Learning to design land use patterns with topography in mind helps to ensure conscious and careful soil and water management. While we are very intentional about the use of heavy machinery in our work, these tools are remarkable in their capacity to reshape the landforms we tend to improve access; mitigate existing resource concerns; direct, capture, or divert surface runoff; and build more resilient working landscapes.
In this workshop, we'll -
- discuss the fundamentals of ecological earthworks with an examination of the principles of keyline design;
- learn how to read readily available high-resolution contour maps along with basic surveying tools (primarily a laser level) to analyze and lay out design ideas in the field
- examine several already-implemented systems including -
- a 1/2 acre on-contour hedgerow with 50 multi-purpose woody species
- a 1/4 acre berry production planting on top of swales set at a 1% grade
- a gravity-fed water system utilizing overflow from an artesian well
- drainage structures including off-contour swales, French drains, culverts, waterbars and broad-based dips - discuss equipment options, suitability, costing, sourcing and techniques including excavators, tractors with earth shaping implements, and dozers
- and, in the afternoon, we’ll use a rented mini-excavator to install additional earthwork features on our working farm that may include terraces, a roadside drainage ditch, and/or waterbars.
Leave this intensive with practical knowledge and skill to design and implement your own earthworks. This workshop is geared towards students of all knowledge and experience levels, including beginners. Led by Mark Krawczyk of Keyline Vermont LLC.
The workshop will run from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
Note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Click here or visit https://www.valleyclayplain.com/product/small-scale-earthworks/SV5G7R5FPI3EN3HZ4QPTJPSC?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false to register
