June 11, 2014 Meeting Report

The evening sky was threatening rain but about 35 people came to beautiful Persimmon Tree Farm for the meeting on “How Your Horse Farm Can Be a Home for Healthy Horses AND Natural Flora and Fauna.”

Farm owner and host Carolyn Krome gave the group a tour of the native grasses planted to provide wildlife habitat and to hold the soil.  She explained the practice of a controlled burns to burn down the dry grasses on a regular schedule to avoid invasive plants and to minimize thatch.  She said that the grasses have attracted many birds, small animals, coyotes and even a bobcat.  Carolyn also showed the group the section of her farm planted to attract “pollinators” such as bees and butterflies.  This project was supported by the Maryland Soil Conservation Districts Pollinator Habitat Project. 

Jane Thery, Committee Chair, welcomed the group to the meeting.  Samantha Spencer, Carroll Country Soil Conservation District specialist, presented the plan she had prepared to develop a section of wetlands on Persimmon Tree Farm.  She explained the process of wetland planning and the assistance available from the Soil Conservation District office.

James Remuzzi, President of Sustainable Solutions, described his company’s process for controlled burns.  He noted that they will handle all of the needed permits, review the weather for an appropriate burning day and assure that the burn is contained.  He recommended that any native grass plantings that were to be burned are surrounded by a mown grass buffer zone of at least 15 feet to effectively contain the burn area. 

Gerald Talbert, Program Director of the Soil Conservation District Farm Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) spoke about the on-going process for bringing more horse farms into the program and announced that we now have 17 horse farms who have received full certification. 

Jane Seigler, president of the Maryland Horse Council, gave an update on legislative issues from the meeting of the Maryland Assembly.  She noted that our new lobbyist, Frank Boston, was very useful in legislative tracking.  One bill which passed and is important for the Farm Stewardship composting promotion is the requirement to include organic material under new fertilizer regulations.

Informal networking over refreshments sponsored by the Piedmont Group and R.D. Bowmen rounded out the evening as the rain began to fall.

The next Farm Stewardship meeting will focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources for your horse farm and will be held sometime in August or September.