We Gather Here: an ecological design for a wedding venue

88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

A BIRDS EYE VIEW PROJECT SUMMARY

GOALS MIXED FOREST Conifer-dominant Hardwood-dominant

project focus area Outbuildings mown lawn

Successional Meadow

Tennis court

Pine sapling grove

Bank barn

Hayfield

Farmhouse

Perennial Stream Mown path

Tracey purchased the property in 2020, with the intention to "save it and share it," as she says when introducing others to her vision. For her, this means increasing shelter and food options for visiting and nesting birds, and creating a space for humans to enjoy the breath-taking views and abundant wildlife without drastically disturbing the site through development. Her vision to achieve this is to open her land to others as a wedding venue, making use of existing infrastructure for the events' various needs. To that end, she has sought help in locating a ceremony site, accessible pathways, restrooms, and parking for event staff (guests will be bused to site from an off-site location); as well as guidance on selecting native flora for some designed meadows throughout the site, and locating sites for an orchard and a water feature (a pond, e.g.).

Additional goals of Tracey's which extend beyond the scope of this project but are nevertheless worth taking into account, include designating the property as an official conservation area, and establishing an educational program for invasive species control and native plant gardening for bird-lovers. Tracey would also like to address some periodic drainage problems occurring in the farmhouse cellar during rain events.

PROGRAM Ultimately, Tracey's goals seek to strike a balance between the needs of a diverse—and sometimes threatened—community of native wildlife and vegetation, and the needs of humans who wish to use the site, as a home and a wedding venue, for example. To that end this document explores various management options for the diverse habitat on site in order to balance the effects of increased human activity.

0

N

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

Photo by Nathanael Card

SAVE: Protect and preserve habitat, especially for bird life.

SHARE: Create a space for humans to enjoy the site’s natural beauty.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

PROJECT GOALS: "SAVE & SHARE"

P roject S ummary

The home of Tracey Baptiste sits near the top of a peaceful hill on the south side of Ashfield, MA, along a quiet country road. The property spans 30 acres, and is composed of a mix of vegetation: ornamental gardens, mown lawn, farmed hayfields, successional wetland meadow with pine sapling groves, and mixed pine-northern hardwood forest. An unnamed perennial stream runs southward along the eastern border. Buildings on site include an updated farmhouse (built in 1900), a bank barn (1903), a tennis court (c. 1960's), and a quartet of outbuildings, including a small stable (age unknown).

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

SITE

60 120 30

90

The site (yellow star) is located west of the Connecticut River. This design focuses on a section of the property along Murray Road, in Ashfield, MA.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

THEN & NOW

SITE HISTORY & EXISTING CONDITIONS

A'

N

M eadow

L awn & G ardens

NOW

F orest

Outbuildings

Today, a portion of the site is grassland, which is farmed for hay. The farmer, Ray, has followed Tracey's requests to delay mowing in order to allow the field to be used as nesting grounds for bobolinks, which have been seen on site. In 2023, he delayed mowing until the end of October due to abnormally wet conditions over the growing season which made for a poor crop. He has proposed changing the crop to alfalfa, although this would conflict with bobolinks' preferred nesting environment. In the southwest corner of the hayfield stands a mature willow.

Tennis court

H ayfield

To the north of the hayfield, a successional wet meadow grows without management. On the eastern edge of the property, a perennial stream drains southward, sheltered by a mixed-deciduous forest. Upstream, on the neighbor's property to the north, is a conifer swamp, the edges of which overlap with Tracey's property line.

