Ladybug Loop is a 13-acre fallow pasture which connects the wooded slopes of the Red Mountain to the bottomlands of the Paint Rock River. With a relatively extreme cross-slope, the pasture is much longer than it is wide, mirroring the general graining of the valley. It is bound by AL-14 and the Paint Rock River, with picturesque views through the valley, and to the mountains beyond.

In the context of the farm, Ladybug Loop serves as a key node, connecting the core of the farm to the vast fields and mountains which make up the rest of the property. Though the various uses of this site across the history of the farm is not precisely known, it has been variously used for grazing and row crop cultivation. Six to eight foot terraces evidence these uses, creating occasional flat strips in the otherwise steep cross-slope.

Currently, the pasture consists of common pasture grasses, like fescue and broomsedge and colonizing wildflowers like goldenrod and boneset. A wide path inscribing the pasture is maintained by GFNC staff, and the pasture is bush-hogged several times each year. Though there is public-facing signage that invites visitors to walk its perimeter, its advantageous position within the farm and the larger Paint Rock Valley point to strong opportunities to further enrich experiences of the site. GNFC staff envision a multi-use path that offers valleyshowcasing, accessible walks for visitors, educational opportunities for visiting youth groups, and larger gathering spaces that might host events for the community. Given that it occupies a key point along AL-14 at the entrance of the farm, they imagine a design that affords a sense of arrival for visitors, one which reveals views into the farm core and through the valley.

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