Winooski Natural Resources

Conservation District

Winter   Newsletter 2006

District Honors Farmers and Forest Stewards of the Year

Every year the Winooski NRCD honors farmers and forest stewards who manage their land utilizing exemplary conservation practices. This year we have chosen Legare’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm, Food Works Two Rivers Center, and Wellspring Farm for Farmers of the Year and the Hinesburg Town Forest for Forest Steward of the Year. Congratulations and thank you all for your good work.

     Legare’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm is owned and operated by Merrill and Donna Legare and located in North Montpelier. The Legares’ farm is 310 acres, 65 acres of which is used for vegetables, strawberries, blueberries, and pumpkins. They sell produce at farm stands and farmers’ markets, as well as to Black River Produce - a local produce distributor. The Legares are participating in a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract which requires them to plant a 35’ forested riparian buffer in their fields along the Kingsbury Branch . They annually cover crop with winter rye and oats to limit soil erosion and encourage their fields to dry quickly in the spring. They also plant soybeans along with their sweet corn which deters predacious crows and fixes nitrogen in the soil.

     Food Works Two Rivers Center is a 20 acre farm located in Montpelier and managed by Stacy Burnstein. The farm displays a remarkable commitment to local schools. They supply food for school lunches, offer summer camp programs and other activities to students, and hope to create a garden for students to learn about how and where food is grown. They are currently working with the Food Bank to develop a Food Bank Farm to continue their mission of feeding the hungry.

They also partner with the Winooski NRCD and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to limit streambank erosion and stabilize portions of the Winooski River where erosion is already occurring.

      Wellspring Farm in Marshfield is owned by Mimi Arnstein who grows 4 acres of organic vegetables and flowers. The farm is a Community Supported Agriculture Farm that supports 90 families. The farm makes their own compost, utilizing manure from Fairmont Farms dairy, and they cover crop with winter rye and oats in cooperation with the Winooski NRCD. Wellspring Farm also participated in UVM Extension’s Farm Viability Project where they assessed their farm operation and developed a business plan.
     Winooski NRCD’s Forest Steward of the Year is the Hinesburg Town Forest. The forest is located along Hinesburg’s eastern border and consists of 837 acres including many old farmsteads. For years the Town Forest Committee, headed by Stephen Russell has worked closely with Michael Snyder, Chittenden County Forester to manage the forest for timber, to enhance wildlife habitat, and to promote recreational and educational opportunities. Most recently the Town completed a commercial thinning of about 75 acres of softwoods plantations using a cut-to-length harvester and two forwarders. This harvest is an excellent example of using modern logging equipment to minimize the impact of harvesting operations while improving the site for remaining trees.

Written by Andrea Boggs Tursini and Abbey Willard

Inside…

*  Chittenden County Conservation Programs

*  How Vermont’s MFOs Affect One Winooski District Farm

*  Cover Cropping Initiative

*  Browns River Watershed Geomorphic Assessment

*  Events Calendar

*  And the Annual Conservation Plant Sale...

We are looking for volunteers and interns!

Please contact Tiffany Shaw at 865-7895 x14 if you would like to help.