Eye to the Future

Once numerous in mid-Ohio farm land, the Northern Bobwhite no longer sings in Richland or Ashland Counties.  What could be a better avatar for the restoration of farmland conservation ethics?

Northern Bobwhite, photo courtesy of Michael Godfrey

 With an eye to the future, Ohio Department of Natural Resources has committed a huge investment into Malabar Farm State Park.  Farming is about to undergo radical changes in the Midwest, forced by climate change and  farm run-off impacting our lakes and waterways.  

It is time to ask ourselves, "What would Louie do?"  

Louis Bromfield spent the last years of his life working for farm reforms to make agriculture better and more conservation minded.  We have come to realize it is not the environment or the economy.  Now we have learned:

What is good for the environment is ultimately good for the economy, too.

 Cattle?  Sure I love them, med-rare.   I'll have mine grass fed, please.  It is a whole new world out there, and Ohio has some of the leading experts on sustainable farming. Look into the writings of Gene Logsdon.

We love this land, and want the farm addressed with respect to farming and the future.  Bring back the buffer zones that protect our water and create habitat.  We'll have a side order of quail too, please.

These trees are witness to the changing land.  They survived the arrival of white settlers, the Great Depression and now we need to protect them for our children.

Sugar Maples will not do well as the climate continues to warm.  Our vegetation is changing, and the butterflies and birds around us are already adjusting to this change.  We need to listen and learn more form nature if we really have our "eye to the future."

Until we can get them back into Pleasant Valley, enjoy this little video clip provided by my friend Michael Godfrey.  I have not seen or heard a Bobwhite in Ohio since the 1970's.  They would certain be a welcome addition again.

Christmas in Pleasant Valley

 A very famous house in Pleasant Valley is dressed and ready for Christmas.

The windows are trimmed with garland and bows.

The trees are aglow, one for each room.

The family pets enjoy the party too.

The Postman, painting by Grandma Moses

Even the artwork reflects the season.  This painting  "The Postman" is by a famous American folk artist.  Ironically, Grandma Moses  said she first started painting (in her late 70's)  to produce a gift for the mailman's Christmas.

 

 So have you guessed who hosted the party I visited today?  The lawn has seen many gatherings and press conferences over the years.

This is Malabar Farm, home of the author Louis Bromfield.  One of Richland County, Ohio's brightest gifts not only to the literary world but, perhaps even more importantly, to conservation as well.  He wrote and talked about preventing erosion and improving soil conditions, long before it was the vogue.

ODNR's  Director James Zehringer, Park Manager Korre Boyer and  Assistant Director Andy Ware 

Today the party was given for Malabar by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  The gift, totaling $500,000. has been promised for the restoration of  "The Big House," as we locals call it.  This home, the epicenter of conservation during the Great Depression, has seen better days.  But today marks a movement for change.

It was a moment of great pride and happiness for all of us gathered on that lawn.  We are looking forward to embracing the farm conservation ethic Louie promoted while living in Pleasant Valley.   Welcome Korre! We can't wait to get to work on the farm.

Malabar's Butterflies and Blue Skies

Some of the best advice I've had in a while came from the book, Among the Ancients (featured in my last post.) It recommended therapeutic nature time for environmentalists.  Too often we are too busy "saving nature" and need to remember to slow down and connect with nature- to recharge our batteries, so to speak.

Meadow Fritillary on Wingstem,  Verbesina alternifolia

 Yesterday I planned my arrival at Malabar Farm State Park with plenty of time for a walk to connect with nature before an important meeting.  The Meadow Fritillary along the gravel drive did not let me down.  I've not seen too many Meadow Frits this year, but Malabar's fields are a good location for them.  Their host plants, Violets grow in and along the edge of the woods.

Common Checked Skipper on Aster

The Common Checkered Skipper is not common at all!  In fact, it is quite unusual in most of Ohio.  But is has been a regular occurrence near the old Victory Garden.  Let's hope someone doesn't get too vigilant in weeding or mowing that area, as their host plant seems most unremarkable.

Common Checkered White laying eggs on Common Mallow

 Here is our little skipper laying eggs on a Common Mallow or Cheeseweed,  Malva neglecta.

 Common Mallow is a weedy little plant, and indeed, it is a non-native.  However, it has been supporting a nice population of these Checkered Skippers for the last four or five years.  So it is a "weed" we might want to conserve.

