THE EQUIERY’S Guide to Building GREEN FARMS continued...
nearly 200 countries around the world, Earth Day has spread beyond April 22 to include service projects throughout the year. Below is a list of easy, and often fun, ways to get your horse farm involved with Earth Day activities and projects.
• Road Clean Up – Plan a day to organize a clean up of the road your farm is on. Be sure to keep in mind local traffic and avoid peak times. It is highly recommended that all participants wear some sort of reflective vest for greater vis- ibility and gloves for safety. Tis can be a great “get to know your neighbors” opportunity!
• Stream Cleaning – If you have a stream that runs through your property, organize a day to remove trash and clear debris. Tis is also a good opportunity to check the stream banks for any erosion issues that may be occurring. Your local Soil Conservation District can assist with erosion control projects.
• Trail Maintenance – Organize a trail clear- ing day to help maintain the trail systems near your farm, or join Trail Riders of Today or the Maryland Parks Service for one of their many trail projects!
• Light Bulbs – Replace the light bulbs in your barn and other structures with energy-efficient light bulbs. Tese bulbs last longer and save en- ergy, thus saving money as well!
• Hot Water Heaters – Lowering the tem- perature of hot water heaters in your barn and house can save energy as well. Also, limit the time you spend in the shower and showering your horses.
• Fix Leaks – Leaky pipes, sinks, and hoses waste more water than you may realize.
• Composting – All that horse manure actu- ally has benefits when composted correctly. Te University of Maryland Equine Studies Program has lots of information on how to build a composting area at your farm. Toss your kitchen scraps in there, too! Again, your local Soil Conservation District can also help, and can assist you with applying for cost-sharing funds from federal and state programs.
• Recycled Shopping Bags – Did you know most feed bags can be repurposed as reusable shopping bags? Organize a bag making party at your barn to recycle and repurpose those bags.
• Recycling Bins – Most homes have recycling bins near the house but take the time to place recycling bins around your facility as well. Key areas would be places where boarders and les- son students gather like observation rooms, tack rooms, etc. • Solar Power – Installing solar panels will cre- ate clean energy for your barn, and in many cases, these panels produce enough energy to generate credits on your electric bill.
• Unplug – Unplug all electrical devices in your barn that are not being used. Encourage your boarders and students to get into the habit of unplugging when items such as vacuums, mi- crowaves, coffee pots, fans, space heaters, etc are not in use. Great way to reduce fire risk, too.
• Carpool – Organize a carpool system for boarders and lesson students who live near each other. Plan “drop” locations like local Park & Ride lots that are central to your customers.
• Gardens – Creating farm community gar- dens are a great way to beautify your barn as well as encourage barn community fellowship. Vegetable gardens help promote eating locally
Manure Removal & Roll-Off Services
Selling Hay & Straw Round & Square Bales
grown produce and native wildflower gardens can attract pollinators and help clean air.
• Buy Local – Buying local not only supports your neighbors but also reduces the need for shipping across the country, thus
reducing
emissions into the atmosphere. Find out where you can buy locally sourced bedding, grains and hay for your horses.
• Blue Stone – Laying blue stone in high traffic areas such as around water sources and gates can help reduce mud and runoff. Be sure to lay down landscape fabric first, to ensure that the blue stone doesn’t sink into the mud.
• Advocate – Get involved with your local law- makers by writing letters to local politicians voicing your support for environmental causes. Signing petitions related to conservation is an- other way to get involved.
To read more about Earth Day, see: https://
equiery.com/61589-2/
Healthy & Productive Horse Pastures Te University of Maryland Equine Studies
program put together a guide to keeping pas- tures healthy and productive. Healthy, produc- tive pastures can be a great source of nutrition for your horse, reduce your hay and grain bill by hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and are great for the environment because they anchor soil and prevent nutrient and soil run-off. An unproductive pasture is one that is weedy with lots of bare soil, whereas a productive pasture has a dense, thick stand of healthy pasture grasses. Keep in mind that not all horses can be al-
lowed unlimited grazing on pasture, but for those that can, pasture can meet nearly all of their nutrient requirements and provide a great continued...
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