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Niwot Fattoria6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
What is NIWOT FATTORIA? Goals for a working farm A Native Ecological Landscape plant species native to the Colorado foothills and the region that promote visual interest, beneficial wildlife, and require few inputs.Use plants that are drought tolerant and reduce runoff and erosion.Create a windbreak that resembles a native forest ecosystem.Cover the hillsides with a showy display of colorful native wildflowers and plants that are visible from the road and intersection.
A Productive Agricultural LandscapeGrow produce, herbs, fruits, and nuts to feed residents with enough surplus to sell.Keep honeybees to produce honey and pollinate plants.Raise poultry and livestock for agricultural products and manure to build soil. Build a greenhouse to propagate crops and native plants for use on the site and for sale.Display the produce from the farm for visitors and passersby to see from the road.
A Supportive Social LandscapeMake the property an inviting home and an enjoyable place to live. Open the landscape up to the public, providing resources for children and adults to learn about native plants, edible landscapes, and organic agriculture.preserve open space to bring an experience of the natural world amidst urban sprawl and maintain a pastoral agricultural landscape that is pleasing for people.
Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
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Zone I MOST VISITED 1 or more times a day Herb and Cutting Gardens Chicken Coop
Zone II Visited everyday Greenhouse Farmstand
Zone III Visited weekly Growing Field Orchard
Zone IV Visited biweekly pond Fields and Meadows
Zone V lEAST VISITED Monthly Forest Open Space
To Boulder CountyOpen Space
To Boulder CountyOpen Space
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ZONES OF USE DIAGRAM
This diagram is helpful to understand how the farm with be used and what types of plants will be placed where. The most frequented places are typically found closest to the dwelling. Less frequented, wilder places are further away or off the beaten paths. This diagram also divides zones into private areas for residents and areas open to the public.
Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
BERMS & SWAlESKeep and use water on-si te to support p lants and wi ld l i fe.
Berms and swales are used in conjunction to move, collect, and absorb water and on-site. This reduces surface flow runoff and protects natural waterways from sedimentation and pollution. Both elements allow for overflow and they direct water to desired locations. Overflow travels to existing drainage swales and streams.
Build berms by making compost mounds, allowing them to turn into soil, and planting them when they reach the desired height. The uphill side of berms and the channels of swales can then be planted with plants that would require supplemental watering in other locations, as they will be able to access the extra water diverted to these elements. See planting plans.
STEp-BY-STEp Sheet Mulching
Sheet mulching is a method of intensive soil building that can contribute to weed abatement and build fertile topsoil in a more natural and cost-effective way than importing ready-made soil mixes.
1. First spring: layer (any or all of the following) cardboard precomposted kitchen scraps brew mash leaves soil and/or manure woodchips
2.Thru summer: let it compost
3. late summer: Seed a fall/winter cover crop, i.e. winter peas, winter barley, rye or triticale
4. late fall: Mow the crop under and leave the cuttings over winter
5. Following spring: plant gardens!
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Compost on location: Make small piles where you want berms, garden beds, or just need better soil.
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Berms catch and divert water.
Swales capture and infiltrate water.
Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
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GARDENS SURROUNDING THE FARMHOUSE
Visitors approach the farmhouse from the northwest, where a large evergreen is surrounded by native shrubs and flowering plants. low-grow grass and wildflowers fill in around the drive and house, while drought-tolerant evergreens screen the house.
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Wildflowers drape the hillside as one looks out from the rear deck. The orchard extends off to north, and transitions into the forest windbreak. A path winds through the woods from the farmhouse toward the growing field.
WINDBREAKH HERB GARDENSC CUTTING GARDENS
To Open Space
ORCHARD
Stone steps from the rear deck lead to a bridge over a dry creek and open onto the herb and cutting gardens.
Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
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Alternative 1Cut the slope with a two-step retaining wall using boulders found on the property to create a terraced bed. The wall can serve as steps to reach the cutting garden or a low seating wall looking into the orchard.
GARDENS TO THE EAST OF THE FARMHOUSE
Alternative 2Cut the slope with raised beds for herbs and showy flowers to create a terraced hillside. Paths between raised beds provide easy access for cutting herbs and flowers. Ledges provide seating or shelves for potted planters.
stone step
fruit treesstone steps/seat wall
FARMHOUSE
cutting garden
windbreak trees
SWAlEdeck with trellis
lOOKING NORTHEAST
raised herb bed raised cutting gardendeck with trellis
FARMHOUSE
SWAlE
fruit trees
stone step
potted planter
path
Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
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plANT COMMUNITIES & NATURAl ASSOCIATIONS
In Colorado, patterns of native species and ecological communities are primarily determined by elevation, while solar aspect and moisture are secondary determinants. This diagram shows the primary native ecological regions that were drawn on for the landscape master plan and some of the key plant species that are central to each area.
High Mountains:ponderosa pineAustrian pineBlue SpruceMtn. MahoganyKinnikinnickMtn. Wildflowers
Rolling Foothills:pinyon pineJuniperBurr OakAspenMapleAshMtn. MahoganyCurrantPrairie Wildflowers
Dry plains:CottonwoodHoneylocustHawthorneChokecherryCurrantMockorangeSand CherryYuccaTall and Short Grasses Prairie Wildflowers
1. prep soil by sheet mulching and thoroughly weeding the area.2. First season: Plant native wildflower seed. Seed to the density recommended by seed supplier. Keep weeds at bay to allow seedlings to establish.
