World 01_10_18

At Bragg
Farm...
MAPLE SYRUP
ON SALE!
$
4 00 OFF
GALLONS
$
3 00
$
2 00
ALL GRADES (Plastic Jugs Only)
Syrup Special Ends 1/15/18
We Ship Anywhere
“A
Quality
Family
Farm
Shop”
802-223-5757
January Sale!
OFF
1/2 GALLONS
OFF
QUARTS &
PINTS
1 mile north of E. Montpelier Village on Rt. 14N (follow signs)
OPEN Every Day from 8:30A M-5:00P M
Vermont
Handcrafts
Gifts
Vermont
Cheese
Maple Farm
Tour
Maple
Products
%
25
Enjoy off
all non-food items*
We ship Vermont Gift
Baskets and Maple
Syrup Year ‘round
“Worlds Best; maples
creemees, shakes and
sundaes served all winters
OPEN EVERY DAY
8:30-5:00
*Excludes Amish Rockers
*Plastic Jugs Only
Armstrong Farm in Calais Conserved,
New Farm Business Established
Ella Armstrong, who has conserved a scenic
and productive farm in Calais with the
Vermont Land Trust, has sold the land to
farmer Mike Betit, who has moved his organic
vegetable business to the property.
Ella grew up on the 129-acres of land,
located at the intersection of Pekin Brook,
Peck Hill and George Roads. Her family ran a
small dairy farm there until 2015. When Ella
inherited the property, she knew she wanted it
to remain a farm, as did her neighbors. She
decided to work with the Vermont Land Trust
to conserve the land and find a new farmer to
buy it.
Jon Ramsay of the Vermont Land Trust felt
that Ella’s farm was a good candidate for the
land trust’s Farmland Access Program, which
helps farmers buy their first land and start or
expand their business.
“Land is expensive in Vermont and difficult
to buy on a farming income,” said Jon. “Yet,
it’s these farms that make Vermont what it
is.”
“This was the only way I could do it,” said
Ella as she passed the ownership deed over to
Mike. “Our family put so much into the
land—the hard work we did—I’m glad to see
it will remain a farm.”
By selling a conservation easement on the
land that limits development, subdivision, and
protects water quality, Ella was able to sell the
farm at a reduced price to Mike.
Mike has farmed for 17 years as part of
Tamarack Hollow Farms, raising livestock
and then organic vegetables. He was selected
to buy the land after a competitive business
proposal process. The opportunity to own
significant acreage meant he could expand.
“Hoolie Flats Farm is my new business,”
explained Mike. “The foundation is growing
bulk storage crops for a few large buyers in
New York City… I’m looking at perennial
production that makes use of the acreage that
won’t work for annuals, and I’m hoping to
• • •
build in a livestock component as well.”
Ella leased her farm to Mike while the conservation
and fundraising process happened.
In this time, he made improvements to the
farmhouse and barns, and built hoophouses.
The farm wasn’t just loved by Ella, it was
also very important to the community.
“The Town of Calais was very pleased to
support VLT’s efforts to conserve the
Armstrong Farm and bring it back to life as a
working farm,” said Denise Wheeler, chair of
the Calais Selectboard, which voted to contribute
$30,000 from the town’s conservation
fund at a recommendation of the conservation
commission. “We were thrilled to see vegetables
growing in the fields last summer.”
The community was also interested in protecting
wetland areas and public access to
Pekin Brook for fishing and swimming.
Recreational access to the brook and water
quality were both incorporated into the farm’s
conservation protections.
“The inclusion of a river corridor easement
to protect the water quality of the Pekin Brook
that runs through the farm added to the value
this project has for the town,” added Denise.
In addition to town funding, the project was
made possible through funding provided by
the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board,
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, the Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation, and The Nature
Conservancy under a grant from Keurig Green
Mountain, Inc.
In a strong show of support, community
members closed the final fundraising gap by
contributing $50,000 toward the project.
“So many people wanted this land protected,”
said Jon. “We are grateful to the community
and to the organizations, agencies, and
businesses that made this project possible.”
Live vibrant. Live local. Live here.
Upcoming Events at Morgan Orchards
JANUARY
Sun., January 7 1-3 p.m. Open House
Thurs., January 18 4-5 p.m. Third Thursday Lecture: Winter Back Safety
with Gifford Physical Therapist Troy Stratton
Sat., January 20 2:30-4 p.m. Community Sleigh Rides
Tues., January 30 2-3 p.m. Woodshop Talk and Tour
with resident and woodworker Arnie Spahn
FEBRUARY
Thurs., February 8 2-4 p.m. Open House
Thurs., February 15 4-5 p.m. Third Thursday Lecture: Chocolate Fair
with The Snowflake Chocolate Co., Amarah’s Chocolates, and Nutty Steph’s
MARCH
Sat., March 3 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Open House
Thurs., March 15 4-5 p.m. Third Thursday Lecture: Maple Sugaring
with Silloway Maple
(802) 728-7888 | www.MorganOrchards.com
Randolph Center, Vermont
page 4 The WORLD January 10, 2018
Disaster Declaration
Approved For Vermont
Governor Phil Scott has announced that President Donald
Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Addison,
Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange,
Orleans, Washington, and Windham counties. Those counties
suffered substantial damage during wind and rain storms on
October 29 and 30.
A Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified $3.7
million in public infrastructure damage statewide far exceeding
the $1 million minimum Vermont must show to be considered
for a disaster declaration. That estimate only accounts for
enough identified damage to qualify for federal Public
Assistance funding.
Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille,
Orange, Orleans, Washington, and Windham counties each
exceeded the $3.68 per capita threshold needed to qualify
communities and public utilities in those counties for assistance.
A preponderance of the damage involved power restoration:
line work, power pole replacement, and contractor
assistance.
The Public Assistance disaster declaration allows communities
and public utilities in those counties to receive 75 percent
federal reimbursement for storm response and recovery.
Those costs include power restoration, debris removal, and
repairs to public roads, bridges, and other infrastructure with
damage resulting from the storm.
Vermont Emergency Management will soon announce multiple
applicant briefings, which Town leaders should attend to
start the process for seeking federal assistance. The briefings
will outline the requirements for receiving federal awards and
maximizing eligibility of repairs. Vermont Emergency
Management, Agency of Transportation District personnel,
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
will guide them through the application process.
The declaration also includes funds from the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for towns, state agencies,
and approved non-profit organizations statewide. This program
provides funding for a variety of mitigation activities,
including home buyouts, structural elevations, flood proofing
and public infrastructure upgrades for roads, bridges and culverts
in vulnerable locations.
More information on the Public Assistance process can be
found at http://vem.vermont.gov/funding/pa.