3/10/2014 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Natural Resource Management at Cardoza Farm By Adam Devito Located off of Route 28A in Falmouth is an abandoned farm property, Cardoza Farm,,which is managed by the 300 Committee. Most open farmland on Cape Cod has reverted back to forest after years of non-use. Since open grassland is such a rare and important habitat on Cape, this land has had consistent upkeep to conserve its prairie-like aesthetic. In order to maintain this property, the 300 Committee occasionally mows the lawn during the spring and summer months and also cuts back invasive brush growth, such as honeysuckle and bittersweet. AmeriCorps Cape Cod was essential in the upkeep this year and fostered the continued grassland development by serving out at Cardoza farm on two occasions. Early in April, the Bourne house cut back invasive honeysuckle and bittersweet species that were encroaching on the grasslands, as well as those climbing and suffocating the surrounding trees. This was an all day affair that required lopping and hand sawing. To prevent re-growth,the root systems were also ripped from the ground with weed wrenches. A couple of damaged trees that were down on the property were promptly bucked and limbed into firewood size pieces. After this work was complete,all the invasive plants were consolidated into four large piles. �, `' � >, A month later, the Bourne House returned to complete the work they had started. The four piles were going to be used as " burn piles. Prescribed burns and the burning of brush piles is an excellent way to promote growth of native species and to remove unwanted species. In this case, the burn piles were placed near areas in the grasslands that had high concentrations of Little Bluestem Grass (schizachyrium scoparium). Little bluestem is anative species of wild grass that was almost entirely removed from the Cape by the large increase in farms in years past. Due to the fact little bluestem loves to take root in freshly burnt soil, the 300 Committee —� hoped our burn piles would help promote more growth of little blue stem, while at the same time destroying the unwanted invasive growth. Cardoza Farm is one of the few pieces of conservation land on Cape Cod that is still grassland. The preservation of this rare landscape is vital to promote biodiversity and ensure the continuation of dwindling populations of grassland species This was not only a very fun and rewarding project,but it also helped to preserve and re- establish a rare,native grass species right in our own backyard. Cardoza—The burn pile at 10