Bender Melon Farm
2024 Preserve Updates
Trail and Bridge Building
This spring brought a flurry of activity to Bender Melon Farm Preserve. During Earth Day, staff and volunteers cleared the first of the trails north of the Rail Trail in preparation for the bridge completion.
Special thanks to all those who have contributed to trail building and property pick-ups to date!
Late spring began the decking of the bridge, creating MHLC's connection to the north side of the preserve. This is the beginning of a larger trail scheme we are looking to develop in the coming months.
The Bender bridge is complete providing access to north trails and great views.
The bridge was completed the second week in May and is already serving as a great asset to the property, connecting to the new trail loop on the north and serving as a great view of the Rail Trail and treetop
Building Removal and Rehabilitation
Site clean-up is completed last fall (left). One barn remains and will be rehabilitated into the property's stewardship hub (right).
Site clean up has been completed at the old farmstead site (see photo above left) and MHLC is currently working through plans for rehabilitating the last remaining structure on the property, a small barn (see photo above right).
The barn will become a stewardship hub, holding equipment and tools to help with the long-term maintenance of the growing trail systems and habitat.
Habitat Management
MHLC staff continue to work though management of invasive species on the property. Current removal of tree of heaven (see photo bottom left), buckthorn and multi-flora rose will be visible over the coming months as volunteers, staff and contractors work to re-establish and make room for native plant species, critical to the health of our birds, pollinators and wildlife.
MHLC Staff lead a Loving Your Land Workshop at Bender Melon Farm Preserve to teach landowners about invasive species and their management.
Pollinator Field 2024
MHLC has a contract with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to manage the small field seen from the David's Trail memorial rock. During this season, we will use organic methods to till and drill pollinator seed to establish much needed habitat for the pollinators we all need.
Stay tuned for the opportunity to help us plant some seeds!