Entrepreneur Will Raap closes on the sale of Nordic Farms
One of the most ambitious endeavors in Vermont agriculture, the redevelopment of the iconic Nordic Farms on Route 7 in Charlotte, took several defining steps forward this week.
A new farmer makes the cut on the former Nichols Fodder Farm
Figuratively speaking, farmers have always had to “make hay while the sun shines.” But when growing hay really is your business, the old adage has special resonance.
Giving forestry “The Agriculture Treatment”
When forest management is done well it makes our forests healthier, more complex and more resilient; provides incredible habitat for wildlife; and produces local, renewable resources.
Plant bulbs now for spring bloom
Depending on where you live, there can be a month or more after the snow recedes in spring until we see flowers. Planting spring-flowering bulbs shortens this window and packs a ton of color, contrast and liveliness against a backdrop of the slowly awakening earth. Spring- flowering bulbs are an incredibly hopeful presence in a time of cool temperatures and unpredictable forecasts.
Charlotte is blessed with dreamers and doers on the land
In season, Stony Loam Farm offers a bountiful community supported agriculture (CSA) of fresh veggies and flowers. The name of the farm comes from the agricultural designation for the type of soil on the farm. A bit complicated, but it is a mixture of clay, sand and shells.
Act 143 and the Future of Farming in Charlotte
The Town of Charlotte has a long history supporting agriculture and attracting residents who value a working landscape. Throughout our state, farms provide numerous services in their communities: fresh food, jobs, diverse small businesses and open landscapes, as well as a range of ecosystem services from water quality to wildlife habitat, healthy soils and the mitigation of climate change. And yet, farming in Vermont is endangered: The state has lost approximately 10 percent of its farms every year for the last five years.