A Landscape Master Plan for New Lands Farm

A Landscape Master Plan for

334 Birnie Ave. West Springfield, MA

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Index Introduction and Project Goals.......................................................................................................................... 1 Context.............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Ownership and Management............................................................................................................................ 3 Water................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Access and Circulation...................................................................................................................................... 5 Soils................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Slopes................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Summary Analysis............................................................................................................................................. 8 Final Design: Overview...................................................................................................................................... 9 Final Design: Farm Center.............................................................................................................................. 10 Final Design: East Field Restoration............................................................................................................... 11 Water Harvesting............................................................................................................................................. 12 Soil Management............................................................................................................................................. 13 Perennial Crops............................................................................................................................................... 14 Fertility Crops................................................................................................................................................... 15 Design Alternatives.......................................................................................................................................... 16 Soil Tests......................................................................................................................................................... 17

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. —Masanobu Fukuoka

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Introduction and Project Goals Old Farm, New Life

Farmers planting garlic In 2008, Ascentria Care Alliance, one of the largest community service organizations in New England, founded New Lands Farm in West Springfield. The property currently provides farmland for over forty immigrant and refugee families from as far away as Bhutan, Burundi, Iraq, Somalia, and Vietnam. New Lands offers opportunities for immigrant families to grow culturally important foods, to socialize with members of their new community, and to market their produce through farmers markets and through a newly formed CSA.

Ascentria expressed five project goals aimed primarily at restoring soil fertility, cycling resources on-site, and constructing spaces where farmers can connect with the greater community in healthy ways. The goals are as follows: • Reduce the farm’s dependence on city water. ¤¤ By building the soil’s capacity to hold water and harvesting storm water for irrigation, New Lands Farm hopes to reduce its operations costs and build resilience in the face of an uncertain future.

• Improve community space ¤¤ To foster a sense of identity amongst the farmers and to facilitate interactions amongst the farmers, Ascentria would like to set aside land for comfortable communal spaces. This space should have capacity for 100-person events and festivals.

• Improve visitor experience ¤¤ By making the site a more enjoyable space for CSA members and other visitors, Ascentria hopes that New Lands Farm can become a valuable space for immigrants to make connections within their new community.

• Introduce perennial crops ¤¤ Ascentria hopes that by transitioning the farm to a perennial, no-till system the farmers will most effectively be able to build the fertility of the site’s degraded soils, improve the resilience of crops to varied weather conditions, and provide a greater diversity of crops for its CSA and farmers market customers.

• Site future barn ¤¤ As the farm and CSA become more popular, Ascentria would like to increase on-site storage space and build on-site offices for staff members.

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Project Goals

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

A farmer surveys the fall harvest

Introduction and Project Goals

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

New Lands Farm

New Lands Farm is an immigrant farm located in West Springfield on an old agricultural property. In order to give new life to the land and to provide a new home to its farmers, stakeholders must work to regenerate soils, capture and cycle resources on site, and build community support through CSA services and cultural events. Providing land and marketing opportunities for over 40 immigrant families, New Lands Farm aims to improve the viability of the farmland while enhancing the farm’s value as a community space.

https://www.google.com/earth/

A long history of farming has left the site with degraded soils while the current influx of water from the north creates drainage issues on the site.

Holyoke

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Agriculture in West Springfield

https://www.google.com/earth/

Context

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West Springfield

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Wetland

New Lands Farm

North Field

Before European contact, the Algonquin tribes inhabited much of New England. Using slash-and-burn farming techniques, these indigenous people grew many crops, some of which are now finding their way back to New Lands Farm via the immigrants’ home countries. European settlers first arrived in West Springfield in 1635 drawn by its good soils.

The area continued to be a major agricultural area until the 1940s, when

like much of the rural land surrounding American cities after World War II, West Springfield was suburbanized. The New Lands Farm site, however, continued to be in cultivation throughout this time. This history of intensive cultivation has left its mark on the soils of the site, which have tested low for organic matter and key macronutrients.

