals of ecological land stewardship, there are some specific management techniques and subareas that may conflict with these goals. Though these four broad management areas form the basis of the proposed management zones (see pages 27–33), some proposed borders have been shifted and subareas within them have been created or eliminated based on the analyses. In order to recommend specific management zones, however, it was necessary to first examine the ways in which the current management areas fall in line with Kripalu’s mission or run counter to it and assess how any deficiencies can be corrected.

Preservation The Mansion Lawn provides space for gathering, but its views to the Bowl are being increasingly obscured by trees.

The Berkshires have a rich history, and at Kripalu there is a strong interest in helping preserve that history. That regional interest carries over onto Kripalu’s property, where there is a great deal of reverence and respect for the artifacts remaining from the original estate, both built and natural. In the Preservation area, concern for these artifacts is the driving force behind management. The turf that covers the site of the former manor house is mowed regularly to keep the area open and provide a space where guests can relax, meditate, or do yoga. Trails through the area guide walkers past the historic stonework. Most of this area is also under the legal restriction of the Scenic Mountain Act, which severely limits development options.

A.1 Mansion Lawn

The stone walls of the original mansion remain as an important feature of the landscape.

The Mansion Lawn is the site of the original cottage, which burned down in 1956. Remnants of the original building remain, including much of the original stonework and the Camperdown elm, a variant of Scotch elm known for its

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Human Patterns

unusual weeping branches. The lawn is also one of the few flat areas on the property and is frequently used by guests and staff. It is mowed every ten days, on average, to keep it open for yoga, meditation, and gathering. The preservation of these historical elements is the major motivation in this area, but some activities run counter to that goal. The lawn is used for overflow parking in the winter, when plowed snow piles reduce the parking spots available elsewhere. The presence of parked cars is very much at odds with the contemplative, respectful tone of the mansion landscape, and prevents guests from fully appreciating the area. Additionally, plants’ root systems are beginning to damage some of the stonework as they establish themselves in the walls. The plant regrowth is also diminishing the history of the area. For the original estate, the view to the Bowl was a central feature. From the Mansion Lawn, however, the view is now almost obscured by trees.

a.4 General Preservation—North To the north of the East Drive, management has a few built structures to work around, including the Hill House, the meditation garden, and the historic gatehouse. Like the southern preservation area, there is extensive management and removal of invasives, including Norway maple, honeysuckle, and garlic mustard. Slopes are very steep and there is significant runoff from Richmond Mountain Road. As it stands, though, the biomass in the woods appear to be doing an effective job of slowing and infiltrating the stormwater, and maintaining that biomass is important. The steep, sometimes impassable slopes on the north side of the East Drive make it difficult to construct an easy-to-navigate trail system there. The trails take walkers to and from the road rather than from one landscape feature to another because slopes are so steep that trail construction would be difficult. In addition, the gatehouse ruins are a very interesting attraction for guests, but though the crumbling building is intriguing there is no information there explaining it.

A.2 Abandoned Nursery The now-abandoned nursery was created in the early days of the ashram’s time on the site, but the venture was abandoned as the focus of operations shifted more towards hospitality. The conifers that were being cultivated have now grown into large trees that are no longer marketable, nor even transplantable, and the area is largely unused except as a pass-through by occasional pedestrians. The nursery trees line the north side of the area, while the rest of the area is maintained as brush and is cut annually to prevent trees from regrowing.

A.3 General Preservation—South The rest of the Preservation area south of the East Drive is managed in a similar fashion. The woods are managed to control invasives, including bishop’s weed, bindweed, barberry, and Norway maple. Since using pesticides is not part of Kripalu’s philosophy or practice, the organization relies on physical removal of the plants. Trails are frequently used by guests and are maintained and mulched regularly. The trails allow guests to easily enjoy the historic features of the site and appreciate the physical signs of those who used the land before them. Along the boundary with Route 183, a row of very mature sugar maples is suffering from their proximity to the highway, which is not managed by Kripalu. Decades of road salt have taken their toll, as the salt is absorbed by tree roots and disrupts the maples’ cellular processes. 20

The Swami Kripalu meditation garden is tucked into the woods in the Preservation area.

Conservation

The lakefront is a popular summer destination.

The Stockbridge Bowl suffers from water quality problems, so it is critical to maintain the area between Route 183 and the shoreline as a buffer from the intense human use of the road and operation area. While the road may have been built without regard for ecological patterns, it now is an important boundary on the site. As a well-trafficked state highway, it is a barrier not just to some wildlife, but to some of Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations and visitors as well. It constricts activity on the northern part of the property, more from the inconvenience and mental barrier than any real danger in crossing. This gives the area south of the highway a more remote, natural character than that of the area north of the highway. The entire area is certainly one in which to limit development, even in the small areas where it is legally possible, in order to conserve and protect the natural systems.

A.5 Wetlands Though the wetlands are generally not actively managed, they do have a trail that runs through them on a raised berm. This trail offers recreation opportunities, as well as the critical water filtration services that the wetlands provide. There is evidence, however, of many invasive species, but simply removing them may do more harm than good. The biomass they provide aids in water filtration, so removing the invasive plants without replacing them with more appropriate species would drastically reduce the filtration capacity of the wetlands and possibly contribute to erosion of the wetlands and further sedimentation of the lake. The trail through the wetlands is on a raised earthen berm.

a.6 Lakefront The lakefront is the primary point from which guests actively enjoy the Stockbridge Bowl. The area has recreation equipment such as kayaks, in addition to a changing house and the lake house. The equipment is currently located in several different spots around the area, which makes access to it a challenge. The Jesuit-era lake house was landscaped with invasive plants, such as burning bush, and the lawn surrounding it is mowed about every ten days.

The wetlands have a diverse population of plants but are plagued by invasive species.

Currently, though, the lakefront functions as almost a deadend, unless guests are going into the water. It lacks gathering spaces that invite people to stay and enjoy the space, but also lacks information about what is around it or how to connect to surrounding trails, including the nearby townowned Gouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meadow, and Bullard Woods, owned by the Stockbridge Bowl Association.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Human Patterns

Operation

a.8 South Drive

This area is where most of Kripalu’s day-to-day management occurs and potential for infrastructural development lies. It is the area with the most—and most frequently—mowed lawn and is highly visible from inside the main building. The current emphasis here is on Kripalu’s function as a center for yoga and health, and hospitality and guest experience are the key drivers of management. The operation area includes most of the existing built infrastructure for the site, including roads, wastewater treatment, and wells. The main building, annex, and parking lots, however, are in their own management area.

The South Drive runs between the main building and Route 183 and has an open view to the main building. While it is lined with a shagbark hickory allée, it has stark views across the surrounding lawns. Because of inadequate paths in the area, pedestrians often walk along this road also, sometimes coming into conflict with vehicles. Creating alternate paths to bring pedestrians off the road could reduce this conflict, while adding more vegetation on the lawns could soften the views as guests come up the drive. Additionally, the intersection of the South Drive and Route 183 is currently very dangerous. It is at a point on Route 183 where the road’s curve reduces visibility, and the pitch of the road makes turning out of the South Drive dangerous in the winter.

a.7 East Drive The East Drive is the main entrance for most visitors, since this wooded route provides a calming sense of transition from the outside world. Although the drive runs through the Preservation area, its business and maintenance regime makes it part of the Operation area, with frequent two-way traffic and plowing and salting in the winter. Not only is it a preferred driving route, but it is a favorite walking route due to its beauty and easy grade. Unsurprisingly, the high volumes of both kinds of traffic can create conflict and congestion.

The East Drive is heavily used by vehicles and pedestrians.

The South Lawn is mowed regularly, but most of it sees little direct use.