Bank barn Farmhouse Sugar maple allée

A

Birdhouses over leach field Willow

A section cut showing the site's northeast sloping landscape

Section A-A'

S tream

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60 30

S tream

120

90

On the western edge of the site, seven mature sugar maples line the road on the southerly approach, and the northern extent is flanked primarily by white pine; however, a majority of the property along the road is cleared and occupied by built environment: (from north to south) four outbuildings, an abandoned tennis court, a barn, and a farmhouse. Mown paths encircle the hayfield and connect to lawns which surround the buildings. Behind (to the east of) the farmhouse, the lawn is populated with an array of nine birdhouses on metal stakes, and lies over a leach field. Shrubs and forbs dot the ground around the house foundation. Behind the barn, an old unused foundation is surrounded by trees and tall shrubs, creating a shade garden. The tennis court is significantly fractured with a variety of plants sprouting in the cracks and on the embankments around its perimeter. The outbuildings to the north are unused except for some storage.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

Conifer swamp

H istory & E xisting conditions

The site sits within land formerly hunted and fished by the Pocumtuc people, prior to European settlement in the 17th century. Following settlement, it was established as a 100-acre site, and primarily used as a home and farm, with some livestock. At some point in the early 1940s, timber rights were sold for a large portion of the property, and it was subsequently cleared. There is some oral history of an orchard existing on site at some point, as relayed by Tracey, although this is unconfirmed by records. In 2017, the original 100-acre site was partitioned into three parcels, of approximately 60, 30, and 10 acres; Tracey purchased the 30-acre site in 2020, and immediately went to work organizing her new neighbors in a fight against a proposed AT&T tower on a nearby hill, which they won. She also entered the property into Chapter 61A, providing a tax deferment for agricultural land use, and hired four separate consultants to advise on land management and conservation.

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

THEN

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

Forest cover c.1940. Cleared for timber c.1943

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SLOPES, ACCESSIBILITY & CIRCULATION

ACCESS From the south: an allee of seven mature sugar maples flank the eastern side of Murray Road at the southern side of the property.

The road is paved, with no significant signs of decay. To the east, Tracey’s property rolls downhill to a forested stream; to the west, her neighbor’s house and gardens stand slightly higher in elevation to Tracey’s. From the north, the road is unpaved gravel, and sheltered on both sides by a series of white pines. Views onto the site are obscured by dense understory vegetation, which eventually dissipates around the outbuildings. Views remain mostly clear up to the barn and house.

A large part of the focus area is not universally accessible

CIRCULATION

A considerable portion of the focus area contains slopes which exceed the maximum ratio for universal accessibility, 1:12, i.e. 8.3%

5-8.3%

>12.5%

5-8.3%

Section A-A'

S tream

Tracey parks in the driveway on the northwest side of the house. To reach the front door, she crosses through the grassy front yard, and up a short stoop.

From inside, she has clear views of the yard on the west, south, and east sides. A favorite view of Tracey’s is from the eastern windows, where she can see the sun rise over the hayfield, surrounding forest, and occasionally the neighbor's cows grazing. From the kitchen, she will sometimes use the back door and deck to reach the back yard, where she lets her dog out while she fills the bird bath and watches for birds in the hayfield. Although she keeps some paths mown around the perimeter of the lot, Tracey does not use them often. When the weather is nice, she does enjoy taking walks northward on Murray Road. Vehicle traffic is very sporadic throughout the day, making for a typically quiet and secluded living experience; however, because of its rarity, when vehicle traffic does occur it's easily noticeable. Any wedding venue plans should provide screening from the road.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

E xisting U niversally A ccessible S lopes

Slopes on the site range from small areas of practically flat ground—e.g. the farmhouse front and side yards, the tennis court, and a small shade garden behind the barn—to greater than 12.5% in relatively large portions of the hayfield and along the road in the focus area. Universally accessible slopes are defined as less than 8.3%. A large portion of the focus area is greater than 8.3%, meaning the addition of accessible pathways could prove very challenging without the help of grading.

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A

SLOPES

S lopes , A ccess & C irculation

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837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

A'

88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

GETTING AROUND

S ite S lopes A nalysis

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

BENEATH OUR FEET BEDROCK, SOILS & HYDROLOGY

Standing water found in the hayfield (A).

6 in.

Standing water found in the meadow (B).

9 in.

16.5 in.

C D

21.5 in.

A Rainwater leaks from a downspout (C)

N

!

!

!

Landscape surface intersection with water table

Site precipitation and runoff feeds a water table estimated to be between 6 and 22 inches below the surface, held up by schistic bedrock (which fractures easily and contains many cracks and crevices where water is retained) and the above-mentioned silt layer. Rain events may oversaturate the schist, leading to a significant increase in groundwater movement downhill, and potentially contributing to seepage in the cellar.

