By Kerry Doyle, Regional Stewardship Manager for southeastern Vermont

One of the things I enjoy most about my job is visiting the same properties and landowners over the years and seeing the changes on their land.

I first met with Michael Knapp on his conserved property in Guilford in 2006. Originally conserved in 1992 by Addison Minott, the Knapps purchased this 36-acre property in 1994. The property is mostly fields that contain high quality agricultural soils. The Green River runs along its western boundary. Over the years, the Knapps have raised beef cows on the property and pastured sheep. Currently a neighboring farmer hays the fields.

During our visit, Michael and I walked a path winding along the river and discussed land management issues. He shared his concerns for the invasive plants choking out the native vegetation along the river banks. I gave him a brochure and contact information for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) administered through NRCS and information on an upcoming workshop dealing with invasive species management.

By Cara Montgomery, co-Regional Stewardship Manager for the Champlain Valley

The smell of spring is in the air and the leaves are perpetually dripping from recent rains. It is the time of year to go out and visit the Goldsmith property and take inventory of the comings and goings in the forest.

Lynda Goldsmith conserved her Fairfax land in 2007. Lynda is a botanist and lover of wildlife and she manages her 338-acre forest to encourage a diversity of species. On her property, you run into signs of deer, coyotes, fishers, weasels, raccoons, an abundance of different birds, and— most interesting to me—a host of amphibians that lay their eggs in vernal pools.

On my yearly visit, I enjoy giving her the update on how everyone in the woods is faring. I am particularly interested in how all the critters that breed and live in the vernal pools are doing since this is the most delicate resource on Lynda’s land.