A32-L*nc«st»r Farming, Saturday, March 23, 1996
Lessons Last Lifetimes
' (Continued from Pag* A 1)
removed from the farm.
The original conservation plan,
written in 1944, includes the state
ment, “Construct terraces
between existing terraces with 600
feet of additional outlet channel."
The township did not allow ter
races that would send water north
onto the township road. As a result,
pipe terraces were installed to pro
vide a more appropriate water
outlet.
The Civilian Conservation
Corps put in three waterway dikes,
which still function today.
On the steep areas of the water
way) sod from a nearby meadow
was dug up and installed on the
waterway. Locus trees were cut
down, split into posts, and pasture
fence was installed for rotational
grazing.
At that time, strip cropping was
part of a terrace system where
every other strip was a hay field.
As farming practices changed
through the generations, the Gar
bers found that by using minimum
tillage, every other field did not
need to be in hay.
Proper maintenance of terraces
has been the key to long-term con
servation on Spring Lawn Farm,
according to Hcisland. When
properly taken care of, terraces
only need to be plowed up every
few years.
“It was not easy to lake that first
step in conservation.” Heistand
indicated. “Jay remembers getting
flack from neighbors who said that
he was making sweet potato hills
when the terraces were first
installed.”
In 1986, the Garbers signed an
agreement with the Chesapeake
Bay Program. A waste manage
ment system was installed, includ
ing a manure holding tank and a
small basin below the barnyard to
collect any nutrient runoff. The
outlet of the basin flows into a
grassed filler strip, which helps
keep nutrients out of the stream.
A catch basin with a sediment
trap collects water from around the
buildings.
Altogether, Spring Lawn Farm
has more than 24,000 feet of ter
races, 1,700 feet of waterways, and
1,600 feel of diversions.
Rye is planted on most of the
com ground to cover it during the
winter. A recent practice is the use
of a three-tooth subsoiler to slit the
soil about 14 inches deep to
improve water infiltration. Heis
tand noted that none of the Gar
bers’ terraces were destroyed as a
result of last year’s heavy rains.
Nutrient management and water
quality concerns occupy the man
agement practices at the Garber
Farm. Nitrogen is tracked as part
of the nutrient management prog
ram. Accurate records are kept for
all fields. Dave uses the Penn State
quick soil nitrogen test. A nitrogen
sidedress is added only to fields
were it is needed.
Heistand noted that the Garbers
believe that conservation ideas
which are taught to young people
“will be carried with them for the
rest of their lives.” This is how
they have kept conservation on
their farm for more than half a
century.
The best management practices,
or BMPs, represented here have
been in operation for 40-50 years.
“The lifespan of these BMPs will
be unto several generations,” said
Heistand.
Also at the banquet, other indi
viduals were honored for their
dedication and service to conser
vation. Youth Conservation Ser
vice School awards were presented
to Tim Appleby, son of Jim and
Sandy Appleby, Elizabethtown;
Dan Bard, Conestoga; Stephen
Bowman, son of Mary and Ray
Bowman, Mount Joy; Brian Boy
er, son of Raymond and Diane
Boyer, Mount Joy; and Steve
Weber.
Warren Archibald, the Lancas
ter County conservation represen
tative for the NRCS (formerly
SCS), was recognized for his 22
years of service to the district.
James Huber, former county com-
N\ \
Youth Conservation School service awards went to, from left, Brian Boyer, repre
sented by his father, Raymond; Carl Graybill, tor his work with the school; Stephen
Bowmar and Tim rented * his father, Jim.
Honored at the conservation banquc jy night were, from,
fer, represented by Elva Stauffer, for outstanding service; Warren Archibald, for ser
vice to the district through the NRCS; Jere Swarr, with the Goodyear Award; and Jim
Huber and Sen. Noah Wenger, for service to conservation.
missioner, was honored for his life, and received a standing outstanding cooperator for 19Q4
work in support of the district, ovation. Legislator of the vear wem
At the banquet, Aaron Z Stauf- The Goodyear Award for out- Noah Wenger. (R-36th Dis ) for
fer, Ephrata, was honored for mak- standing Cooperator recognition his work* in Chesapeake Bav ctp
mg conservation a major part of his wen t to Jeie Swarr. Manheim. the wardship and restoration efforts!
WASTE WOOD
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