The eastern stream corridor is a popular destination for guests to walk.

a.9 South Lawn The South Lawn is one of the central management areas on the property, both literally and figuratively. It opens up views from the building to the lake, and guests gather near the top, where it slopes less than 5 percent. Guests often walk up and down the lawn to the lakefront or the labyrinth, rather than using established trails, because the lawn is so central and initially seems convenient. The slopes of 10 to 15 percent, however, often prove more taxing than simply walking the short distance to take the trail that runs along the stream to the east. The lawn is also mowed frequently, generally every five to ten days, which keeps the area open but reduces the infiltration potential for stormwater. Not only does the regular mowing limit the above-ground growth, which would slow water runoff, but the machinery used to do the mowing compacts the soil and makes it even harder for water to infiltrate.

to follow, and they lead to other interesting spots on the site, there are no signs or other information about where one will end up if one follows any of the trails. Though it is interrupted by a state highway and a driveway, the area is also a major wooded corridor from the Bowl to the conservation area north of Kripalu and may serve as an important route for wildlife movement. While there are currently three footbridges crossing the stream, it is important to avoid surrounding the stream with trails, which could reduce wildlife access and use of the stream corridor.

a.10 Eastern Stream Corridor Stormwater drains from the South Lawn, the Mansion Lawn, and the East Drive into the wooded eastern stream corridor. There are some signs of erosion along the banks from the volume of water that is channeled at times. It also is home to the main trail going between the main building and the area south of Route 183, and the stream drains into the wetlands by the Stockbridge Bowl. Though the trails within the area are mulched and easy

The South Drive is lined with a shagbark hickory allĂŠe.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Human Patterns

a.12 wEStErn StrEam corridor The western stream corridor encompasses most of the western boundary of Kripalu, where it shares a border with the Berkshire Country Day School. Because of the presence of streams, ponds, and wetlands both on and off the property, most of the area is restricted by legal buffer zones. On the property, the area contains the retention basin for drainage from the main parking lots and a stream that drains down to a catch basin just north of Route 183, making water filtration an important part of the area. The slopes are very steep going down to the stream and are partially wooded, which helps with the filtration. Some of the woodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; biomass has recently been removed, though, as the row-planted spruces in the southern end of the area have been limbed up to allow more access for people, with the intention of creating new meditation spaces.

a.13 mEadow

Each fall the orchardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apples are pressed into cider.

a.11 orcHard After the Jesuits built the new Shadowbrook building in the late 1950s, they established an apple orchard on the hill to the north of the building. Today, every fall Kripalu presses the apples into cider to serve in the dining hall. The land the orchard sits on is relatively flat, compared with the average grade at Kripalu, with slope of less than 5 percent across about half the orchard and between a 5 and 10 percent slope across the rest. The grass covering it is mowed approximately every ten days. Because of the manageable slope in the area and the scarcity of flat land across the site, the orchard presents an opportunity to make the land productive, perhaps by introducing grazing animals or by intercropping within the orchard. The major question in this area is whether there are residual pesticides in the soil. Although Kripalu does not use pesticides on the orchard, it is likely that the Jesuits could have, and there may be heavy metals or other toxins in the soil that could preclude growing food or keeping grazing animals in the area.

On the southwestern side of the South Drive, near the labyrinth, Kripalu has recently replaced several acres of mown lawn with wildflower meadow. The meadows were created by plowing up the lawn and seeding in a Northeast meadow mix with additional native plants added in. Kripalu has relied on rainfall for irrigation, so the meadow creation has occurred in the mid spring and late fall thus far. The meadows require less regular maintenance than the lawn and provide habitat to a variety of wildlife species. It is important to monitor the meadows, however, for invasive weeds and wildlife and to adjust management accordingly. Expanding the area devoted to meadow plants could also open up habitat for species that require larger blocks of meadow.

a.14 laByrintH The labyrinth is a spot for meditation and contemplation on the property and is highly valued by guests and staff. It occupies the crest of a small hill south of the main building, and so is on relatively flat terrain. The path of the labyrinth is edged by evergreen shrubs and grasses, which are beginning to grow quite large. The setting feels stark, however, as the labyrinth sits virtually alone in the middle of the lawn, and is not incorporated into the landscape.

a.15 Wastewater Treatment

a.17 Main Building

The water treatment plant provides a vital function on the site, processing all of Kripalu’s wastewater. Although it is at the bottom of the South Lawn, it is hidden from the main building by the hill the labyrinth sits on and an earthen berm. After Kripalu’s leach field failed a couple years ago, a replacement system was created south of Route 183.

The main building itself and the built environment surrounding it are managed separately from the rest of the property. Here the matrix is one of hardscape, with patches of vegetation, whereas across the rest of the property vegetation dominates. Kripalu is taking steps towards increasing sustainability in this heavily altered area of the landscape, recently completing a new, energyefficient annex and exploring further ways to make the building function more efficiently. Circulation patterns in the area also present some problems, as they are currently confusing to guests and make it difficult for them to navigate the property. This brings disharmony into a guest’s arrival and departure, bookending his or her Kripalu visit with an incongruent experience.

Both the treatment plant and the leach field are very near the lake and wetlands, which raises the possibility of nutrients leaching into the Stockbridge Bowl. Not only has one leach field failed in the recent past, but the new leach field is mowed, which compacts the soil and increases the chance of another failure, according to the EPA. Maintaining the health of the current leach field and exploring ways to reduce the volume of water being treated will both be important to a sustainable long-term water plan.

a.16 Southern Field The southern field is located between Route 183 and the wetlands by the Stockbridge Bowl. Though it receives the runoff from the road, it is maintained as lawn. It’s mowed about every two weeks in the warmer months and is sometimes used for golf workshops. It is several hundred feet from the main building, but the flat, open space could provide an opportunity for additional recreation, such as yoga. It is currently used very little beyond the golf classes.

The original front of the building is not universally accessible. This forces Kripalu’s guests to use one of the back doors as the main entrance, which is difficult to both find and navigate.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Human Patterns

Guests frequently cite Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful setting as a major draw for their visit. 26

ZONE RECOMMENDATIONS Outlined in this section are landscape management recommendations organized by management zones. These recommendations grew out of the analyses of the human and ecological patterns across the site.

Preservation z.1 Mansion Lawn •T hin the taller trees south of the Mansion Lawn to preserve views and create a connection between the experience of guests today and that of guests far in the past.

•C lear plants that have established themselves in the

mansion walls, and continue removal of seedlings into the future, to protect the walls.

• Eliminate the use of the Mansion Lawn for overflow parking.

Maintaining a lower tree canopy height could alter the ecosystem of that particular area, as removing the tallest trees would open up the forest floor to more light and allow some shade-intolerant species to grow. It would also add habitat diversity across the entire property, which is currently mostly either mature trees or open space, with very little in between. More importantly for the main management goal of the area, it would preserve the sense of place of the original mansion. Planting slow-growing hardwoods instead of fast-growing conifers could reduce the maintenance burden of preserving the view. Species such as American beech would not only grow at a manageable rate, but their fruit could also provide valuable forage for wildlife.

z.2 Abandoned Nursery •D etermine the purpose of the former nursery and manage it accordingly.

