Microsoft Word - 2010 Dilmun Hill- Growing Mosaics Garden TSF
report.docxPermaculture in the Growing Mosaic Garden Obtaining
multiple yields with perennial polycultures and student
leadership
Dilmun Hill Student Farm, Cornell University
2010 Report to the Towards Sustainability Foundation January 11,
2011
Michael Hoffmann Professor, Department of Entomology Director,
Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) 241
Roberts Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255- 2552,
[email protected]
Kenneth Mudge Associate Professor Department of Horticulture 13
Plant Science Building, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, 14853 (607)
255-1794,
[email protected]
Dave Jacke Designer, Author and Teacher Dynamics Ecological Design
308 Main St. Suite 2C Greenfield, MA 01301 (603) 831-1298,
[email protected]
Jeffrey Gardner Research Support Specialist Department of
Entomology, Cornell University (607) 255- 3032,
[email protected]
Rachel Brinkman Research Support Specialist Department of
Horticulture, Cornell University (607) 342-2876,
[email protected]
Melissa Madden Organic Farm Coordinator Cornell University
Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES) (607) 351-3313,
[email protected]
Elizabeth Burrichter Plant Science, '12, Cornell University
[email protected]
Hanna Broback Undecided, ’13, Cornell University
[email protected]
Michele Fonzi Landscape Architecture, '11, Cornell University
[email protected]
2
Introduction In 2008, the Growing Mosaics Garden (GMG) grew out of
student interest in permaculture at Dilmun
Hill Student Farm. Over the past three years and through the
combination of an independent study project, successive student
managers and the ideas of the farm Steering Committee, this new
garden has evolved in complexity and scope. In 2010, Towards
Sustainability Foundation funding provided for two student managers
full-time in summer and part-time in spring and fall. Managers
increased detailed design and record keeping over previous efforts,
selected additional site appropriate plants and established the new
Achillea Beneficial Insect study. By adding the Achillea study,
2010 student managers dealt with the challenging and practical
issues of controlling research variables, securing technical
support, caring for plants and developing effective data collection
to ensure project continuity.
In the spring new student managers set goals for the summer and
fall. From March through May, managers reconsidered past designs
and created a detailed layout including specific polycultures based
on a species list that takes into account site limitations and
plant function. Site design continues to focus on Dilmun students’
expressed goals by creating a diverse, beautiful, and welcoming
garden where visitors can pick flowers and observe
wildlife--specifically pollinators and beneficial insects. Please
see the 2010 GMG planting plan in Appendix 1. Plant species
selection also aimed at creating a cut flower garden and managers
followed through with selling bouquets for events and on campus
farm stands, and is detailed in Appendix 2, 2010 GMG plant
polycultures. Long term goals for the project revolve around
financial sustainability and continuity. Due to ongoing concerns
about legacy heavy metals contamination onsite, the managers will
continue to test food crops for metals in plant tissue so that
hopefully one day the Growing Mosaics Garden will be an actual
edible forest garden. Currently, managers continue to work with
existing contamination by developing sales of ornamental crops.
Another long term goal is a higher level of record keeping
solidifying continuity. Long term data from this project is equally
as important as the results from a single season, so evolving more
detailed record keeping and increasing staff and faculty
participation will help overcome the inevitable student manager
turnover that is central to Dilmun Hill. Project Outcomes of 2010
TSF Proposal Objectives
General Objectives 1) Hire student managers to develop and manage
Dilmun Hill projects and conduct effective outreach.
Following are testimonials from the three successive student
mangers for 2010. Each manager highlights the impact of her
employment in the GMG on her short and long-term plans. Dilmun Hill
exists primarily to support student learning and development
through an experiential model, tying project outcomes to manager
interpretation, experience and growth.
Hanna Broback, Undecided ’13
Soon after mentioning my interest in permaculture and the Growing
Mosaics Garden Project to the previous manager, Wren
Albertson-Rogers, I began attending [Dilmun Hill manager] meetings
in December of 2009. In the spring the other managers and I
collaboratively researched plants and worked on combining them in
polycultures; we recreated the raised beds and made new paths to
get ready for planting. I learned so much from the other managers
and from the farm. Communication was most central to the success of
the management team and of the farm. By holding several different
weekly meetings, and checking in with co-managers each day, I grew
in my own ability to articulate problems and needs; to explain what
was going on in my own and other projects; as well as to
collaborate and resolve issues cooperatively. Out of this
cooperation and communication came a meaningful community, which
ensured the success of the student farm, and became the most
important part of the Dilmun Hill experience for myself.
