Case Studies > Haddam Demonstration Site > Project Summary

Project Summary

The overall site plan was developed in collaboration with the Landscape Architecture Program, a branch of the Plant Sciences Department. During the Fall 2000 and Spring 2001 semesters, students working under professors Mark Westa and Kristen Schwab presented a number of design concepts that resulted in a draft master plan for the Demonstration Site. The students worked with Educators here at the Extension Center to provide demonstrations of sustainable land management techniques promoted by each Educator's program.

The idea of the Demonstration Site is to provide on-the-ground examples of the types of land and water management techniques recommended by these programs. The Forest Stewardship Program is taking the lead on woodlot management demonstrations that will address issues like invasive species, use of native shrubs and encouraging wildlife through creation of habitat. The Master Gardening Program is involved in the planting and maintenance of turf plots, landscaped areas and some of the vegetated stormwater practices. The NEMO Program is taking the lead on demonstrations of stormwater management through site design, showing ways that runoff can be reduced and directed into the ground.

While no funding has been found to allow the project to be built all at once, various portions of the project are proceeding as resources become available. The overall end result will be a first-rate educational demonstration facility and a greener Center that reduces the environmental impacts of our Extension facility.

A Collaborative Effort

The Cooperative Extension System (CES) and the Landscape Architecture Program, two arms of the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, are collaborating to turn the Middlesex County Extension Center grounds into a sustainable landscape demonstration site, creating a unique and timely educational resource for all the citizens of Connecticut. Currently, CES offers many programs that encourage various aspects of sustainable land management:

The NEMO Program helps land use decision makers protect natural resources;

The Forest Stewardship Program provides professional and financial assistance for forest landowners;

The Master Gardeners Program provides horticulture-related information to Connecticut residents;

The Connecticut Sea Grant Extension Program (SGEP) implements technology transfer and outreach activities relating to coastal and marine issues.

The Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) provides information for homeowners on pest control methods designed to protect public health and the environment.

Because of the success of these and other efforts, Connecticut residents and land use decision makers have been requesting on-the-ground examples of sustainable land management techniques. However, because many of the management techniques are "cutting-edge" there is a lack of publicly accessible sites to visit. To better serve Connecticut residents, the Haddam Extension Center is transforming into an educational demonstration site serving as a model for municipalities, homeowners, businesses and other organizations to follow when implementing sustainable landscape plans on their properties.

Having the NEMO Team, the Master Gardeners, Extension Foresters and a Sea Grant Educator on the premises will greatly facilitate the educational experience of those visiting the demonstration site. Extension Educators are available to take visitors on site walks. Our visitors include municipal elected officials, land use commissioners and staff, land owners, homeowners, contractors, undergraduate and graduate students, K-12 programs and garden clubs. We can supply associated publications (hard copy, CD-ROM or Internet) as well as coordinate and conduct research with UConn graduate students. Contact the Extension Center at 860-345-4511 or email nemo@uconn.edu for more information.

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NEMO is a program of the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR).
Land, Sea and Space Grant collaborating.