Vermont Land Trust Press Release - Intervale Center Purchases 179 Acres and Conserves 232 Acres of Land Critical to Burlington Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2007

Intervale Center Purchases 179 Acres and Conserves 232 Acres
of Land Critical to Burlington Agriculture

After over a year of public process at the city and state level, and with the help of the Vermont Land Trust and funding from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Intervale Center was able to purchase 179 acres from the Burlington Electric Company (BED) and conserve 232 acres, which included the BED land and the 53 acres recently donated by the Calkins family, the Vermont Land Trust announced today. Prior to this, the Intervale Center had leased all but six acres of its land.

“By having an agricultural conservation easement and ownership of the land it assures that my kids and grandkids and other generations will have this land for agriculture,” said Andy Jones, farm manager at the Intervale Community Farm, the largest CSA in northern New England. “We’re trying to look at the long term; that’s what this is all about.”

The rich, fertile land of the Intervale totals nearly 1,000 acres. It was one of the first areas to be farmed in Vermont, though, by the 1960s the land had become a dumping ground. Since 1988, the Intervale Center, a nonprofit agricultural organization, has reclaimed over 325 acres of farmland and developed farm enterprises that generate economic and social opportunity while protecting natural resources.

The Intervale Center hosts 14 independent organic farms that produce over 550,000 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables and poultry annually. Its compost operation recycles over 22,000 tons of waste each year, which builds fertile soil in Vermont. It supports many important programs such as the Youth Farm, Cooking for Life, and a farm incubator program that supports new farm entrepreneurs. It also houses the Intervale Conservation Nursery, which grows native trees and shrubs for riparian restoration. Until now, the Intervale Center achieved all of this on leased land.

“Land ownership will enable the Intervale Center to continue to deliver important public benefits to Burlington and Vermont as a whole,” said Kit Perkins, executive director of the Intervale Center. “The Center promotes sustainable agriculture and strong local food systems, which are critical to our economy and overall wellbeing.”

The conservation easement is held by the Vermont Land Trust, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and will ensure the Intervale continues to be used for agriculture, education, habitat conservation, and other community and recreational purposes. The City of Burlington owns one percent of the BED parcel, which further ensures the property will keep on providing extraordinary benefits to the community. Additionally, the Intervale Center granted an easement to the City of Burlington that allows for the Tommy Thompson Community Gardens to continue on the Intervale in perpetuity.

“The Intervale is some of the most important farmland in Vermont,” said Gil Livingston, president of the Vermont Land Trust. “Its incubator program creates a safe haven for new farm enterprises. New farmers get low-cost access to very productive land, the wisdom of mentors, shared equipment and business planning help. Many of Vermont's next generation of farmers learn their trade in the Intervale.”

In addition to housing the Intervale Center, the 232 acres comprise 137 acres of prime and 79 acres of statewide soils; approximately 60 acres of floodplain forest; 4,500 feet of frontage on the Winooski River; and is a treasured Burlington resource for recreation, education, and natural areas.

For more information, please contact Kit Perkins, Executive Director of the Intervale Center at (802) 660-0440 x103; or Elise Annes, Vice President of Community Relations at the Vermont Land Trust at (802) 262-1206.