 Just down the lane from the Victory Garden lies the grave of  Louis Bromfield, author, lecturer and above all American farm conservationist.  Malabar Farm was his home and we are fortunate to have these unique habitats preserved for the quiet enjoyment of the public.

It was all blue skies yesterday, but there is a forecast for change at the farm.  Finances are tight and the Big House is in need of repair, but even more troublesome is the state of the American farmer.  Our farms are the weather vane for our whole county, and big changes are in the wind.  Just as surely as farm run-off is feeding the toxic blue-green algae in Ohio lakes, good farm management can reduce chemical use and run-off.  And this was Louie's mission, better farm practices and healthier soils.

Perhaps, this is a call to “arms.”  We need to roll our sleeves up and go to work to make Malabar the mecca for sustainable farming while protecting the woods, wetlands and biodiversity we all love.  I hope you will join us.

Preserving Farm Life

A much loved local attraction is the home of the late author and agronomist, Louis Bromfield.  His legacy to Ohio includes this working farm: Malabar Farm (State Park).

 His era was a passing time, ephemeral as the clouds that roll by.  Yet it is preserved, a place for children to see the way a farm is meant to nourish life.

One can be smitten with the newly born calves, a breed unknown to me. The black youngster sported white markings which resembled a bridle.  It was downright adorable.

 Turkey Vultures were recycling after-birth.  

They were fighting for clean-up detail; perhaps this one already had his fill.

 Beyond the fields a woodlot lies, where Blue Phlox,
Phlox divaricata  attain a hue nearly as intense as the violets.

 Swampy edges are betrayed by the Swamp Buttercup,

Ranuculus hispidus denizen of the damp.

Skunk Cabbage unfurled in full glory, 

appearing as woodland hosta, bowed before a phlox-carpeted copse of trees.  

 The stream runs deep and fresh.  

This water is worth protecting and the cattle are wisely excluded from these spring fed streams.

A cheery reminder of the farmer's need to plant; Spring jonquil to be picked for a writer's desk-top vase. 

 Visit the farm and the spirit of Bromfield may beckon to you too.

Shawshank Redemption Oak

Fall is a spectacular time of year to visit Malabar Farm State Park, and today's Greater Mohican Audubon bird walk was especially scenic.

Our crew walked this lovely pasture in search of grassland birds, and we were not disappointed. Not only did we find Killdeer, Eastern Meadowlarks, Pipit and Horned Larks, we spent some time admiring the old oak standing silent sentinel .

Bogie and Becall were not the only movie stars to be seen around Malabar. This tree is also very famous! It is the oak tree featured in the movie the Shawshank Redemption, and a special note was hidden in the rock wall at the base of the tree. The rock wall is mostly gone now, some suggest it was sold on E-Bay, others say it was only built for the movie. Either way, the site is now protected by a fence, and the dignity of this magnificent tree should be protected as well.

Look around the fields, and you may even find some of the inmates- passing a little time. Or maybe they are just Halloween decorations. For more photos from today's GMAS walk- click on the side bar link to Facebook. You'll see how much fun "birding" can be!

Native Plants, Historic Places

Catalpa at the Big House- Malabar Farm

One of the regular sites for Greater Mohican Audubon Society's beginner's bird walk, Malabar Farm State Park is well known for several reasons. It is one of the most visited state parks in Ohio, home of author Louis Bromfield, and the Big House (a small portion shown in the photo) is where Bogie married Becall.

While looking for birds, today we noted this Catalpa or Cigar-tree, Catalpa speciosa was in peak display. Catalpa, while probably not true natives of Ohio, were popular in the 1920's or so, and are often found lining old farm properties and city lots.

They have since fallen out of popularity -probably due to the giant seed pods bound to fall on well-manicured lawns- and I have yet to find one in a local nursery. Not one to be easily dissuaded, I once raised a whole grove of them and passed them out to any and all takers.

Catalpa flower

The flower, though short lived, is quite lovely. It is a white version of its near relative, the more commonly known Hummingbird or Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans. Both are members of the Bignonia family, as the large trumpet-shaped flowers and elongated seed pods bare witness.

While Catalpa may not be a true Ohio native, it is still a mighty attractive, disease resistance tree from our region of the U.S., and one we continue to enjoy in our own yard.