From Fire to Flowers greatoutdoors
Prescription burns give nature a refresh in a Bealeton meadow BY BROOKE ARTHUR
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s it possible to nurture nature? One Bealton resident gives a resounding yes. With 20+ years of environmental expertise on his side, Fauquier native and army veteran Dwayne Bowman spotted an opportunity to create something beautiful, and beneficial, in his own backyard. Two fields on his property in Bealeton were not only ugly, with tangled, dead plants and overrun with invasive vines, they were doing little for the ecosystem and its inhabitants. Then, a light bulb went off. Turn those messy, overridden fields into 4 acres of beautiful pollinating wildflower meadows…with fire!
A lifelong love of the land
Growing up in southern Fauquier County, school field trips and activities sparked an interest in farming and the environment in Bowman early on. He said, “We were blessed. We had Miss Woodward. I had her at Taylor Junior High School, and then I had her at Liberty High School. She and Miss McCormack, they were true [stewards] of the environment… they opened my eyes to getting my hands dirty, to knowing in the subconscious part of my mind that farming was an essential value of America.” These formative educational experiences led to a lifelong appreciation of
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the land that Dwayne hopes to pass on to an eager next generation. Bowman went on to a 20+ year career with Fairfax County supporting the Fairfax Water Authority, starting in the department of stormwater planning. “That's one thing I'm very grateful for, with my career at Fairfax County. The education that I got and the experience that I've got in my 20 plus years there, learning land development services, and then learning to stormwater management just taught me so much about the environment and our world and our human growth. … It's just it was really empowering. Creating who I've become not only as a parent, but as a resident in Fauquier County.”
Achieving a healthy meadow: a controlled burn
What is the point of attaining a healthy meadow? First of all, transforming an eyesore into something beautiful is undoubtedly a positive thing. In terms of environmental benefits, it can promote native plant growth, invite pollinators and crucial insects, support biodiversity, and enhance ecosystem resilience. For seeds of any kind to germinate, the removal of the topsoil layer that prevents the necessary freezing and thawing cycle is essential. One way to do this is with a controlled burn. Bowman’s friend, mentor, and prescription burn manager from the Department of Forestry Charles Smith,