Surficially, there are locations where significant pooling was witnessed on the site following a rain event (A, B). Some shallow roadside ditches help to direct surface runoff northward and southward on both sides of Murray Road. A pipe for collecting runoff from the farmhouse roof extends from a downspout on the west side of the house southward into the side yard; however, it is not completely connected to the downspout, resulting in a steady flow of runoff pouring directly into the ground at the foundation (C). This may be contributing to the saturation of the southwest cellar wall, and thus, to cellar seepage (D).

Downslope, to the east, a number of spots of surface pooling and hydric soils have been noted. As they appear to align on specific elevations, these wet spots may indicate where the landscape surface intersects with the water table. This, combined with the presence of confirmed wetlands on adjacent land, suggests that a wetland delineation is needed to establish an appropriate buffer zone.

!

S tream

A cellar wall seeps during rain events (D)

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

B

Massachusetts geologic survey predicts a layer of dense silt from 22 to 66.5 inches below the surface. A soil pit dug near the southwest corner of the farmhouse confirms this layer at about 24 inches below the surface. In a second pit, dug in the yard south of the farmhouse approximately 25 feet from the foundation, this silt layer was not present within 36 inches of the surface (the depth of the pit). It may be inferred that 1) the bedrock is deeper at the second soil pit site, and the silt layer follows the bedrock, not the surface grade; and 2) the farmhouse foundation may serve as a dam of sorts, collecting silt as groundwater moves downhill, which could contribute to seepage in the cellar.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

A 3D aerial perspective shows the site amongst the local landscape (to scale). A section cut shows glacial till of varying depth atop bedrock (not to scale).

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

B-

B edrock , S oils & H ydrology

A-

This is an upland site within the Vermont Piedmont ecoregion (see sheet 5), on the eastern slope of a hillside with medium-to-deep surficial glacial till, derived from bedrock primarily composed of micaceous schist and some siliceous limestone. Soil texture is typically fine sandy loam, moderately-well to poorly draining, and the soil is slightly to very acidic. Soil acidity in the solum (i.e. the upper layers of soil) is mitigated somewhat by relatively high levels of calcium, which is alkaline, acquired from the underlying bedrock.

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

A WILD BOUQUET VEGETATION & MICROCLIMATE

PATTERNS OF VEGETATION

58e

59a

B

An initial walk of the property line revealed a diversity of vegetation, some of which has been cataloged. While some of the plant species expected in this ecoregion were present, a number of invasive and introduced species were also identified. On the north side of the property, the forest appears to be entirely coniferous. A dedicated census would help determine the true makeup of the forest on site.

N

This maple poses a safety concern.

58c: Berkshire Highlands 58e: Berkshire Transition 58f: Vermont Piedmont 59a: Connecticut Valley

The hayfield consists primarily of three cool-season grasses: timothy, reed canary grass*, and orchard grass. These are interspersed with a wide range of forbs. The meadow, by contrast, features large swaths of giant goldenrod, patches of white pine saplings, and many woody shrubs: multiflora rose*, common buckthorn*, red raspberry, willow species, et al.

A mown path encircles the hayfield, and connects to the lawns surrounding the buildings by the road. Ornamental shrubs dot the perimeter of the farmhouse: lilac, azalea, rhododendron, honeysuckle, et al. Patches of yucca line the southern side of the barn's foundation. *considered invasive in Massachusetts

(Source: US EPA)

TREES & SHADE

Much of the property line is defined by tree cover. Besides the unmanaged forest populations in the northern and eastern parts of the property, planted trees are peppered throughout the more residential landscape on the western and southern edges of the site: two maples anchor corners of the yard by the outbuildings, a young grey birch rises from a stone retaining wall at the barn's northeast corner, another semi-mature maple stands along the road between the barn and farmhouse, and at the southern end of the site, a poplar, spruce, maple and weeping willow dot the perimeter fence.