The regular clearing of the abandoned nursery does not appear to be an efficient use of resources, as the space has no clear programmatic purpose and is seldomly used. Without a guiding reason to keep it open, and in order to cut down on maintenance for the area, it should be allowed to grow back into forest or maintained at a mid-successional stage and selectively cleared every few years. Both options have their merits—allowing it to grow into forest would be the lowest-maintenance option, but maintaining it at a midsuccessional stage would add diversity to the habitat types on Kripalu’s property (see Appendix C: Mid-Succession Management). Conversely, Kripalu could more actively maintain the area and use it as productive land. It could be graded to become an outdoor classroom, a spot for yoga and meditation, or an area in which to graze livestock or grow food. The amount of earth moving such changes would require could be expensive, and labor to upkeep the area would definitely increase, but it may be worth the effort and expense to have more flat outdoor space that could be used for a variety of activities. New management guidelines should be created based on intended future use, but it is currently a misallocation of resources to keep the area clear without a use in mind.

Preserving the stonework, the physical remains of the mansion itself, is also critical in this area. Mechanical removal of the plants should be enough to eliminate the problem without the use of herbicides. Overflow parking on the Mansion Lawn, however, is the result of a broader parking shortage across the site, especially in winter. The Landscape Master Plan (2011) explored many alternatives for increasing parking on the property, but another strategy is to decrease the number of cars on the site. Creating a rideshare system (see Case Study: Esalen Institute) or establishing regular and welladvertised shuttle buses to and from major cities such as Boston and New York could not only decrease the demand for parking; it would decrease the carbon footprint of a visit to Kripalu.

The abandoned nursery could become a place for teaching about plants and cultivation.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Zones RECOMMENDATIONS

NEW MANAGEMENT ZONES

Richmond Mountain Rd.

Z.15

Z.14

Z.4

Z.5

Z.19 Z.6

Z.12

Z.1 Z.16

Z.16

Z.17

Z.3 Z.2

Z.13

Z.11

RTE. 183 Z.16

Z.18

Z.10 Z.7

Z.9

MANAGEMENT ZONES PRESERVATION CONSERVATION Z.8

OPERATION Stockbridge Bowl

MAIN BUILDING

The recommended management zones bring the landscape more in line with Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission. For a detailed discussion of proposed zone changes, see Appendix A: Area and Zone Comparison.

z.3 General Preservation—South • Interplant new trees between the sugar maples. As the sugar maples’ health deteriorates, interplanting new saplings between them could create a new feature that would provide a visual connection to the original row of maples. New trees would need to be both somewhat shade tolerant, in order to establish themselves between mature sugar maples, and salt tolerant, or else they could suffer from the same problems as the sugar maples. Maples are in general very sensitive to salt, though silver maple is slightly more tolerant. There are other tree species, though, that are more appropriate for the location and still echo the shape of the sugar maples along the road. Common hackberry, white ash, and various oaks could all be suitable replacements

Z.6 East Drive •M ake the East Drive a one-way entrance, using part

of the existing road to create a pedestrian walkway on the drive.

•R eplace mown edges with more substantial plants. The wooded East Drive provides arriving guests a transition from the outside world, and it is important to preserve this experience. Reducing traffic on the drive and establishing a safer pedestrian environment would bring the road in line with the contemplative nature of the preservation area. Planting salt-tolerant species such as bayberry along the road could relieve Kripalu of the necessity of maintaining the edges as lawn, further bringing the road’s management into line with the principles of the Conservation Zone.

z.4 General Preservation—North • Control invasive species, especially Japanese barberry. Continued control of invasive species will help keep the woods diverse and more resilient to changes. If manual removal does not prove to be effective, more intense measures may be necessary. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has done research indicating that for some species, especially Japanese barberry, it is more effective to cut the plant down to the ground and then use a propane torch to burn the stump than to attempt to remove the entire root structure of the plant (see Appendix D: Tick Control Through Japanese Barberry Management).

z.5 Gatehouse •P rovide information to pedestrians through signs or other media.

Though it is currently an unused and unexplained feature of the landscape, the gatehouse represents an opportunity to bring back some of its original function on the estate. Not only could the gatehouse remain a historical feature, but its setting at the far eastern end of the property could make it a prime point of reference to use to orient walkers to the property and its surroundings. Simply providing an interpretive sign and a map at the building could greatly improve a guest’s ability to navigate and enjoy the site.

Conservation z.7 Wetlands •R evegetate after removal of invasive species to prevent immediate recolonization by invasives.

•B uild a raised boardwalk along segments of the trail that are especially wet.

While invasive species are most likely crowding out native species and diminishing critical wetland habitat, they are also filtering water before it reaches the Stockbridge Bowl. According to ecologist Bill Lattrell, pulling out these plants without replacing them with more appropriate plants not only reduces the wetlands’ filtration ability, but it also frees sediment that would have previously been held in place by the invasive species’ root systems, actually exacerbating water quality problems in the lake. Additionally, the trail through the wetlands could be improved. Although it is on a raised berm, it can get saturated and muddy, which is both uncomfortable and hazardous for guests. The trails are similarly dangerous for small amphibians, who risk being trodden on if they cross the trail. The multi-use trail design manual Trails for the Twenty-First Century recommends constructing a raised

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Zones RECOMMENDATIONS

boardwalk through any wetlands to alleviate both those problems and create a more beautiful trail for guests to enjoy in any weather. Since the trail is within the legal buffer zone of the wetlands, however, the local Conservation Commission may need to approve any changes.

z.8 Lakefront •D esign and plant the area to support today’s functions and create a sense of place.

•A dd trail cues to connect guests to offsite trail systems.

In the summer, the lakefront is busy with guests coming to enjoy the Stockbridge Bowl. Consolidating the storage of recreation equipment, such as kayaks, could improve the appearance of the area and make using the equipment a more streamlined process for guests. Adding plants and creating gathering spaces in this area would also make it a more welcoming space year-round. In cooler months when the lake is not used for recreation, though, the area functions as more of deadend, forcing guests to turn around when they reach the water. Guests’ enjoyment of the lakefront area could be improved by directing them instead to off-property recreational opportunities in nearby Gould’s Meadow and Bullard Woods. Letting guests know about the other trails’ existence is the first step, but offering further information about distance, difficulty, and landmarks could also be helpful.

z.9 Leach Field • Plant the leach field with low-maintenance, nonwoody, shallow-rooted plants.

The leach field should not be mown turf, to limit compaction that could potentially cause the system to fail, as the old system did. Instead, a meadow of shallow-rooted forbs could help keep the leach field healthy into the future. This meadow wouldn’t need the regular maintenance of lawn, and their shallow roots would not damage the infrastructure of the leach field. The lower maintenance needs would allow the area to be managed in accordance with the Conservation Zone, which is appropriate given the location near the Stockbridge Bowl and the impact the area could have on water quality.

z.10 South field • Establish bioswales along the road and plant them with deep-rooted native grasses and shrubs to infiltrate runoff.

• Make more use of the existing open space. The field presents Kripalu with an opportunity to add more vegetation to slow and filter runoff from Route 183. If the area needs to be maintained for golf workshops, a deep-rooted turf grass could be ideal for the rest of the field, to increase infiltration capacity and create a mowable surface for golfing. Kripalu could also capitalize on the flat, open space by using it as a location for additional classes and workshops.

OPERATION

Z.11 South Drive •R eorient the intersection of the South drive with Route 183.

If the East Drive were made one-way, the South Drive could become the main exit from the property, an exit which currently can be dangerous in the winter. According to staff, the South Drive currently intersects Route 183 at a point where the highway is both curving away from the drive and pitched slightly down. Vehicles turning out into the intersection can lose traction, a problem that is exacerbated by slick weather conditions. Moving the South Drive to intersect with Route 183 at a more suitable spot could improve visibility and solve the problem with the pitch of the highway. It could also potentially allow Kripalu to create a pedestrian crosswalk, which the Department of Transportation does not currently allow because of the restricted sight lines of the current intersection.

Z.12 south lawn • Reduce the South Lawn to a couple of acres near the main building, and preserve it as space for gathering and sitting.

