Farmer and Forester of the Year Awards

Leadership & Tree Steward Training

Mondays 6:00-9:00 pm

February 18 - April 14, 2008

Offered at seven locations around the state via Vermont Interactive Television (VIT) in Castleton, Middlebury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Lyndonville, St. Albans, and Williston.

Stewardship of the Urban Landscape is an 8 week course which combines technical information on tree care (including proper planting and maintenance) with leadership skills.  Tuition, including course materials is $75. Pre-Registration deadline is January 18th 2008. Limited scholarship assistance may be available.

For more information, or to register for the S.O.U.L program, please e-mail katherine.forrer@uvm.edu, call 802.223.2389 ext 25, or visit:        http://www.uvm.edu/extension/soul/

Every year the Winooski NRCD honors farmers and forest stewards who manage their land utilizing exemplary conservation practices.  This year our focus was on urban forestry stewards in Chittenden County and conservation-minded farmers in Washington County.

Rotational grazing in Williamstown

For this year’s Conservation Farmers of the Year we awarded dairy operations in Barre and Williamstown. Both farms have participated in conservation programs and have implemented practices to improve the success, function, and diversity of their family farm. Derek and Loretta Wilson recently transitioned their 300 acre farm to organic with support from the NRCS  Agricultural Management Assistance program. Rotational grazing, underground water lines, stream crossing and livestock exclusion are some of the conservation practices recently implemented at the Barre farm. Jeff and Beth Bailey milk 40 cows in a tie stall barn in Williamstown and crop about 240 acres. Through an EQIP contract, the following conservation practices showcase the conservation ethic that the Baileys have for their land: pest and nutrient management, crop rotation, designated stream crossing, silage leachate control, covered barnyard, improved drainage, milkhouse waste filtering, and rotational grazing.

Williston’s Urban Landscape

This year the WNRCD has chosen Branch out Burlington and the Town of Williston for their commendable efforts in preserving and revitalizing the forested urban landscape.  Branch Out Burlington began planting trees in Burlington in 1980.  They have a Community Tree Nursery where they grow and care for the trees that will be transplanted in Burlington. Branch out Burlington also hosts Annual Tree Walks and the Awesome Tree Contest which spread awareness and appreciation for Burlington’s urban trees. The Williston Planning Department has conducted a town-wide inventory of urban trees and is unveiling their Community Forestry Plan.  The Plan will incorporate the maintenance of existing trees and new ordinances for planting trees in an urban setting. 

Related Reading

Civic Agriculture: Reconnecting Farm, Food, and Community by Thomas A. Lyson

Clean Water: An Introduction to Water Quality and Pollution Control 

by Kenneth M. Vigil