Category: News

16 Jun 2023

Around Greenacres – Spring 2023

Around Greenacres - Spring 2023

New Chicken Tractors

As we continue to expand our meat bird operations, lots of time was spent researching infrastructure options that optimize production and efficiencies while still meeting our animal welfare standards. Our livestock manager, Leevi Stump worked with the Stoltzfoos brothers at The Mobile Chicken House to purchase our new chicken tractors for our pastured poultry production. He tells us, “The new tractors fit our production system well. They house approximately 50 more birds per tractor while maintaining the same space-ratio per chicken. This allows us to raise an addition 1,000 birds per year. The tractors have a greenhouse design which provides better heat and shade options, and with roll up curtains on the side, they allow for proper ventilation to ensure birds are happy and healthy.” The wheels of the new tractor facilitate movement across pastures and minimize wear and tear on our equipment. It’s been a great learning opportunity for students coming through Greenacres programs. And, it’s been a great experience for our livestock apprentices, David, Josi, and Gabe as they’ve done a wonderful job assembling the new tractors at our Indian Hill property.

New larger chicken tractor on left next to two smaller chicken tractors

“The new tractors fit our production system well. They house approximately 50 more birds per tractor while maintaining the same space-ratio per chicken. This allows us to raise an addition 1,000 birds per year. The tractors have a greenhouse design which provides better heat and shade options, and with roll up curtains on the side, they allow for proper ventilation to ensure birds are happy and healthy.

-Leevi Stump, Livestock Manager

Michaela Farm

Our Michaela Farm gardens are buzzing with life. The majority of our vegetable production at this property is in the garden we established last year near St Mary’s Road. Throughout the Spring, our garden crew has been harvesting lots of greens – lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, garlic scapes, and more. They’ve also been tending to summer crops and herbs, including sugar snap and shelling peas, garlic, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, beets, green beans, zucchini, and more of your Summer favorites! Recently more asparagus, strawberries, and rhubarb were planted, along with flowers to help attract pollinators and beneficial insects. If you are in Oldenburg, Indiana, make sure to stop by the Michaela Farmstore and pick up some eggs, fresh produce, and dried herbs.

Asparagus growing in outdoor garden

Perennials!

It’s common knowledge that our native pollinator populations are in decline – habitat loss, the use of lawn and agricultural chemicals, invasive species, and the planting of non-native landscaping plants have all taken a toll. One way you can help pollinators in your yard is by planting native and beneficial perennials. Unlike annual flowers that need to be replaced every year, perennials can provide food and shelter to native pollinators and wildlife for many years, and usually need very little maintenance once established – some species are extremely drought tolerant, while others can thrive in areas of your yard that tend to retain water. 

pink and orange flowers growing in pots in greenhouse

During our annual Spring plant sale, we were excited to offer perennial plants the first time, including bee balm, butterfly weed, mountain mint, hyssop, foxglove beardtongue, coreopsis, and more which were all propagated in our greenhouse. Many of these species can be found in the landscaping in front of the Indian Hill Farmstore, where you can see how they grow and interact with wildlife over time. Some insects may use our plants as food sources, which can also impact their aesthetic appearance – but that’s fine with us!

Fall is the ideal season to plant perennials in our region, when small plants have plenty of time to focus on robust root establishment before the next summer drought. We plan to offer another perennial plant sale this fall, so be sure to keep that in mind when making your landscaping plans.

Educational Workshops

Our events team has been staying very active this Spring. Wedding season is in full swing and we have already hosted three with ten more scheduled throughout the year, but ceremonies and receptions aren’t the only events on our radar. “We are working on expanding our event offerings and have been hosting an increasing number of adult-education workshops.” says Kyle Conlon, Greenacres Director of  Events. “It has been a pleasure hosting these informational and interactive events and we are looking forward to providing more valuable experiences to our community members.”

In April, Dave Pratt, with Ranch Management Consultants, was invited to workshop with the local community and discuss how to maximize ranching profits while increasing efficiency and sustainability. Then, in early May, the Ohio State’s Butler County extension office partnered with Greenacres to present about spring calving in the Southwest Ohio region. Fifty guests were in attendance to learn about cow nutrition during pregnancy, facility preparations for calving, the impacts of management practices, dealing with calving issues, and what to look for during a pasture walk. 

