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Implications of Two Plans for the Use of
the "Smith Farm"
General Discussion
Two proposals exist for the activities to
be carried out on the "Smith Farm", three hundred acres of
currently unused agricultural land surrounded by The mission of the Blandair Foundation is
to improve the quality of human life in urban and urbanizing areas using
solutions and creating opportunities suggested by
The broad scope and applied research
thrust of the Blandair Foundation's activities would benefit a wide and
growing segment of our population. These contrast sharply with the much
narrower benefits of athletic fields. The demographics of our society in
general, and The County's plan for the Smith Farm is
shaped primarily by two complimentary considerations. The first is to provide
services they know they can develop and manage very well, i.e., provision of
athletic fields. The second shaping factor is the influence of soccer
interests through lobbying and the offer of a large sum of money. The
previous Director of Recreation and Parks admitted that plans "go where
the money is." Early plans envisioned many more soccer fields than
recent plans. The County's plan would have detrimental impacts on the local
environment and wildlife associated with the construction of the athletic
fields and amenities. The traffic and noise associated with the use of the
athletic fields would greatly disturb neighbors of the farm. The revenue
would come from taxes, user fees and contributions from special sports
groups. The Blandair Foundation, through its Elizabeth C. Smith was a visionary who
foresaw the need to preserve open space in an urbanizing area for the benefit
and enjoyment of the public. She decided that by preserving her 300-acre
Blandair Farm, she would provide the public a unique way of maintaining a
connection with the agricultural and historic heritage of early The following is a more detailed
comparison of the Howard County Department of Recreation and Park's plan vs.
the Blandair Foundation's plan. This comparison considers benefits both to
local residents and to society at large. Impacts on surrounding residential areas
Severe disturbance due to traffic (with
parking for more than 800 cars), night-lighted sports fields, and noise
levels associated with active sport and commercial activities, including a
large number of people on the area. The timing of these disturbances would
coincide with the time local residents are home. BLANDAIR FOUNDATION Relatively little disturbance due to
reduced and subdued use of the area. Little if any night lighting would
occur. The timing of activities (daytime) would all but eliminate noise disturbances. Funding Sources
Major sources of revenue would be taxes,
user fees, and contributions from special sports groups that profit from the
use of "public" facilities. For example, the very large monetary
offer and intense promotion of soccer fields for the Smith Farm came from the
Soccer Association of Columbia and BLANDAIR FOUNDATION Funding would come from a variety of
geographically distributed sources, such as: membership fees, corporate
sponsorships, government agencies, private environmental groups, and research
grants. This support would grow as the goals and opportunities of the
Blandair Foundation become known. This growth has been retarded by the widely
advertised plans for Opportunities for research in areas of
human and animal food production, urban wildlife management, home gardening,
etc. would become possible once the use of the Smith Farm is assured.
Extensive collaboration with universities and government agencies is
anticipated. The tax benefits associated with gifts to the non-profit
Blandair Foundation would facilitate this support. Public Impact of Achieving the Plan's
goals
This plan would benefit local athletic
interests and minimally those interested in local and/or natural history. The
County currently is poorly staffed to expand its responsibilities into
environmental or historic areas and probably could do so only at the expense
of other public programs. BLANDAIR FOUNDATION Blandair's emphasis on rural values in an
urban society such as contact with wildlife, local food production, raising
domestic animals, etc. would be of interest to and benefit people nationwide.
It is easy to underestimate the importance and impact of urban wildlife.
Backyard wild bird feeding alone supports a multi-billion dollar industry.
