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New Book features Sustainable Schools Project
-- Toni Littlestone (amazon review) A first of its kind, "Smart By Nature: Schooling for Sustainability" portrays the growing sustainability movement in American K-12 education. It showcases inspiring stories from schools across the country, including a feature on Shelburne Farms' Sustainable Schools Project at Lawrence Barnes (now the Sustainability Academy), which is profiled under "How to Become the Cool School." Order at University of California Press or www.amazon.com
Can you imagine the Breeding Barn roof collapsing under snow? We can't either, but it's important to think about. Renovations beginning this fall are designed to reduce the risk of that ever happening. And thanks to architectural conservator Doug Porter, the improvements being made won't affect the soaring indoor architecture of this magnificent building. Two earlier engineering reports had recommended extensive renovations to bring the roof up to code for, among other things, withstanding "winter snow loads." Doug took a closer look at the assumptions behind the numbers and wondered whether the materials used 100 years ago were different--and stronger--than what was assumed in the reports. After careful testing of the southern yellow pine beams and iron crossbars, he was proved right. Now his team will begin restoring beams and braces to keep the Breeding Barn around for years to come--with its same majestic interior. Current work at the Breeding Barn is being supported by grants from the Getty Foundation, 1772 Foundation, Oakland Foundation, Forrest C. and Frances Lattner Foundation, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, and a federal grant administered by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development thanks to Senator Leahy. The Farm Barn Goes Solar
Photo is schematic of what panels will look like, as seen from the Farmyard's pig shed.
I'm an office mole at Shelburne Farms. Well, as much as you can be, working on this 1,400-acre farm where many hands (office or otherwise) are often needed to make lighter work. When given the chance to learn morning chores at the Children's Farmyard, I signed up. So there I was at 7 am on a chilly Monday, waiting for both Sam Smith and the sun. Sam's morning chore mantra is "Water and Food" for all the animals. Simple enough. And the chart in the grain room details who gets how much of what food. But the food for the calves is the milk from the cow and she's down in the front field and must be retrieved, stabled, fed, and milked (after preparing the equipment). And the hay for the goats and sheep is up in the mow and it must be tossed down and lugged to the "hay station" below. The layer chickens get let out of the mobile henhouse, as do the new Bantams in yet another shed, two goats needed milking (We didn't do that part. A wonderful long-time volunteer helps three mornings a week. I caught her on video here). Thank goodness the pigs had recently moved out and we didn't have to deal with them! There's a reason they call it "chores." But I'd do it again in a minute. Next time in long johns. Holly Brough is Communications Director at Shelburne Farms. Her tutoring in the farmyard is part of the Farm's flu preparedness plan: cross-training employees in the case of absences. Finance Director Tom Nold & Executive Assistant Hilary Sunderland also participated and actually helped out a lot more than she did.
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Our Annual Report 
Dear Friend of Shelburne Farms,
“Michael Stone tells wonderful stories of the unsung schools who get what is important for the future of our planet. As a parent, I applaud this book"
Breeding Barn bolstered
Seventy two solar panels are being installed on the south wall of the Farm Barn over the next few weeks as an educational demonstration project for the Farm. Supported by Green Mountain Power Corporation, private donors and a 50% matching grant from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund, the panels will generate about 9% of the Farm Barn's total electricity needs when installation is completed in November. Meanwhile, the Farm continues to invest in energy conservation. "With each building project, we're taking great care to make the building environment as energy efficient as possible," according to President Alec Webb. This has included recent insulation at the Vineyard Cottage, Orchard Cove, and renovated office space in the Farm Barn (more on this in our next newsletter).
All in a Day's Work
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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.