North New Lands Farm soil with cover crop

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

The New Lands Farm property is owned by Cesare Ferrari, the owner of a local construction company. In addition, Ferrari owns a sizable property to the north, which may be available for New Lands to expand into in the future.

West of this northern field, a large wetland overflows in large storm events, occasionally dumping large amounts of coarse sediment on the easternmost farm fields. The North Brook, a perennial stream, runs through the forest upslope of the farm and eventually empties into the Connecticut River.

Agriculture

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Property and Hydrology

Context

New Lands Farm

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Analysis

Ownership and Management

Most farmers have been farming the same two plots on a rotation for a few years. These pre-existing, informal leases are some of the largest factors that limit expanding community space into the current farm fields.

Landowner Space

• Two garages, which house heavy machinery owned and operated by the landowner, are located at the entrance of the property. »» With increased farm traffic on the site from the CSA, the landowner may wish to clearly define his space.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

New Lands Farm

2

Farmstand and Toolsheds

• The farmstand currently acts as the de facto gathering space for farmers and visitors. It is a small, loosely defined space. »» There is a lack of community space on the site.

Wash Station Farmstand

Community Gardens

Large Garage 1

Small Garage

0 20

80ft.

10 40

East Field

• The east field is not currently used for production because of flooding issues (see water sheet) »» An opportunity exists to impliment alternative management strategies.

Processing and Storage

• After being cleaned at the wash station, produce to be sold goes either to the farm stand or to refrigerators located in the large garage. Mobile farmers market parking lies between the two dirt mounds. »» The refrigeration is well removed from the rest of the processing area.

North 1.View toward farm stand from entryway.

2.Wash station looking South

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Mobile Farmers Market Parking

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Crop Rotation

• The farmers have instituted a yearly rotation between crops and cover crops. »» The rotation helps in returning organic matter to the soil but limits opportunities for perennial crops within the currently cultivated areas.

Tool Sheds

Ownership/Management

• Ascentria has set aside smaller plots in the western fields for beginning farmers. »» This area is a hub of activity with more farmers per acre than the rest of the site.

Water

2

North Wetland

Multiple sources of water demonstrate possibilities for reaching the clients’ goal of reducing their dependence on potable city water for irrigation.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Analysis

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Overland Drainage

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

New Lands Farm

1

• Rainfall amounts to an average of 3 inches per month in West Springfield with a range of 0-12 inches per month in the past decade. »» While the farm can plan to meet much of its irrigation needs through rainfall, it must also plan for periods of drought and flooding.

North Brook Overflow

• In the past decade the North Brook overflowed its banks four times and deposited large quantities of sediment onto the fields. »» This regular disturbance—which may potentially increase with climate change—reduces the feasibility of annual vegetable production in this area

Farmstand Tool Sheds

Wash Station

Rooftop Runoff

Small Garage 0 20

80ft.

10 40

Water

North Brook

• The brook currently diverts the water that runs down from the northern property around the farmland and into the Connecticut River. »» This brook represents a significant alternative water source to the city supply, however further work with the Conservation Commission is required to determine the appropriateness of diverting water for irrigation.

1.Gravel outwash from wetland overflow

City Water

• The city water line offers the only source of legally potable water on the site. »» The city water source must be able to reach the wash station

North 2.North Wetland

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Large Garage

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

• There is a total of 6033 square feet of roof on the site with the two garages collecting on average over 3,000 gallons of rainwater a month. »» Water harvesting off one of the garage roofs or a combination of the smaller structures could supply all of the annual irrigation needs for the farm.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Analysis

Access and Circulation Car and foot traffic is concentrated in the southwest corner, leading to congestion and confusion.

Wash Station

Large Dirt Mound Brush Patch

Visitor Experience

• The dirt mound, along with the brush patch and the two garages, confine the typical visitor experience to the small area between the farm stand and the parking area. »» Interaction between farmers and the greater community of customers and visitors is restricted by a lack of shared and appealing common space.

