Vermont Land Trust Press Release - Supporting the Agricultural Economy: Ferrisburg Couple Conserves Diversified Farm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2006
For more information, please contact:

*	Elise Annes, Vermont Land Trust Vice President of Community Relations at 802/223-5234
*	Bob Heiser, Conservation Project Manager for the Vermont Land Trust at 802/434-3079

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Supporting the Agricultural Economy:
Ferrisburg Couple Conserves Diversified Farm

The town of Ferrisburg is deeply rooted in agriculture with over 6,000 acres of farmland in conservation. Last month, Erik and Erica Andrus added to this block by conserving their 104-acre farm with the Vermont Land Trust. “Boundbrook Farm” is located just over a mile from downtown Vergennes. Conservation of this farmland helps to ensure the availability of land to support the agricultural economy and unique character of Addison County.

In addition to protecting productive farmland, the Andruses are protecting 20 acres of rare Clayplain forest. Conservation of the land was made possible by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and a generous donation by the Andruses.

The Andruses purchased the land last year after long searching for a farm of their own. Between them, Erik and Erica have several years of farming experience, in addition to bookkeeping and teaching experience. They plan to use these skills to establish a diversified, community-oriented farm operation, and offer others the opportunity to learn about farming through an apprenticeship program.

“Conserving the farm was an easy choice for us,” said Erik Andrus. “We try to think carefully about how we run our farm and what it means for the future of the community and the land. Conserving the farm is a natural extension of that mindset.”

The Andruses grew their first test crop of wheat this summer, and they are currently raising pigs and sheep. A centerpiece of their operation will be a bakery, where they will bake bread with grains grown on the farm. An earthen oven, recently built, will bake 40 loaves of bread at a time.

“The Andruses are passionate about providing their food products to local markets in a sustainable manner,” said Bob Heiser, Conservation Project Manager for the Vermont Land Turst. “In taking this step to conserve their farm, they are helping to secure that local food source for current and future generations.”

After this summer’s news of dropping milk prices and relentless spring rains that disappointed fall harvests, farming in Vermont seemed bleak. But stories like the Andrus’s give us hope for agriculture and its future.

The Vermont Land Trust helped the Andruses conserve their land through the use of a conservation easement. An easement helps landowners voluntarily limit development on productive farmland and forestland, and other meaningful natural and community places. Landowners continue to own, manage, and pay taxes on the land and can sell their land; however, the conservation easement permanently remains on the property.
The Vermont Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that works with individuals, organizations, and communities to conserve land for the future of Vermont. Over the past 29 years, VLT has helped conserve more than 1,300 parcels of land covering over 454,000 acres, or about 8% of the private, undeveloped land in the state. The conserved land includes more than 600 working farms, hundreds of thousands of acres of productive forestland, and numerous parcels of community lands. This conservation work changes the lives of families, invigorates farms, launches new businesses, maintains scenic vistas, encourages recreational opportunity, and fosters a renewed sense of community. For more information, call (802) 223-5234 or visit VLT on the web at www.vlt.org.