agriculture and flora

Flint’s Pond fire yields unique research opportunity

June 8, 2016

The burned area after the fire (above) and the deer exclosures set up to study how deer affect forest vegetation regeneration (click either image to enlarge).

One year ago, a brush fire swept through the northeast side of the Flint’s Pond conservation area (see the Lincoln Squirrel, June 7, 2015), leaving a large area with a clear understory and burned canopy trees—and also a unique habitat and opportunity to study forest regeneration.

After the fire, Lincoln’s Conservation Department was approached with a proposal for a research collaboration involving Wildands and Woodlands (an effort overseen by the nonprofit conservation organization Highstead in partnership with the Harvard Forest, Harvard University, and regional conservation and academic leaders).

As a result, walkers in the area today will see several fenced areas inside and outside the cleared area. These are ‟deer exclosures”— three boxed areas of high, welded-wire fence installed in the burn area and three outside the burn area. Six corresponding unfenced control plots were also established to yield comparative data over a five-year research period to assess the effects of deer grazing on forest vegetation regeneration.

“We’re excited about the prospect of observing these exclosures and of learning in a very tangible way about the effects of deer on our woods,” said Angela Kearney, Lincoln conservation planner.

Chickens come home to roost—but the roost moves

May 22, 2016

The rolling chicken coops that are doing double duty as portable fertilizing machines (click for larger version to see the chickens).

Could this be more affordable housing in Lincoln?

You may have noticed the “chicken condos” on the Codman South pasture land. Pete Lowy, farm manager at Codman Community Farm, has established a moving free-range, egg producing, soil-improving, locally sourced, sustainable agricultural enterprise there.

The 1,000 Golden Comet hens are fed natural certified organic grains and given plenty of water each day. But they also scratch out a living from the soil in the large fenced in area. In doing so, they aerate the soil and fertilize it at the same time. Pete moves the coops forward every two days to ensure the birds have plenty of fresh grass to eat.

Guarding the chickens especially at night when they could easily fall prey to coyotes, owls and hawks is Toby, a trained livestock guardian dog who lives in and among his feathered friends. Toby is a Anatolian Shepherd/Akbash dog and loves being a working dog with purpose. Pete asks that people not try to pet Toby or give him anything to eat. He is a working dog and, while very friendly, has a serious job to do and should not be distracted from his work. Also, the fence around the yard is electrified and should not be touched, especially by eager children. Check out the chickens and come to the Codman Barn to but some super-local fresh eggs.

Pigs taking root near Old Sudbury Road

May 9, 2016

If you’re out taking a walk near the recently acquired Van Leer property on the south side Old Sudbury Road, be sure to stop by the and see how the Codman pigs are helping to improve Lincoln’s agricultural lands.

Pete Lowy, farm manager at Codman Community Farm and founder of Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds, is raising more than 30 piglets on the back area of the land (the southernmost side). The heritage breed Berkshire, Large Black and Old Spot pigs have small huts for shelter, plenty of GMO-free grains for feed, and a ready supply of water.

The pigs’ natural instinct is to root up the grass and soil searching for edibles. When an area is thoroughly dug up, Pete will move the pigs to a new area, plant a cover crop, and rotate the pigs back on the land as the crop matures to consume the forage (known as “hogging off”). This rotation will help build soil organic matter and naturally improve the soil health and biologic activity while also eliminating invasive plants. This combination of turning over the soil, planting new grasses and the deposits of manure by both pigs and cattle enriches the soil in a completely organic fashion. After several seasons of this cycle, the fields will be ready once again for a more permanent pasture.

— Peter von Mertens (co-chair, Lincoln Conservation Commission)

The pig enclosures on the Van Leer land off Old Sudbury Road.

Lincoln group working to create a new pollinator meadow

April 21, 2016

A Birches School student stakes out a plant plot for a pollinator meadow adjacent to the Smith school building to prepare the site for planting as part of People for Pollinators, an initiative supported by the Birches School, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and a private donor.

A Birches School student and helper stake out a plant plot for a pollinator meadow to prepare the site for planting.

A new Lincoln collaborative called People for Pollinators is sponsoring three events to advance its mission to promote, protect and create native habitat that supports the vitality of pollinators in the face of bee colony collapse.

