Manicured Areas

Sunnyside has considerable infrastructure to provide for the people who live here  and for the work we carry out. Surrounding and connecting our houses, farm buildings, barns,  and greenhouses are closely mown areas, yards, stone walls, roads, trails and landscaped  features. All of these are designed and managed with conservation in mind.

Conservations Practices: Highly manicured and landscaped environments can provide  conservation benefits to a range of species. Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows and purple  martins, for instance, like to nest in yards where predation (e.g., by snakes) may be less of a  risk and insect prey is readily available. We provide nest boxes for all three species and do not  apply pesticides anywhere. Using native flowers, shrubs and trees for landscaping provides highly productive shelter, food and nesting opportunities. We emphasize this practice, incorporating species like bluebells, wild blue indigo, joe-pye weed, white wood aster,  winterberry, various kinds of viburnum, spicebush, serviceberry, yellowwood and white oak.  Recognizing the value of leaf litter to a variety of insects and to soil health, we do not remove  leaves from under trees. Managing an exposed spring as a water feature by removing invasive  weeds, creating small pools and planting beneficial species allows it to serve as a drinking  source for birds and mammals as well as habitat for crayfish, salamanders and frogs. Roads and trails are laid out and managed to minimize their negative impacts (e.g., run-off, inhibiting animal movement, etc.).

Indicator Species: Brown thrasher, Eastern bluebird, tree swallow, ruby-throated  hummingbird, purple martin, garter snake, spring salamander, crayfish, American toad, green frog

Goods and Services: Maintaining limited manicured space in areas most heavily used by farm  residents and guests provides important benefits. Tick-borne disease is our most significant  health risk, and keeping tall vegetation at bay around farm structures and residences as well as  on trails is the best way to prevent people from getting bitten and infected. It also reduces the prevalence of rodents and other pests in our essential infrastructure — high tunnels, storage spaces, farm equipment, etc. and creates efficient working conditions. Landscaping with native plants creates an aesthetically pleasing living environment and reduces maintenance costs and water usage as native species tend to be hardy and drought tolerant.

Explore Other Ecosystem Features

Orchards
Production Fields & High Tunnels
Hayfields & Pastures
Relic & Existing Farm Infrastructure
Native Meadows & Savannas
Ponds
Stream Corridors & Hedgerows
Forest
Manicured Areas