The Intervale
On a site visit to the Intervale farms, we evaluated the different techniques they take in order to ensure that their farm stays ecologically conscience. The Intervale farm lies near the Winooski River, with much of the farms land in a 'riparian buffer zone'. Along the farm, there was lots of lush grass and an array of planned trees that lines the farm strategically. This forest fills an ecological niche and is adapted to flood water in which 5-10 feet of trees can be submerged.
Many of the trees, of varying age and species, line the buffer zone between the farm and the river. These large trees butt up against the river, with hefty root systems helping to hold the banks in place, protecting against erosion. This buffer zone also protects against over eutrophication. Because the Winooski River flows from Cabot, VT all the way to Lake Champlain, and is the lake's largest tributary, the Intervales efforts to protect against erosion and eutrophication is very important for the health of the river and the lake. A small pond on the farm also helps to filter out some of the excess nutrients in the run off heading towards the river. The Intervale farm is a perfect example of planning agriculture correctly to minimize negative effects on surrounding ecosystems. Many farms endanger the health of their nearby rivers and lakes because of polluted and over-eutrophying runoff. 
All photos taken by Max Siegel
Shelburne Farms
These wetlands filter out a majority of the pollutants and waste runoff from the farm before the water reaches the already heavily polluted lake. Many of the man-made marshes contain cattails and willows which absorb and filter a lot of the waste and pollution in the runoff. The wetlands also provide habitat for many native species of birds and other native wildlife, such as deer. 
On our site visit, we saw lots of red-winged blackbirds in the marshes, which provide excellent nesting habitat for the birds. Shelburne farms really works to ensure bird habitat not only in the marshes but also in their fields. They practice a rotation system for cutting their grass to ensure that habitat for grass land birds, such as the bobolink. The grass in cut after the bobolinks and other birds are done nesting and mating in the grass so that Shelburne does not disturb the habitat. While Shelburne farms clearly worked very hard to ensure limited runoff and pollution into Lake Champlain, in order to create an asthetically pleasling landscape, there is increased habitat fragmentation. Because of the way Shelburne integrates farm land with forst land, many tree stands exist in patches throughout the area. This vastly decreases the amount of available habitat for the wildlife present on the farm by creating more edge habitat. It could have been more practical to create corridors in order to assure safe traveling from one area to another. However, this does provide ample habitat for species, mostly birds, that like to live in edge habitats. 
Shelburne Farms
On a site vist to Shelburne Farms, we evaluated the different techniques they take in order to ensure that their farm stays ecologically conscience. Like most farms, they are located near a body of water, in this case Lake Champlain and Shelburne Bay. In order to reduce phosphorous, from the cows, and other runoff pollution, Shelbune farms has built man-made wetlands on the farm.
These wetlands filter out a majority of the pollutants and waste runoff from the farm before the water reaches the already heavily polluted lake. Many of the man-made marshes contain cattails and willows which absorb and filter a lot of the waste and pollution in the runoff. The wetlands also provide habitat for many native species of birds and other native wildlife, such as deer. 
On our site visit, we saw lots of red-winged blackbirds in the marshes, which provide excellent nesting habitat for the birds. Shelburne farms really works to ensure bird habitat not only in the marshes but also in their fields. They practice a rotation system for cutting their grass to ensure that habitat for grass land birds, such as the bobolink. The grass in cut after the bobolinks and other birds are done nesting and mating in the grass so that Shelburne does not disturb the habitat. While Shelburne farms clearly worked very hard to ensure limited runoff and pollution into Lake Champlain, in order to create an asthetically pleasling landscape, there is increased habitat fragmentation. Because of the way Shelburne integrates farm land with forst land, many tree stands exist in patches throughout the area. This vastly decreases the amount of available habitat for the wildlife present on the farm by creating more edge habitat. It could have been more practical to create corridors in order to assure safe traveling from one area to another. However, this does provide ample habitat for species, mostly birds, that like to live in edge habitats. 
All Photos taken by Dylan Miles, Stephanie Rosengarden, and Rochelle Streker
Red-winged Blackbird photo taken by Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center