Greening Your Farm, AYHC 2013
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The document provides information on greening a farm through various conservation practices. It discusses managing water, energy, soil, and other resources more sustainably. Specific practices mentioned include rotational grazing, nutrient management, composting manure, planting windbreaks, rain gardens, and using native plants in landscaping. The goal is to reduce environmental impact and use resources effectively for long-term agricultural viability.
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Greening Your Farm, AYHC 2013
- 1. Greening Your Farm Elaine Long Bailey Calvert County 4-H Educator Shannon Dill Talbot County Agricultural Extension Educator The University of Maryland Extension is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Equal Access Programs.
- 2. GREEN is . . . • Conservation-oriented • Environmentally friendly • Of low ecological impact • Sustainable • Concerning ourselves today for what is http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Kermit_the_Frog available tomorrow • Other?
- 3. Conservation-oriented • Water • Energy • Soil • Other resources
- 4. Water on the Farm Uses Direct Sources • Water for humans • Wells • Water for animals • Wells or springs • Water for crops • Wells, springs, • Water for bathing animals ponds • Water for washing • Wells, springs, equipment or facilities ponds • Wells, springs, ponds
- 5. How can we effectively manage water? • Keep wells protected (contamination and caving) • Clean out and protect springs (debris) • Prevent vegetative overgrowth in ponds • Repair leaks, drips, and other “escapes” of water • Proper pasture management/soil protection
- 6. Energy •Turn off lights when areas not in use •Turn off heat (or AC) when areas not in use •Replace incandescent bulbs with energy saver ones •Longer life •More efficient use of electricity •To learn more, go to www.energystar.gov
- 7. Alternatives to Save Energy • Proper insulation for temperature-sensitive areas • Tack rooms, observation areas, feed rooms • Bonded Logic’s UltraTouch insulation • Recycled jeans • See www.bondedlogic.com • Cellulose (recycled newspaper) http://www.bondedlogic.com/construction-products/ultratouch-denim-insulation • Straw • Wool
- 8. Soil Erosion • Water • Wind • Relates to water management, landscaping, farm www.ent.iastate.edu/images/practices/tillage/conventional/erosion.jpg planning
- 9. Some Other Simple Changes • Use feed bags as trash receptacles • Recycle paper, plastic, (glass), etc. • Reduce, recycle, reuse . . . Retrofit, repurpose • Reuse items imaginatively
- 10. Brainstorms: WHAT Do We Have Lots of? • Baling twine • Baling twine makes neat craft projects • Repair devices • Scrub buckets http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/pictures/files/9/1/1/3/CoolProject006.jpg
- 11. Baling Twine Challenge Teams of 3-4 people • Formulate an idea for use of baling twine • Collect some twine, and GO FOR IT!
- 12. Twine Creations http://www.focusoncommunity.org/BalingTwine.html • http ://www.alpacabytes.com/2010/02/09/how-to-make-a-recycled-baling-twine-rug / http://happilyhome.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-twine-is-twine-and-whats-twine-is.html
- 14. Nutrient Management • Nutrient Management incorporates – Soil Tests – Crops and Crop Nutrient Needs – Manure Usage • Responsible farm management and environmental practice • Balancing act . . .
