Nature in the City

Dodge Nature Center is a non-profit organization that operates a 320-acre nature preserve and model farm, located in West St. Paul just off State Highway 110. Establish in 1967 by Olivia Dodge, DNC provides outdoor education and environmental experiences to thousands of people each year.

“Our biggest asset is that we are four miles south of downtown St. Paul,” explains Don Oberdorfer, farm manager at Dodge. Most of Minnesota’s land is either managed as wilderness or used for agriculture, but the largest concentration of people is in the Twin Cities and rarely has exposure to either. For these people, DNC is a model of two important aspects of rural life in MN, and only a short drive from home. Don says, “Our mission as a nature center and farm is to model sustainable practices so urban-dwellers can have convenient exposure to it all.”

The combination of wilderness and agriculture is what makes Dodge Nature Center unique. It presents the opportunity to compare the similarities and differences between agro-ecosystems and natural ecosystems, and to recognize the things they should have in common.

A Day at DNC

There is a variety of ways for visitors to experience Dodge. Summer day camps for children provide week-long, in-depth exploration into different aspects of nature and farm life. DNC also offers 28 nature-based and 24 agriculture-based public programs during afternoons, evenings and weekends. These programs serve 35,000 preschool through twelfth grade students annually. The diverse selection offers something for everyone’s interests; agricultural programs include topics such as bee ecology, goat milking, and composting, while nature-based programs range from animal tracking to exploring aquatics to identifying wild edible plants.

Other facets of DNC include miles of hiking trails that can be enjoyed during scheduled hours, model farm tours, orchards, an apiary, land restoration projects, and on-site preschool, a reptile and amphibian lab, greenhouse, and community garden.

The Farm

The farm at DNC is a model of a diverse and historical farm. According to Don, “An older style diverse farm is more sustainable because you’re playing to the strengths of different animal adaptations and filling niches.” On the land that is not used for cultivating, the cows eat the long grass; sheep eat the short grass; goats eat the weeds; and pigs root. Pigs also eat food waste left after the people take what they need out of the gardens. Chickens act as pest control in the barn by eating fly larvae. This all contributes to healthier food and using green-space more efficiently.

Don explains that the farm functions more like a web when it is diverse. Farms that are more specialized can be streamlined, and while they require less labor, they are much harder on the land and much less sustainable. Don believes that “What we do here is important because it shows people why it is worth it to pay more to support local organic farmers.” DNC clearly demonstrates the extra time and labor it takes to produce healthy food while preserving land quality.

The farm animals are incorporated into camps and programs, as well as model farm tours. A visit to the barn could include feeling Helga the goat’s udder before and after she has been milked, a big lick from Mo the friendly Brown Swiss cow, or a jump in the hay in the barn loft. Residents of the barn currently include:

* 3 cows
* 7 sheep (with some babies on the way)
* 4 goats and 3 babies
* 2 guinea hogs, a male and a female, expecting a litter soon
* 2 horses, each with a new foal
* A donkey
* A large number and variety of chickens
* Ducks, geese, and rabbits

Community Garden

Since 1995, DNC has been running a family oriented community organic garden. Numbers vary from year to year but they generally host 15 to 30 families a season. Plot fees are $175.00 for non-members, $75.00 for members. What makes this program unique is the package that comes along with the fee. Along with a plot of soil, gardeners are supplied with seeds and plants, tools for use, as well as help and instruction from horticulturist Marjorie Ross. Marjorie is a valuable resource for gardeners who have questions about maintaining a healthy organic garden, and she offers periodic lectures on topics such as raised beds, companion planting, and compost.

The garden puts urban-dwellers back in touch with their food source, and provides them with fresh healthy produce all summer, explains Marjorie. “What we get are people who want to garden but don’t have the space, people who want to garden but don’t know how, or people who are just looking for a community to garden with.” Families are encouraged to involve all the family members, and there are even programs for the little ones. The “Garden Sprouts” program provides activities and supervision of children ages 3-5 so parents can work in their plots. Each week includes crafts, story, and gardening in their own Garden Sprouts plot.

Land Management

Julie Allen runs land management at DNC. She is in charge of identifying, re-establishing, and maintaining the native ecosystems on the 320-acre property. Allen and staff currently manage about 25 acres of oak-savannah, 40 acres of prairie (with a goal of 70), a variety of woodlands and a number of small wetlands. Management practices include prescribed burns, eradication of invasive species, seed collection, and lots of planning and seeding.

Julie’s work at Dodge is not only to establish and care for the native ecosystems, but to educate the public as well. She speaks to different groups and clubs, and facilitates and supervises the work of volunteers from many different groups such as Tree Trust, Americorps, Youth Farm and Market Project, and area schools. She has worked to get interpretive signage around the property so hikers know what it is they are looking at and why it is important. “We can restore our 160 acres, but if others do not work to restore their land, it will ultimately be ineffective,” Julie says.

The definitive purpose of the land management at Dodge is for people to have exposure to the why’s and how’s of restoring native ecosystems. “It is important to educate the public about land management and restoration because of the impact that everyone can have on our land. By increasing the diversity of native plants, we in turn increase the diversity of animals using the area,” explains Julie, “diversity is the key to a healthy ecosystem.”

A Long-term Commitment

Throughout years of transformation, one thing has remained constant at Dodge – the commitment to providing a place where people can meet in nature and be enriched, educated, and inspired. Dodge Nature Center has established itself as a comprehensive and accessible rural experience for Twin Cities residents, and will play an important educational role during this critical time for our environment.