Small Garage

10

Farm Road

80ft.

20 40

LEGEND Car Traffic (Farmer)

Car Traffic (Visitor, CSA member)

Farm

Road

Farm Access

North Parking

Focus Area

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

0

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Alternative Exit

Access and Circulation

Large Garage

• Farmers will occasionally exit north of the brush patch. »» The route suggests that some find the normal entry and exit to be inconvenient.

• Vehicle access loops around the north half of the property, providing access to all of the center fields. »» This route is useful for farmers.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Tool Sheds

• One entrance is shared by the farmers, landowner, CSA members, and visitors. »» The single entrance may create problems for the landowner to access his garages during more crowded times. Additionally, because the farmstand is not visible from the road, visitors have difficultly finding the farm.

Farm Stand

New Lands Farm

Entrance

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Analysis Soils

Sandy soils cause concern over erosion while mineral deficiencies in the east field calls for extensive soil restoration.

1

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

• Most of the site is an excessively drained soil that may be prone to erosion on steeper slopes and drought during summer months. The NRCS soil suitability class is I, meaning that there are few restrictions for agriculture. »» Returning organic matter to the soil is especially important for minimizing the risk of erosion and increasing the soil’s water-holding capacity.

2

New Lands Farm

Merrimac Sandy Loam

Belgrade Silt Loam

• This soil type is less well-drained than the rest of the site.

The NRCS soil suitability class is II, meaning that it has moderate limitations as a result of its susceptibility to erosion on steeper slopes. »» This area tends to be wetter and weedier than the rest of the site.

Soil Deficiencies

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Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

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Soils

10

80ft.

North 1.Note sparse cover crop growth on East Field

2.Dense weeds over Belgrade silt-loam

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

• Soil tests from the east field suggest that this area has the lowest organic matter on the site as well as severe deficiencies in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. »» This area requires significant soil restoration.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Analysis Slopes

Two bands of moderate to steep slopes break up the gradual west-to-east sloping topography.

Flat to Gradual Slopes

• Most of the site lies at a less than 5% grade. »» Most of the site is appropriate for vehicle and accessible foot traffic. »» These flatter areas may hold water in large storms.

Parking

Dirt Mounds

Wash Station Dirt Mounds

Landowner Structures

0 20 10

80ft.

40

Slopes

• Two mounds of fill owned by the landowner lie between the parking area and the south fields. »» These mounds are currently impassable obstacles, but could be removed to create more space in the entrance area.

1

North 1.Large dirt mound

2.View looking towards east field

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

0-5% Slopes

5-15% Slopes

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

• Two bands of 5 to 15% slopes traverse north to south through the site. »» These areas of relatively steeper slope may be susceptible to soil erosion and should be managed with care. »» In large storms, steep slopes may promote sheet runoff, preventing water from infiltrating into the soil.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

2

Moderate to Steep Slopes

New Lands Farm

5-15% Slopes

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Analysis Summary

The property is primarily constrained by the need for soil building and the current allotment of farmland to farmers. The mostly flat, welldrained soils present opportunities to create additional community gathering space.

Entry Experience

New Lands Farm

• A combination of farm circulation, landowner traffic, and CSA activities makes the entry a confusing area.

Obstructed views of the farm prevent visitors from feeling welcome. »» A design should separate these activities and increase views to the rest of the site from the entry.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Processing

• While the spatial relationships of the wash station, farmstand, and mobile farmers market parking work well, the connection to the refrigerators is awkward. »» A newly sited barn with space for refrigeration should be in close proximity to the wash station.

Unused Spaces

• Three unused patches enclose the center of activity. »» Improve the visitor experience and expand upon the connections between the processing and gathering areas.

Farmstand

• A band of moderately steep slopes of sandy soil are the areas of the land most susceptible to erosion. »» The design should minimize disturbance in these areas, and set them aside as a priority for soil building.