3
Michele Fonzi, Landscape Architecture ’11
I started working on this project in the Spring of 2010 and right
off the bat was working with the other managers to further develop
the site. We spent most of our time researching plants and placing
them in usable polycultures. Over the summer we worked hard to get
as many plants in the ground as we could afford. We had very high
success rates with these plants as most thrived in the nutrient
rich conditions. The Fall came quickly and with it a long list of
outreach opportunities for the GMG. I personally gave 15 tours and
spoke in three classes. I love my job as a Dilmun Manager and I
have met so many fascinating people through this opportunity. As a
Landscape Architecture student I plan to continue to work with
permaculture design upon my graduation in May 2011.
Elizabeth Burrichter, Plant Sciences ’12 I first worked in the
MacDaniel’s Nut Grove in the woodlot behind Dilmun Hill because of
my interests in permaculture, which made for an easy transition to
the Growing Mosaics Garden at Dilmun Hill. I immediately felt
welcomed by the community that surrounds the farm and have found
that doing research at Dilmun very well compliments my curriculum
in CALS as a Plant Science major. I’ve been inspired by the
interest people show in the garden and I hope to use what I learn
in the GMG to one day manage my own land.
2) Strengthen Dilmun Hill as a demonstration site for sustainable
agriculture and alternative farming and gardening systems, focusing
on the use of multiple species with multiple functions to maximize
yield in diverse systems.
The updated design of the garden added diversity and allowed the
managers to further experiment with creating functional
polycultures (please see Appendix 2. 2010 GMG plant polycultures).
The GMG as a whole focuses on cultivating perennials, using the
diverse array of plants to create habitat for beneficial insects.
Together, the GMG’s permaculture garden and the Achillea Beneficial
Insect research provide a living classroom for permaculture,
demonstrating some of the discipline’s conceptual system design
tools and demonstrates permaculture as an alternative land use
system. Student managers worked with Cornell staff and faculty to
construct a curriculum for classes to utilize this unique, diverse
and informative space. 3) Continue to provide diverse opportunities
for community networking. The Growing Mosaics Garden and Achillea
Beneficial Insect study serve as a forum for experiential learning.
The following events took place in or surrounding the Growing
Mosaics Garden:
May, 2010: Author and teacher Dave Jacke came to Cornell to host a
permaculture workshop. Attendees were community members and Cornell
graduate and undergraduate students wanting to learn about advanced
permaculture design. Both teacher and participants evaluated the
GMG and used the garden as the basis for the workshop.
August-October, 2010: Three courses each spent a lab period in the
Growing Mosaics Garden. They toured the garden, and were able to
learn about permaculture in context and also learn about
agricultural research design in the Achillea Beneficial Insect
plot.
o HORT 1101, Introduction to Horticultural Science o HORT 2220
Practicing Sustainable Land Care o HORT/CSS/NRES Practicum in
Forest Farming as an Agroforestry System
September, 2010: Dilmun Hill had a whole farm field day in
September to welcome new visitors and show off the farm. GMG
managers provided an activity in the Achillea plot to instruct
visitors in a variety of insect collection methods.
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Appendix
6
7
Polyculture evolution in the Growing Mosaic Garden 1) Explore the
functionality and profitability of edible, medicinal and ornamental
polycultures.
In 2010, student managers experimented with several polycultures to
determine mutual benefit. Managers also moved plants around in the
garden to encourage diversity within each of the flower beds.
Students used a polyculture spreadsheet (see Appendix 1) to
evaluate all the plants in the garden, including harvestable parts,
seasonality and their ecosystem functions.
Testing for heaving metal contamination continued to ensure
edibility of the garden’s harvest. Levels of both lead (Pb) and
arsenic (As) were below levels of concern as reported in the 2009
and 2010 reports for the BMP project.
2) Stimulate collective input and research to provide the community
with a beautiful educational sanctuary. The polyculture worksheet
(Appendix 1) did and will continue to act as a way to compile
information
about the benefits of the GMG. The managers established the
Achillea plot in early summer and experimented with several
collection methods throughout the season. Through presentations and
tours to visiting classes and work parties, dozens of students and
community members were able to learn about permaculture in the GMG
and help maintain both Blocks 3 and 4. Use of the site as a site
for experiential learning is invaluable.