The South Lawn is mowed regularly. By reducing its size, Kripalu can greatly decrease the amount of mowed grass, preserving the social benefits of the open space while simultaneously pursuing its mission to manage for ecological sustainability.

Z.13 Eastern Stream Corridor • Create a band of mid-successional habitat along the wooded edge of the eastern stream.

•L imit the trails in the zone to one linear pathway to minimize the impact of human traffic on wildlife.

•P rovide information to direct guests to connecting trails.

This area has the potential to be a significant wildlife corridor. Mid-successional habitat will create a more dynamic, healthier ecotone—the transition between two ecosystem types (see Appendix C: Mid-Succession Management). Over the next decade or so, the establishment of this new habitat could add forage and shelter for a variety of wildlife, especially birds and small mammals, which guests could enjoy seeing. The trails through the area can have an impact on wildlife movement. A Utah study of bison, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer showed that even when hikers tangentially approached the animals on trails, the animals were disturbed from as far as 330 meters away (Knight and Taylor 2003). A similar study in Canada examined how often wolves crossed roads, rail lines, and trails, and found that even low-use trails were barriers to movement a significant percent of the time (Whittington et al. 2004). Although the species are different than those that would be found in Kripalu’s area, the evidence indicates that recreational trails can dramatically alter wildlife behaviors. Additional information on maps or on the trail could explain that trails in the eastern stream corridor connect to trails to the Mansion Lawn, the lakefront, and Gould’s Meadow. Knowing where to go to access other points on the property is an important component of wayfinding.

or goats, which could provide vegetation management without the fossil fuel inputs. Intercropping and grazing would both require an increase in the time spent on management, but could move Kripalu towards more ecological sustainability by increasing the productivity of the land and decreasing fossil fuel expenditures. There may be ways to relieve that time burden from Kripalu’s staff, though. Maintenance of any food crops planted could be incorporated into a workshop offering at Kripalu, such as the Healthy Living program. A sheep or goat grazing program would require staff to acquire specialized knowledge of when and where to graze the animals, as well as infrastructure such as shelter and fencing for them (Hardestry and Wilson 2006). This might be best achieved by partnering with a local farmer who could provide the materials and expertise in exchange for grazing rights. If there is contamination in the orchard soils, there are still options to decrease the carbon costs of maintaining the land. Intercropping need not just be food crops; it can also be done with for plants that will provide other ecosystem services. For example, a Patagonian study found that legumes such as clover could fix nitrogen in the soil and increase beneficial nematode populations, as well as provide nectar for honey bees (Sanchez et al. 2007). Insectary species could be planted to create a system of integrated pest management (IPM), attracting beneficial insects that prey on those that harm the apple trees. Other plants can be used for IPM as a way to lure predatory insects away from the apple trees. For example, a team in West Virginia has found particular success in interplanting peach trees in apple orchards, as the peach trees serve as the preferred host for the rosy apple aphid and draw them away from the apple trees (Mathews and Brown 2007).

Z.15 Western stream corridor Z.14 Orchard •R eplace the mown lawn to create a more biologically productive system.

The grass under the trees is currently mowed regularly, but that relatively flat land presents an opportunity for some other kind of production, depending on the soil quality. A soil test for heavy metal contamination from possible past pesticide use is necessary. If there is no contamination, the land could be used for intercropping with additional food production between rows of trees. It could also be used to graze livestock, such as sheep

• Expand vegetation along the western stream corridor to enhance stormwater filtration.

• Add information to alert guests to nearby trails. Because the slopes in this area are so steep and the area is explicitly used for water filtration, more vegetation in the area could offer further filtration capacity and help replace biomass. In this zone there are a lot of low grasses, shrubs, and saplings. Encouraging more substantial vegetation could be helpful in reducing water velocity and erosion.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan Zones RECOMMENDATIONS

Adding more substantial vegetation on the South Lawn could help slow and infiltrate runoff headed for the Stockbridge Bowl.

South drive

SOUTH LAWN TRANSITION CURRENT MEADOWS NEW MEADOWS MID-SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT

New meadows on the South Lawn would complement those across the South Drive. A band of mid-successional habitat would transition into the existing woods.

Trails also run through this area, connecting to miles of off-property trail systems leading to Olivia’s Outlook and Monk’s Pond. They are difficult to locate, though. Signs there offer no information about how long or difficult the trails are. Trailheads for both destinations are near areas of high pedestrian traffic and are prime opportunities to draw guests into the surrounding landscape.

Z.16 mEadowS • Replace areas of mown lawn with meadow to decrease fossil fuel use and create habitat.

• Create a path to guide walkers up the hill to the main building.

Gradually replacing lawn and adding pedestrian paths to this area would decrease the maintenance required, increase the ecological value, and improve guest experience, overall helping the area function in a way that is more in line with Kripalu’s mission. According to landscape architect Darrel Morrison, meadows with native grasses and wildflowers improve soil structure, aid infiltration, and create above-ground biomass to slow runoff. In addition to these critical stormwater management functions, these meadows could also provide habitat for a variety of insects, birds, and small mammals. (For guidelines on creating meadows, see Appendix B: Establishing Meadows.) Mown paths through the meadows would serve as walking trails for pedestrians across the slopes (see page 37). On the steep slopes, they would clearly delineate the routes that would take guests up less strenuous grades. The paths could also allow guests to experience the meadow habitat more closely and learn about the change from lawn to meadow. The zone could become an ecological teaching-tool, informing guests about stormwater processes and meadow habitat value.

new meditation spots to the west could be connected to the labyrinth with mid-succession vegetation brought up to and around the labyrinth, embracing it as part of the landscape. This would give the labyrinth a stronger sense of place, decrease the amount of lawn that is mowed, and create a visually pleasing buffer from the wastewater treatment zone. The labyrinth itself could also be improved with new vegetation. The plants that delineate the labyrinth could be augmented with plants that would create a more dynamic sensory experience, especially through touch, scent, and color (see Case Study: Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Fragrance Garden). That way, the labyrinth could be a contemplative, thoughtful experience, even for guests unversed in meditation.

Z.18 waStEwatEr trEatmEnt • Explore the prospects of treating graywater with educational “living machines.”

Some portion of Kripalu’s graywater could be treated with a living system of plants. This could be an educational tool for guests to inform them of more sustainable ways of filtering and cleaning their wastewater. Clean water could then be used to irrigate landscaping plants on the property, closing as many loops as possible (see Case Study: Esalen Institute). Initiatives to reduce water use in the buildings at Kripalu should also continue, as limiting the amount of water needing treatment is also an important component of a sustainable water system.

Z.19 main BuildinG • Reorient the main entrance to the south-facing front door.

• Create safer pedestrian routes from the parking lots. • Add functional vegetation.

Z.17 laByrintH and mEditation SpotS • Integrate the labyrinth with the surrounding

landscape and connect to the new meditation spots to the west.

• Supplement the vegetation in the labyrinth. The recently added meadows have visually and ecologically enriched the area, but adding more mid-sized vegetation and meadows could help even more. In particular, the

Drawing on recommendations from the spring 2011 Landscape Master Plan, the main entrance could be reoriented to the south side of the building by building a ramp for universal accessibility. To bypass steep slopes and take pedestrians off roadways, covered stairways could take guests and staff more directly from the parking lots to the main building. The area could also be improved with more vegetation for slope stabilization, food production, and a more welcoming, relaxing entrance.