3. Fall planting after the first season: Transplant. Note naturally occurring clusters of plants and gaps and add more of native varieties to gaps near clusters to make larger clumps. This will encourage natives and particularly appealing plants. larger clumps will provide a showy display. 4. Repeat step 3 after the second season, and subsequent seasons. Other varieties and plants should come up and add to clump diversity.
Diligent weeding and periodic mowing are advised at all stages.
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Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
On plant Spacing
Space plants according to their mature plant size guidelines. See plant lists. Trees- 20'-30'Shrubs- 10'-15'perennials- 6"-3'
Plant agricultural row crops fields on the contours of slopes. Space rows according to crop plant size, including rows for perennial crops, shrubs and annual crops.
phase I
The first phase is about preparing and building soil that will support future planting. It is also about establishing plants to control runoff and prevent erosion. Sheet mulching, weeding, cover cropping, and composting are key components of this phase.
Begin to create berms.•
Begin planting meadows and • wildflower areas, and differentiate planting areas.
Begin planting a windbreak to block • cold northern and westerly winds. Plant quick growing trees and shrubs, such as aspen and cottonwood. plant evergreen varieties for year-round screening.
Start ornamental beds to add interest • to the property and begin to establish orchard trees to expedite fruit production.
Build a shed for the growing field area, • bring in beehives, and start a small flock of chickens.
phase II
The second phase builds on the initial planting done in the first phase.
Continue to build soil and make • compost for adding nutrients to gardens.
Build the windbreak by mimicking • forest succession on a shorter time scale, allowing small trees and shrubs to establish on the edges of existing tree lines.
Add to ornamental beds and planting • areas, focusing on the entrance to the property, along the driveway, and surrounding the farmhouse.
Increase row crops and expand • growing fields along the land contours.
Add to the flock of chickens and • provide additional chicken coops or moveable tractors.
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phase III
The third phase is the realization of the master plan, adding larger elements and completing planting areas and beds.
Build a greenhouse to propagate • plants using seeds and cuttings found on the property.
Seed annual row crops each spring • and extend the season by growing crops earlier in spring and later into the fall.
Incorporate more beehives to • increase pollination of newer plants and to increase honey production.
Build a pond to add visual interest, • wildlife habitat, and to hold more water on-site for plants and livestock.
plant succulents such as yucca in • open fields to more fully represent a natural system while creating a transition to the neighboring fields of open space.
On paths
Create and maintain mown paths through field, meadow, and wildflower areas. A small riding mower can provide a sufficient path width for walking and moving wheelbarrows.
paths through wooded areas can be mulch.
Use steppable plants or mulch paths through formal beds.
pHASING plant ing and Development
Phasing the implementation of a landscape plan has a number of benefits. Plants can be purchased over the course of several years to minimize up-front costs. In addition to costs, phasing also minimizes up-front labor for planting and building, making it more realistic for the homeowner to do much of the work on her own. This also allows for work to be done by crews of coordinated volunteers who might only have one day to help out, but can focus on one area and complete a specific aspect of the plan. phased planting can also be a way to mimic the natural process of succession whereby plants colonize an area. In the case of the windbreak, for example, it begins with a field, then shrubs and trees are added, and then greater density is added in the understory of maturing trees over the course of several years. Phases can be completed over subsequent growing seasons, or over longer periods of time.
YEAR 2
YEAR 1
YEAR 3
Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
forest windbreakfieldmeadowpond bermbermstreet
SECTION LOOKING NORTH1 = 40 - 0ll lll
berm berm berm forested windbreakfieldflowerspondstreet swale field
Tarahumara Chia Salvia tiliafolia 4-6’ regular-dry annual
Marigold regular natural insecticide
Sweet Cicely 3-4’ regular attracts good insects
Comfrey nitrogen fixer
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Niwot FattoriaLandscape Master Plan
6170 North 79th StreetNiwot, Colorado 80503
Prepared Spring 2010 By Rachel Bechhoefer
Web Sources
Timberline Gardens, Arvada, CO www.timberlinegardens.comHigh Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM www.highcountrygardens.compawnee Butte Seed Co., Greeley, CO www.pawneebutteseed.comRocky Mountain Seed Co., Denver, CO www.rockymountainseedco.comArkansas Valley Seed Co., longmont, CO www.avseeds.comBoulder County, Colorado www.bouldercounty.orgColorado Materials, Inc., longmont, CO www.coloradomaterialsinc.comBoulder County Extension, Boulder, CO www.extension.colostate.edu/boulder/
Books
Western Garden Book. Editor: Kathleen Norris Brenzel. Sunset Books, Inc. 2001.
Rodale’s All New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener. Editors: Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis. Rodale Books. 1993.
Xeriscape plant Guide: 100 Waterwise plants for Gardens and landscapes. Denver Water. Fulcrum publishing. 1996.
Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. paul Stamets. Ten Speed press. 2000.
The Edible Forest Garden, Volumes I and II. Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier. Chelsea Green. 2005.