1. Blandy Experimental Farm Educational Center
Environmental Impact Statement
By: James Wood Middle School Student

2. The Past and Present
We have gone on two field trips to Blandy Experimental Farm this school year, one in October and one in April.
In October we worked with hydrogeology models. Blandy Experimental Farm needed to know how to reduce runoff around the construction area for the New Research Greenhouse. After many experiments with the models, we decided that the order of concrete, native plants, soil, and then grass would be the best order to reduce runoff. We did this so each runoff tank (soil/concrete) was between a good source of recharge (grass/native plants). We also did some archaeological digging near the chimney. We found bones, metal belt buckles, and blocks of wood. At the Chimney Blandy has found many artifacts, such as glass fragments.
In April we looked at sites to determine which one would be the best place to put an education center for Blandy Experimental Farm. I picked the 1940’s Research Greenhouse as the best place and the Bus and Event Parking Area as the second best place. To determine this, we had to look at the site’s historical significance, the site’s importance of how visitors or scientists use Blandy, the site’s likeliness to flood or cause runoff pollution, the site’s access to roads, water, and electricity, and how construction on the site would harm the ecosystem. We also tested the water and looked at the macroinvertebrates in Lake Georgette to decide if the water was healthy. We tested turbidity, temperature, pH, phosphates, nitrates, and dissolved oxygen. We also looked at the historical significance of The Quarters.

3. The 1940’s Research Greenhouse is the best place to build an education center at Blandy Experimental Farm.
I picked the 1940’s Research Greenhouse as the best place to build an education center for a number of reasons. First of all, I couldn’t pick The Quarters or the Chimney because of their historical significance. Luckily, I could pick this site because it has no historical significance. It is near the parking lot. If someone is on crutches or in a wheelchair, but still has to come to Blandy, then it will be easier for them to get to the education center. I think the education center should be two floors. That would be best for the trees, so we don’t have to cut as many down. I also picked this site because it already has access to electricity and water. We would have to build a ramp for the people in wheelchairs and have to have an elevator to the second floor.

4. How will construction on the 1940’s Research Greenhouse affect the water?
Site 1 (the 1940’s Research Greenhouse) is the best place to build an education building. We should use solar panels or another renewable source for energy, so we are not burning fossil fuels. If we did this, we wouldn’t be putting carbon dioxide and other chemicals in the air and affecting the pH of the water. We would be affecting the temperature of the water if Site 1 was close to the water and we had to cut down trees (which provide shade), but Site 1 isn’t close to the water, so we don’t need to worry about it. In order to not affect turbidity, we should put up silt fencing to stop the sediment from getting too far, and we should make sure there are plenty of plants around to also stop sediment. The nitrates and phosphates probably won’t get into the water because Site 1 is far away from water. We should keep the septic system and sewage system away from the water. Site 1 is far away from the water, so if we use fertilizer it probably won’t affect the dissolved oxygen in the water. Just in case, we will use native plants and very little fertilizer. We won’t put any pollutants in the water, so the macroinvertebrates will stay healthy.

5. Historical Significance of the Chimney
This is a limestone double flue chimney at Blandy Experimental Farm. I couldn’t choose the Chimney because of its historical significance. Blandy has found artifacts there, such as pig teeth and pieces of slate. That is how they know that the Tuleys had many pigs. They don’t know much about the Chimney and they should not tear it down until they know more! People interested in local history may want to study this area in the future.

6. The Bus and Event Parking Area is the second best place to build an education center at Blandy Experimental Farm.
I picked the Bus and Event Parking Area as the second best place to build an education center for many reasons. First of all the Bus and Event Parking Area is very big, so we would still be able to park there even if there was a building placed there! I couldn’t pick the Chimney or The Quarters because of their historical significance, but I can pick this site because it has no historical significance! I also picked this spot because if we put the education center in the middle of the field, then we won’t have to cut down trees. There are buildings next to this site, so it is close to electricity and water too!

7. How will construction on the Bus and Event Parking Area affect the water?
Site 2 (the Bus and Event Parking Area) is the second best place to build an education building. We should use solar panels or another renewable source for energy, so we are not burning fossil fuels. If we did use solar panels we wouldn’t be putting carbon dioxide in the air and affecting the pH. We would be affecting the temperature of the water if Site 2 was close to the water and we had to cut down trees (which provide shade), but Site 2 isn’t close to the water, so we don’t need to worry about it. In order to not affect turbidity, we should put up silt fencing to stop the sediment from getting too far and we should make sure there are plenty of plants around to also stop sediment. The nitrates and phosphates probably won’t get into the water because Site 2 is far away from water. We should keep the septic system and sewage system away from the water. Site 2 is far away from the water, so if we use fertilizer it probably won’t affect the dissolved oxygen in the water. Just in case, we will use native plants and very little fertilizer. We won’t put any pollutants in the water, so the macroinvertebrates will stay healthy.

8. Historical Significance of the The Quarters
I couldn’t choose The Quarters because of its historical significance. Part of The Quarters was constructed around 1825, and it was enlarged in It was used for the Tuley’s slaves. Even though it is very old, the original layout of the rooms and almost all of the exterior architectural details are still intact. That makes it one of the largest and most original surviving examples of 19th century slaves’ quarters in the northern Shenandoah Valley!

9. Conclusion
We should build an education center at Blandy Experimental Farm on the site of the 1940’s Research Greenhouse. According to my research, this is the best place to build an education center. The 1940’s Research Greenhouse does not have historical significance, which enables us to pick that site to build on. We should use solar panels (so we are not burning fossil fuels), native plants (instead of using fertilizers), and silt fencing (to stop the sediment from reaching water areas). We should also keep the septic and sewage system far away from the water, make the building two stories (to avoid cutting down too many trees), and be aware of where we are putting pollution. This way we will not affect the pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates, temperature, or the macroinvertebrates.