Flat, Poorly Drained

• A patch of siltier soil on a gradual slope makes annual vegetable production difficult because of competition from weeds. »» This area is well suited to perennial crops which can hold soil and crowd out unwanted plants.

Mobile Farmers Market Parking Small Dirt Mound Large Garage

0 20 10 40

80ft.

Moderate Slopes, Subject to Flooding

• The steeper areas of the east field are not suited to vegetable production because of its vulnerability to flooding from the north wetland and North Brook. »» Plantings in this area should be able to withstand periodic flooding.

North

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Moderate Slopes

Brush Patch

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

• Much of the land currently in cultivation has few physical constraints for farming. »» As long as soil building efforts continue, the allocation and management of these areas of flat, sandy soils should be up to the descretion of Ascentria.

Wash Station Large Dirt Mound

Summary Analysis

Flat, Well-Drained

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Overview

A rerouted entryway opens up welcoming views of the farm, while zones reserved for perennial crops ensure the protection and improvement of the site’s most vulnerable soils (see sheets 10 and 11 for detailed views).

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Community Space

A spacious gathering area and expanded parking replaces the large dirt mound. This shared space provides an area for farmers, CSA members, and other visitors to mingle and to form connections.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

A new driveway eliminates farm-related traffic around the landowner’s garages. Roadside bamboo plantings give way to wide views of farm fields, immediately orienting and welcoming visitors to the farm.

New Lands Farm

1

Entryway and Community Space

3

To counteract dampness and weeds, the central field is planted as a ‘forest garden’ with fruit trees to absorb water and edible, perennial ground covers to compete with weeds (see sheet 14).

Orchard

Erosion control measures are taken to catch the influx of sediment into the East Field (see sheet 13). As soil begins to rebuild, fruit trees are planted on contour to be managed by a group of interested farmers.

1

0 20 10 40

80ft.

North

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

5

Perennial Zone 2

2

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

4

Farm plots that overlap with the areas of greater than 5% slope are set aside for no-till perennial production (see sheet 14). The layout of these beds should align with the contours of the slope to slow water moving across their surface. These cultivation practices protect the areas most vulnerable to erosion, while building the soil’s organic matter with no outside input.

Final Design: Overview

3

Perennial Zone 1

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Farm Center

A re-tooled entry experience and common space helps to break down the barriers between the farmers and the greater New Lands community.

5 6 7

Parking

The new layout formalizes the parking area with permanent spots for 13 cars. An additional overflow area of reinforced turf lies to the south, which is allowed to grow in with grass.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Bamboo Forest

A dense planting of non-invasive bamboo screens the farm fields from the landowner’s parking lot. The bamboo is harvested for construction of trellises and shade structures.

Gathering Area/Event Space

A lawn with picnic tables holds events for up to 100 people, while also acting as a place for children and the elderly to spend time while family is working on the farm. Bamboo shade arbors provide a comfortable environment in which to spend an afternoon.

5 4

8

Demonstration Beds

A ring of beds totaling about a quarter of an acre enclose three sides of the gathering area. These beds give the farm managers space to demonstrate soil building techniques and experiment with new crops.

1

Farmstand

Rain Tank

A rain tank collects the storm water falling on the roof of the small garage. Most years, this tank will hold enough water to irrigate all of the fields. A connection to the city water main is maintained for washing vegetables and backup in case of drought.

3 Large Garage

Barn

A newly erected barn contains storage space for produce and offices for the farm managers.

Small Garage

Greenhouse

A greenhouse serves as a nursery for tree crops and potentially a small winter CSA service.

80ft.

20 10

Wash Station

6

Parking

2

0

8

Farm Center

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40

North

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

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B orth

New Lands Farm

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Two clumps of bamboo on either side of the driveway frame the entrance from the road. A piece of the brush patch remains for cultivating woodland edibles. Fruit trees welcome the visitors into the farm center.

Final Design: Farm Center

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Driveway Plantings

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design

East Field Restoration East Field Restoration

Overflow Channel

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5 3'

The roughly three foot wide overflow channel is lined with large stones at its base to prevent water from cutting into the berm.