C

Mixed deciduous forest

Along the road, near the southwest corner of the property, is a line of mature sugar maples. One of these trees is dead, and the southernmost tree appears to be a safety concern due to a large vertical fissure down the center of the trunk (D). The other five living sugar maples in this line show a range of trunk and branch damage. A licensed arborist should be hired to assess the health of these maples.

Successional meadow Grass Hayfield Lawn & gardens Looking NE: all four major habitat types of the site, as seen from the shade of the barn. 4pm on Sept. 22, 2023.

An old foundation behind the barn is surrounded by a mix of mature black walnuts, young maple, native dogwood, lilacs, Virginia creeper, et al. The enclosure provided by this arrangement of vegetation creates a densely shaded, and thus, cooler microclimate, one which is a rare respite from the summer sun on this largely exposed site.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

58c

V egetation & M icroclimate

58f

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

The Vermont Piedmont ecoregion, which stretches north-south between the Berkshire/Green Mountains and the Connecticut River Valley (A), is an area defined according to certain geographically distinct natural communities (B).

Within this, the site shows four distinct habitat types (ordered from least to most heavily altered by human activity): mixed-deciduous forest, successional meadow, grass hayfield, and turf-dominated ornamental landscapes (C).

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

D

A

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

A WILD BOUQUET, PT 2 VEGETATION: SPECIES

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

S pruce S p .

S ugar M aple

O riental B ittersweet

W hite B irch W hite O ak

B lack B irch

T he home of T racey B aptiste

R ussian O live

V egetation : S lopes

E astern H emlock

W illow

B eech

R ed O ak P ignut H ickory

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

G rapevine

P oplar S p .

W hite P ine S ap .

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

ANIMAL SANCTUARY WILDLIFE

OBSERVATIONS

W ildlife

There appears to be significant mammalian presence on site as well. Tracey has photographed a black bear, fox, and deer near the house. Bear scat, and that of an unidentified canid—possibly coyote or fox—has also been seen, as well as deer tracks. The hayfield is criss-crossed with animal trails, too, indicating frequent migration across the site. A variety of rodents are present.

Bobolinks by Barry Van Dusen. Jefferson salamander by Jean Mackay. Wood turtle by Adelaide Tyrol.

Kestrel and Brook trout generated using Adobe Firefly.

Photographs provided by Tracey Baptiste.

N Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

Furthermore, part of the southern portion of the property falls within a critical habitat buffer zone established by BioMap (created by MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy), which is meant to protect rare species. The critical habitat identified by BioMap centers on the South River and some of its tributaries. Reducing stormwater runoff from the property, and shielding it from contamination will help protect this critical habitat.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

Threatened birds are not the only animals who may find optimal living conditions on this site. Brook trout, which are a vulnerable population in the state due to habitat loss, have been spotted in the stream at the northeastern corner of the lot. According to the MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP), Jefferson salamander and wood turtle are two species of concern in the region, and although they haven’t been seen on site, conditions found in the forest by the stream–as well as the hayfield edge, for the turtle– potentially make for prime habitat for these animals.

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

Since moving to the property in 2020, Tracey has enjoyed learning about the many birds which visit or nest here. Among them, bobolinks and American kestrels—two species in steep population decline—are particularly exciting for her due to their relative rarity. Attracting them and providing good conditions for nesting should be considered in design and management decisions.

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

THE HUMAN ELEMENT LEGAL & UTILITIES

•Agriculture or Horticulture products

•Hiking, camping, hunting, horse riding, etc.

•25% accessory land ok

•5 acre minimum

•5 acre minimum

•Requires management plan provided by state service forester

•50% accessory land ok

•Passive management

•$500+ annual revenue

•Access must be public or non-profit

•Renewed every 10 yrs

•Renewed every 1 year

•Timber products •10 acre minimum

•Tax reduction ~95%

•No management plan

•Renewed every 1 year •Tax reduction ~75%

•Tax reduction ~95%

*All of Ch. 61 is subject to withdrawal penalty if land is sold or withdrawn within 10 years of enrollment.

