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Slow Money "Is your business model good for earthworms? Is it good for your marriage? That's the stuff that matters." -- Joel Salatin, owner, Polyface Farm, at Slow Money National Gathering Slow Money recently held their 2nd National Gathering here at the Farm. Slow Money is a nonprofit trying to steer new capital to small food enterprises, appropriate-scale organic farming and local food systems. Why? To create a "nurture capital industry" that will support soil fertility, carrying capacity, sense of place, cultural and ecological diversity, and nonviolence. In four field trips around the farm, attendees discovered that all the big ideas of Slow Money can be seen in practice right here. Vermont FEED and Jr. Iron Chef VT are among 15 finalists (from 358 entrants) in an exciting grant competition called “Revelation to Action” hosted by Ashoka Changemakers and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
Three winners will each receive $5,000! Cast 1 vote for Vermont FEED and 1 for Jr. Iron Chef VT. (You can vote for up to 3 projects.) Voting ends June 30.
And encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to vote!
The calves are always a favorite stop on our Sun-to-Cheese tours, as our recent participants would agree. But there's lots more, too, like visiting the cheese room to learn how we craft our farmhouse cheddar ("It's very much a game of inches, temperature, acidity, and time," said Nat Bacon), and how you can discern a great cheddar.
Join Nat on one of our next Sun-to-Cheese Tours: Wednesday, JULY 14 or AUGUST 11. TIME: 2:00-4:00pm FEE: $15/person includes a block of cheese to take home. REGISTRATION: 802-985-8686
Roadside Replanting If you've been to the farm lately, you've probably noticed the new trees along the road near the Farm Barn. The white oaks, red maples and Norway spruce are part of our Landscape Stewardship Plan to reclaim more of Olmsted's original designs for the property. Gregory De Vries of Heritage Landscapes (they developed the plan) says, "The Farm Barn Triangle was one of the most densely planted areas along the drives at Shelburne Farms." Donor support makes possible all our work to maintain this beautiful historic landscape. This season's work on the Inn Formal Gardens has begun. For the next few weeks, workmen will be busy completing masonry work on the raised terrace to the north, and the stairways and balustrade that overlook the lily pool. This will leave the remaining Phase 2 work for next year: the lining of the pool, installation of the marble, and completion of the overlook balustrade. You can help make that work possible. Contact Alec Webb or Nia Spongberg.
4th and 5th graders from Burlington's Sustainability Academy were here June 7 and 8 for an end-of-the-year overnight trip to "celebrate, connect, and commemorate a year of learning and growing as a community." And what a celebration! Despite the lake's chill, almost every kid went for a dip!
Read about the Sustainability Academy in this recent article in The Nation.
We could have workshops here for the next 10 years! -- Laura Saeger, Burbank, OH, Timber Framer's Guild
Last week, the Farm partnered with the Timber Framers Guild and the Preservation Trades Network for a week-long, sold-out workshop on investigating, analyzing, and repairing historic timber buildings. With its ongoing restoration work, the Breeding Barn was a perfect case-study. Master timber framer Jan Lewandoski, who's conducting the restoration, led much of the workshop, together with Shelburne Farms' architectural conservator Doug Porter, wood scientist Ron Anthony, and structural engineer David Fischetti. Fourteen participants (only 5 or 6 with previous timber framing experience) came from as far as Iowa and Virginia to help repair beams and floor joists in the great barn. (Student pictured is planing surface of beam before patching.) The Breeding Barn workshop was made possible by a grant from the Getty Foundation.
This cow's smiling (really, isn't she smiling?) because she's come back to the Farm! “Ellieahna"--the cow of Burlington's Sustainability Academy--just returned for the summer to Shelburne Farms. She'll be out and about at the Farmyard, the Vermont Cheese Festival, and other places. Look for her! (And no cow tipping.) |
Story Walk is back!
Summer Reads
Dear Friend of Shelburne Farms,
Sun-to-Cheese Tour
Garden Restoration:
Come see the gardens in full bloom at breakfast or dinner at the Inn, or at Garden Conservancy Open Days, JUNE 19 & 20, 10 am - 4 pm. Volunteers will answer questions. Free with admission to property.
Timber framers learn from and help the Breeding Barn
A Cow Comes Home
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Shelburne Farms cultivates a conservation ethic by teaching and demonstrating the stewardship of natural and agricultural resources.
We are a nonprofit environmental education center, 1,400-acre working farm, and National Historic Landmark.