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Best Land Use Practices and Lake Norman Quarry Farm

Common to all aggregate mining locations is minable land, typically large tracts of it. All operations consist of a “quarry,” where the blasting, drilling, and material removal takes place. There is also land reserved for property line and waterway setbacks required by NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Land Quality. This land is typically referred to as “buffer.”

Then there is property for beautification and reclamation areas. In fact, within the last decade, quarries across the country have won numerous Environmental Stewardship Awards that have started trends with positive land use approaches. As a commitment to environmental sustainability, for instance, Hedrick Industries’ operations are building and maintaining wildlife areas on the property surrounding the quarry.

Lake Norman Quarry – a granite quarry that serves Lincoln, Gaston, Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties – has taken land use one step further. In effort to achieve best land use practices, Lake Norman Quarry built what they are calling “Lake Norman Farm.” Directly across from the scale-house office, Lake Norman employees have constructed a storage barn and built an open shed as shelter for the farm’s inhabitants: Norman and Sandy (the donkeys), 2 goats (to be named later), and 3 sheep (also to be named later). See the pictures below. The animals provide excellent company on the property and also assist in keeping the grass mowed. We are still working on getting them fitted for their customized hard hats!