- 15. Benefits of Nutrient Management • Reduces fertilizer costs • Gives pH values – pH helps plants use nutrients • Better management and usage of forage and pastures • Better manure handling and management
- 16. Basic Types of Pastures • Continuous – animals graze in the pasture for extended periods of time – animals choose the plants they eat – plants overgrazed and/or undergrazed
- 18. Basic Types of Pastures • Rotational – animals graze for limited period of time – animals moved when existing forage has been removed – intensive rotational grazing systems subdivide pastures into paddocks and use high stocking rates where animals are forced to eat all forages – most efficient
- 20. Maintaining Pastures • Rotate • Clip • Drag Manure Through the grazing season • Irrigate/Sprinkler if possible ___________________________________ • Soil Test (3 yrs) • Fertilize/Lime • Spray/Herbicide Done Yearly • Overseed
- 21. Recycle Manure • An average 1,000-pound horse produces 9 tons of manure a year • Manage manure • Stockpile manure for flexibility in timing of use • Compost and use for gardens, pastures and flower beds. http://www.certaindoubt.net/steaming-piles-of-spin/john-with-
- 22. Advantages of Composting Horse Manure • Relatively dry end-product that is easily handled • Reduced volume (40 to 65 % less volume and weight than raw manure) • Decreased # of fly eggs and larvae, pathogens and weed seeds (temperature-dependent) • Less odor than raw manure and more easily marketed • Acts as a slow release fertilizer and an excellent soil conditioner http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/e/ec/Manure_compost.jpg
- 23. Equipment Needed to Compost Horse Manure • Bin or other covered area • Tractor • Manure spreader • Front-end loader http://www.icsman.co.nz/products/front-end-loaders/tractor-front-end-loader-3.aspx http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/corporate/our_company/news_and_media/press_releases/2012/agriculture/2012aug23_ms23_spreader.page
- 24. Bin Sample Jessica Paige, WSU Cooperative Extension, Whatcom County
- 25. Sustainable Landscapes • Windbreaks • Low-Water Landscapes with Natives - Xeriscaping • Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels
- 26. Windbreaks • Slows wind on its downwind side for a distance 10X the height of the trees • Shelter for horses • Provides shelter and food for wildlife • Reduces dust, thus improves air quality • Noise reduction • Can mix in deciduous trees and shrubs Eastern Red Cedar
- 27. Windbreak Plants •Plant a diverse mix of trees – prevent spread of disease and loss to severe weather •Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana •Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis •Northern White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis •Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus Eastern White Eastern Hemlock Northern White Cedar Pine
- 28. Low Water Landscapes Xeriscaping • Xeriscaping is a term used for a waterwise, natural landscape using native, drought- tolerant plants. – Mulch beds – Water only when plants need it – Plant trees and shrubs in mass plantings Salvia – Improve soil structure – Reduce runoff – Attract pollinators http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/ Redbud
- 29. Xeriscaping Plant List • Ornamental Trees – Redbud, River Birch, Crapemyrtle • Shade Trees – Ginkgo, Red Oak, Tupelo, Pin Oak • Evergreens – American Holly, Red Cedar, Scotch Pine • Deciduous Shrubs – Red Chokeberry, Smoketree, Pinxterbloom Azalea, Rugosa Rose • Evergreen Shrubs – Glossy Abelia, Junipers, Northern Bayberry, Cherry Laurel, Pyracantha • Herbaceous Plants – Butterfly weed, Bearded Iris, Coral Bells, Yarrow, Coreopsis, Red-Hot Poker, Black Eyed Susan, Sedum, Salvia, Hens and Chicks, Goldenrod, Lamb’s Ear, Purple Coneflower, Salvia, Zinnia, Sage
- 30. Xeriscaping Plants Butterfly Weed Redbud Black Eyed Susan Ginkgo Purple Coneflower Biloba Sedum Image Credit: Sage Sedum Stanton Gill Salvia
- 31. Rain Gardens A dish-shaped garden that is planted in native, wetland, wet prairie wildflowers, grasses, trees and shrubs that collect water and recharge the water table, thus preventing polluted runoff.