KripaLu LandScape ManageMent pLan ZoneS recoMMendationS

The eastern stream corridor is frequently used by guests who enjoy walking on its trails. 34

CroSS-ProPerTy reCoMMenDaTionS Kripalu’s recommended management zones can provide significant guidance for landscape management within each zone. This section of the report makes recommendations for broader landscape patterns across the site, such as wayfinding, food production, and education.

is difficult to actually find the trails from around the main building. Additionally, guests frequently share roads with cars or climb up steep slopes rather than using established trail systems, which indicates that the trails are lacking in some way.

waYFinding

The trail system should be simple to follow so as not to interrupt guests’ experiences on the property. One way to do that is to make wayfinding as self-evident as possible rather than relying primarily on signs. To that end, trails should reflect the character of the landscape and inform pedestrians of the nature of their surroundings. The materials of the trail would instantly inform guests of their location on the property so that they can navigate without the need of a map. Management zones can inform these design choices, giving a distinctive style to each zone. These choices are described below.

The Kripalu property has a significant trail system, in addition to miles of nearby trails. The existing trails are well maintained and usually easy to navigate once on them. There are also many interesting sites and walks on the property, such as the Camperdown elm and the Earth’s Altar, and also in the nearby off-property trail systems, such as Monk’s Pond. However, the trail system may be difficult for some guests to interpret from the current maps. Guests have repeatedly identified the need for trailheads, because it

A combination of new trails and better trail cues will improve the wayfinding experience for guests.

to MonK’S pond

to KennedY parK

to oLivia’S overLooK

gouLd’S Meadow countrY daY SchooL

rte.183

WAYFINDING TRAIL CUES NEW TRAILS EXISTING TRAILS

KripaLu LandScape ManageMent pLan croSS-propertY recoMMendationS

Preservation Artifacts from the original mansion are the central feature of the Preservation Zone, and the preservation of the historical stonework is one of the central management goals for the area. Trail cues should echo this focus. Stone cairns or bollards could mark trailheads. Low stone walls guide people along paths, while a break in the wall invites people through. Using structural elements to both inform and guide guests promotes a more integrated experience of the landscape.

By using stone elements, such as these examples from other properties, the trail cues in the Preservation Zone would echo the walls of the original mansion.

As used on other sites, above, wooden fences and boardwalks are naturalistic, lowimpact design features appropriate for the Conservation Zone.

Conservation In the Conservation Zone, ecological well-being is the central management goal. Wayfinding should therefore incorporate natural, rustic elements to indicate this zone’s separation from the built environment. Split-rail fences could line a path, while a cut through a fallen log indicates a clear pathway in which to walk. Using materials from on the site is both a literal indicator of the character of the area and an ecologically responsible, closed-loop design choice.

Operation The Operation Zone will feature new areas of meadow, and wide mown paths create a beckoning open space and a comfortable sense of enclosure, while also providing a safe, manageable route up and down the area’s steep slopes (see Case Study: Fort Totten Park). Concerns about ticks can be alleviated by creating paths of sufficient width for two or three people to walk abreast without brushing against grasses, in addition to further tick management across the site (see Appendix D: Controlling Ticks Through Japanese Barberry Management). Because the Operation Zone is where much of the day-today management takes place, it would be appropriate to have more explicit navigational cues, including maps and signs. The Operation Zone is also a key location to orient guests to the rest of the property.

Main Building Reorienting the main entrance to the south side of the building will create a uniform jumping-off point for guests’ exploration of the property. The terrace outside the south door has a view to much of the property, and informational graphics can provide information about how to enjoy the trails on and around the property.

More explicit sign placement, such as these examples from elsewhere, top, would be appropriate in the Operation Zone due to the area’s high level of use. Mown paths through meadows provide clear passage for guests, as the above path does in London.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan CROSS-PROPERTY Recommendations

Food Production

Preservation

A desire for more food production at Kripalu was suggested by some guests, and in fact a small garden for use by the Healthy Living classes is currently being established near the orchard. The property has ample southern exposure, and food production would very much be in line with Kripalu’s mission for connected, integrated systems. Although there have been a variety of agricultural ventures in the past, most have failed due to the amount of time and infrastructure necessary to maintain them. Additionally, Kripalu would be unable to produce enough food onsite to supply the hundreds of meals their kitchen produces daily.

1. Though the Preservation Zone is mostly wooded, the abandoned nursery is partially suitable for food production. To go with the historical goals of the area, traditional vegetable beds may be most appropriate. The northern portion of the area would receive the most sunlight and could be terraced to create a relatively flat surface for the vegetable gardens, which could potentially be another site for the Healthy Living classes to grow food. This site is somewhat removed, however, from where people are and where the food would be used.

Thus, food production would be more useful for its educational value than its practicality, whether to teach guests about healthy living or to educate them about sustainable growing techniques they could use in their own gardens. Permaculture is one such technique that also requires lower maintenance than traditional garden beds and involves a set of principles that have wide applications in sustainability. Any food production, however, could be more important as a symbol of Kripalu’s commitment to sustainability and a tangible connection to the landscape. Accordingly, Kripalu should strive to identify one food item to supply entirely through their own cultivation, much in the way the orchard’s apples are made into cider, so that when a guest in the dining hall eats that food, they are reminded of its provenance and feel connected to the land surrounding them. High value, perishable crops like garlic and herbs would be well-suited for such a product. Food production in some form is already in the works in a few places on-site, with the orchard, the Ayurveda garden, and the Healthy Living garden being established. There are several criteria, though, that can aid in identifying new possibilities for food production. Based on information from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), southern aspect, moderate slopes, and good soils together indicate the best possible areas for growing food. There are several areas around the main building that could be very suitable, including the area in which the Healthy Living garden is going to be established. Disconnected patches of lawn surrounded by roads and sidewalks to the south of the building (3) would be prime spots to convert into productive land. The abandoned nursery is another possible site (1), as well as several areas around Route 183 (2), including what is currently the leach field, which would be extremely suitable for food production. Again, converting this resource-demanding mowed lawn into productive land would be in line with Kripalu’s mission for ecological sustainability.

Conservation 2. In the area south of Route 183, a lower maintenance system like permaculture could be advantageous. Because permaculture focuses on replicating natural ecosystem patterns, it often has a messier structure than traditional vegetable gardens and might seem out of place closer to the building. Additionally, the lesser maintenance needs would be more feasible for an area that is not part of dayto-day operations. Using perennials, another component of permaculture, is also more appropriate in an area devoted to conservation, as they don’t require the yearly disturbance of annual vegetables. The plants could even contribute to the conservation goals, providing nectar and pollen to insects and improving soil structure with their deep root systems.

Main Building 3. The Main Building Zone is intensively managed, and the resources available allow for higher-maintenance plants than would be possible elsewhere on the property. Raised beds both give structure and organization in the most highly trafficked area of the property and also elevate plants to protect them from stormwater runoff, as most of the recommended areas are surrounded by pavement. A mix of shrubs and annual vegetables would assure year-round interest, so that guests aren’t faced with empty planters when the growing season ends. Producing a crop such as garlic entirely on site would provide staff and guests a tangible connection to the landscape.

FOOD PRODUCTION SUITABILITY MAP SOMEWHAT SUITABLE SUITABLE VERY SUITABLE EXTREMELY SUITABLE

Areas of possible food production were identified by using GIS to examine solar aspect, slopes, and soil capability. Soil testing of specific sites would be necessary to confirm soil qualities at a finer scale.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan CROSS-PROPERTY Recommendations

education

opEration

Although Kripalu’s guests and staff are very supportive of its mission, they may be confused by extensive changes across the property if they are not informed of the reasons behind the change. For that reason, education is a critical component of the landscape management plan. Kripalu’s dynamic ecosystems deserve to be explained and appreciated, and Kripalu’s land stewardship should serve as an example to both its guests and its community.

