For immediate release: June 13, 2013

1,144 acres hosting Nordic and Backcountry Trails become addition to Mount Mansfield State Forest.

June 13 at The Ponds at Bolton, Bolton Valley Access Road – Governor Shumlin was handed the property deed of the 1,144 acres of land that host the Bolton Nordic and Backcountry trails today. The land is now successfully purchased, conserved and transferred to the State of Vermont as an addition to the Mt. Mansfield State Forest.

“Today marks the end of the two year campaign to protect this property and permanently secure it for the public,” said Gil Livingston. “We at the Vermont Land Trust are honored to serve the citizens of Bolton, the residents of Vermont, and the untold number of people who now and on into the future will find joy, companionship, and peacefulness in this accessible, forested corner of Vermont.”

For immediate release: June 3, 2013

Orb Weaver Farm, Renowned for Cheese, Conserved with Vermont Land Trust

Monkton-- Marjorie Susman and Marian Pollack, owners of Orb Weaver Farm, are legends in the Vermont cheese world. Soon after buying their first Jerseys in 1981, they quickly realized they needed to do something different to survive in the dairy business. Before long, they decided to make cheese and they haven't looked back. Fifteen generations of cows later, their farmhouse cheeses continually win national and international awards. Now, Marjorie and Marian have conserved 102 acres of their Monkton farm with the Vermont Land Trust.

"We've been farming this land for well over 30 years, and often wondered what would happen to our beautiful farm after we retired," said Marjorie. "Working with the Vermont Land Trust was the answer we were looking for. Not only has our land been conserved, but we are now able to make some much needed infrastructure improvements."

For immediate release: April 15, 2013

Whitingham – Nestled in the hills to the east of Harriman Reservoir, the Corse Farm has operated as a dairy and sugar maple operation in the same family since 1868.

A few years ago the Corse brothers, Leon and Roy, separated the two farm businesses: the grass-based organic dairy operated by Leon and Linda Corse, and the sugar maple operation operated by Roy and Vanessa Corse.

Last month, the brothers divided the land between the businesses and Leon and Linda's land associated with the dairy was conserved with the sale of a conservation easement to the Vermont Land Trust. Now, 290 acres of hay land, pasture and forestland are permanently protected.

For immediate release: March 21, 2013

The Vermont Land Trust announced today that it has raised all the money needed to purchase and conserve more than 1,100 acres of the Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry land.

Thanks to the outpouring of generosity of so many people, organizations, and business the 15-month, $1.85 million campaign was a resounding success. The project will have an official closing this spring and the land will be transferred to the State of Vermont as an addition to Mount Mansfield State Forest.

"The Bolton land, its trails, remote forest and wildlife certainly captured the imagination of people from all walks of life," said Gil Livingston, President of the Vermont Land Trust. "This success is a testament to our community: the people, the recreation equipment businesses, the philanthropists and the state leaders who know our collective health and the future of Vermont are tied to the great outdoors."

The Vermont Land Trust received more than 1,200 gifts in support of the project, ranging from $1 raffle tickets to three anonymous donors' $100,000 contributions. Many businesses lent support with events, raffles, and in-kind and financial contributions. A grant from the Conservation Alliance of $50,000 closed the final fundraising gap with just a week and a half to go to the fundraising deadline. The project would not have been possible without an $800,000 grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.

For immediate release: February 27, 2013

Neighbors work with Vermont Land Trust to protect farmland, forest, secure a future trail ridgeline trail, and add to town forest

An incredible, multi-year conservation project has been completed in Tinmouth. A group of neighboring landowners worked with the Vermont Land Trust for several years to permanently conserve more than 950 acres along the eastern side of Tinmouth Mountain. The land includes much of the ridgeline and the 200-year-old Gilmore dairy farm.

In January 2011, the Gilmore family began the process of conserving Echo Mountain Farm. The farm has been in their family since Joshua Campbell first settled the land in 1791.

Peter and Lucy Gilmore and two of their children, Alan and Andy, currently operate the dairy farm. To expand the business for the next generation, the family decided it needed to buy more land. To help finance the purchase of 87 neighboring acres, the Gilmores sold a conservation easement on 309 acres to the Vermont Land Trust. "We wanted to keep our Bicentennial Farm in the family and a working farm and this land was very important to make this possible," said Andy Gilmore.

For immediate release: January 21, 2013

Charlotte – A beautiful stretch of 229 acres of agricultural land has been permanently conserved by David and Diane Nichols. The couple worked with the Vermont Land Trust to protect a large portion of their productive farm from development and subdivision.

The land was a dairy until 1979, when David sold his cows and went into hay and grain. Since then, he has built a successful business selling hay to horse farms in three states. In the past decade, David bought a combine and diversified his business to include corn grown for feed.

"We want to keep this land available for farming," said David Nichols about conservation. "It's too good a resource to lose to development. This was a good decision for us."

For immediate release: December 21, 2012

Wolcott -- This week, landowners Gail Osherenko and Oran Young donated a conservation easement on 60 acres on Wolcott Pond to the Vermont Land Trust. In addition to 1,500 feet of pond frontage, the property also includes seven acres of sensitive wetlands and a vernal pool, which offers essential breeding habitat for amphibians.

"Between state land and land owned by members of our extended family, we have a unique opportunity to protect the integrity of Wolcott Pond, one of the least-developed lakes in northern Vermont," said Oran.

For immediate release: December 19, 2012

Rockingham --In the spirit of giving this holiday season, Malcolm Guild of Rockingham donated a conservation easement on 113 acres of forested and open land, the Vermont Land Trust announced today.

It was in 1965 that Malcolm and his late wife, Mary, purchased their house and land because they wanted to live in a rural area. Over the years, they raised six children there and acquired two more forested parcels.