Creating Biodiversity on your Farm Sam Earnshaw Hedgerows Unlimited California Small Farm Conference (831) 722-5556 October 2017 hedgerows@baymoon.com www.hedgerowsunlimited.com
Conservation Practices: Ways Farmers are Using Vegetation Hedgerows Grassed Waterways Filter Strips Riparian Plantings Windbreaks
Native Plant Hedgerow
Perennial Grasses In Ditch for Erosion and Weed Control
Grass Filter Strip between Field and Hedge
Riparian Planting
Windbreak
Hedgerows, Grassed Waterways, Filter Strips, Riparian Plantings, Windbreaks Beneficial insect and pollinator habitat Wildlife habitat Soil erosion control Weed control Non-point source water pollution reduction Air quality and dust control Barriers Riparian stabilization Windbreak and climate modification Aesthetic value Economic returns Increase in local and regional biodiversity
Buffering Climatic Extremes Making Farms More Resilient POSSIBLE CONDITIONS: Hotter, drier or wetter, erratic weather: floods and drought; earlier spring; winds, dust Increased pest pressure Changing habitat for wildlife
Bees Increase Yields
Birds eat bugs
Birds Love Rodents
Snakes Eat Rodents
Planning a Hedgerow Identify non-cropped areas of the farm suitable for vegetation planting
Planning a Hedgerow Utilize Resources Manuals, Websites www.caff.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/hedgerow_manual.pdf www.attra.ncat.org
Planning a Hedgerow Utilize Resources Manuals, Websites
Identify Suitable Area of the Farm Exclude from consideration areas that regularly flood, lack access to water or equipment, or may conflict with crop
Berm: Ideal Place for a Hedgerow Replace Annual Weeds, Filter dust from Road
Providing Barrier, Dust Protection
Site Analysis What is the ecosystem your farm is in? Determine complex of native plants and animals that were historically present
Three-Year Old Hedgerow
Site Analysis Plant requirements: tall, medium, short; trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses
Perennial vs. Annual Roots
From Eroding Ditch to Grassed Waterway
Irrigation system Animal pressure Site Analysis
Site Analysis Other considerations: Overhead powerlines Access for equipment Existing trees Off-site factors
Planning and Design Design and layout: Sites for Planned Habitat Plantings on Farm
Planning and Design Develop plant lists by matching plants to location NRCS evegguide www.calflora.org/nrcs/
Planning and Design Choose plants to have full-season flowering
Abundance of a Predator 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 Green Lacewings Yarrow Coyote bush Ceanothus Ceanothus 'RH' Buckwheat Toyon Coffee berry 0 3-May 3-Jun 3-Jul 3-Aug 3-Sep 3-Oct San Juan Bautista site, 2006
Planning and Design Develop budget for project COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING CONSERVATION PLANTINGS Activity Farmer meetings and planning Planning with foreman Tractor work labor Other site preparation labor Picking up materials Irrigation system installation labor Pre-irrigation labor Planting labor Spreading mulch, compost Post-planting monitoring and maintenance Irrigation-labor Materials Tractor work fuel Irrigation system parts Plant materials Other site preparation materials (compost, etc.) Pre-irrigation water Irrigation-water cost, PGE, fuel Mulch, cardboard, weedcloth Other (fencing, gopher cages, vehicle use, etc.) Other Mileage to pick up compost, irrigation supplies, mulch Annual Costs Estimated yearly water cost Estimated yearly maintenance* Land Rent *Monitoring, weeding/mowing, fixing irrigation system leaks, replanting
Planning and Design Investigate and initiate Cost-Share possibilities
Planning and Design Contact nurseries and order plants in advance, from local ecosystem if possible
Site Preparation & Planting Soil preparation: clear weeds, chisel, build bed Installation of irrigation system for 2-3 years of operation, if necessary Acquire compost, bone meal or rock phosphate Pre-irrigate
Site Preparation & Planting Lay out and plant plants
Bare Soil, no Habitat in Central Valley
Plant and Irrigate
Beekeeper Reduced Farmer Fees
Site Preparation & Planting Mulch Cardboard and Mulch
Mulched Hedgerow
Site Preparation & Planting Install signs in English and Spanish to prevent accidental damage to hedgerow
Issues, Problems with Native Plantings Too little water, too much water Tractor Blight Pests (insects, rodents, birds) attracted to plantings - Food Safety concerns Movement of insects into fields Genetic Pollution-not using plants from specific area Hosting Diseases: Pierce s Disease, Sudden Oak Death (SOD), Eutypa, Phytophthera High costs of maintenance
Food Safety Monitor the crop, not the habitat planting. Take action if crop damage or animal feces are observed. Factors to be considered before deciding on whether animals are a food safety concern: Number of animals Type of animals Type of crop Harvest procedure Neighboring influences Pathogen of concern Additional processing Source: Wild Farm Alliance-www.wildfarmalliance.org; CAFF caff.org
Maintenance & Follow-up Maintain irrigation system Remove weeds while they are small Control rodents where necessary Replant where necessary Track performance of plants
Questions? Sam Earnshaw (831) 722-5556 hedgerows@baymoon.com www.hedgerowsunlimited.com