We wrapped up our Spring events calendar with our participation at the International Grasslands Congress. Hundreds of scientists and industry experts from around the world converged at the conference in Covington, Kentucky. Attendees had the opportunity to tour Greenacres which involved touring our Indian Hill and Lewis Township locations, and presentations about the work we are doing throughout. Topics varied from pasture-raised chicken production, to Native Warm Season Grass establishment and prescribed burns. 

We are working on expanding our event offerings and have been hosting an increasing number of adult-education workshops. It has been a pleasure hosting these informational and interactive events and we are looking forward to providing more valuable experiences to our community members.

-Director of Events

Expanding our Education Reach

We are thrilled to be hosting more field trips and teacher professional development events as demand continues to return post Covid. In addition to the wide range of field trips we facilitated this Spring, our education team hosted two professional development days for Cincinnati Public Schools employees. The individuals who attended got to meet Greenacres staff, learn more about our field trips and see how we can help with various state standards. 

Brown County students at the Human Library at Greenacres Lewis Township.
Brown County students at the Greenacres Lewis Township Human Library

In Lewis Township, Brown County middle school students were invited to the “Human Library” at our education facility. The 8th grade students were able to meet and talk to professionals from various industries and backgrounds. These students got a much better understanding of what it can take to enter specific industries.

At Michaela Farm in Indiana, Oldenburg Academy culinary arts students have been getting a hands-on “farm to table” experience. The students learned about gardening seasonality and how to maximize flavor and nutritional value. The class even got to prep and plant their own garden bed. The vegetables grown in this plot will be harvested by the students and used in the class’s kitchen.

If you are an educator interested in field trips, please contact our Education Coordinator Katie Brown. Our Education Team creates exceptional field trip experiences for each and every visitor we serve. We collaborate with classroom educators to build customized, hands-on interactive experiences aligned with grade-level academic learning standards. You can use our field trip programming tool to browse popular topics by grade and by academic subject.

Equine First Responders Training

The equine department has been busy with a full Spring Session. Our advanced students have been enjoying the cross country course when the weather permits. We enroll riders between the ages of 8-18. Our lessons are English only with a focus in Eventing. Due to extremely high-demand our waitlist is currently closed while we move riders off the list.

Fire trucks and ambulance parked outside of Greenacres Equine Center indoor riding arena.

The equine department partnered with the Goshen and Indian Hill/ Madeira 1st Responders to offer hands-on training with the horses. The 1st Responders got to tour the Greenacres Equine Center and work hands on learning how to lead and work with horses. Our staff provides information and exercises that will help prepare 1st Responders for responding to calls where horses are involved. Goshen and Indian Hill/ Madeira were the pilot groups. We will be scheduling additional dates throughout 2023 for other departments to participate.

Ecological Research Grants

Through our extended research grant program, we have had the opportunity to collaborate with academic researchers on various ecological projects. Last year, three universities were awarded grant money: Northern Kentucky University, Miami University and the University of Dayton. This year, all three projects are coming together. Northern Kentucky is studying spring ephemeral (wildflower) restoration to understand what source material (seeds, bare root or plugs) result in the most success along with how soil and light conditions influence the growth of these species. Our woods in Indian Hill are one of the study sites. Miami University researchers are also on site, looking at the impact of deer and invasive species on woodland restoration. This Spring, as part of the study and with the help of our estate crew, two deer exclosures were constructed on our property. And the University of Dayton is working with Five Rivers MetroParks to understand how to best restore former agricultural fields back to woodlands. They are looking at different ways to improve soil health to support the growth of trees, in particular oaks. All of these projects are 2-3 years in length and the results of each will help inform land managers of the best management practices for their woodland restoration projects.

Northern Kentucky University undergraduates on site at Greenacres measuring plant height, flower number and seed heads on species planted during the restoration project.
13 Jun 2023
Three educators exploring creek and observing rocks

Greenacres Water Quality Education Center to be Renamed to Reflect Diverse Field Trip Programming and the Community it Serves

Three educators exploring creek and observing rocks

Greenacres Water Quality Education Center to be Renamed to Reflect Diverse Field Trip Programming and the Community it Serves

Miami Township, Clermont County – June 8, 2023

Greenacres is pleased to announce a change that better aligns with their field trip programming. Effective immediately, the Greenacres Water Quality Education Center building will be renamed “Greenacres Miami Township – Clermont County.”

The decision to adopt the new name stems from a desire to change the public perception of the educational experiences and opportunities available at this facility. While the original name specifically highlighted water quality programs, the location has always offered a comprehensive suite of activities, covering various aspects of environmental education.

