FLOWSCAPE:
Movements with Nature
The Coop at StellaLou Farm welcomes you to Flowscape: Movements with Nature, an installation and series of gatherings where we will explore, create, and share.
“Flow” is a freedom of movement that is focused and directed. We will make our way along the edge of that movement on the landscape and observe the magic there. Edges are unique places where separate ecosystems intersect dynamically to share resources and to support creativity and connection.
Together we will look at the flows that create and interact with the landscape elements of:
Creek. Island. Corridor. Shelter. Forest. Harvest.
OPENING
RECEPTION
June 4th, 1-4pm
Click for more info.
By observing and interacting with the water flows on the property we insert ourselves in how the water, dirt, animals, and plants flow along the landscape. Our dry creek addition will change the physical flow of people as well, navigating along, around, on top of the new rocky path.
Rock creates an appearance of a water flow, narrowing and widening, as it curves down the slope. Native plantings will be added to enrich the new habitat.
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This intervention is being completed by the hands at StellaLou Farm, in collaboration with your friends and family.
Creek.
GUIDING the flow of rainwater
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ADDING longevity to human infrastructure
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REPLENISHING the water in the duck pond
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CREATING an edge of rocky habitat for animals and plants.
By assessing what is considered waste on the landscape, we have been able to creatively reassign roles and labels to these materials: bamboo and excess nutrients from duck pond. This rearranging of the current waste flows in the landscape into floating living islands, increases the naturally active ecosystem that is the pond edge.
On a frame built from latticed bamboo, native wetland plants purchased and gathered locally will be introduced and use excess nutrients from the duck pond. In return, these plants assist in filtering the water, creating balance, health, and a new ecosystem for fauna.
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These intentionally constructed edge environments concentrate learning opportunities about efficient exchange of nutrients that can assist plant life, soil, and water quality.
Island.
REUSING wasted natural materials
FILTERING the duck pond with plants
EXPANDING the diversity of flora and fauna in the pond
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Corridor.
INVITING creatures to hunt, shelter, reproduce, and eat in the landscape
CONNECTING the wild meadow to the pond
INCREASING plant diversity and edge environments
REDIRECTING people flow
Observations in the landscape have shown us the biodiversity of plant and animal life at the edges of the lower pond and meadow spaces. The native wildflower meadow, the tall grasses, and the mowed path come together to create a corridor, and increase edge environments for all creatures to flow within.
The human flow is intentionally directed along this edge, encouraging visitors and residents to observe and feel enclosed in this newly created edge habitat. The meander of the path has been created not only to connect other environments in the landscape, but also to visually stimulate the human experience. The line creates breaks in the landscape and also enhances the contours of the earth.
This intervention is being completed by the hands at StellaLou Farm, in collaboration with your friends and family.
The sculpting of a swooping, curved, and enclosing bamboo shelter in an open field space of the landscape will necessitate the change of the maintenance and interaction with the land. The goal is to encourage community, reflection, and observation in this space. The ways in which the energy flows of the landscape interact with the shelter and the flow of time, are yet to be revealed.
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All of the bamboo material is harvested from the non-native bamboo grove that has been creeping through the southeast corner of StellaLou Farm. This harvesting is a part of the maintenance of the grove and gives purpose to this invasive and versatile material.
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This intervention is being designed and built by our friend, collaborator, and Flowscape co-designer, Keith Hartwig. Keith has brought his knowledge and curiosity for art, design, architecture, food, and the natural world to this StellaLou Farm installation.
Shelter.
REPURPOSING the raw material of the aggressive bamboo plant
SHARING company and comfort in a formerly unused area of the landscape
INTRODUCING a vertical edge environment opportunity
REFLECTING the creativity of the human creatures that interact with the landscape
Forest.
SUPPORTING our need for play
OFFERING creative inspiration to all of our senses
REMINDING us of our playmates, the trees, ourselves, each other
Through play we get to know our environments and our bodies deeply, including how they interact. As we chase each other down the forest path, climb, jump, and duck around trees, we begin the work of healing our connection with our forest. This natural playground reminds us how we are a part of this earth, this place, these plants, dissolving the separation that has been socially created.
The recreational forest area is available to us thanks to the clearing of invasive flora that has been completed by StellaLou Farm's two goats in addition to manual removal by StellaLou members. This space will encourage children (of all ages) to engage in self-directed, adventurous and creative play at the forest edge.
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This intervention is in collaboration with StellaLou Farm's dear friend, Rose Hammerman. Rose's experience with early childhood education in and with the outdoors makes her our nature play inspiration and teacher!
Harvest.
PROVIDING new sources of life sustaining food for pollinators, fellow animals, and friends
EXPANDING diets to accept plentiful, diverse, and often perennial foods
EXPERIENCING the worth of each other and the creatures that support us
The final Flowscape path follows the nestled curves of the honey hedge and into the transitional meadow and tree crop zone. The honey hedge focuses on native species and is planted for our honey bees and other pollinators to harvest from.
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Over the past two years we have worked with our friend, Zach Elfers, to transition a swath of mowed field into meadow through the use of fire. We have purchased nut and fruit trees and shrubs from Zach's nursery, Future Forest Plants, which focuses on perennial, and often overlooked foods.
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Together we expand the edges of our daily diets, exploring tree foods and other plantings that support the natural layers of the earth and our bodies. We are growing our food with consideration of overstory and understory, to help heal our overworked soils and increase biodiversity.