In the Operation Zone, signs in high-traffic areas can convey information about the ecological patterns surrounding them. This is especially important in areas where the land is going from something highly managed, such as lawn, to something more wild and natural, such as mid-successional habitat, and the change in management may be mistaken for negligence. Teaching guests about the functions of the landscape and the wildlife it could support is an important part of their understanding of the changes on the property (see Case Study: Lafayette Reservoir). Connecting the information back to that of the map in the main building is also important for keeping a consistent, legible narrative of Kripalu’s ecological processes.

One way to engage more with the community would be to work with the Berkshire Country Day School on ecological education projects that benefit both the students and the land. While younger grades may be more interested in learning about wildlife or plants, students from the upper school could do more complex projects. For example, because of water quality issues in the Stockbridge Bowl, students could take samples from nearby streams and ponds, including those on the school’s property, at Kripalu, and in nearby conservation lands, and test for water quality. This experiential learning would expose them to the systems and issues in their own environment as part of their education. On the property, an integrated system of interpretive materials could be useful. It would incorporate both ecological education and navigational cues into an easyto-understand system that would help guests understand and explore the property. By connecting elements of the landscape to a larger explanation of the processes on the site, guests can learn about the land around them to whatever degree they wish.

main BuildinG The Main Building Zone is the launching pad for guests going out onto the property. It should have the most in-depth information about the ecology of the site, perhaps featuring a large interpretive sign explaining the system with brochures or pamphlets for guests to take with them, as is currently done with the floor plans of the building. It can give an overview of the motivations behind landscape changes, as well as information on ecosystem functions, with a key to describe processes across the property in a simple way. It could also point out special points on the site which are representative of broader patterns, creating a sort of treasure hunt for guests to find.

prESErvation and conSErvation In the Preservation and Conservation Zones, signs might be too obtrusive to the experience of the landscape itself. Instead, small plaques with symbols could mark specific ecological features. The symbols would be explained by a key on the master map in the main building, allowing guests to dictate how much they want to learn about the landscape.

Kripaluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape could be used as an outdoor classroom by visitors of all ages.

Berkshire Country Day School is an untapped resource that could be engaged as an educational partnership.

Kripalu Landscape Management plan CROSS-PROPERTY Recommendations

CaSe STuDieS Part of Kripalu’s mission includes “connecting to others,” and an important connection is to draw inspiration from how others have created ecologically minded landscape solutions. Lessons can be learned from a wide variety of resources for many aspects of Kripalu’s future management.

lafayEttE rESErvoir The Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area is a park in the East Bay region of Northern California. The park attracts guests year-round who come to hike, jog, fish, boat, or picnic. On a trail surrounding the reservoir a large tree has fallen and been turned into an education tool. Instead of removing the tree trunk, the city chose to put up a sign nearby to inform visitors about the ecological processes that occur in and around a rotting log. The sign boasts, “A dead log is an important part of the cycle of life. Through

decomposition, nutrients in the log are slowly returned to the soil for new plants to grow.” Not only does the log provide essential habitat for plants and animals, it also serves as a teaching tool for people hiking the trails. Ecological changes such as the establishment of mid-successional habitat and meadow transitions at Kripalu could be treated in a similar way. Educational information could be placed at the front entrance to inform visitors of the new flora and fauna that the habitat is attracting and explain the motivations for the landscape changes. The sign could also explain the functions of this new vegetation in its filtration and absorption of polluted stormwater before reaching the wetland areas and the Stockbridge Bowl. If guests know the ecological reasons behind a seemingly unconventional management decision, they will be able to appreciate it more. A fallen tree becomes a teaching tool for passersby.

An interpretive sign at the Lafayette Reservoir explains the ecological processes of decaying wood and identifies possible animal species that might be found in the dead tree.

KripaLu LandScape ManageMent pLan caSe StudieS

Fort Totten and the Sustainable Sites Initiative In the Fort Totten landmark district in New York City, a new waterfront park has been designed to entice visitors to explore water ecology, observe local plants and wildlife, and learn from interpretive signage. The North Park is a nine-acre section within the larger Fort Totten Park. This nine-acre lot was formerly a military site filled with infrastructure. Nancy Owens Studio designed the master plan for this area, removing acres of buildings and parking lots and replaced them with over 10,000 grass plants and 200 new trees.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Fragrance Garden The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Fragrance Garden was established in 1955 as the first of its kind designed for the sight-impaired. Visitors of the garden are encouraged to touch and smell the plants, which are arranged by theme: plants with scented leaves, plants with interesting texture, fragrant flowers, and kitchen herbs. A few plants the Fragrance Garden features include cinnamon fern for its texture, red valerian for its fragrant flowers, and lantana for the aroma it releases when its leaves are rubbed. The garden aims to invigorate as many senses as possible, creating a unique experience for its visitors. Kripalu’s clientele could also appreciate a garden dedicated to creating a similar sensory experience. Areas like the South Lawn or the labyrinth could benefit from these dynamic plants, creating a more active, participatory experience in the landscape that increases the mindfulness and presence of guests.

The plants in the garden are chosen for their sensory qualities beyond visual beauty. Clockwise from left: cinnamon fern, red valerian, and lantana.

Some of the most visually striking parts of the park are the ribbons of native grass meadows. Theses ribbons echo the topographic lines of the land, creating narrow strips of meadow on steeper slopes and wider ribbons of meadow in flatter areas. These strips of meadows help delineate pathways while contributing to a healthy, diverse ecosystem. Almost an acre of highly vegetated bioswales were also added to help intercept stormwater runoff that formerly emptied into the Long Island Sound. Because this park restored the historic ecology of the site with indigenous plantings, it earned a place in the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) pilot program. SITES is a new ecological ratings system for landscape design much like LEED certification for buildings, in which certain behaviors and designs earn points towards certification. SITES provides tools for landscape designers, architects, and ecologists who are charged with altering and developing landscapes. This initiative recommends best management practices that address urgent concerns such as global warming, resource depletion, loss of biodiversity, and stormwater issues. They rate these practices and offer standards to certify landscapes. Certification can be obtained for opens spaces like national parks or conservation easements, or sites with buildings like airports, botanical gardens, or plazas. Kripalu could implement practices that improve their land stewardship by enhancing biodiversity and mitigating human impacts on their property. Kripalu could draw inspiration from the guidelines outlined by SITES, or possibly obtain certification and become form a partnership in the pilot program. On a broader scale, guests could learn from Kripalu’s example and take the lessons they’ve learned on the property into their own lives, adding to the transformative educational experiences Kripalu already offers.

Fort Totten Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meadows and mown paths were designed by Nancy Owens Studio to reflect the topography of the site. Kripalu could use the same aesthetic on the hill south of the main building.

KripaLu LandScape ManageMent pLan caSe StudieS

The Esalen Institute has a similar philosophy to that of Kripalu. A major part of their operations is the farm, from which most of the kitchen’s food is produced.