People for Pollinators had its roots at an April 2015 symposium on pollinators in crisis with bee researcher Noah Wilson-Rich. The event sparked an idea to create plots of pollinator-friendly plants on Lincoln conservation land. Parents from the Birches School who were at the event approached the head of the school, which reached out to the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT). Together with Lincoln Agricultural Commission (AgComm) and the Lincoln Garden Club, both of which sponsored the Wilson-Rich talk, the partnership was created.

The People for Pollinators collaboration later grew to include the Conservation Commission, Stonegate Gardens and individuals in the Lincoln community as well. The effort is supported by grants from Birches School, the LLCT and a private donor.

The initiative first put boots on the ground (albeit small boots) earlier this month when students from Birches School together with some People for Pollinators members started preliminary work on a native, perennial, chemical-free pollinating meadow. The crew staked out plant plots on conservation land adjacent to the Smith School building and set up the solarization process to prepare the site for planting.

On Sunday, April 24 from 1-4 p.m., the Birches School will host “You’re a Citizen Scientist: People for Pollinators Project,” part of the Cambridge Science Festival. Visitors can learn from students in grades K-5 how to start their own grassroots effort to save the pollinators, set up experimental paradigms in their own gardens and have a positive impact on the ecosystem. The event is free, but please RSVP to events@birchesschool.org.

At the town-wide “40 Years of Community” fair on Saturday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. in Pierce Park, People for Pollinators will present information and facilitate several activities, including making a native-plant “seed bomb” for participants to take home with them to start a pollinator habitat of their own

Finally, at an a community-wide event on June 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., People for Pollinators and volunteers will plant plugs and seed the meadow site. Participants are encouraged to bring gardening gloves, a trowel and sturdy shoes. Hand tools will be provided for those who do not bring any. Long sleeves and pants recommended for ticks. Members of the collaborative and students from Birches School will help and direct participants. This is a drop-in event; the rain date is June 5.

In March, the state Department of Agricultural Resources released a draft of the Massachusetts Pollinator Protection Plan that was vehemently opposed by state beekeepers, who themselves released a plan last August called the Massachusetts Pollinator Protection Plan Framework. Beekeepers assert that pesticides, especially neonicintinoids—a class of insecticides used in agriculture and found in garden products—are the major source of the colony collapse problem.

Fair celebrates 40 years of three town institutions

April 13, 2016

Lincoln is gearing up for the “40 Years of Community” Fair packed with activities, art, music and history on Saturday, April 30 to recognize four decades of the Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation and the Lincoln Review.

The fair will feature children’s games and activities including a live animal demonstration, games and activities, storytelling, crafts related to Lincoln’s architectural heritage, a photo booth with a frog cutout, reading by “grandparents,” a scavenger hunt, a trackless train, 18th-century games, a sewing project, carnival games, a sketching demonstration and chance to meet a canine author, an activity table, and seed bomb and pollinator habitat making.

Lincoln’s history will be front and center, with displays on Lincoln history and iconic Lincoln buildings and landscapes. The Lincoln Minute Men will demonstrate aspects of life in Lincoln in the 18th century. Local organizations will provide information and demonstrations on such important topics as energy efficiency, agriculture, heirloom plants, nature and pollination. They’ll also have valuable information about their activities, programs and services.

Lincoln and Lincoln-associated artists will show their best work in the Pierce House, which will also feature historic photos from the Town Archives. The exhibit in Pierce House will also be open on Saturday, April 30 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 from noon to 3 p.m.

What’s a fair without food? The Lincoln Police Department will host a barbecue while the Minute Men will offer baked goods and cider for a small cost. You’re also welcome to bring a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy a meal or a snack on the grass in the park.

While you’re enjoying all the activities, exhibits and art, you’ll be regaled by music by some of Lincoln’s many virtuoso musicians. Bands and performing groups will play outside on a stage while more musicians will play and sing classical and other musical genres inside the Pierce House. The Lincoln Minute Men musicians will also be on hand.