The occurrence of wild animals such as wild turkeys, coyotes, wildcats, and
bears is becoming commonplace in urban areas. The many problems caused by
white-tailed deer in urban areas pose the most difficult wildlife management
problem in eastern Local environmental impacts
The earth moving associated with the
County's construction of level, graded athletic fields, parking lots, roads,
etc. would create significant erosion and storm water management problems. A
vast area would be cleared of vegetation resulting in an immense impact on
wildlife. BLANDAIR FOUNDATION Facilities provided would cause few
environmental disturbances. Natural contours of the land would be maintained
and the excellent ground cover of the area changed slowly. Thus erosion,
water run-off problems, and disturbance to wildlife would be minimal. There
would be no need for large parking lots, closely mowed grass, or extensive
night lighting. Less traffic would be attracted. These long and short-term
benefits to the local environment would be enjoyed by the large primates
(Homo sapiens, sapiens) that live in the habitat surrounding the Smith Farm. Widespread environmental effects
Though damaging to the environment locally,
the Howard county plan presents no widespread effects other than a slight
increase in those adverse effects usually associated with urbanization. BLANDAIR FOUNDATION The Foundation's positive environmental
impacts will have effects far beyond its Another area of preliminary investigation
is aimed at more rational nutrient management. Current solid waste disposal
practices are driven by the efficiency of modern transportation and the
"not in my back yard" (NIMBY) attitude of the public. Many of our
nutrient management environmental and economic problems are caused by the
long distances nutrients are transported from urban areas to rural waste
disposal sites. Even worse is the high cost of sewage treatment plants. For example, a preliminary study made
possible by the Giant Food Company store in the River Hill section of
Columbia involves the use of melon rinds and other waste materials from fruit
to produce fruit flies to benefit hummingbirds and other insectivorous birds,
such as swallows and flycatchers. This material can be later used as organic
matter to improve the production of home gardens. The early results of this
study are very encouraging. Quality of life issues and projected
future needs
This plan would possibly result in
improved physical fitness especially for young people with disposable income. BLANDAIR FOUNDATION This plan fits the needs of a growing and
aging population. The need to retain historic and rural values such as local
food production, animal stewardship, and wildlife enjoyment will increase. As
our population ages and its income decreases, it will have less interest in
active sports. These demographic trends are clearly evident. Uniqueness of plans
This Plan is not unique. Active recreation
activities are available in schools and parks throughout the County. BLANDAIR FOUNDATION The Foundation offers an opportunity to
address subjects that are currently either being neglected or often now
addressed in socially and environmentally unsound ways. Studies have shown
that the public preoccupation with maintained lawns is bad for a host of
environmental and economic reasons. This practice has been promoted by the
lucrative lawn and landscape management industries. The Blandair Foundation
seeks to demonstrate how natural processes can be used to develop desirable
and environmentally sustainable open spaces with much lower implementation
and maintenance costs. Management capabilities
The Howard County Department of Recreation
and Parks does an excellent job of developing and maintaining areas for
active sports, and it can be expected to do so on the Smith Farm. This
agency's performance in other areas (given minor emphasis in their plan) has
been neglectful and troublesome. Concerning historic preservation, many
historic structures have been handled poorly, e.g., the Blandair and Troy
Hill mansions, and BLANDAIR FOUNDATION Because of its important and timely goals,
and its funding sources, the Blandair Foundation will attract highly trained
and competent administrators and other employees. Initial activities largely will be
initiated by Mr. Byron Hall, Chairman of Blandair's Board of Directors, and
Dr. Aelred Geis, a Board member and Research Director of Blandair's Division
of Wildlife and Open-Space Management. A trusted friend of Miss Elizabeth Smith
for nearly 30 years, Mr. Byron Hall has had a long-term experience with the
Smith Farm, and he was designated by Miss Smith to establish the Blandair
Foundation to implement her clear intentions before her untimely death. In
his youth, he worked on a farm, and he related his experiences to Miss Smith.
Mr. Hall has taught physics and mathematics for 32 years, and he presently
teaches at Dr. Geis has been active in many Others assisting the Foundation include
local The Foundation has established a
relationship with Days End Farm Horse Rescue. This relationship will be
valuable in planning the equine aspect of the operation of Blandair Farm. The Foundation will also be assisted by
Mark Larsen, an outstanding popular writer, whose principal employment is as
an environmental planner and who is working with Dr. Geis on two popular
articles. Other technical and non-technical assistance would be obtained once
the Smith Farm is available for use. The Foundation began a relationship with
Preservation Maryland in early 1998. It also is developing a relationship
with newly formed Conclusion
Preserving the Smith Farm
for the purposes described in this report will foster a much needed center
for humanitarian and environmentally sound research and experimentation which
fulfill the needs of today's urbanized and turbulent society. It has the
potential to provide vital guidelines for future generations. |
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reserved.
Please call (888) 845-8974 for more information.
You may also e-mail Byron Hall, Chairman of
the Foundation.