THe Esalen Institute The Esalen Institute is a thirty-acre retreat center in the Big Sur region of California that sees over 17,000 visitors a year. People from all over the country visit Esalen to take a break from hectic lives and enjoy weekend workshops or for longer stays. Esalen holds annual yoga festivals, Earth Day festivals, and transition movement meetings, and hosts prominent speakers on health and spirituality. The Institute is known for its blend of Eastern and Western philosophies, its experimental workshops, and its beautiful grounds and natural hot springs. It attracts artists, religious thinkers, philosophers, and people who want to relax and learn in Esalen’s beautiful and calming atmosphere. Esalen strives to be a leader in sustainable practices. It has a Sustainability Action Plan that emphasizes stewarding the land and leading by example, hoping that sustainable practices will then spread out into the community and beyond. It focuses on alternative ways of transportation for guests such as a ride-share program Esalen promotes a healthy ecosystem on its property by using native and drought-tolerant plants. It has an on-site tidal wetland living machine that treats its graywater by filtering it through six chambers of wetland plants. The clean water from this system is then used to irrigate its grounds and five-acre farm. 46

Farming is very important to Esalen’s staff and visitors which is apparent by the number of workshops that focus on agriculture, and the amount of effort that goes in to maintaining their on-site food production. Its on-site farm provides most of the meals in their cafeteria. Food travels 1,250 feet from farm to table and is harvested all year around due to the long growing season of California and the season extension that their hoop houses provide. They compost up to six tons of food scraps a month and soil is ready to use in only twelve weeks. Several full-time staff and three to four apprentices tend to the farm all year. Many visitors come to Esalen just to learn more about local sustainable food production and to take a workshop. Workshops include programs on permaculture, farmstead arts, organic skin and body care from the garden, jam and marmalade preserves, and activating change through food. There are many similarities within Kripalu and Esalen’s missions. Both promote sustainable practices and provide a transformative experience for their guests. Esalen places a greater emphasis, though, on opportunities for guests to learn how to steward the land. Kripalu could incorporate educational gardens into its landscape. In doing so, it could increase learning opportunities for its guests by adding workshops relating to sustainable agriculture, further emphasizing their ecological commitment.

CONCLUSION Kripalu is well situated to become a leading example of sustainable land stewardship, both in its immediate area and on a broader scale. It already manages its land with these goals in mind. This plan recommends changes that could improve guest experience and ecological integrity, while decreasing Kripalu’s use of fossil fuels. Creating a thriving, dynamic, interactive landscape across the site will support Kripalu’s mission “to explore, understand, and experience what it means to live an integrated life in which we feel fully alive, connected to others, and committed to fostering the welfare of the whole.” The organization is poised to begin a new chapter in the history of the site, one which will bring that integrated lifestyle to Kripalu’s guests enjoy the music of Gaia Roots on a Saturday night.

the public through education and Kripalu’s leadership by example.

REFERENCES Carll, Melissa, Laura Rissolo, and Julie Welch. “Landscape Resilience at Kripalu.” Conway School of Landscape Design, 2011. Flink, Charles A., Kristine Olka, and Robert M. Searns. Trails for the Twenty First Century. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2001. Gibbs, James P. “Amphibian Movements in Response to Forest Edges, Roads, and Streambeds in Southern New England.” The Journal of Wildlife Management 62.2 (1998): 584-589. Hardestry, Linda M. and Linda H. Wilson. “Targeted Grazing with Sheep and Goats in Orchard Settings.” American Sheep Industry Association. Targeted Grazing: A Natural Approach to Vegetation Management and Landscape Enhancement. 2006. 99-106. Hepfner, Erin, and Kate Tompkins. “A Landscape Master Plan for Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.” Conway School of Landscape Design, 2011. Knight, Audrey R. and Richard L. Taylor. “Wildlife Response to Recreation and Associated Visitor Perceptions.” Ecological Applications 13.4 (2003): 951-963. Mathews, M.W. and Clarissa R. Brown. “Conservation Biological Control of Rosy Apple Aphic, Dysaphis Planaginea (Passerini), in Eastern North America.” Environmental Entomology 36.5 (2007): 1131-1139. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. “Boreal Marstonia.” Mass.gov. 2008. Web. 21 March 2012 <http://www.mass.gov/ dfwele/dfw/nhesp/species_info/nhfacts/marstonia_lustrica.pdf> Sanchez, E.E. et al. “Cover crops influence soil property and tree performance in an organic apple (Malus domestica Borkh) orchard in northern Patagonia.” Plant Soil 292 (2007): 193-203. Stockbridge Bowl Association. “The Lake Management Program.” Web. 21 March 2012 <http://www.thesba.org/about-us/the-lakemanagement-program/>. United States Environmental Protection Agency. “A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems.” 2003. Whittington, Jesse, Colleen Cassady St. Clair, and George Mercer. “Path Tortuosity and the Permeability of Roads and Trails to Wolf Movement.” Ecology and Society 9.1 (2004): 4-18.

photo credits Cover - Kripalu Page vi - Shana Hostetter Page 1 - Kripalu Page 2 - Conway School Kripalu photo archives Page 3 - Kripalu Page 4 - Shana Hostetter Page 5 - Google Earth Page 6 - Top: Kripalu Bottom: Flickr Creative Commons & Natalie Maynor Page 7 - Google Earth Page 8 - Shana Hostetter Page 9 - Google Earth; Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information Technology Division Page 12 - Shana Hostetter Page 13 - Left: Flickr Creative Commons & Greenbelt Alliance Right: Shana Hostetter Page 15 - Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information Technology Division Page 17 - Dillon Sussman Page 19 - Conway School Kripalu photo archives Page 20 - Shana Hostetter Page 21 - Conway School Kripalu photo archives Page 22 - Conway School Kripalu photo archives Page 23 - Top: Shana Hostetter Bottom: Conway School Kripalu photo archives Page 24 - Kripalu Page 25 - Left: Conway School Kripalu photo archives Right: Shana Hostetter Page 26 - Kripalu Page 27 - Flickr Creative Commons & Planet A. Page 34 - Shana Hostetter Page 36 - Cairn: Flickr Creative Commons & alain.marie2; Stone Marker: Flickr Creative Commons & Ennor; Stone Wall: Flickr Creative Commons & origamidon; Split Log: Flickr Creative Commons & MRT photos; Boardwalk: Flickr Creative Commons & Kerrythis; Split-Rail Fence: Flickr Creative Commons & crawfish head Page 37 - Top: Flickr Creative Commons & Shino; Middle: Flickr Creative Commons & Chris Campbell; Bottom: Flickr Creative Commons & Jeff Van Campen Page 38 - Flickr Creative Commons & zoe pdxva Page 39 - Office of Geographic Information (MassGIS), Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information Technology Division; Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database for Berkshire County, Massachusetts Page 41 - Top: Flickr Creative Commons & ianus; Bottom: Conway School Kripalu photo archives Page 42 - Flickr Creative Commons & nickpix2012 Page 43 - Sarah Sivesind Page 44 - Top: Flickr Creative Commons & Kilgub; Cinnamon Fern: Robert H. Mohenbrock & USDA-NRCS Plant Database; Red Valerian: Brother Alfred Bronsseau & USDA-NRCS Plant Database; Lantana: G.A. Cooper & USDA -NRCS Plant Database Page 45 - Ft. Totten Design: Courtesy of Nancy Owens Studio LLC; Photography by Michael Moran Page 46 - Flickr Creative Commons & brad.coy Page 47 - Shana Hostetter Page 54 - Flickr Creative Commons & Auntie P Page 55 - Flickr Creative Commons & Matt Levin Page 56 - Flickr Creative Commons & Sergey Rod 49

APPENDIX a Area and Zone COmparison

Z.11

CURRENT MANAGEMENT AREAS

NEW MANAGEMENT ZONES

The Mansion Lawn (A.1) expands to incorporate the large trees in the viewshed (Z.1). The gatehouse becomes its own management subzone (Z.5), and the East Drive moves into the Preservation Zone (Z.6).

CURRENT MANAGEMENT AREAS

NEW MANAGEMENT ZONES

The leach field (A.15) is separated from the wastewater treatment buildings to become part of the Conservation Zone (Z.9). The south field (A.16) also becomes part of the Conservation Zone (Z.10).

CURRENT MANAGEMENT AREAS

NEW MANAGEMENT ZONES

Z.11

The South Lawn (A.9) shrinks to a smaller area at the top of the hill (Z.12), while the eastern stream corridor (Z.13) and the meadows (Z.16) expand to replace it. The new meditation spots in the western stream corridor (A.12) are incorporated with the labyrinth (Z.17).

