A question of trees

From 1995 when Joe Arruda started clearing land to begin

earth removal on the 18 acres of upland. (click to enlarge)

For those following the BOS and the bogs discussion, in the photo below you can see the embankment and general area of the Northrupt property on the right which was discussed in Monday's selectman's meeting.

Keith Northrupt of 59 Atwood Avenue and Joe Arruda of Bridgewater Raynham Sand and Gravel disagree on the number of trees that were inadvertently removed from the Northrupt property. The former says 60 while the later says six. Both agree that Arruda planted 30 new trees (half of which need to be replanted because they died from a disease). However Arruda says he laid down almost a foot of loam under the mulch and Northrupt says he didn't lay down any.

A large swamp is on the left. The road once was a windy footpath, usually impassable in rainy weather. It lead to what was originally 18 acres of upland where the major earth removal project is underway.A few people asked what the bogs looked like before the hills were excavated and the bogs were squared off. Here are a couple of pictures. Below: You can see how bogs built by growers without heavy equipment often conformed to the shape of the land. We considered this bog one of the prettiest. It took longer to harvest than a squared off bog, but nobody complained since it always one of the highest producing bogs on the farm.

Below: Taken from the top of a hill you can see two flooded bogs in the foreground and center, and in the distance Woods Pond. This area is completely flat now with new bogs under construction.