ZONING Another potential legal constraint on the project are zoning setback. In Ashfield, the minimum distance between any lot line and any building is 25 feet (Town of Ashfield Zoning Bylaws, section IV.B.1-3). For the intended purposes of this project, there appears to be no significant zoning limitations, beyond acquiring permits to run a commercial enterprise. (section VI.A.3). Additionally, there is a 100' regulated buffer zone around wetlands, and a regulated riverfront area 200' from perennial streams. A wetland delineation will be critical to determining if this will affect the project.

A. Currently, the outbuildings are entirely without utilities. Solar power and rainwater collection are potentially viable options here.

B. The barn roof has abundant southern sun exposure.

C. The farmhouse's leach field is occupied by birdhouses. A lawn provides opportunity for some meadow-inspired landscaping.

UTILITIES Currently, the farmhouse is the only building on site with active utilities: power (grid), heat (oil), water (well), and septic (leach field). If a wedding venue is to make use of the other buildings, significant retrofitting is required. There may be infrastructure in place to run power to the barn, something Tracey is considering in order to host catering there. A licensed electrician should be hired to assess that potential. The roof has excellent sun exposure and may be a strong candidate for solar panels. The barn’s proximity to the well is close enough that it could potentially draw from that existing source; although it would be worth examining pros and cons of a water catchment system with a cistern, since the barn roof is quite expansive. Tracey’s plan for restroom facilities for wedding events is to rent luxury trailers, preventing the need for an additional leach field, which would need to be quite large. If the outbuildings are to be used during wedding events, many of the same conditions apply, only plumbing from the well becomes much more expensive due to the increased distance from the well, and water catchment potential is decreased.

D. The well has been paved over.

Repaving the drive could expose it.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

Ch. 61B: Recreation

T he home of T racey B aptiste

Ch. 61A: Agriculture

In 2021, Tracey entered all but two acres of her property into Chapter 61A, which affords her a tax-deferment in exchange for meeting certain qualifications regarding agricultural land use and resource production. To achieve this, she collaborates with a local farmer, Ray, who mows the hayfield twice a year. In exchange, he can sell the hay without paying rent on land used for farming the hay. This relationship relies on the productivity of the field, and Ray’s interest in harvesting and selling it. With an unusually wet growing season in 2023, the hay harvest—which is primarily timothy grass—was poor quality. Ray has expressed interest in changing the field over to alfalfa, but this crop doesn’t traditionally do well in poorly draining, wet soils like what is found throughout large portions of the hayfield. Additionally, as expressed by Tracey, Ray may retire from farming the field in the near future. Should this happen, Tracey will either need to find another farmer to manage the hayfield, or do it herself (an idea she has considered) in order to maintain compliance with Chapter 61A and retain the tax-deferment. Alternatively, she has the option of reclassifying the land within the Chapter 61 program, as forestry, horticultural, or recreational. Each classification comes with its own requirements.

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

Ch. 61: Forestry

PROPERTY TAXES

L egal & U tilities

TAX-DEFERMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO LAND OWNERS IN MA

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

TYING IT TOGETHER SUMMARY ANALYSIS

In combining the analyses within this report, some conditions are revealed which provide guidance for the design process.

Relative to the rest of the property, the two acres of the focus area are significantly sloped, with large patches greater than 8.3%. (B) While slopes of this degree are effective at shedding stormwater, they are not universally accessible. It may be possible to create suitable pathways, with the least impact on the land, by orienting them along the contours of the site, which generally run parallel to the road. Stormwater, which will shed perpendicular to these contours, will then need to be slowed or redirected strategically so as to prevent erosion to the pathways.

B

The soils in the focus area are predominantly well-draining fine sandy loam.

It will be important to take care to avoid, mitigate, or correct any compaction which could occur from the construction process.

