Meet The Nature Center’s Newest Volunteers

Mystic, CT (April 3, 2014) — With two acres of scrub and invasive species to clear to make way for the Giving Garden planned at Coogan Farm, the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center has recruited experienced volunteers to tackle the project: five young Berkshire pigs have taken up residence.

The pigs, all males from the same litter, arrived the third week of March and are settled in a small area protected by electric fence. Using pigs avoids the introduction of heavy land-clearing machinery and the subsequent carbon footprint. The pigs are in keeping with the DPNC commitment to complete all restoration work at Coogan Farm in the most environmentally sensitive way possible.

"Pigs are an environmentally superior and highly effective way to clear land of unwanted scrub and roots," said Chad Frost, a Principal at Kent + Frost Landscape Architecture, designer of the Coogan Farm property plan and the owner of Birdknocker Farms in Mystic, where the pigs are from.

The Giving Garden is the Nature Center’s first major initiative at Coogan Farm since acquiring the property last year. The Nature Center, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and the Robert G. Youngs Family Foundation signed an agreement to have a 2-acre garden on the preserve that will grow produce for donation to the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center, which distributes food to 63 programs that serve 91 feeding sites across New London County.

Local horticulturalist Ian Cooke of Mystic has been hired to run the project. Cooke will host an informational meeting on the garden at 7 p.m., Monday April 14 at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, 109 Pequotsepos Road, Mystic.

Volunteer opportunities at the garden begin April 5. ‘Work Days’ will be organized by Cooke to clear the land in preparation for planting. The Work Days are 8 a.m., to noon the first Saturday of every month beginning April 5, and 2 p.m., to 6 p.m., every Wednesday, beginning April 9.

"We have had a tremendous outpouring of interest in the community about this project," Cooke said, "and we want to allow volunteers every opportunity to help — with whatever level of skill and amount of time they can dedicate."  More structured volunteer commitments to garden the several plots that will be established are also welcome, Cooke said.

ABOUT THE NATURE AND HERITAGE CENTER AT COOGAN FARM

In September of 2013, the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center closed on the deal to buy 34 acres of the historic Coogan Farm on Greenmanville Avenue (Route 27) in Mystic.

It is the last parcel of undeveloped farmland between downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium. The property, with sweeping views of the Mystic River, contains 370 years of American history, four early successional habitats supporting more than 10 species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as high conservation priority, and protects two crucial watersheds.  

In all, the Nature Center took ownership of 45 acres of Coogan property, including a donation of 11 acres from the Coogan family.