Re-Graded Farm Road

The existing farm road is regraded with swales upslope and downslope of the road that infiltrate floodwater from the North Brook. As the road crosses the existing brook overflow channel, it has a 2% slope to slow the flow of water before falling on-contour on the other side of the channel where the water can infiltrate. Overflow from the two swales diverts into the retention basin to be infiltrated.

Orchard

A new U-pick orchard places trees along parallel rows of berms. These berms, built 2% off contour, infiltrate brook overflow and direct it out towards the easternmost ridge. Berms are built approximately three feet high with overflow channels built roughly along the existing stream bed to release pressure on the berms in case of a large storm event (see section).

Farmer Plots

Once the risk from flooding is sufficiently managed by the swale and berm system, the area in the southern corner of the east field will provide space for two farmers to manage a yearly rotation of eighth-of-an-acre plots.

Retention Basin

Overflow from the road swales and the orchard berms enters into a retention basin constructed to infiltrate storm water before it reaches the farm plots. An additional overflow channel for the retention basin diverts water around the farm plots.

Overflow Channe

l

The sides of the berm should have a slope of no greater than 33%.

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Parking and Shade Structure

Parking for five cars provides easy access for farmers to reach their plots and for CSA members to harvest from the orchard. A bamboo shade structure creates a comfortable space for farmers and CSA members to meet and interact.

North

11/17

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

40

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

80ft.

20 10

The beds on the moderate slopes directly west of the farm road are reserved for mulch production. The organic matter harvested from this bed is initially reserved for soil building in the east field, but can later be available for farmer plots once orchard is established.

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

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Mulch Beds

Final Design: East Field Restoration New Lands Farm

A farm road doubles as a diversion swale while fruit trees build soil and produce a yield.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Water Harvesting

Small Garage 0 20 10 40

Because of their size and proximity to the farm fields, the rooftops of both the small garage and the wash station offer promising locations for harvesting irrigation water. The wash station may not be able to fully meet irrigation needs, but the addition of an adjacent barn structure would greatly improve the collection capacity from this area.

To meet 430 gallons per month, the average available runoff from each of the on-site structures except for the farmstand and the toolsheds could cover the average irrigation needs of the farm.

Because the irrigation needs and rainfall volumes will fluctuate greatly from month to month, the larger structures will be able to provide a more consistent water supply.

Small Garage Large Garage Wash house Farm stand Tool Shed 1 Tool Shed 2 Barn* Greenhouse* Total

Roof Area (sq ft) 1800 3400 360 239 115 108 600 600 7222

Avg. Rainfall (cu ft/month) 450 850 90 60 29 27 150 150 1656

80ft.

Available Runoff (gal/month) 3030 5722 606 404 195 182 1010 1010 11149

Gutter Downspout Overflow

First Flush Diverter

*Proposed structure

A rooftop catchment apparatus should include a diversion pipe to send off the first flush of rain from the roof, which may have high concentrations of sediment and animal wastes on the roof. A yearly supply of 3,000 gallons would require a storage tank of roughly 8 to 10 feet in diameter and 8 to 10 feet tall.

Outflow

North

12/17

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Proposed Barn

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Total Bill $624 $3,207 $870 $741

Wash Station

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

2011 2012 2013 2014

Total Gallons 2760 13891 2977 2498

Tool Sheds and Farmstand

Water Harvesting

Aside from a spike of nearly 14,000 gallons in 2012 due to drought and irrigation system leaks, New Lands has consistently held its annual water use to under 3,000 gallons (approximately 430 gallons per month during the growing season).

New Lands Farm

Harvesting rainwater off one or a few of the site’s structures could meet the farm’s yearly irrigation needs.

Mulch

Partially decomposed woody and herbaceous material applied directly to crop beds. This addition of biomass helps the soil to retain water while feeding soil bacteria and fungi. Mulch can either be sourced from off-site or grown on the farm. Because it is in the middle of a suburban neighborhood, New Lands Farm is well positioned to collect lawn waste from the surrounding residences.

