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Natural Areas
Our partners at Eocene, formerly Impact7G, were integral in getting our 7-Year Natural Areas plan off of the ground. The following is taken from Impact7G's mission statement for the restoration of the farm's natural areas:​
“To preserve and elevate the health and diversity of species within the Historic Poor Farm of Johnson County, Iowa, and to nurture the stability and natural abundance of the land; promoting the ecosystem services that supported historic land use as well as encouraging the natural regenerative processes of soil, water, and biotic life.”
Led by this mission statement, ​restoration experts led a collaborative process involving the Board of Supervisors and other stakeholders to determine appropriate land management for the 160-acre complex, all within the historic and ecologic context of the Historic Poor Farm in mind.
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What visitors see today at the HPF is the culmination of this partnership between Johnson County and Eocene, meant to facilitate community recreation, enjoyment, and education on native plant reintroduction, timber stand improvement, invasive species removal, and controlled burns.
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Stream Management
The Historic Poor Farm property is home to Willow Creek's headwaters​, which flows through southwest Iowa City and converges with the Iowa River on the south side of town. Eocene assessed the health of streams on the HPF property and provided ideas to mitigate erosion which causes vegetation instability. Riparian woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands are some of the management areas that act to buffer adjacent stream banks and manage water quality.
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Trails
There are plans to expand the HPF's network of trails in the future. These trails will allow the public to engage with and explore the various natural areas onsite, and interpretive signage may highlight ecological features, historic context, or restoration efforts.
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Natural Foraging
Many species native to Iowa provide a consistent harvestable fruit and nut plantings for human foragers as well as bird and animal populations, while also increasing overall pollinator diversity. The following list is not comprehensive, but includes species that may be planted at the HPF in the future:
American pawpaw Pecan
Common persimmon Plum
Elderberry Hazelnut
Cranberry Serviceberry
Gooseberry Aronia berry
Use the interactive map below to learn about the different concept and management areas at the farm as well as waterways, plantings, and future trails onsite.