On The Road Again FarmMicroclimate, Access

and Circulation Overlays

Nancy Buddington

• This week’s task was to make map overlays of our homestead site’s microclimates, access and circulation. The first overlay described the amount of sun various areas received during the day.

• In order to determine these areas of full sun, partial sun and full shade, I observed and when possible photographed the site at several different times during the day. My 8 am observation was not photographed ( I forgot the camera) but I did take note that the east side of the barn and field were in full sun but the west side of the barn including the kid and yearling pens were in full shade.

• Pictures taken at noon and 4pm showed the west side of the barn now in full sun. All the pastures remained in full sun for at least 8 hours as well as the north yard of the house.

• The one area that might encourage a frost pocket is in the northwest pasture. There is a significant depression that might encourage settling of cold air.

• The microclimates present in and around the barn have posed various problems on one hand and solutions to potential problems on the other.

• Full sun - east side of barn, buck pasture – this is great in the winter providing warmth on a cold day but we need to watch our bucks in particular in summer. They do have two shelters to stay in and 2 water buckets that we change as needed. Our does have the option of staying in full sun or moving to the north side of the barn which has full shade so variation in microclimate is a plus for them.

• Partial sun – west side of barn. Again, during the winter this is a welcomed microclimate but can be an issue in early spring before leaf out. In early May, we had a problem with one of our doe kids. It was unseasonably hot with no afternoon shade. She had an elevated temp with signs of overheating. We hydrated her and got her to a cooler place ( she is fine) and put up an Easy Up until the Norway Maple in their yard leafed out.

• Areas of full shade – north side of barn and east side of yearling yard. What we thought would be a totally beneficial microclimate, especially in summer, turned out to pose problems for our goats in wet years. A bacteria in the soil, that splashes onto the goats during rain events can cause an infection known as rain rot. It is a harmless skin infection that can be treated with listerine. The best prevention is full sun.

• Full sun – east pasture. Goats would much rather graze and browse in early morning or late afternoon. If it is cooler as in fall, winter or spring they may venture into the east pasture but on a hot summer day they prefer to eat hay inside the barn (this is not great for my budget).

• We need to create portable shelters that we can place in shaded areas of the pasture so the animals will have a place of shelter from sun and of course those summer thunderstorms.

• In past years the landowner has used a hoop style green house located west of the barn. This area does get full sun and the pasture just north of this house might be a potential garden spot.

• This location however is very close to the goat yards and we would have to practice extreme diligence to prevent our caprine raiders from totally destroying the garden.

• I next researched the prevailing winds for the site. We have had our goats at this site for 3 years and have witnessed the weather twice a day, everyday. Weather data from the National Weather Service indicate that prevailing winds in our area tend to be from the northwest from October until May and from the southwest from May through September.

• Goat shelter placement gives adequate protection from prevailing winds. Various tree wind breaks are also present.

• My final overlay describes access and circulation through our site. Many gates give us access into the barnyard, pastures, compost pile, and hay, storage and livestock buildings. I have been able to walk the property ( searching for holes in the fence!!) and find access good. We have driven through the pastures and between pastures on roads used to haul hay.