East Foss Farm
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Introduction
The East Foss Farm, located on Foss Farm Road in Durham, NH, is a 164 acre tract of land managed for multiple uses, including teaching, research, wood production, and wildlife. There are seven major habitat types within the East Foss Farm property: clearcut, early successional, mature hardwood, mature softwood, riparian, and wetland/shrub swamp. East Foss Farm is frequently visited by UNH faculty and student body to observe the different forest management techniques that have been used on this land. There is also a trail system which is nice to take a little stroll and observe the various wildlife residents.
History
East Foss Farm has been a farm since the 1800's. Originally owned by Jasper R. McDaniel, it was primarily used as grazing land. In 1888, George H. Amazeen took the deed of the land. It remained an active farm and was used for cattle grazing until the 1960's. Mr. Amazeen left the entire East Foss Farm property to the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1923, the University of New Hampshire took ownership of the Foss Farm upon receiving University status. Since then the Woodlands office has managed the now forested land. Selective timber cuts, some clearcutting, and prescribed burning have been utilized to benefit both wildlife and timber production.
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Present Uses
East Foss Farm is used extensively for education by UNH. Classes from the Thompson School and UNH have had practice timber harvest activities and prescribed burns. East Foss Farm is also used for recreational purposes, such as walking, running, hunting, and mountain biking.
To view a publication by the UNH Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Program on East Foss Farm, follow this link:
http://www.unh.edu/woodlands/property/eastfoss/eastfoss01.pdf
