Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm, Educational farm and conservation site in Fairfield, United States.
The Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm sits on a 264-acre property with restored prairies, floodplain forests, and wetlands along the Wisconsin River. The site includes a rehabilitated chicken coop and period structures that illustrate how land restoration is carried out on the ground.
Leopold purchased the property in 1935 and converted it into a weekend retreat where he refined his environmental thinking until his death in 1948. His work here became foundational to how conservation is understood and practiced today.
The site bears the name of the pioneering conservationist who lived and worked here, shaping how people think about nature and land use. Walking through, visitors see how the landscape is carefully managed to reflect his environmental principles.
The property is easiest to explore during dry weather, especially if you plan to walk through the wetland areas. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the season, as you will be moving across uneven terrain through fields and natural areas.
The sandy-gravelly soils of the property were shaped during the Cambrian Period and further modified by glaciation, an aspect that influenced how Leopold understood land degradation. These geological features remain visible to observant visitors today.
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