All About VEBs

Jolee, Jenny, Bruce & Taylor Wessling, Grand Junction

Bruce and Jenny Wessling and their daughters Jolee and of Grand Junction grow crops and raise livestock near Grand Junction in Greene County. Bruce recently grew his hog farm and constructed a new hog barn at the site of two existing hog barns. His primary goal was to care for the well-being of his livestock. He also wanted to enhance environmental quality and create a beautiful farm site.

Wessling Farms


Site Characteristics

The site is located in Greene County southeast of Grand Junction, Iowa on County Road X.
Soils on the site are: Nicollet loam, Webster clay loam, and Ocheyedan loam. These deep soils range from 0 – 5 % slope and are poorly drained (Webster), some what poorly drained (Nicollet), to well drained (Ocheyedan). These soils have a good range of planting possibilities. However, poorly drained sites do not favor optimal evergreen growth.

Goals

The first step in the design process is to visit with the landowner to discuss the goals for the project, view the site to understand its specific characteristics, and view the setting within the larger neighborhood. Also while viewing the neighborhood it is a good idea to see what trees/plants are growing and doing well.

The landowners’ goal is, first and foremost, to create a healthy environment for the pigs they raise. They wanted to do what they can to reduce odor and contribute to a healthy environment. Creating a beautiful site, which they and the neighborhood could be proud of, was also important.

Elements of the Design

Windbreak North and Northeast
This design incorporates a windbreak on the north and northeast portion of the site. The windbreak utilizes both fast growing deciduous trees, evergreen trees, and shrubs. The fast growing deciduous trees can be either Hybrid Willow (Austrees) or Hybrid Poplars (Robusta, Theves, and Souixland). These trees were chosen for their quick functional and visual capabilities.

Evergreen trees that will be used for the site include Eastern Red Cedar (outside row) and White Pine and Norway Spruce for the inside row. The Eastern Red Cedar is the shortest of the 3 species. It is a native evergreen that is very hardy and adapts to many different conditions. The White Pine and Norway Spruce are time tested windbreak trees that grow reasonably fast.

The inside row consists of the following shrubs: Cranberrybush Viburnum, Red Twigged Dogwood and Hazelnut. These species are all native, and together with the evergreens will act as an air filter.

In addition, the windbreak trees will help to change the air movement and create a mixing and diluting affect for the odors.

Aesthetics

Often windbreaks would be considered on the north and west sides of a site. This site has two large driveways on the west that would minimize the effectiveness of a west side windbreak. As a result, the design for that area will soften and enhance the building mass and to bring seasonal interest and plant variety to the site. White Pine and Norway Spruce were repeated for year-round interest. Shade trees with interesting fall color combinations of red and yellow/gold are planned, along with white, pink, and red flowering crab apples.

Since this site is a combination of both tunnel and open curtain wall ventilation, the south and southeast property lines were sparsely planted with shade trees that allow for the penetration of breezes to the buildings.

Native grasses and wildflowers are proposed to minimize mowing, add beauty, and increase ground texture (to help filter some of the particles containing odors). With the right mixture some wildflowers could be in bloom from May through September.