Eden Mill Nature Center 1617 Eden Mill Road Pylesville, MD 21132 410-836-3050 edenmillnaturecenter@gmail.com
Friends of the Land
at Eden Mill
Eden Mill Nature Center
& Historic Grist Mill Museum
What’s the plan for the property near Eden Mill that the county purchased a few years back? That’s the question for a motivated group of Eden Mill volunteers whose mission is to create a sustainable land use plan for the property.
The property in question was formerly owned by the Vaughn family. Ward B. Vaughn purchased approximately 100 acres including Eden Mill in 1964 from James T. Smith. The property was then subdivided with the county purchasing 58 acres including the Mill. Donald F. “Spike” and Blanche Webb acquired 2 6/10 acres surrounding the Stansbury Mansion. The Vaughn family retained ownership of the rest of the property until 2007. On Eden Mill Nature Center’s 18th anniversary, the Vaughn property was purchased by the county. Under the leadership of the Harford Land Trust and through “Project Open Space”, the county purchased the land from Jeff Vaughn and his family and placed it into Harford County’s Land Trust. This measure saved the property from future commercial and residential development.There is currently a board and county approved plan for the long term management and use of the property as an agro-ecological demonstration site. The area will emphasize native bee conservation and the repair and maintenance of vital landscape features which support natural system services important to agriculture. The Eden Mill’s children’s garden and the ARC gardens currently are located on a portion of the property. With grant money obtained by the ARC last spring, soil, seeds, wood for fencing and raised beds, and a water tank were purchased for the gardens. ARC members did the spring planting of the beds. Both ARC members and Eden Mill volunteers have maintained the gardens throughout the summer months. What does the future hold for this property? The original Eden Mill Nature Center’s mission statement will serve as the guide for the volunteers in charge of the Vaughn property project. The volunteer committee and their co-chairs, Peggy Eppig, Stephanie Close, and Cheryl Roettger have some big dreams but realize it will take time and money to fulfill those dreams. As Frank Marsden so adeptly puts it “you eat an elephant one bite at a time”. Judging by the past projects attempted by Eden Mill volunteers, this is just one more elephant to devour!
Summer campers worked together to design, build, and install benches in the Children's Garden.
July 20, 2009
FCCAU Shelter, Chesapeake Environmental Management, the ARC, and Eden Mil at
the Community Garden Dedication!
June 14, 2010
Eden Mill Volunteer Roland Beckman filling the garden beds with soil in preparition for the dedication.
June 12, 2010
A local scout troop installed the fence around the Community Garden.
June 2010
Friends of the Land Pictures
Members of the ARC tending to the garden beds.
August 2010
Eden Mill Volunteers building the garden compost bins.
October 30, 2010
Hedgerow planting and garden winterization with EMNC, Master Gardeners, and the Waldorf School
November 13, 2010
Hedgerow Planting and Garden Winterization
November 13, 2010
Hedgerow Planting and Garden Winterization
November 13, 2010
Hedgerow Planting and Garden Winterization
November 13, 2010
"Through experiential education, Friends of the Land at Eden Mill, will provide opportunities for community members to integrate historic sustainable land use techniques into the vision of modern sustainable land stewardship practices” 3 Initial Educational Goals:
1) Develop programs for family and child-centered programs
2) Develop programs for K-12 students
3) Develop programs for adults / professionals
Wish List
We are currently seeking donations of the following items:
Tools
-rakes (2-3child & adult)
-soaker hoses
-trowels (15 child)
-hand cultivators (15 child)
-spades (2-3 child & adult)
-hand saw
-pruning saw
-lopper
Supplies:
-seeds*(heirlooms)
-seeds* (hybrids)
-seedlings*
-seed-starting mix
-peat pots
-transplanting containers (wide mouth - yogurt cups)
-seed starting trays
-watering can
-plant markers
-baskets for picking (tub trug)
-garden twine
-tomato cages
-bird netting for berries
-4 ft. high willow branches
-potting bench
-wood & glass for cold frames
-worm bin for composting (1)
*Please contact Cheryl Roettger at vintagewd@comcast.net for specific seeds that are needed.
The Friends of the Land at Eden Mill will irrigate the gardens using a self supporting system for pumping water. It is completely mechanical and operates without electricity or fuel. The power to drive is provided by flowing water.
To see a video of how this system works, click button below.
Friends of the Land at Eden Mill - Garden Maintenance Calendar
The maintenance calendar is quickly filling up! Join master gardeners in the gardens on Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 to help take care of the herbs and heirloom veggies. Feel free to share your ideas and ask the master gardeners questions about the crops. Remember to bring along your own drinking water, tools, and gardening gloves. We do have some tools and gloves that you can borrow if you do not have any of your own. This is a terrific opportunity to volunteer at Eden Mill and gain some gardening knowledge at no cost!
Interested? Please contact Eden Mill Nature Center to schedule your gardening time and to sign a waiver. If you are unable to work during the listed times and would still like to help with the gardens, please contact Eden Mill so we can schedule a later time slot for you on Saturday afternoons.
What’s new in the Friends of the Land at Eden Mill gardens?
April, 2011Planting potatoes, peas, onions, and other cool
Planting potatoes, peas, onions, and other cool season crops are being planted in gardens. We are starting a garden journal to record our efforts. The leafy greens are radishes are being planted in the raised salad gardens. Inside under lights, we are starting the warm season crops. Our garden maintenance will be weeding the gardens as needed. The compost bins should be filling up with volunteer “donations”. 
Garden Compost Bins