“Programs at this facility can range from anywhere maple syrup collection activities in the winter, to creek exploration in the summer, and so much more” says Scott Wingate, Greenacres Director of Education. “By renaming this location, we hope to emphasize that this facility is more than just water quality education. This new name reflects our commitment to serve Clermont County by providing immersive and engaging field trip programming that explores not only water quality but also other vital aspects of environmental stewardship. We will continue to offer a rich selection of field trip experiences that empower visitors to understand, appreciate, and protect our natural world.”

Greenacres thanks Miami Township, Clermont County community for their continued support and looks forward to this new chapter as they embrace a more comprehensive approach to environmental education.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Name: Peter Wheeler

Title: Director of Marketing

Organization: Greenacres Foundation

Email: pwheeler@green-acres.org

25 May 2023

Pasture Restoration with Native Warm Season Grasses

Pasture Restoration at Greenacres

You may have noticed some of the pastures at Greenacres looking a bit different than usual. This is because we used an herbicide treatment to eliminate the fescue found in these fields. We don’t typically use herbicides, but our research has found that in certain, limited circumstances, they are the least destructive and more effective method for restoring native grasses.

In 2019 we began converting some of the pastures at Greenacres Lewis Township into permanent stands of Native Warm Season Grasses through a joint research project with University of Tennessee’s Center for Native Grasslands Management. These native grasses, such as Big Bluestem and Indiangrass, were once widespread across the prairies of Ohio and the Great Plains, but almost all have been lost to land development and conventional tillage agriculture.

During this project we discovered that planting and establishing Native Warm Season Grasses can be very challenging. In the first year, the native grasses prioritize growing deep roots, and grow very few shoots above soil, leaving them vulnerable to being smothered and killed by weeds and other grasses if not managed correctly. Our research showed that targeted herbicide use to specifically reduce weed competition before planting is crucial to successful establishment of native grass species.

This spring we sprayed herbicide on fescue stands in certain fields on our Indian Hill farm in preparation for direct-drill planting of native grass seed before mid-June. No fertilizer or tillage is required. This summer we will monitor the seedlings and mow to reduce weed pressure if necessary to ensure good establishment of the Native Warm Season Grasses. Grazing animals will not return to these fields until we have had soil and forage laboratory tests that show no remaining herbicide residue.

We have set a goal to convert approximately 15% of our fescue pastures at our Indian Hill and Michaela Farm locations into Native Warm Season Grasses.

Native Warm Season Grasses are important to our generative agriculture practices for a number of reasons:

  • They offer excellent habitat for a wide range of grassland nesting birds.
  • They provide high quality forage to our cattle herds during the hot summer months.
  • They are native to our area and adapted to grow in shallow, low fertility soils.
  • They sequester large amounts of carbon through an extensive root system that can grow up to 8 feet deep.
  • Once established, the native warm season grasses will thrive for decades and reduce our need to plant short-term annual summer grazing crops each year such as sorghum sudan, buckwheat etc.
20 Mar 2023

Prescribed Fire at Greenacres

Prescribed Fire at Greenacres

Fire as a Land Management Tool

As stewards to the land gifted to us by the Nippert family, Greenacres strives to utilize the best land management practices available. Fire has always been a part of the natural world, and returning prescribed fire to our landscape is an integral part of conserving nature, for the benefit of both wildlife and humans alike. Various plant communities found on our properties are dependent on fire to create a healthy, resilient, and biodiverse ecosystem. From the wildflowers of spring and summer, to the oak trees feeding its acorns to the animals of the forest, to grasslands hosting quail – all are dependent of periodic fire to keep the ecosystem in balance.

Students out on an early fall adventure.

Conducting a Prescribed Burn

As a land management tool, prescribed fire requires careful planning and thorough training to ensure the safety of persons and property. Greenacres staff members who plan and lead prescribed fires are certified through the Ohio Division of Forestry and have years of experience. Staff trainings are held to ensure all those who are working these fires are knowledgeable and competent in their roles. Permits are issued through the Ohio Division of Forestry, the Ohio EPA, and local fire departments, holding Greenacres to the utmost standards while conducting prescribed fires.

Greenacres conducted two prescribed burns in Indian Hill in 2022 – for more information on those fires, please click here

If you have questions, or would like more information, please email Chris Glassmeyer at cglassmeyer@green-acres.org