C

On this exposed hillside, shade is at a premium. To reduce the need for manufactured shade canopies, which can be expensive and may detract from the natural aesthetic of the site, it will be crucial to make use of what limited shade exists. A large maple by the outbuildings and the old foundation behind the barn surrounded by mature black walnuts provide attractive options for cool, shaded gathering spaces. (C) Additional shade could be provided over time by planting trees. In fact, the eastern-facing slopes of the focus area provide an appropriate microclimate for an orchard, helping to prevent unwelcome frost by shedding and warming the cool air of early morning. (B)

Focus area Wet areas Slope <5%

Conversely, abundant sun exposure can be taken advantage of through the addition of solar panels, which can provide renewable power for wedding events and land management. (D)

Slope 5-8.3% Slope >8.3%

N

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60 30

T he home of T racey B aptiste

C

S ummary A nalysis

To reduce human impact on the remaining 28 acres of land which are enrolled in Chapter 61, it will be important to provide a buffer around the project area where higher amounts of human activity can be expected. This is especially true around parking infrastructure, where oils and other particulates will inevitably be deposited by vehicles.

D

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

For example, the project's focus area is explicitly defined by the property's status within Chapter 61, in that the only two acres which are not enrolled in the program, and thus where any development can happen, are found around the existing structures along Murray Road. (A)

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

A

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Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

9/15

Parking

M Meadow

C

Ceremony site

H

Hayfield

R

Reception site

F

Forest

DESIGN ALTERNATIVES

88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

N

P

THROUGH LAND MANAGEMENT Since the tax-deferment provided by the site's enrollment in Chapter 61A is a major defining parameter of this project, the three design alternatives presented each employ a different management strategy within the rules defined by Chapter 61. Each has its pros and cons:

(-)CONS 1. AGRI-FORWARD (Ch. 61A). Solely intended as a wedding venue. Parking for 40. Continued hay farming. + Lowest impact up front

C

+ Likely most immediately affordable + Achieves all goals as requested - Hay farming conflicts with bird conservation

P

- Scale of parking has big impact on land - Regular, high-density human traffic=high impact on land M

C

R

C

P •Parking for 40 vehicles, split between 2 lots

2. HORTI-FORWARD (Ch. 61A). Wedding venue plus: the addition of educational and work-share programming, cut-flower farming, and related horticultural products (e.g., a seedling nursery) + Focus on flowers supports wedding needs

H

+ Hayfield can be left to wildlife + Less parking=lowered impact on land

H

R

•Two ceremony site options: sunny mown lawn under large maple tree on north end, shade garden on south end •Tennis court used for tent reception •Two bathroom trailer locations •Areas around venue infrastructure planted with a native meadow mix

C

•Parking for 13

•Parking for 9

•Three ceremony site options: northside lawn, southside shade garden, plus a sunny mown meadow east of greenhouse

•Forest planted in northwest corner of meadow, shading outbuildings

•Tennis court used for working greenhouse •Two-tier accessible deck built behind barn for receptions

C

•Outbuildings used for camping and receptions

R C

•Bathrooms in barn •Entire venue planted with meadow plants

•Tennis court and shade garden each extended with deck. Farmhouse deck extended (brown)

H

- Greenhouse occupies tennis court, unusable as venue

R

- Greater construction costs R C

•Solarium added on court •Bathroom trailer site

•Accessible pathways throughout (shown)

•Accessible pathways throughout (not shown)

•Accessible pathways within terraced enclosure.

Recreational pathways throughout rest of site are not universally accessible

1. A gri - forward

2. H orti - forward

3. A rbo - forward

* All 3 design alternatives include the siting of at least one wildlife pond, pending a formal wetland deliniation and piezometer test.

+ Greenhouse supports meadow management needs

3. ARBO-FORWARD (Ch. 61/61B) Widens scope of event venue possibilities: weddings, camping, horseback riding, creative retreats, business retreats, etc. Confines human activity within built infrastructure in order to lessen impact on surrounding landscape.

Allows some forest to return to its pre-1943 state. + Supports natural landscape progression + Diversifies programming for year-round activity

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

M

F

T he home of T racey B aptiste

P

M

D esign A lternatives

P

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

(+)PROS

+ Event venue infrastructure lessens long-term land impact + Solarium is multifunctional year-round (hort. + events) + Chapter 61 only needs refiling every 10 years - Largest up-front financial needs of the 3 alternatives - Largest personnel needs of the 3 alternatives - Requires hiring a forester to create a 10-year plan

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

10/15

New tree

Reinforced turf

(shaded)

FINAL DESIGN PROPOSAL

88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

Reinforced pavers

(white)

A LIGHT TOUCH

A. Reinforced turf parking for 40 vehicles, with screening provided by native willows, azaleas, and swamp white oak.

B'

C. Landscape which isn't used for foot traffic is planted with a sun/part-sun meadow mix, functioning as a woodland edge.

