ZAFA Wines Will Centralize and Grow with Help from the Vermont Land Trust
ZAFA Wines owner Krista Scruggs has secured her first farm with help from the Vermont Land Trust and the Michael Colbert Farmland Fund. Krista spent years foraging wild apples and driving long distances between leased vineyard plots to make ZAFA’s celebrated natural wines and cider blends. Now, she will build out the next phase of her business in Isle la Motte.
Brewster Uplands
It’s summer in Jeffersonville, and the woodlands along the Brewster River are buzzing with cicadas. Children splash in the gorge below Vermont’s historic Grist Mill Covered Bridge. Visitors flock to the trails beyond, seeking shade and the chance to socialize, from a distance.
A Local Solution with a Global Impact
“Ten Vermont forestland owners, managing over 8,600 acres, are participating in the national, voluntary carbon market, earning $25 to $47 per acre, per year for the first ten years,” says Charlie Hancock, consulting forester and board member of Cold Hollow to Canada and VLT Trustee.
Around the State: Our Recent Work
Wondering what we’ve been up to? The pandemic may have slowed some things down and halted others, but here at VLT we’ve been busy!
100th Wildlife Management Area Established in Shrewsbury
On the hilly land where Shrewsbury’s town farm stood in centuries past, a thick forest of sugar maples, birch, and oak lays undisturbed by roads and development. Residents like to visit—drawn by the wooded hush—to hike or hunt. It’s a special place for animals, too. With three state forests nearby, the woods are part of a vast swath of wildlife habitat.
Virtual Gathering Addressed Access, Equity, and Justice on the Land in Vermont
Nearly 200 Vermont Land Trust members, supporters, and conservation partners gathered virtually on Monday, October 1 for the organization’s annual meeting where Xusana Davis, Executive Director for Racial Equity for the State of Vermont, was the keynote speaker.
Restoring Vanished Landscapes: Vermont’s Wetlands
VLT ecologist Allaire Diamond works closely on our wetland restoration projects. We asked her about Vermont’s wetlands and why they matter.
Let’s Go! Creating Access to New Places
Vermont is rich in outdoor places for all to enjoy, but this year has brought a new appreciation. We are continuing to expand recreation for Vermonters and visitors alike. Here’s what we’re working on now—noted mountain bike trails in Lyndon, a new nature preserve in Cambridge, a scenic meadow in Underhill, and a one-of-a-kind trail connector in Newport.
Vermont Land Trust awarded $2M to advance innovation in agriculture
A $2 million grant from the USDA National Resources Conservation Service has been awarded to the Vermont Land Trust to help farmers implement practices that enhance the health of their soils.
In East Montpelier Farmland Conserved, Trail Access Secured
Fairmont Farm conserved 201 acres of land between Route 14 and the Winooski River, and agreed to provide trail access across the recently conserved land, helping to connect a critical section of the Cross VT Trail between East Montpelier and Marshfield. The farm is also working with VLT and other conservation partners to protect and restore a half-mile stretch of the Winooski River in Marshfield.
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| VLT Facts |
593,000+ Total acres protected |
720+ Farms using conserved land |
420,000 Acres of forestland |
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| 170 Recreation spots |
60 Miles Catamount Trail |
460 Miles VAST Trail |
2,500+ Properties protected |