Where we worked

Over 45 years, we have conserved 624,305 acres. This conserved land is shown in dark green on the map.

Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, we contributed to the protection of 13,500+ acres across Vermont.

The orange dots show where we worked this past year. Read on for town-by-town details.

Southern Vermont

Athens, Brookline & Townshend

We worked with the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association (WHPA) to protect forestland for wildlife, climate, clean water, and public recreation. Known as the Lily Pond Highlands, the land is owned and managed by WHPA. The land offers habitat for bears, moose, herons, and many other species. Six vernal pools provide breeding habitat for amphibians. 622 acres

Bethel

Jeff Townsend of Townsend & Daughters Farm partnered with us, the White River Partnership, and US Fish & Wildlife to plant 1,830 native trees and shrubs on conserved land along the White River.

Bethel

Victoria Weber and Davis Dimock conserved forested and open land that is visible from I-89. The land includes a wetland area, a tributary of the Second Branch of the White River, a vernal pool, and a section of old-growth forest. 242 acres

Brattleboro (pictured)

Nearly 300 shrubs were planted at our Whetstone Woods property to create islands of habitat for shrubland birds such as blue-winged warbler, brown thrasher, and eastern towhee. A large number of invasive plants were removed prior to the planting.

Halifax & Whitingham

Walter and Peggy Jones conserved forestland and open fields. The land has a vernal pool that has been known to host wood frogs and spotted salamanders. The pool and surrounding area now have special habitat protections. 288 acres

Newfane

We bought Maple Row Farm and began leasing it to the SUSU commUNITY Farm through an option-to-purchase agreement. Situated along the West River and Smith Brook, the farm has productive agricultural soils, a historic barn, and a sugarhouse. 37 acres

Photo: Whetstone Woods, Brattleboro, by Ben Kimball

Pownal

The Dodge family protected farmland, timberland, and sugarbush, and sold it to Marc and Crystal Gardner who run Hill Top Farm, a multi-generation organic dairy on nearby conserved land. The Gardners had been leasing this land and will keep using it for hay, crops, and grazing. Two tributaries of the Hoosic River were also protected. 210 acres

Rupert

Kirk Marckwald and Christina Desser donated this mostly wooded land in the Taconic Mountains to us in 2019. The land has some very large sugar maple and red oak trees that are nearly four feet in diameter. The land was conserved and sold, with the proceeds supporting our future conservation work. 216 acres

Rupert

Brothers Mike and Mark Lourie conserved farmland in the Mettowee Valley. They run Rupert Valley Holsteins, a dairy and sugaring operation. The project also protected streams, including tributaries of White Creek, and an area of Dry Oak Forest, which is uncommon in Vermont. 177 acres

Sharon & Strafford (pictured)

The Alliance for Vermont Communities worked with us to buy and donate woodland to the towns of Sharon and Strafford, creating the first two-town community forest in Vermont. The Ashley Community Forest has recreation trails, is being used for educational activities by several schools, and public events with naturalists, historians, and county foresters are well attended! 256 acres

Shrewsbury

Bryan and Emily Greenhagen conserved farmland and forest that is part of a well-documented bear corridor. The land has wooded seeps, wetlands, springs, and streams. They bought the land from the heirs of Thomas Mitchell, whose family had owned the land since the 1940s, and who wished the land to remain farm and forest for all time. 130 acres

Photo: Ashley Community Forest, Sharon and  Strafford, by Kyle Gray

Sunderland

Members of the Hayden family worked with us and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to conserve land adjacent to the Kesick Swamp Wildlife Management Area, located in the narrow valley between the Green and Taconic Mountains. They separately sold a 45-acre parcel to add land to the Wildlife Management Area. The land is part of a large system of wetlands and woods that support diverse wildlife including beaver, bear, moose, and a nesting rookery used by great blue herons. 93 acres

West Pawlet (pictured)

The Merck Farm & Forestland Center bought and conserved woods and pasture adjacent to the K-6 Mettawee Community School. Merck will hold and manage the land, partnering with the school on educational programs. Mettawee students have begun taking advantage of the property for biking, sledding, nature journaling, science, trail building, and more. 148 acres

Westminster

300 trees were planted by partners and volunteers on former farmland along a tributary of the Connecticut River. The effort was led by the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District. The work will support clean water and improve wildlife habitat by increasing the diversity and number of native tree and shrub species along the stream.