New Objectives Achillea Beneficial Insect study in the Growing
Mosaic Garden 1) Compare the ability of various yarrow species to
harbor beneficial insects. In the 2010 season, the yarrow (Achillea
spp.) plants were established (see Appendix 4) and some preliminary
data was collected by using the sweep net and beat-board methods to
gather insects. Managers had difficulty identifying the parasitoids
they collected. This past season, student managers trialed
different insect collection methods and refine them for next
season. 2011 managers will receive a New Manager Guide with
detailed collection information and will be assisted by faculty in
the Department of Entomology (Richard Hoebeke) and IPM Specialist
Abby Seaman. More accurate data will inform better conclusions
about the insects that the managers collect from the yarrow plants,
with the help of a new faculty and staff advisors.
0
0.005
0.01
0.015
0.02
0.025
0.03
0.035
0.04
0.045
0.05
Strawberries
Pb
As
8
2) Summarize data to inform practitioners of the roles yarrow can
play in Northeastern perennial polyculture systems by identifying
and documenting the relative attractiveness of different cultivars
to beneficial insects. 2010 was an establishment year for the
Achillea study. The plants were very small for most of the season,
not reaching their full size until the end of the summer. A
combination of inadequate collection methods and a lack of required
expertise prevented the managers from making conclusions based on
the data collected. They had difficulty identifying parasitoids and
timing data collection. While not ideal to a research setting,
these experiences are part of the learning process at Dilmun. 2010
managers refined the 2011 TSF proposal to provide more support for
identification and collection. Budget Summary
Category Description Total Salary 2 PT student positions-Spring
1130
1 PT student positions- Fall 700 2 PT student positions- Summer
5600
Materials Plant material 907.26 Trellis lumber, fasteners 490
Outreach Dave Jacke consultation 26 Co-host Dave Jacke public event
147 Other events 90
Total Direct Costs 9090.26 Indirect Costs 909.026 Total Costs
9999.29
Next Steps for the Growing Mosaics Garden
Goals Means
Improved continuity Make record keeping part of the managers' job
description
Improved profitability Continue to test crops for edibility, expand
ornamental sales
Continue to explore polycultures Expand the GMG
Better define the benefits of on-farm diversity Add kale to
Achillea study
9
Resources Literature Byczynski, Lynn. The Flower Farmer: An Organic
Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers Colley, M.R. and
Luna, J. M. 2000. Relative Attractiveness of Potential Beneficial
Insectary Plants to Aphidophagous Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae).
Environ. Entomol. 29(5): 1054-1059. Cowgill, S. E., S. D. Wratten,
and N. W. Southerton. 1993b. The selective use of floral resources
by the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae) on
farmland. Ann. Appl. Biol. 122:223-231. Flint, Mary Louise. Pests
of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower's Guide to Using Less
Pesticide. Second edition. Jacke, Dave, and Eric Toensmeier. Edible
Forest Gardens. Vol. 1 & 2. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea
Green, 2008. Landis D.A., Wratten S.D., Gurr G.M. (2000) Habitat
management to conserve natural enemies of arthropod pests in
agriculture. Annual Review of entomology, 45, 175-202. Patt, J. M.,
G. C. Hamilton, and J. H. Lashomb. 1997. Foraging success of
parasitoid wasps on flowers: interplay of insect morphology, floral
architecture and searching behavior. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 83: 21-30.
Pontin, D. R., Wade, M. R., Kehril, P. and Wratten, S. D. 2005.
Attractiveness of single and multiple species flower patches to
beneficial insects in agroecosystems. Annals of Applied Biology.
Vaughan, Mace, Shepherd, Matthew, Kremen, Claire, and Black, Scott
Hoffman. Farming for Bees: Guidelines for Providing Native Bee
Habitat on Farms. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation,
Portland Oregon. July 2007. Wackers, F. L. "Assessing the
Suitability of Flowering Herbs as Parasitoid Food Sources: Flower
Attractiveness and Nectar Accessibility." Biological Control 29
(2004): 307-14. People Graceful Gardens: Amanda and Mark Shenstone.
www.gracefulgardens.com The Plantsmen Nursery
http://www.plantsmen.com/index.php?page=home&sid=epko5e7b2pc8r2thhtv26es871
Cayuga Landscaping: www.cayugalandscapes.com Websites Plants for a
Future Database:
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/find_use?AREA=N.+America(NE)&CAN=rng
Workshops/events Pollinator Short Course. Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Big Flats Plant Materials Center. Big Flats,
NY. 23 September 2010. 2010 Northeast Regional Meeting. Association
of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. Cornell University and Ithaca-area
farms. Ithaca, New York. 19-20 July 2010
Appendix 1. 2010 GMG plaanting plan..