D. The outbuildings are retrofitted with solar photovoltaic panels. The stable is converted into a receiving area for wedding events.

E. The lawn is graded to provide a terrace (with an accessible "mezzanine" area for guests with mobility challenges) for wedding ceremonies of up to 200 attendees. Native black willows frame the backdrop looking northeast. Two low, arcing decorative stone walls to the west form an entrance and provide foot-stops for wheelchairs in the mezzanine.

Reinforced turf pathway

A grading plan for the ceremony site and accessible pathways

F. A graded pathway (<5% slope) winds down from two accessible parking/ loading spots at the road, through a small grove of new trees, providing shaded universal access to the tennis court and the ceremony terrace.

G. Benches and interpretive signs line the paths.

G

H. The tennis court is repaved with reinforced permeable pavers to increase drainage, and decrease erosion. Pavers interplanted with grass can be mown, provide added compfort for guests, and allow for tent stakes to be easily installed.

H Section C-C': ceremony site. (NTS)

I. The shade garden is cleared of its lilac bushes, which are replaced by a trellised, willow pergola with climbing grapevines and Virginia creeper.

B

J. An area to the northeast of the barn is mown for parking a restroom trailer.

I

J

N

0

60 30

Barn

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F inal D esign P roposal

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B. A phytoremediation bioswale filters parking lot runoff with deep-rooted native grasses and resilient native forbs.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

Existing tree

Section B-B': tennis court, ceremony site, and parking, seen from the east.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

LOOKING AHEAD MANAGEMENT & NEXT STEPS

SITING A POND The viability of creating a pond on site is increased by the presence of wetlands, poorly draining soils, and a high water table—all conditions which can be found on the lower, eastern slopes of the hayfield and meadow. To determine if a location is ultimately suitable for pond construction, relevant testing should be performed; for example, by installing a piezometer in the planned pond location and monitoring the depth of the water table over time.

Furthermore, certain precautions will need to be taken if construction is to occur within the wetland portions of the site. Based on the analyses performed for this project, potential sites are proposed for further testing (see design alternatives).

REMOVING INVASIVE PLANTS While it is critical to remove invasives, care should be taken to plan for succession, such as having replacement vegetation ready to plant.

Furthermore, extra precautions should be made if using herbicides since the property sits immediately upstream of critical habitat for rare species. A complete management plan should be made following current recommendations provided by conservation organizations such as Mass Audubon, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Native Plant Trust.

Photo by Nathanael Card

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

With the presence of hydric soils confirmed on the property, it will be beneficial to future conservation goals to have the wetland boundary delineated by a professional wetland scientist. Wetlands are important carbon sinks, and they slow down runoff which in turn mitigates flood risk further down the watershed.

They also provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife. Following the recent curbing of wetland regulations by the EPA, it is all the more imperative for land managers to take proactive steps to protect these threatened habitats, especially as the Northeast experiences an increase in heavy rain events due to the effects of climate change.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

WETLAND DELINEATION

M anagement & N ext S teps

In regards to habitat conservation, it is worthwhile to consider the alternatives to the land’s current classification as 61A-Agricultural. The floral needs of a wedding venue combined with the presence of a meadow on site provides value to the possibility of re-classifying the land within 61A to horticultural. Likewise, a transition to 61-Forestry would be supported by the benefits of less frequent filing requirements (every ten years, versus every year), and would incentivize the use of timber grown on the property for site improvements. Both of these options would remove the need to mow the hayfield for profit, decreasing the negative impacts that tractor-mowing has on soil quality, water quality, and grassland bird habitat.