Whitingham

Roy and Vanessa Corse conserved sugarbush, farmland, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and a tributary of the Deerfield River. The Corse family has made syrup in the hills of Whitingham for over 150 years. Corse Maple Farm sells syrup, candy, and more directly from the sugarhouse. 166 acres 

Photo: Mettawee Community School, West Pawlet, by Caleb Kenna

Central Vermont

Barre (pictured)

800 trees were planted, by volunteers, VLT staff, and partners, at Old Soul Farm alongside a wetland and a stream of the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River, which flows into Lake Champlain. We’re working with farmers and partners across the state to re-forest some land along streams and wetlands, to help keep water clean downstream.

Cambridge

150 trees were planted by a crew from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and VLT staff at our Brewster Uplands property, above a steep bank of the Brewster River where woody plants were needed to limit erosion and support clean water. The crew also made trail improvements to help with erosion.

Chelsea

Stephanie and Rich Rockwood donated a conservation easement on woods and open land, including frontage on Jenkins Brook. Stephanie and Rich run Redrock Farm, an evergreen seedling nursery. 104 acres

Chelsea

The Button family conserved and sold farmland, sugarbush, and managed forest to VLT as part of our affordable farmland work. We will hold the property under a lease-to-purchase arrangement with a farmer until they are ready to buy the farm. 124 acres 

East Montpelier

200 trees were planted on a former hayfield along a tributary of the Winooski River at Fairmont Farm. The trees will help filter excess nutrients and support cleaner water in the river.

Photo: Old Soul Farm tree planting, Barre, by Kyle Gray

Elmore & Worcester (pictured)

VLT and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation conserved working forest for wildlife, climate, and recreation, thanks to the Meyer, Wolloch, and Demars families. This was the result of a multi-year effort, with support from the federal Forest Legacy Program, under which we bought large tracts of forestland with the intention of conserving and selling them. After the land was conserved, we sold 3,535 acres to ELT, Inc., 2,373 acres to Josh Seidman, and 731 acres to Stefan Buttgereit. 6,639 acres 

Marshfield

Fairmont Farm, which milks more than 1,000 cows at its home farm in East Montpelier, protected 20 acres of land along the Winooski River. VLT will work with partners to plant trees and shrubs within a 50-foot-wide area along the river. 20 acres 

Randolph

Miles Hooper and his wife Daryll Breau of Ayers Brook Goat Dairy protected land along Ayers Brook that drains into the White River and eventually the Connecticut River. Over time, the river will be able to re-establish its natural meander pattern and be less forceful during large storms. We will work on a large-scale tree planting at the site. 33 acres 

Photo: woods in Worcester and Elmore, by Caleb Kenna

Stowe & Morristown (pictured)

Ken Ricketson conserved his family’s farm on Route 100 with help from the Stowe Land Trust, the Town of Stowe, and VLT. The Ricketson family has farmed the land for more than 100 years. Nearly 20 acres along Moss Glen Brook and its tributaries were also protected for clean water and for better adaptation to floods. 217 acres 

Topsham

We conserved and sold meadow and woodlands to Cynthia and Gary Linz. The land was donated to us a few years ago by the Schmauder family. Proceeds from the sale will support future conservation efforts. 152 acres 

Vershire

Leslie Sullivan protected the mostly forested land, known as Snowfields Farm, that her family has enjoyed and stewarded since the 1970s. The land provides valuable wildlife habitat and includes several streams that flow into the Ompompanoosuc River. 197 acres 

Waitsfield

We bought cropland from the Spaulding Farm as part of our affordable farmland work. The land has frontage along the Mad River and several streams, and has been leased by the Defreest farm for nearly 20 years. We plan to conserve the land and sell it to the Defreests, and support the creation of a new segment of the Mad River Path. 70 acres 

Photo: Ricketson Farm, Stowe, by Rich Levine / Stowe Land Trust

Champlain Valley

Bridport

Dairy farmers Kurt and Michael Ingwersen worked with us to strengthen their conservation easement to ensure the land will be affordable to future farmers. They also protected 22 acres of wetlands that drain into the West Branch of Dead Creek and then Lake Champlain. 175 acres 

Colchester (pictured)

We removed a dam and restored a section of Crooked Creek on the conserved Button Farm. We cleared non-native shrubs and trees along banks, and built 24 wood structures, similar to beaver dams, in the stream to slow down water and restore the wetland. Over 160 native trees were planted in an area that had been taken over by an invasive species.