100
11
Symbol # Botanical Name Common Name Family Beauty
Season Income Native P/A Composition/Habit
16 Echenacia purpurea coneflower Asteraceae late summer, fall cut
flower, tea yes p clumping, herb
16 Rudbeckia hirta Blackeyed susan Asteraceae late summer, fall cut
flower yes P spreads
32 Delphinium spp. Larkspur Ranunculaceae Late spring-late
summer
cut flower ? P for 2-3 yr.
8 Lobelia Indian Tobacco Campanulaceae summer Cut flower yes
P
8 Lupinus polyphyllus Lupine Fabaceae may and june cut flower no
P
HyAr 3 Hydrangea arborescens
Hydrangea Hydrangeaceae May to July cut flowers yes P
8 Thymus serpyllum mother of thyme Lamiaceae early summer herb no
P
LaSt 8 Lavandula stoechas Lavender Lamiaceae late spring-late
summer
cut flower, herb, tea
no P clumping, herb
16 Monarda didyma Bergamot, Beebalm cut flower yes P clumping,
spreads
24 Scabiosa columbaria Pincushion flower Dipsacaceae Late summer/
early Fall
cut flower yes p upright mounding
SiMa 16 Sidalcea malviflora Checkerbloom summer cut flower yes p
upright, mounding
4 Veronicastrum virginicum
cut flower yes P
cut flower yes P
herb, cut flower
Trifolium repens white clover Fabaceae
AnTi 16 Anthemis tinctoria yellow chamomile Asteraceae cut flower,
dye, potpourri, tea
no P or A
Appendix 2, cont’d. 2010 GMG plant polycultures. Symbol #
Botanical
Name Common Name
Notes
coneflower 3-4' tall, 1-2'wide taproot meadow, zone 3-8,
invertebrate shelter
late summer, fall, flower,root, leaf
16 Rudbeckia hirta Blackeyed susan 12-15" zone 3-5
32 Delphinium spp. Larkspur 1-2' requires additional
fertility
Butterflies/bees polliate, food plants for Eurpoean
Lepidoptera
Finicky (Craig Cramer); toxic as edibles; staking for tall hybrids.
Need compost added during season for best performance.
8 Lobelia Indian Tobacco 1-2' fibrous does well in native
soil
attracts pollinators
mid-late summer
8 Lupinus polyphyllus Lupine 36-60' zones 4-8 Requires additional
care after cutting
HyAr 3 Hydrangea arborescens
LaSt 8 Lavandula stoechas
Lavender 18-36' large spreading
zones 5-9 can be dried, late spring, or late summer
antisocial
24-48' spreads requires pruning
Pincushion flower 24"-36" fibrous
SiMa 16 Sidalcea malviflora Checkerbloom 23-29" fibrous does well
in native soil
attracts pollinators
1-2 feet
Trifolium pratense red clover 12" nitrogen
Trifolium repens white clover nitrogen
AnTi 16 Anthemis tinctoria yellow chamomile 18" Dynamic
accumulator
13
Appendix 2, cont’d. 2010 GMG plant polycultures. Symbol #
Botanical
Name Common Name Family Beauty
Season Income Native P/A Composition/Habit
8 Pycnanthemum pilosum
cut flower, herb, tea
yes P
BaAu 4 Baptisia australis Blue wild Indigo Fabaceae early summer
cut flower, dye yes P
2 Gypsophila elegans Baby's breath Caryophyllaceae late winter-
early fall
cut flower no P
no P mounding
yes P
4 Cornus racemosa Grey Dogwood Cornaceae all year cut
flower/branches
yes P
8 Hibiscus moschueutos
8 Centaurea montana Bachelor's Button Asteraceae mid-late
summer
cut flower P
no P herbaceous
Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos Asteraceae summer-fall cut flower no A
herbaceo us
14
Appendix 2, cont’d. 2010 GMG plant polycultures. Symbol #
Botanical
Name Common Name
Notes
2 Gypsophila elegans
4 Arctostaphylos 'Massachusetts'
Massachusetts Kinnikinick Bearberry
8 Hibiscus moschueutos
June-August, flowers
Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos 1-2'/2-3' taproot summer-fall Growing cosmos is as close as
any of us will ever come to actually causing a cosmic event
self-seeding
Appendix 3. Blocks 2, 3 and 4 at Dilmun Hill – on page 15.
MacDaniels Nut Grove Aspara
Dilmun Hill Organic Farm Developing Agroforestry Options for
Agriculture and Research: Alley Cropping
Funded by Towards Sustainability Foundation June 2008
Location Map
s
KEY *RPM Ecosystems LLC, RPM stands for Root Production
Method
Mulch and Mow
Append
16