Nature & Nurture Farm Natural Areas Stewardship Plan
Dexter, Michigan
Project Description
Nature & Nurture Farm (NANF) is a 130 acre certified organic, heirloom seed farm and homestead owned by Mike Levine and Erica Kempter and located in Dexter, MI. NANF consists of a mixture of land-use types including: natural areas, areas used for food or seed production, and hay fields. Some of the natural area features on site include: a dry-mesic southern forest, grasslands, and wetlands, including both vernal pools and a buttonbush swamp. The habitats at NANF vary in quality, although the majority of these habitats are high quality. To assess the current state of natural areas on NANF we conducted ecological studies of the site, beginning with the salamander migration on March 8, 2024, and ending with our final flora survey on September 25, 2024. These studies included:
A soil pit survey
Vegetation surveys (both plot-based and meandering),
Animal surveys for herptiles, birds, and mammals - including herptile meander surveys, vernal pool patrol surveys, as well as documenting wildlife using trail cameras (May 5, 2024 to February 2, 2025) and audio recordings (March 25, 2024 to June 14, 2024),
Compilation of existing data on site geology, hydrology, and soils, as well as field survey data from previous student work at NANF.
From our site assessment, we developed a site management plan for NANF to help guide future management decisions for the land.
Year
2024-2025
Project Status
In Progress
Client Organization
Nature & Nurture Farm
Students Involved
Anna Davies, Peggy Ferguson, Sara Haleblian, Taylor Hayes, Sara Olmsted, Sophie Steppe
Anna Davies is pursuing a Master’s in Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Michigan. With a strong foundation in Environmental Science and Sustainability from her undergraduate studies, she is passionate about community engagement and environmental stewardship. Her work as a lead researcher on a threatened crab apple species and her collaboration with a watershed council in Little Traverse Bay reflect her growing expertise in Michigan’s natural areas. Anna aims to continue her efforts in environmental research, focusing on wildlife conservation and water management.
Peggy Ferguson is pursuing an MS in Sustainable Systems and an MSE in Mechanical Engineering. She graduated from Quest University Canada in 2021 with a BASc in Applied Environmental Sciences with a concentration on microplastic pollution in aquatic environments. In undergrad, she worked with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on an accessible way to detect and quantify microplastics. She also worked with the Azimuth Consulting group on a plastic pollution framework commissioned by the Canadian Government (ECCC). Following graduation, Peggy worked for two years at SeaBird Scientific where she specialized in calibrating and measuring performance of oceanographic sensors. Her interests include green infrastructure & design, removal of plastic pollution, and using engineering to mitigate many of the world’s sustainability problems.
Sara Haleblian is pursuing an MS in Ecosystem Science and Management at SEAS. With a strong foundation in environmental studies from her time in undergraduate at Kenyon College in Ohio, Sara is passionate about ecological conservation and restoration. As an undergraduate, Sara studied carbon sequestration and storage in seagrass ecosystems around the world. Now, Sara looks at how to manage natural areas in working landscapes and explores the benefits of natural ecosystems to agricultural areas while accounting for the realities of running an agricultural business.
Taylor Hayes
Ecosystem Science and Management; Geospatial Data Science
Taylor Hayes is a second-year master’s student pursuing a dual degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Environmental Science at the University of Michigan, with a focus on ecosystem management and geospatial data sciences. This academic path has fueled his interest in conservation planning and green infrastructure. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and former educator with five years of teaching experience, Taylor is deeply committed to environmental education and advancing green initiatives. His work with local farmers to build capacity for nutrition-centered, sustainable farming and permaculture sparked a passion for agriculture. Since then, he has developed a love for growing his own food and a deeper appreciation for the connections between natural areas and working landscapes.
Sara Olmsted is an ecology master’s student at the University of Michigan with a diverse background in geology and environmental science; this work has taken her from urban Cleveland to dramatic Death Valley to the deserts of Bolivia and finally to Michigan. Her undergraduate thesis delved into beech leaf disease’s impact on hydrologic cycling in mesic forests. Now, Sara works in ecosystem science and management, focusing on how to bring the benefits of natural landscapes to agricultural areas, creating an ecosystem management plan adjusted for agricultural business realities.
Sophie Steppe is a master’s student studying ecosystem science and management at the University of Michigan with a background in ecology. She has studied urban ecosystems in Louisville, wildfire restoration throughout the sagebrush steppe, and forests around the Midwest. Sophie now focuses on how to manage natural areas in agricultural landscapes, creating a management plan that brings the benefits of natural ecosystems to agricultural areas while accounting for the realities of running an agricultural business.
This Natural Area Stewardship Plan for Nature & Nurture Farm provides information to guide future learning and actions on site by the owners and visitors to the farm, including:
Documented history of site ownership and land use
A comprehensive ecological site assessment
Prioritized recommendations to meet site-specific stewardship goals of the natural areas of NANF
Identified and expanded connections with community members and partners who can continuously host learning opportunities and management events on the property.
Desired Outcomes of Natural Area Stewardship
To guide natural area stewardship actions at NANF we define the following desired outcomes that represent NANF’s commitment to caring for their land, its inhabitants, and their community:
Natural areas on the farm are biodiverse, supporting many species - water and habitat quality is high and healthy.
Invasive species are reduced to an acceptable and manageable level within the natural areas.
At multiple scales, NANF represents a versatile, integrated ecosystem, representing and protecting diverse ecosystems.
NANF exists together in a community of farmers all promoting biodiversity and organic farming principles.
NANF is a community-driven space for environmental and agricultural education.
Addressing Capacity Issues on a Small Farm
In the development of this plan, we also began implementing plan stewardship and community engagement goals. To the left is a table showing the ways we carried these plans out.
As a team we identified capacity issues that Nature & Nurture Farm was facing and then tailored our management plan's approach to address these. This often took the form of partnering with local organizations and sourcing volunteers through said organizations. We hope that the partnerships made through this project will continue beyond the end of the project and the connections can continue to support Nature & Nurture Farm.
Natural Areas Assessment: The Current State and Physical and Ecological Features of NANF
There are several distinct natural areas on NANF, including wetlands, forests, and grasslands. Even excluding the hayfields, which can support a variety of native species, natural areas make up about 46% of the 130 acre combined property, placing NANF well over the 20% estimate of land sparing needed to promote biodiversity (Tscharntke et al., 2021). We provided a comprehensive ecological assessment of these natural areas by compiling existing data on site geology, hydrology, and soils, as well as field survey data. We collected data in the field from March 8, 2024 to September 25, 2024. These studies included a soil pit survey, vegetation surveys (both plot-based and meandering), and animal surveys for herptiles, birds, and mammals; we observed and recorded wildlife using trail cameras and audio surveys in vernal pools, wetlands, forests, and fields. Below are excerpts from the fourth chapter of our document.
Detailed notes from the soil pit event held on Nature and Nurture Farm with Robert Ayotte and the Michigan Botanical Society, Huron Valley Chapter (MBS HVC).