We have 65 acres of land here on the farm, and about a quarter of it provides habitat for coyotes, beavers, birds, and many more species. We call this area the Beaverland, located at the back of the farm. Over time, the space became heavily overgrown with Reed Canary Grass, which made it hard to explore and limited how much of the biodiversity students and visitors could actually see.
This year our construction and field team took on the challenge of opening the area back up. Using our tractor, excavator, weedwhackers, and many hands, they cleared sections along the stream to increase visibility and improve access. The new boardwalk lets classes safely walk out into the wetland, pause to watch the water, and look for signs of wildlife.
As we continue this work, the Beaverland will grow into a small wetland learning area. Future programs will focus on how beavers shape the landscape, why wetlands matter for flooding and water quality, and how healthy habitat supports a wide range of plants and animals.
Check out the camera footage of a beaver cruising the stream