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LAND USE CLASSIFICATION

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

PRECEDENTS

events.aroyalflush.com Example ADA accessible restroom trailer (A Royal Flush): 12'x25'x14' (HxLxW, w/ extended ramp). Site requirements: 110v-20amp extention cord, 1 garden hose. Accommodates up to 125 guests.

A trellised arbor can be constructed by propagating willows found on site, and planted with grapevine and Virginia creeper, also found on site.

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INSPIRATION & REFERENCES

abg-geosynthetics.com

Rental tents are primarily shown installed on top of grass. One rental company servicing the Ashfield area, Classical Tents, says in their catalogue that installations which are not "usual and customary" may incur additional fees for things such as "rocky terrain" and other site issues, or if ballasting is needed in the event that any tent supports cannot be staked. "Tent stakes are 42" long." If permitting is necessary for the event, "there is a fee for permitting" - classicaltents.com

Examples of some tent sizes offered by a rental company serving Ashfield, and their seating capacities, with and without space for dancing. The sizes shown here would fit within the extent of the tennis court.

Reinforced turf will be necessary for high-impact/high-traffic areas like the parking lot and tennis court reception terrace. Permeable pavers are an attractive option for the surface layer, but must be mowed.

stormwater.wef.org Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

classicaltents.com

P recedents

Example restroom trailer (A Royal Flush): 13'x30'x12' (HxLxW, w/ extended stairs). Site requirements: Four 110v-20amp extention cords, 1 garden hose. Accommodates up to 200 guests. To provide universal accessibility to the restroom trailers, pathway slope must be less than 5%. See plan for proposed location.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

events.aroyalflush.com

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

PLANT PALETTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Pussy willow. Photo by eric-schmitty on iNaturalist.org, April 10, 2023.

Staghorn sumac. Photo by ianrwhyte on iNaturalist.org, July 15, 2023.

American fly honeysuckle. Photo by ianrwhyte on iNaturalist.org, May 11, 2023.

Wood poppy. Photo by miranda75 on iNaturalist.org, April 15, 2023.

Cinnamon fern. Photo by jane_hardy on iNaturalist. org, September 13, 2023.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

P lant P alette

Black willow catkins. Photo by wafflemaster135 on iNaturalist.org, June 17, 2022.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

D esigned B y : N athanael C ard F all 2023

The following is a selection of plants recommended for the site. The primary sources for this species list are the Wild Seed Project guides for Northeast Landscapes. The UMASS Extention office served as a second resource. Plants were selected based on the conditions present throughout the site, predominantly focusing on native plants which grow well in medium-to-wet, acidic, sandy loam.

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88 Village Hill Rd.Northampton, MA 01060 413-369-4044 www.csld.edu

GLOSSARY Bank barn: multi-story barns built into a hill, accessible on multiple levels.

Bioswale: channels designed to concentrate and convey stormwater runoff while removing debris and pollutants.

Forb: an herbaceous flowering plant which is not a grass, sedge, or rush.

Micaceous: containing mica, a shiny mineral found as minute layered, scales.

Mixed-deciduous forest: a forest containing both deciduous (broad-

leaved) and coniferous (needle-leaved) tree species, dominated by the former.

Phytoremediation: the treatment of pollutants or waste in soil or

groundwater by the use of green plants that remove, degrade, or stabilize these substances.

Pocumtuc: an Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe historically inhabiting parts of Western MA. Mohican for "clear water."

Reinforced turf: the combination of plastic or concrete grids which use stone or soil to provide soil stabilization, natural water filtration, and drainage.

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Glacial till: sediment and rock material deposited by a glacier.

Schist: a course-grained metamorphic rock, composed of thin mineral

vegetation.

Successional meadow: a natural community of mostly non-woody

plants which replaces (or "succeeds") another (e.g. a farm field), after disturbance or abandonment. Typically further succeeded by a woodland or forest.

Not for construction. Part of a student project and not based on a legal survey.

837 Murray Rd., Ashfield, MA 01037

Solum: the upper layers of the soil profile, affected by climate and

G lossary

Siliceous: containing silica, a form of quartz.

T he home of T racey B aptiste

layers.

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