Among the groups participating are the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Drumlin Farm, First Parish, Food Project, Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Green Energy Committee, Historic New England, LEAP, Lincoln Council on Aging and Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, Lincoln Family Association, Lincoln Garden Club, Lincoln Historical Society, Lincoln Minute Men, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln PTO, Lincoln Review, Lincoln School Foundation, Magic Garden, METCO Coordinating Committee, Old Town Hall Exchange, People for Pollinators, and the Town Archives.

For more information about the fair, call Carolyn Bottum at the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 or Dan Pereira at Parks and Recreation at 781-259-0784. Local businesses interested in donating goods are also welcome to call Carolyn or Dan.

Letter to the editor: state’s bee pollinator plan is ‘a disgrace’

April 4, 2016

Editor’s note: The Boston Globe ran a story on March 11 on the following issue.

To the editor:

So what does the Massachusetts Pollinator Protection Plan change for the better? Well, nothing really. It’s 14 pages of carefully crafted waffle to avoid mentioning the crux of the problem: “neonicitinoid” insecticides. There are so many independent scientific studies showing this class of pesticide as highly toxic to honey bees and pollinators in general that it’s hard to keep count. France just banned neonicitinoids (neonics) altogether; we can’t even mention their name.

The EPA says beekeepers don’t manage mites properly, and therein lies a large part of the problem. However, scientific research shows sub-lethal exposure to neonics increases mite infestations, reduces brood, increases broodless periods; and decreases winter survival rates for honey bees. The gut pathogen Nosema ceranae, another significant cause of winter mortality, is triggered by both pesticides and fungicides. The reality in the field and Science overlap—what a remarkable coincidence—but still our unelected officials can’t understand.

Meanwhile our local pollinators are being decimated. Many, like bumble bees and monarch butterflies, are proving more susceptible than honey bees to the toxic effects of neonics. According to the USGS, 90 percent of the nation’s water ways and streams are polluted with insecticides and herbicides, including neonics, despite the catastrophic effect neonics have on aquatic life as well. The truth is neonics are killing off all invertebrate life forms.

Laughably, the EPA’s solution is to teach commercial pesticide applicators how to apply these pesticides more sensitively. However, no regulation of the 100s of gallons of these insecticides stacked up in garden supply shelves across the state that residents can apply anyhow; no reduction in the application rates of these lawn products that use higher doses of neonics than conventional agriculture; no labeling for packs of potted “pollinator friendly” plants pre-treated with neonics, turning food into death traps for pollinators. In fact, the EPA won’t even ask manufacturers to disclose all the ingredients in pesticides, something eminent bee scientist Marla Spivak has requested for years.

One has to ask, who exactly is the EPA protecting? Fifty million pounds of insecticides a year pollute our lands. They are persistent, systemic and accumulate in the soil. Furthermore, when combined, pesticides have been shown up to 1,000 percent more lethal. Nonetheless, with over 1,200 agrochemicals approved, it is evident the EPA hasn’t yet found a chemical it doesn’t like—especially neonicitinoid insecticides.

In 2009 the EPA scientists conducted an assessment of clothianidin, a neonic used as a seed treatment on corn and many other crops. In their damning 101-page report, EPA scientists concluded that “acute toxicity studies to honey bees show that clothianidin is highly toxic on both a contact and an oral basis.” Instead of suspending or withdrawing the registration of this insecticide like the European Union did, the EPA is waiting until 2018 to “review the data.” Yes, read that again.

I actually spoke to Jeff Herndon, Director of Pesticide Registrations at the EPA, on January 31, 2010 about this report and three other studies showing the catastrophic effects of neonicitinoid pesticides on honey bees. I asked him bluntly what part of “it’s killing the bees” he didn’t understand. His response was surprisingly honest: “We’ve always known.”

Yes, we’ve always known, but we still pretend we don’t. This Pollinator Protection Plan is 14 pages of empty words masquerading as “doing something,” when we’re doing precisely nothing. It’s a boondoggle, a joke, a disgrace!

Sincerely,

Charlotte Trim
108 Codman Rd.

P.S. In Middlesex County, we lost over 90 percent of our managed hives over the past two winters, not the 29 percent loss mentioned as “the problem” in the MDAR plan.

P.P.S. Has anyone seen a bumblebee this year?

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Nature events include vernal pool and bird encounters

March 29, 2016

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust announces several events this spring offer educational encounters with local animals and plants.