A diverse mix of grasses and wildflowers supports a variety of wildlife and helps infiltrate stormwater.

There are many ways to establish a meadow, and the following paragraphs outline recommendations based on information from people familiar with a variety of techniques.

cover crop will help effectively transition the lawn into a native meadow. To control weed growth, they should be cut down to about six inches every summer. On the third year, the cover crop should be cut very short and the soil should be shallowly disked. Keeping the disturbance of disking near the surface will again control excess weed growth.

An area as large as Kripalu’s South Lawn should be converted in stages. Not only is this more practical in terms of resources, it limits any erosion that might happen and allows for the adaptation of management strategies as time goes on and on-the-ground experience proves what is most effective. Establishing a resilient meadow is a multi-stage process in which each year’s work can be informed by challenges and successes of the year before it.

Next, the meadow can be planted. A diverse mix of native perennial grasses such as little blue stem, switchgrass, and indian grass should compose seventy to eighty percent of the meadow, with the other twenty to thirty percent made up of forbs or wildflowers. By making up the majority of the area, the perennial grasses will sustain the meadow while their deep root systems control erosion and support water infiltration. Native grasses are also important for attracting field-nesting birds.

Before beginning any planting, contouring of the land can greatly help with water infiltration. Plowing a few shallow parallel ditches, on contour, about every fifty feet can greatly slow water runoff down the slope. By plowing and turning over the land, it creates a series of shallow ditches and berms that slow and retain water long enough to let it infiltrate. To provide a comfortable, consistent trail for guests on the lawn, the plowed lines could be interrupted where the mown paths cut through the meadow.

After the seed mixes are planted, it important to compact the earth to ensure that the seeds are in direct contact with the soil. One month after planting, the meadow can be mown to about six inches high. After that, it is only necessary to mow the meadow once every year or two. Mowing in late winter or early spring will avoid interfering with birds’ breeding schedules while at the same time preserving plant cover for wildlife to use over the winter.

APPENDIX b Establishing Meadows

The meadow should similarly be implemented in oncontour strips about thirty feet wide. The first step is to till up the grass and plant a cover crop of an annual legume like partridge pea or soybeans. A nitrogen-fixing 54

This diagram illustrates the process for creating shallow swales and berms. On the landscape, the difference would be one of just a few inches.

Barclay, Jack. Interview. 13 March 2012. Lattrell, Bill. Interview. 6 March 2012. Morrison, Darrel. Interview. 17 March 2012.

Meadow

Mid-SucceSSion

ForeSt

Mid-successional habitat, examples of which are shown at right, protects the forest canopy by shielding it from the elements and provides food and habitat to a wide variety of wildlife.

appendix c mid-SuccESSion manaGEmEnt To transition from the abrupt forest edge to the new meadow, a mid-successional community should be added. Like meadows, mid-successional habitat can be established and managed in a variety of ways. Recommendations for their care are drawn from the literature on the subject. A band of mid-successional growth creates a visual transition, and also protects the forest from sun, wind, and invasive species growth. Mid-successional habitats are important areas that have a mix of forbs, shrubs, and saplings. Though they are of high value to wildlife, due to the food and shelter they provide, they are quite rare. That is because mid-successional areas are just that—a stage of succession as New England’s forest regenerates. As a result, there are few stable mid-succession ecosystems, mostly found where extreme hydrologic conditions limit the size of regrowth. A few notable examples are pine barrens, found on excessively drained soils, and shrub wetlands, found on excessively saturated soils. Most mid-successional habitats, though, arise because of disturbance, and so creating and maintaining a midsuccessional area relies on a regular, though infrequent, management regime. One strategy could simply be to stop mowing the lawn. Eventually, seedlings of larger plants would take root and grow into a mid-successional system. This would take up to a couple decades, however, and the blank canvas would be a perfect invitation for invasive species.

A more effective technique for establishing a native midsuccessional band along the existing woods would be to first plant shrubs and forbs to anchor the community. The plants should be chosen primarily for their wildlife value. Highbush blueberry, winterberry, hawthorne, hazelnut, and gooseberry are all shrubs that provide excellent forage. Eastern red cedar is a small, sun-loving tree that can provide shelter in addition to its abundant forage. And witch hazel has a lower wildlife value, but is highly valuable to humans and produces showy fall foliage. To prevent the area from regrowing into forest, some disturbance is necessary. There are many ways to accomplish this, but the most effective for Kripalu’s relatively small size and high human activity would most likely be selective clearing of trees and saplings. While some small trees are desirable for structure, regrowth can be controlled by removing unwanted saplings every five or so years. Creating an undulating edge with this management also creates more structure in which wildlife can shelter. Ultimately, the goal is a diverse, multi-age, multi-height ecosystem that will be resilient to change. Adams, Lowell. Urban Wildlife Habitats: A Landscape Perspective. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1994. Askins, Robert A. “Sustaining Biological Diversity in Early Successional Communities: The Challenge of Managing Unpopular Habitats.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 29.2 (2001): 407-412. Thompson, Frank R., III and Richard M. DeGraaf. “Conservation Approaches for Woody, Early Successional Communities in the Eastern United States.” Wildlife Society Bulletin 29.2 (2001): 483-494. 55

APPENDIX d Tick Control Through Japanese Barberry Management Japanese barberry is an invasive that densely colonizes forest understory and wooded margins. Its exclusion of native species makes it ecologically undesirable, while its thorny branches make it unwelcome in human environments. Its berries, however, persist through the winter, making it a valuable food source for many small animals. This forage, in combination with its dense shelter, attracts large populations of white-footed mice. Along with deer, white-footed mice are the main host for the black-legged, or deer, tick, which can carry Lyme disease, so reducing or eliminating barberry infestations can help control Lyme disease incidence as well. Fortunately, barberry is an invasive that responds well to non-chemical forms of removal. The first step is to kill the above-ground plant material in early spring, through mechanical clearing and then directed burning of the cambium with a propane torch to kill the above-ground stem. The plant will then expend its root reserves in growing new shoots, which should be eliminated in July and October through directed burning with a propane torch.

Research in southern New England and New York has shown this elimination of Japanese barberry to drastically reduce the density of black-legged ticks. Areas where barberry infestation had been controlled saw a fifty-eight percent reduction in the density of adult ticks. Barberry infestations also result in more ticks that carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease: an average of one hundred sixty-six infected ticks per acre in untreated barberry infestations, compared with an average of fifty infected ticks per acre where barberry had been controlled and twenty infected ticks per acre where there hadn’t been any barberry infestation. Beyond controlling barberry, ticks can be further managed by attracting their predators. Wild turkeys are tick-eaters that already visit the property, and can be further encouraged by maintaining wetlands and yearround springs that serve as water sources. Other bird species, such as ruffed grouse, also feed on ticks, and can be provided for with more mid-successional habitat. Ward, Jeff, Scott Williams, and Tom Worthley. “Japanese Barberry Control Overview.” Online handout. 2010. Ward, Jeffrey S., Scott C. Williams, and Thomas E. Worthley. “Controlling Japanese Barberry: Alternative Methods and Impact on Tick Populations.” Proceedings of the 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference. Lexington, KY: USDA Forest Service, 2011. 650-651.

Japanese barberry was widely planted in the Northeast as an ornamental, but it has become invasive and has been linked to higher incidences of Lyme disease.

Kripalu

center for yoga & health

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN THE CONWAY SCHOOL â&#x20AC;˘ WINTER 2012 SHANA HOSTETTER & KATRINA MANIS