Gilbert Stuart Road Demonstration Site

Amy Dunnington and David Borkman, Gilbert Stuart Road,
North Kingstown, RI

Setting: The farm currently raises between 6 to 10 sheep, four sheep dogs (trained as working herd dogs), and 12 layer hens. The home farm contains about one acre of land, with about 1/3 acre available for grazing. The farm also has access to about 4 acres of pasture land located one mile away and historically used about 0.5 acre of neighboring land for additional pasture. The farm also has a vegetable and flower garden (about 1,400 sq. ft.) which is planted to a winter rye cover crop in the fall and receives compost made from chicken and sheep manure and bedding collected during winter months. The home is served by a private drinking water well.

Area 2: Manure and Runoff Management and home-made rain barrels

Goals:
November - March: As the grazing season draws to a close, the goal is to begin moving the animals off the pasture areas as needed to allow for an adequate residue of at least four or more inches during the winter months. The poultry will return to their original fenced coop which lies south of the vegetable garden in a level area. The manure will continue to be stacked and composted for use in the garden.

The owners constructed a new barn in August 2003, in place of the old barn, and it contains a roofed overhang as a shelter area for the sheep during the winter months. A small "sacrifice" paddock or livestock yard was created with the electranet fencing around the shelter area for the sheep to occupy during winter months. In the fall of 2005, a permanent livestock yard was fenced around the barn.

The main concern with barnyard areas is that "clean runoff" from roof areas and other upland areas do not drain through or travel over areas that are heavily occupied by the animals. The runoff can become polluted with nutrients and pathogens from the manure deposited in these areas. It is important to direct runoff that does travel through livestock yards to well vegetated areas that minimize potential pollution risk to nearby water resources.

Managing the sheep in winter and runoff management
The roofed area can temporarily store manure and bedding during the winter months, minimizing exposure to rain and snow. The manure and bedding can be spread thinly and evenly on grasslands in late March/early April, as well as the vegetable and flower gardens according to soil test recommendations. If soil test results reveal that additional nutrients (especially Phosphorus) are not needed anywhere on the property, the manure should be taken to another location that can utilize the nutrients, such as neighbors' gardens and the pastureland that is available 1 mile away.

February 2004.

The sheep are given a winter "sacrifice" paddock. Due to the natural slope of the surrounding land, it should extend due south from the shelter area and only extend as far southward as necessary to provide the sheep with desireable exercise and at least the minimum recommended square foot per animal for livestock yards. Refer to Self-assessment Worksheet 1, Livestock Yards and Access: Assessing Your Risks for minimum recommended area per animal. This will be a "sacrifice" paddock for the winter and can include the area under the roof overhang. This pasture area will take longer to recover during the start of the spring grazing season.

The land continues to slope due east of the barn before leveling out at the vegetable garden. The vegetation on this slope is currently in good condition, containing a dense stand of perennial grasses and some clover. The vegetable garden lies at the bottom of the slope and provides a level buffer along the property edge. The recommendation is to minimize access to the east slope during the winter to prevent loss of vegetation, soil erosion and increased runoff.

Area downslope of barn and leveling off towards the vegetable garden, November 2003.

July 2004. The farm's vegetable garden lies due east and down slope of the barn and roofed overhang. The land levels out here before another slope that is currently in a natural woodland buffer between the farm and neighboring property. The garden is planted to a winter rye cover crop in the fall.

Winter rye (cereal rye) is a common cover crop planted during the fall on tilled cropland to protect the soil from erosion and to till under the following spring as a green manure crop. Here it is just sprouting. Fall 2003.

February 2004. The winter sacrifice paddock extends only a short way down the east slope (above the border collie). This allows the runoff traveling off of the sacrifice paddock to have some level pasture area and the vegetable garden (beyond the picket fence below) to settle and infiltrate before reaching the buffer of trees along the property edge. If feasible, a roof gutter and downspout should be installed to direct roof water away from the winter livestock yard. Runoff that does travel over the livestock yard should be directed to the level garden area and woodland buffer.

Fall 2005: Permanent livestock yard installed

During the fall of 2005, a permanently fenced livestock yard was installed at the barn. A roof gutter and rain barrels were installed during spring 2004. See section below for more information.

Photos taken May 2006.

West side of new barn

West side of new barn, August 2003.

The opposite side of the barn is fairly level and drains towards the west, away from the livestock yard. A roof gutter and downspout is planned. The natural soil on the farm consists of a somewhat excessively drained sandy loam soil. Roof runoff from this side of the barn may be effectively handled by a border bed of plants, mulch, or crushed stone that slows runoff and encourages infiltration. The installation of a roof gutter, downspout and additional rain barrels is another option during spring and summer months.

For more information about animal waste managment and runoff control:

Small Acreage Livestock Fact Sheet Series

Small Acreage Livestock Education Program

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Warwick, RI office, (401) 828-1300

Rain Barrels
Conserving water and reducing runoff during the grazing season, April - October:

A roof gutter and downspout was installed for the east half of the barn during Spring 2004. Home made rain barrels have been installed at this downspout to collect rainwater for use in the vegetable garden. Not only do the rain barrels conserve water, but they also reduce stormwater runoff from entering the pasture areas. An overflow hose can be directed away from animal access areas.


3 rain barrels linked in series at the base with a garden hose. The two white barrels have a 1&1/2 inch PVC male barbed adapter inserted in the side near the top to serve as overflow outlets. 1&1/2 inch corrugated drain hose can be secured on the adapters to direct overflow water where desired. The red barrel contains a wood covering to prevent mosquitoes.

Insect screening traps debris and prevents mosquitoes

Barn Roof area
The new barn contains a much larger roof area. The old barn had an approximate roof area of 200 sq. ft. contributing to the original downspout on the east side. The east half of the new barn has a 1,054 sq. ft. roof area. Three home-made rain barrels (which can hold about 150 gallons of rainwater) have been installed and linked in series. A fourth rain barrel sits downslope of the barn, at the head of the vegetable garden, and is fed by a garden hose from the other three rain barrels, providing a total of about 200 gallons of water storage.

Depending on evaporation and other losses, It is estimated that a one third to one half inch rain fall will fill the four barrels.

rain barrel at head of vegetable garden, linked by a garden hose to the three barrels at the southeast corner of the barn.

July 2004. Two old, wooden barrels are linked by a garden hose, storing overing 100 gallons of water. They are filled by a downspout that drains the front half of the house roof. A spigot has been placed at the bottom of the barrels for filling pails or attaching garden hose. Small holes have been cut into the tops of the barrels for the downspout to drain into. Keeping the holes covered is important for mosquito control. Insect screening or a pool filter basket can be installed for the barrel that is installed at the downspout. Wooden barrels can leak until water saturates and swells the wood. If wooden barrels are not full, swishing the water around periodically can help keep the wood wet and sealed.

July 2004. The rain barrels are used to water these border beds in front of the house.

Permeable paving materials -- driveway Driveway paved with crushed stone. Allows for groundwater infiltration and reduces runoff.

Area 1: pasture and animal waste management