Peer into a Pool: Vernal Pool Exploration with Matt Burne
Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m. — meet and park at the far end of the parking lot beyond Donelan’s.

Matt Burne, a herpetologist and conservation director for the Walden Woods Project, will lead a walk to explore vernal pools in Lincoln. Participants will visit some local wetlands for signs of spotted salamanders, wood frogs and fairy shrimp. Learn about the importance of vernal pools and how to protect them. Listen for the wood frogs’ duck-like calls and the high-pitched chorus of tiny spring peepers, a species of tree frog. Please wear footwear for a one- to two-mile walk. Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Walden Woods Project and the Lincoln Conservation Commission. Free and open to all.

A Storm of Angels: Creating Habitat for Migratory Songbirds
Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. — Bemis Hall

Join us for a visually stunning and engaging evening with fine art photographer and ecologist Brooks Mathewson. Due to loss of natural habitat, backyards have become a last refuge for many migratory songbirds. In this talk, Brooks will share his photography of migratory songbirds that visit our backyards and will discuss ways we can provide better habitat for these critical members of our ecosystem. Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Garden Club and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Free and open to all.

Who’s Watching You? Owls of the World
Sunday, April 10 from 4-5:30 p.m. — Bemis Hall

Perhaps you’ve glimpsed the shadowy form of a great horned owl in the headlights as you’ve traveled a back road at night. Ever scanned a frozen salt marsh or farmer’s meadow in winter, hoping to find that Arctic hunter, the Snowy Owl? How about a mob of noisy crows circling a white pine tree—have they found an owl? Join naturalist Marcia Wilson and photographer Mark Wilson in sharing their passion for owls. They will introduce you to the owls of New England and beyond. Each owl presented has a permanent disability which prevents them from surviving on their own in the wild. These non-releasable owls are captivating ambassadors from the world of wildlife. Mark and Marcia will share the field marks, signs, and naturalist’s skills that you can use to find wild owls without disturbing them, while introducing you to six live owls up close. Everyone is treated to a hooting lesson, as well as tips on how to attract and protect owls near you. All who attend are in for some fun with close-up views of these secretive birds of prey. Suggested donation: $5.

Spring Birding in Lincoln: A Spring Walk Series

Spring mornings are glorious! Find out why birders love early mornings in spring as you learn to identify birds by sight and song, and explore some birding “hot spots” in Lincoln. Dress for the weather (e.g., wet grass and cool early morning temperatures) and please bring binoculars. At least two of the following local birding experts will lead each walk: Vinny Durso, Nancy Hammond, Norman Levey, Gwyn Loud and Nancy Soulette. The walks will not take place if it is raining. All walks take place from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Free; all are welcome.

Sunday, April 24 — Lindentree Farm and fields behind St. Anne’s Church. Park on Old Concord Road.
Sunday, May 1 — Baker Bridge Fields. Park at the Food Project on Rte. 126.
Sunday, May 8 — Harrington and Twin Pond trails. Park in the turnout on Rte. 117 on the Weston town line.
Sunday, May 15 — Browning Fields and Pigeon Hill. Park by the riding ring in Browning Field on Weston Rd.

Annual Meeting of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust
Thursday, May 12 from 7-9 p.m. — Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Road, Lincoln)

We invite you to join members and friends of the Land Trust at its annual meeting at the handsome estate of the Walden Woods Project. Guest speaker Sara Lewis, a professor of biology at Tufts University and longtime Lincoln resident, will discuss her fascinating new book, Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies. For centuries, the ethereal beauty of fireflies as evoked wonder and delight, yet for most of us, these insects remain shrouded in mystery: How do these creatures make light? What are they saying with all their flashing? Are fireflies disappearing? In this talk, noted biologist and firefly expert Sara Lewis dives into the mysterious world of fireflies and reveals the most up-to-date discoveries about these charismatic insects. Copies of Lewis’s book will be available for sale and signing. Refreshments served beginning at 7 p.m.; meeting convenes at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome, though only members may vote.

Invasive Plant Species Walk
Sunday, June 12 at 1 p.m. — deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Join Anna Wilkins, stewardship coordinator of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, on a walk on deCordova grounds. We will explore the common misconceptions and long-term impacts of invasive control, as well as how we negotiate the aesthetic beauty invasive plants lend our landscape in relation to the damage that they pose to our local ecosystem. Sturdy shoes recommended.