These grass clippings and leaf piles can be applied to the farm beds as a no-cost mulch.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Biochar

Charcoal created through the burning of organic material at low levels of oxygen. Biochar increases soil fertility and improves the soil’s ability to hold water. In addition, this material can last thousands of years without decomposing and therefore can help sequester carbon dioxide and mitigate climate change.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

North

13/17

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Compost tea is a concoction typically produced of one part compost to one hundred parts water. After a day-long aeration process, the resulting “tea” will contain dense colonies of beneficial soil bacteria and fungi that can be directly applied to the soil. A 60-gallon brewing machine which could supply a complete treatment of New Lands Farm’s fields, costs around $1,000; however, smaller units and DIY options can be less than $50. Applying compost tea can greatly improve soil ecology only using small amounts of compost.

Cultivation alternates between annual beds and rows of trees or other perennial crops (see sheet 15). This arrangement mimics a midsuccessional forest and deposits organic material directly onto the cultivated plots. While this can be a very expensive system to install, once in place it requires little maintenance and will provide twice the yield of a cover crop rotation as there is no need to leave half the fields fallow.

http://growabundant.com

Compost Tea

www.mulchx-press.com

A rotation between cultivation and cover crops ensures that plant material is returned to the soil. This is the current management strategy used across the farm.

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Alley Cropping

New Lands Farm

Rotation/Cover Crop

Soil Management

http://majickdon.com

A suite of strategies for regenerating the soil gives the farmers and farm managers flexibility in determining how best to improve soils.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

Soil Management

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

Final Design

Jinenjo Musk Mallow Sunchoke Turkish Rocket Udo

9 3 12 1.5 to 3 6 to 9

American Red Raspberry Giant Sunflower

Rubus idaeum var.

Strigosus Helianthus giganteus Gooseberry/Currants Ribes spp.

High-bush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia River Beauty Equilobium latifolium Skirret Sium sisarum Wild Hyacinth Camas scilloides

Prunus manshurica

10

12

Mespilus germanica

10

5

Asimina triloba

Useful and attractive varieties of bamboo for the entryway and farm center. Contact Steve Breyer at Tripple Brook Farm Nursery for more information regarding species selection and planting methods.

Though a useful and sustainable timber source, running bamboo such as Phyllostachys species spread aggressively into local ecosystems if not properly planted and should be treated with caution.

9 2 1 to 2 6 to 9

The following is a list of perennial crops are well-suited to the wet conditions of Perennial Zone 2.

Botanical Name

25-35

20 12 25-35

Bamboo

Perennial Zone 2 Common Name

20

Height Width (ft) (ft) 3 to 6 6 to 12 8

Run

3-5’ 6 to 12

3-5’ 6 to 12

0.5-1 5

6 5

3 1.5-2

2 1.5-2

Common Name

Botanical Name

Timber Bamboo (see note above) Umbrella Bamboo

Phyllostachys spp.

Fargesia murielae

Height Width Notes (ft) (ft) 12 to 50 Run Spread through rhizomes 15 3 to 5 Clumping

North Fargesia murielae

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Apios americana Asparagus officinalis Allium tuberosum Chenopodium bonus-henricus Dioscorea japonica Malva moschata Helianthus tuberosus Bunias orientalis Aralia cordata

Prunus americana Malus spp.

Castanea mollissima

Height (ft) Width (ft) 15-40 20

Perennial Crops

American Groundnut Asparagus Garlic Chives Good King Henry

Height Width (ft) (ft) 4 to 8 Run 3 to 5 1.5 to 3 1.5 1 1 to 3 1 to 1.5

Diospyros virginiana

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

Botanical Name

American Persimmon American Plum Apple Chinese Chestnut Manchurian Apricot Medlar

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Perennial crops minimize soil disturbance on the steeper slopes of Perennial Zone 1 as they do not need to be resown every year.

