Project Sanctuary Circles

A Sanctuary Circle is a berm constructed of refuse timber formed into a ring. The berm is high and thick enough to prevent deer from entering the interior. The inside is planted with native plants and trees. An auto closing gate allows access for people. Three different diameters are considered, 100, 50 and 30 feet.

Maintain an immersive wilderness experience.

The use of refuse timber - branches, root clumps and logs - means the material cost is low. For reference, power plants pay about $30/ton for refuse timber. The low cost is offset somewhat by the need for heavy equipment to move it around. What makes refuse timber most attractive is that it meets our goal of maintaining an immersive wilderness experience because timber comes from the forest and so will not be out of place there. Certainly encountering a 30 foot diameter ring of timber in the forest might be sublime, but likely not jarring or discordant in the way that finding a metal or plastic fence might feel.

A Sanctuary Circle in the middle of a field would be a different experience altogether. On a clear day, flat fields reveal even distant details. From far away, a Sanctuary Circle might appear to be a rustic fort or even a primitive walled village. A rolling field might provide hills to obscure or hide the Circle.

Establish an attraction, encouraging creative expression.

Placing a Circle prominently in a flat field would meet two other goals, establishing an attraction and sharing creative expression. The sight of a distant fort or village would be a powerful draw for children, who would want to go out there and see what it was. Upon arriving, signage and age appropriate interpretation would enhance their discovery. A pile of smaller branches outside the structure would invite kids to build their own mini Sanctuary Circles. The construction of the berm itself could facilitate safe climbing play.

As we work with refuse timber, virtuosity would eventually emerge, abstract sculpture on a grand scale. Andrew Goldsworthy's subtle work with materials from nature connected millions of people to their own nature.

Inspires farm visitors to remember.

Planting the interior with native plants and keeping them safe could eventually enable the ecosystem within the Circle to regenerate. In 5-10 years, young oak tops would be peeking over the Circles and the flora within would be diverse and synergizing. Those born after 2023 will be able to experience the vibrant ecosystem which was taken for granted by their parents 50 years ago, and eventually, as regeneration continues, those young adults will be able to experience the ecosystem their grand parents and great grand parents knew. Perhaps there is an epigenetic memory of that past vibrancy within every person whose ancestors loved the forest and fresh water. Sanctuary Circles are a way to reinforce that memory, to be sure kids born this year will remember the thriving wilderness they grew up with, guarded at first by piles of timber and then later, in their 20s and 30s, everywhere.

Creates habitat.

Love Farm has about 40 tons of refuse timber stockpiled for various projects including dimensional milling, fence posts, chainsaw sculptures, signage, hugel mounds, biochar production, woodchip mulch and firewood. These massive piles have provided habitat for mice, rabbit, skunk, opossum and raccoon. Several species of hawks have appeared to hunt the timber piles. There was plenty of animal diversity around our barns and garden before the piles, afterwards the populations and variety exploded.

Within the Circles, native plantings will not have to contend with deer. Mice and rodents might be a problem. When planting the interior we will wrap the base of the young trees. Our experience with the timber piles and hawks suggests that the Circles will likely catch the eye of both hawks and owls who will keep the predation pressure high.

The benefit to specific species will depend on where Sanctuary Circles are located. After the locations ware identified, we'll be able to define a specific roster of species.

Simulates predator pressure by limiting opportunities for deer while increasing opportunities for other wildlife.

Sanctuary Circles disadvantage deer by removing food from their range while giving other animals the advantage of more habitat and opportunity. This could be likened to a deer specific predator. Aside from disease and hunger, human hunters and cars are primarily the only deer killers, coyotes notwithstanding. Building Sanctuary Circles is easier than reintroducing wolves, for now.

Removes a prominent threat to young trees and rare plants.

The 30 and 50 foot diameter Sanctuary Circles have 700 sq ft (0.016 acres) and 3000 sq ft (0.046 acres) of interior planting area. This is equivalent to the footprint of a cabin and a modest 2 story home. An almost insignificant space compared with a 270 acre farm, or 71,199 acres of nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Three white oaks fully matured would be quite crowded in a 30 foot Circle.

What good are 3 oaks? Maybe not much, all alone. When growing with a variety of smaller plants that otherwise would be eaten by deer, the soil microbiome will be more diverse. Different plants release different carbon exudates into the soil, which feed different microbes and have different effects on soil particles. Biodiversity above and below ground is generally thought to be an indicator of ecosystem health.

Establish long range food sources by planting and protecting indigenous hard and soft mast.

Now imagine our 3 oaks in 20 years. Powered by a diverse microbiome, our oaks might be more resistant to pests and disease. Their acorns might be more numerous than oaks within the deer range, and those acorns might have higher nutrient density, with increased viability for sprouting new oaks. Perhaps the diverse microbiome will creep out under the timber berm and enliven the ecosystem around the Circle. Maybe 3 oaks growing in a biodiverse .016 acre can benefit an entire acre. We'll just have to plant them in a Sanctuary Circle and see.

Invigorate hunting culture by recruiting bow hunters.

In theory, hunting fosters an appreciation for the wilds and can control the deer population. Love Farm leases our land exclusively to bow hunters. Guns are great, but we don't want any more lead on the land, (see Budget Narrative, scraping). We have an ongoing relationship with the owner and staff of our region's premier bow hunting retail store, and will leverage their expertise in the design and location of Sanctuary Circles, exploring how the Circles could enhance the bow hunting experience.

Assist southern Michigan tree species to migrate north.

Madeline Baroli, founder of the Assisted Tree Range Expansion Project (ATREP) will advise on planting southern Michigan trees in preparation for possible changes in climate here. She suggests that Shagbark Hickory could be interplanted with White Oak. Other ATREP species are tulip tree, sassafras, black tupelo, hackberry, and swamp white oak.