LAND MANAGEMENT

Fences necessarily manage fields, livestock and some unwanted visitors. Montpelier has roughly thirty acres of fenced fields. Some areas, overgrown by trees and thicket are patch worked with barbed wire from about the 1950's. Because the fields remained unused for at least two decades, pockets of serious disrepair need attention. This becomes a livestock concern as safe pasture enclosure equals contained livestock. 

Watershed necessarily drives the entire farm. Montpelier claims ancient springs, Montpelier Creek and an acre pond. The land sits on a bluff above an extensive bog. All water leads to the James River which lies southeast about ten miles away. We regularly pull sea shells out of the creek bed, telling the tale of when this land lie beneath the sea. Beavers busily dam to our east, a robust collection of ducks dot the pond and bog, and a large black bear reigns over the extensive animal kingdom. An untouched ecosystem, protected from development for acres in all directions, reminds us daily of our job as steward.

Our Resident Bear caught on a field camera. East trail.

Livestock necessarily completes a sustainable farm. Fences must be mended before adding any livestock, not only to manage the animals but also to keep the watershed safe. Livestock notoriously damage watershed through fecal contamination but damage from foraging also ruins habitat. In the spring we would like to add Leicester Longwool Sheep and Belted Galloway cattle. Both listed on the Livestock Conservancy as heirloom stock in need of stewardship. 

Favorites: The Livestock Conservancy and Builder's Discount Center