Botanical Name

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Perennial Zone 1

Common Name

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Fruit and nut trees provide a diversity of crops while building soil and slowing water in the east field.

These perennial crops along with a no-till program protect steep slopes and build soil while still producing a yield.

Common Name

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

Orchard

Perennial Crops

New Lands Farm

Final Design

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Final Design Fertility Crops

Herb

0.25 to 0.5

1 Full Sun

Herb

35

35 Part Sun

Herb Herb Herb Herb Herb Herb

0.5 to 0.75 0.5 to 1 1 to 2 0.5 to 3 1 to 4 0.5 to 2

Run Run Run 1 to 2 or Run 3 to 5 0.5 to 2

Full to Part Sun Full to Part Sun Full Sun Full to Part Sun Full to Part Sun Full to Part Sun

Wet/Dry Xeric to Mesic Mesic

Accumulator K, P K, Ca

Xeric to Mesic

K, P, Ca

Mesic

K, P, Ca

Mesic to Hydric Mesic to Hydric Mesic to Hydric Xeric to Hydric Xeric to Hydric Mesic

Ca, Co, Fe, Mg K, P, Ca, S, Fe, Mg, Na K, Mg K, P, Ca, Fe, Na K, P, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg K, P, Ca, Cu, Fe

Fertility Crops

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

While little formal research has been conducted on this matter, these plants are believed to draw certain minerals from the subsoil and concentrate them in their vegetative structure.

Inter-planting them with other crops may be one way in which to address particular soil nutrient deficiencies. Calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) accumulators are of particular interest for New Lands Farm, especially for the east field. When planting the orchard here, the farm should consider employing a cover of these plants around each tree.

Many of these plants are also edible and/or medicinal. For more information refer to Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally, by Robert Kourik.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

Symphytum spp.

North Chamaemelum nobile

Achillea millefolium

15/17

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Equisetum scirpoides Nasturtium officinale Mentha piperita Rumex spp.

Symphytum spp.

Taraxacum officinale

Growth Habit Height (ft) Width (ft) Sun/Shade Herb 2 to 3 Run Full Sun Herb 0.5 to 2 0.5 to 2 Full Sun

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

German Chamomile Flowering Dogwood Dwarf Horsetails Watercress Peppermint Sorrel Comfrey Dandelion

Botanical Name Achillea millefolium Allium schoenoprasum Chamaemelum nobile Cornus florida

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

http://upload.wikimedia.org/

Common Name Yarrow Chives

New Lands Farm

These dynamic accumulator plants access nutrients in the subsoil and are valuable for improving soil quality where they are planted.

80ft.

0 20 10

Design Alternatives

10 40

80ft.

40

Community Haven

The cleared brushpatch makes room for a seating and gathering area.

While this option physically expands the communuity space and improves the visitor experience, it does not necessarily draw the farmers together with the community of the CSA members. In an attempt to simplify the car traffic in the entryway, the design isolates the work area from the community space thereby reducing the effectiveness of the new seating and gathering area.

Fertility Rows

The current system of crop rotations is replaced by a strip cropping cultivation method (see Soil Management sheet) and beds of intensitve mulch production.

While this layout could conceivably increase the overall yield of the farm, the cost of installing the system as well as of uprooting farmers from their current plots may not be not worth the time and money.

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

0 20

0 20 10 40

80ft.

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Three early design concepts explored alternative approaches to the farm layout and management.

New Lands Farm

This concept focuses exclusively on the community of farmers, removing the farmstand from the site and setting up a home delivery system for the CSA. Farm plots remain at their current eighth-acre size, but each farmer produces a certain amount of mulch crops to be spread around and shared with farmers within their larger square. The smaller central squares offer nodes of gathering for the farmers where they can mingle and relax from their work as well as storage areas for harvested mulch crops. Unlike other designs, this alternative does not respond to variations in soils, slopes, and hydrology across the site.