- 32. Rain Garden Features • Designed to collect water, but not hold it • Berm can be used around the garden to “hold” the water • After rain, drains in 4-6 days • Attracts birds, dragonflies, beneficial insects, and pollinators • Can be used as a buffer to shoreline areas
- 33. Plant list for clay soil in full sun • Red Milkweed - (Asclepias incarnata) • White False Indigo - (Baptista lactea) • Blue Flag Iris - (Iris versicolor) Ironweed • Smooth Penstemon - (Penstemon digitalis) Blue Flag Iris Prairie • Prairie Blazingstar - (Liatris pycnostachya) Blazingstar • Wild Quinine – (Parthenium integrifolium) • Yellow Coneflower – (Ratibida pinnata) • False Aster – (Boltonia asteroides) • Sweet Black-Eyed Susan – (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) • Ironweed – (Vernonia fasciculata) Stiff Goldenrod • New England Aster – (Aster novae-angliae) • Stiff Goldenrod – (Solidagio rigida) • Fox Sedge - (Carex vulpinoidea) Wild Quinine *Weems Creek Conservancy Fox Sedge
- 34. Plant list for loam to sandy/loam soils in full sun • Red Milkweed – (Asclepia incarnata) • White False Indigo – (Baptista lactea) • Blue Flag Iris – (Iris versicolor) Red Milkweed • Smooth Penstemon – (Pestemon digitalis) Smooth Penstemon • Nodding Pink Onion – (Allium cernuum) • Prairie Blazingstar – (Liatris pycnostachya) • Wild Quinine – (Parthenium integrifolium) • False Aster – (Boltonia asteroides) • Sweet Black-Eyed Susan – (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) • Ironweed – (Vernonia fasciculata) Nodding Pink Onion • New England Aster – (Aster novae-angliae) • Ohio Goldenrod – (Soldiago ohioensis) • Fox Sedge – (Carex vulpinoidea) *Weems Creek Conservancy
- 35. Rain Barrels • Collect and store roof rainwater runoff • Provide a free source of soft water • Contains no chlorine, lime or calcium • Can help reduce your water bill • Can be directed into a garden • Easy to build or buy Image: Low Impact Development Center
- 36. Helpful References and Websites • Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • Conservation Choices for Maryland Farmers – MDA • Xeriscaping and Conserving Water in the Landscape – UME Home & Garden Mimeo #HG25 • www.hgic.umd.edu • http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ORG/WATER/WM/dsf m/shore/documents/rgmanual.pdf
- 37. Questions? Thank you! • Elaine Long Bailey elbailey@umd.edu The University of Maryland Extension is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Equal Access Programs.
Editor's Notes
- Kermit the Frog used to sing a song, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Easier today than previously, and more important.
- When we hear the term “conservation,” we frequently think of natural resources, but conservation may relate to other entities, such as space, pasture, etc.
- Water “quality” requirements may differ, depending upon use. Recycled water, e.g., for equipment washing.
- Slope to land important. Pasture management important. MUCH energy in water flow . . . Soil movement and erosion occur. Control or “shunt” water flow, e.g., across fields.
- An ENERGY STAR qualified light bulb: Saves money about $6 a year in electricity costs and can save more than $40 over its lifetime Meets strict performance requirements that are tested and certified by a third party Uses about 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and lasts at least 6 times longer Produces about 75% less heat, so it’s safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling. More savings are possible if you purchase the bulbs in bulk.
- Initial outlay for Bonded Logic product can be up to 25% more than conventional insulation. BUT some advantages include not unwieldy to handle, nor harmful to touch. More natural products used in product. Other possibilities: sheep’s wool, cellulose (recycled newspapers), straw, hemp, cork Potential tax credits for some alternative insulation sources.
- Water flow causes erosion. Wind contributes to erosion. How water is channeled on a farm can help to control erosion. Landscape features can help to decrease erosion. Farm planning entails both slopes (grades) of land, as well as measures to decrease impact of wind and possible erosion.
- Baling twine: 4-H’ers make lead ropes, dog leashes, cat scratching posts Rugs Other ideas?
- Define your “problem areas” or list things that you have a lot of, then determine a use for those things.
- Balance nutrient needs with nutrients added for growth of crops.
- Picture shows a pasture with plants being over and under grazed.
- Everybody is everywhere.
- Manure contains valuable fertilizer elements. In spring in MD, some horse farms have gardeners line up to get composted manure.
- Large-scale operations may require additional land and machinery
- Two- or 3-stage system means you have manure at different stages in composting process, from “fresh” to completely composted.