Letter to the editor: information on Japanese knotweed

March 21, 2016

To the editor,

At Town Meeting on March 19, there was discussion of Japanese knotweed and using chemical herbicide to deal with it. The Gardens section of the March 18 Financial Times has a fascinating article on the global history of the plant. Two excerpts for your info:

“This is a plant that is perfectly adapted for world domination. It grows rapidly from an incredibly strong rootstock, so robust it is capable of pushing through tarmac and, reputedly, through concrete and building foundations. Try to dig it out and you’ll find the roots go down deep and are near [sic] impossible to remove by hand. Leave a tiny fragment of root behind and—boom—back it comes. Allowed to spread unchallenged, it can colonize vast areas, not only potentially causing damage to the built environment but also wiping out native plants and displacing the wildlife that relies on them…

“How to beat the pest: if Japanese knotweed is on your property, seek specialist know-how…. Control of the pest often involves chemical herbicide whose application requires careful timing to coincide with flowering if it is to work effectively. One cycle of herbicide is unlikely to make any significant impact and, typically, treatment can continue for two or three years…”

I wish our Conservation Commission luck and hope they will consider posting sightings of the pest so neighbors can be on the lookout.

Sincerely,

Roy Harvey
Stonehedge Road

Codman Farm has new farming family

January 7, 2016

Pete and Jen xxx and their two-year-old son Abraham. Photo courtesy Angela Klempner Phtography

Pete and Jen Hashley and their two-year-old son Abraham. (Photo courtesy Angela Klempner Photography)

Editor’s note: This is an edited version of an item that appeared in the most recent Codman Community Farms member newsletter.

The new year brings new faces and changes to Codman Community Farms (CCF) with the arrival of Peter Lowy and Jennifer Hashley as the farm management team at Codman.

For the past decade, Pete and Jen have operated Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds in Concord and Sudbury, growing vegetables and raising pasture-based livestock. They’ve moved their mini-store to CCF, so visitors will notice a new look at the Codman Farm Store, including a selection of Backyard Birds products alongside Codman’s. Pete and Jen are committed to growing high-quality, tasty food for Lincoln and surrounding communities, so they’ll be expanding production, revamping the Farm Store, and supplying area restaurants and farm stands.

Letter to the editor: town working on zoning rules for small farmers

November 30, 2015

To the editor:

These remarks were intended for presentation at the State of the Town Meeting on November 14. Unfortunately, time constraints prevented us from getting to them.

At the Annual Town Meeting in March 2011, the town passed “The Right to Farm” bylaw, a new section of the town’s general bylaws. This was done to broadly inform residents of state law regarding agriculture and to recognize the town’s general support of farming. Since that time, the Planning Board has been working together with the Agricultural Commission to bring our zoning bylaws (ZBL) into conformance with state law, while making refinements that reflect our local needs and circumstances.

State law provides for very modest local control over agriculture practices on properties greater than 5 acres. Therefore, our efforts have largely been focused on properties less than 5 acres. We are also respectful of rights currently held by residents, especially those enjoyed for personal use, such as keeping a backyard pony, a few beehives, or a small flock of chickens.

Our ZBL already allows for the raising and sale of produce (defined by our Zoning Board of Appeals as plant-based—vegetables, fruit, etc.) by an owner or tenant. But what should be done regarding the small farmer raising livestock and selling animal products, on less than 5 acres? These include sheep farmers, beekeepers, and poultry raisers, among others.

Our primary focus has been attempting to craft a permitting process under a definition of commercial agriculture, possibly based on sales per acre. This is still very much a work in progress. We are trying very hard to strike a balance between the needs of small farmers and non-farming residents. Public hearings on our proposed amendments will be scheduled in the near future and we look forward to your feedback. We hope to be ready for the March 2016 Town Meeting.

I would especially like to thank Lynne Bower, Jim Henderson and Ari Kurtz of the Agricultural Commission for their hard work. Please feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or concerns.

Bryce Wolf, Planning Board vice chair
52 Birchwood Lane

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.