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Squares

North

16/17

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Design Alternatives

332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Soil Analyses The most recent soil tests show deficiencies in both Calcium and Potassium, both of which can be improved by retutrning organic matter to the soils and through the use of dynamic acculmulators.

Order Number: Lab Number: Area Sampled: Received: Reported:

10638 S141020-303 4 acres 10/20/2014 10/27/2014

Prepared For: Cary White Conway School 332 South Deerfield Rd Conway, MA 01341-0179

white15@csld.edu 413-884-2196

white15@csld.edu 413-884-2196

Results

Results Value Optimum Range Found

Analysis Soil pH (1:1, H2O) Modified Morgan extractable, ppm Macronutrients Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S) Micronutrients * Boron Manganese (Mn) Zinc (Zn) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) Aluminum (Al) Lead (Pb)

5.9

13.4 4-14 49 100-160 343 1000-1500 61 50-120 7.2 >10 0.2 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.9 37 0.2

Value Optimum Range Found

Analysis Cation Exch. Capacity, meq/100g Exch. Acidity, meq/100g Base Saturation, % Calcium Base Saturation Magnesium Base Saturation Potassium Base Saturation Scoop Density, g/cc

6.1 3.8 28 8 2 1.26

50-80 10-30 2.0-7.0

0.1-0.5 1.1-6.3 1.0-7.6 0.3-0.6 2.7-9.4 <75 <22

* Micronutrient deficiencies rarely occur in New England soils; therefore, an Optimum Range has never been defined. Values provided represent the normal range found in soils and are for reference only.

Very Low

Low

Optimum

Above Optimum

Phosphorus (P):

Soil pH (1:1, H2O) Modified Morgan extractable, ppm Macronutrients Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S) Micronutrients * Boron Manganese (Mn) Zinc (Zn) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) Aluminum (Al) Lead (Pb)

5.8

14.8 4-14 66 100-160 359 1000-1500 67 50-120 7.4 >10 0.2 1.3 1.0 0.5 1.9 36 0.5

Value Optimum Range Found

Analysis Cation Exch. Capacity, meq/100g Exch. Acidity, meq/100g Base Saturation, % Calcium Base Saturation Magnesium Base Saturation Potassium Base Saturation Scoop Density, g/cc

7.7 5.2 23 7 2 1.17

50-80 10-30 2.0-7.0

0.1-0.5 1.1-6.3 1.0-7.6 0.3-0.6 2.7-9.4 <75 <22

* Micronutrient deficiencies rarely occur in New England soils; therefore, an Optimum Range has never been defined. Values provided represent the normal range found in soils and are for reference only.

Nutrient

Very Low

Low

Optimum

Above Optimum

Phosphorus (P): Potassium (K):

Potassium (K):

Calcium (Ca):

Calcium (Ca):

Magnesium (Mg):

Magnesium (Mg):

1 of 3

Value Optimum Range Found

Analysis

10638 S141020-302 6 acres 10/20/2014 10/27/2014

Soil Test Interpretation

Soil Test Interpretation Nutrient

Order Number: Lab Number: Area Sampled: Received: Reported:

Soil Tests

Prepared For: Cary White Conway School 332 South Deerfield Rd Conway, MA 01341-0179

Sample Information: Sample ID: NLF W

Soil Test Report

Sample ID: NLF E

Lab Number S141020-303

1 of 3

North Sample ID: NLF W

Lab Number S141020-302

17/17

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

Sample Information: Sample ID: NLF E

Soil Test Report

334 Birnie Ave West Springfield, MA

Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory 203 Paige Laboratory 161 Holdsworth Way University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: (413) 545-2311 e-mail: soiltest@umass.edu website: soiltest.umass.edu

Designer: Cary White Fall 2014

Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory 203 Paige Laboratory 161 Holdsworth Way University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: (413) 545-2311 e-mail: soiltest@umass.edu website: soiltest.umass.edu

New Lands Farm

Western Half

Eastern Half