Cornwall

Churchill and Janet Franklin conserved farmland and woods, including nearly 100 acres of excellent farm soils. As a result of the conservation, the land will remain affordable to future farmers. 162 acres 

Cornwall

Barney Jr. and Dee Hodges protected their orchard and woodland, and transferred the business to their son Barney III and his wife Christina Hodges. The land has an ecologically sensitive area and 10 acres of wetlands that have special protections in the conservation easement. 171 acres 

Franklin & Highgate

The Laroche family runs a multi-generational dairy farm and had been leasing neighboring conserved cropland from Wayne and Nancy Fiske. Matt Laroche bought the conserved parcel and strengthened the conservation easement to ensure the land will remain affordable to farmers in the future. 153 acres 

Hinesburg

The Town of Hinesburg worked with us to expand their town forest. With a strong show of support from the community, the town bought 291 acres from the Carse Land Company to expand the existing 834-acre Hinesburg Town Forest. The resulting 1,125 acres are permanently protected for wildlife, clean water, and the enjoyment of the public. 1,125 acres 

Photo: Button Farm dam removal, Colchester, by Kyle Gray

Jericho (pictured)

We worked with the Town of Jericho and the Jericho Underhill Land Trust to conserve Mobbs Farm, a recreation and natural area owned by the town. There are nearly 10 miles of trails that wind through fields, woods, and along Mill Brook. The trails are popular for cross-country skiing, walking, biking, sledding, hunting, riding horses, and swimming. 233 acres

Jericho

Christa Alexander and Mark Fasching of Jericho Settlers Farm protected floodplain forest and wetland along the Winooski River, including confluences with Mill Brook and three other streams. 22 acres 

Middlebury

Henry Dimuzio and Rhonda Roberts conserved land that is home to their fallow deer farm. This is the family’s third conservation project with us. LedgEnd is the largest deer farm in Vermont with about 600 head. They sell venison at stores in Addison and Chittenden Counties and to restaurants. As part of the project, Henry and Rhonda also protected a headwater tributary of the Muddy Branch River and 12 acres of clayplain forest. 142 acres 

North Hero

Linn Hazen conserved and sold farmland and woodland to farmers Andre and Karen Quintin. For many years the Quintins have rented the fields for their farm operation. They raise beef cattle, board heifers, and grow crops. A 32-acre wetland area was also protected. 126 acres 

Sheldon

100 trees were planted with the help of students and staff from Sterling College at a dairy farm along the Missisquoi River. The plantings will improve on wetland and stream restoration efforts from previous years. The plants were in the form of live stakes – cuttings harvested from willows, dogwoods, and alders growing onsite and harvested locally.

Sheldon

Pierre and Barbara Parent conserved land along the Missisquoi River, Goodsell Brook, and an unnamed tributary. A 50-foot-wide strip trees and shrubs will be maintained along the river in support of clean water and wildlife habitat. 111 acres 

Sheldon

Suzanne and Philip Parent conserved their farm, where they grow hay and lease cropland. As part of the project, they worked with us to protect a stretch of land along the Missisquoi River where the river will be allowed to meander and create its natural floodplain. 279 acres 

Sheldon

Brothers Richard and Stephen Dodd protected farmland, wetlands, and streams, including a stretch of the Missisquoi River. This fourth-generation farm has nearly 500 head of cattle. 165 acres

Photo: Mobbs Farm, Jericho

Northeast Kingdom

Brownington

Mike and Kim Riendeau conserved the Willoughby River Farm, where they milk around 40 cows with the help of their two sons. They also keep a small beef herd of registered Whiteface Herefords. The farm includes frontage on the Willoughby River and a small tributary; we are working with the Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District to plant trees along the streambanks. 126 acres 

Newport

We restored wetland along Scotts Cove on Lake Memphremagog, removing fill and creating wetland depressions. We then worked with Abenaki citizens to plant culturally significant wetland plants, including sweetgrass, at the site at Bluffside Farm.

St. Johnsbury (pictured)

We helped the Town of St. Johnsbury buy Observatory Knob, a scenic property within walking distance of downtown. The land has hosted a popular hiking trail since 1880, and is regularly used by local camps, as a training site for the St. Johnsbury Academy cross-country team, and for hiking and snowshoeing. 117 acres

Troy

Jamie Rivers and Laura Clark bought conserved farmland and worked with us to strengthen the conservation easement to make sure the land will be affordable for future farmers. They bought the land to expand their organic dairy business and to reduce the number of acres they rent. 208 acres 

Photo: Observatory Knob, St. Johnsbury, by Kyle Gray