2022 Fall Ridgeline

Fall 2022

Celebrating over 70 years of connecting people to the land

GRAPHIC CREDITS:

Buechner Family Archives: p. 3

Kat Deely: p. 22

Liz Ruffa: p. 25

MFFC BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jill Perry Balzano

Merrill Bent

Dinah Buechner-Vischer

Jim Hand

Greg Hopper, Treasurer

Mark Lourie

John Stasny, Vice President

Sue Van Hook, President

Brian Vargo

•Cara Davenport: p. 5, 10, 11, 13, 24, 26

• Christine Ferris-Hubbard: p. 24• Kathryn Lawrence: p. 22

• Hadley Stock: front cover p. 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 24, 27 & back cover• Anna Terry: p. 7• Rob Terry: p. 8, 9

Danielle Zimmerman: p. 2, 4, 6, 16, 20, 24, 27

Magazine layout by Peppergrass Design Studio

ADVISORS

Keld Alstrup

Donald Campbell

Jean Ceglowski

Austin Chinn

George Hatch

Peter Hicks

Jock Irons

Karen Kellogg

Jon Mathewson

Sam Schneski

STAFF

Stephanie Breed, VC Coordinator

Cara Davenport, Education Manager

Dylan Durkee, Fleet & Facilities Manager

Chris Ferris-Hubbard, Education Director

Kathryn Lawrence, Assistant Executive Director

Marybeth Leu, Communications Coordinator

Liz Ruffa, Advancement Director

Elena Santos, Education Coordinator

Hadley Stock , Farm Manager

Mike Stock, Working Lands Operations

Rob Terry, Executive Director

1933-2022

It is with a heavy heart that we share news of the passing of Judith Friedricke Merck Buechner, daughter of MFFC’s founder George Merck, and her husband Carl Frederick Buechner. Judy spent much of her life on and around the land that is now Merck Forest. She was a neighbor, a treasured friend and a champion of the natural world who will be dearly missed. Fred, a well known author and theologian, shared Judy’s love of this magnificent landscape.

1926-2022

Judith Friedricke Merck Buechner

Carl Frederick Buechner

Welcome Note

By Rob Terry, Executive Director

The waning days of summer are upon us. As crisp fall days draw near, there are many things to look forward to at Merck Forest, the most obvious being the coming onslaught of color. It won’t be long until the landscape is soaked in a vibrant mixture of red, yellow, and orange. In the meantime, our education team, fresh off a brief post-summer camp respite, is already busy hosting school groups from around the region. Volunteer groups from nearby high schools and colleges are helping us load wood sheds in preparation for wood burning season. On the farm, the last of the season’s hay will soon be in the Harwood Barn while the Small Animal Barn is getting buttoned up in preparation for the long, cold winter to come. Small scale, sustainable winter timber harvests are being prepped, and our fleet and facilities crew is racing to put the finishing touches on the final projects of the building season. In the Visitor Center, our Advancement Office is ramping up for Annual Fund campaign season, the yearly fundraising effort that makes everything that we do here at Merck Forest & Farmland Center possible. Read on to learn more about all the great work that the Annual Fund supports, and hopefully be inspired to plan a visit during what might just be the most special time of year up on the hill.

Invisible To Us

By Sue Van Hook, Board President

July and August were dry on the mountain at MFFC. Too dry in fact to find fungi during the mushroom workshops we held. We managed to dig in the wood chip piles to find the white mycelium of the oyster fungi being used to remediate trails and parking lots into soils. I asked children, and later the adults, to walk on the wood chips adjacent to the perennial garden and find the spongy places – those areas that felt like walking on a trampoline or waterbed. Once we found those spots, we all knelt and brushed aside the top layer of wood chips to reveal the white fans of mycelium exploring the substrate for food. Even when there are no visible mushrooms above the soil surface, we can rest assured the microscopic fungal threads are at work below deck, decomposing dead organic matter and supplying plant roots with vital nutrients and water as mycorrhizae (fungus-root relationships).

Likewise, visitors to MFFC continue to spread their mycelia among other people and in communities of all sorts on and off the property while remaining invisible to us. During the second day of depauperate mushrooming, the participants had time to connect more with one another. The sweetest thing I learned that day was that one of the couples in attendance comes every year at this time to celebrate the start of their union. Their marriage proposal took place atop Mt. Antone. It made me wonder just how many proposals have occurred in this beloved piece of the world. I took a guess at what other significant events might have occurred here too. I know I’ve planned a few of my own milestones for times I’ve stayed at one of the cabins.

Invisible to us and yet so deeply connected to this place, generations of families keep coming and going. They explore, they rest, they learn, they share, they go inside themselves, especially when it is really dry at the surface. We would love to hear more about the special life events you’ve experienced at MFFC. I am certain there is a long list. Do drop us an email and let us know, unless of course, you’d rather remain invisible.

Merck Forest & Farmland Center is on a mission to inspire curiosity, love and responsibility for natural and working lands

What to do this Fall at Merck Forest & Farmland Center

Compiled by MFFC Educational Team

• Pick and eat an apple from one of our heritage breed apple trees, located near the Frank Hatch Sap House.

• Come up to the fields at the farm to wish the Monarch butterflies well before they depart on their journey south.

• Watch for Canada geese or raptors heading south.

• Stroll up to the farm to witness the expansive colorful quilt laid out from Merck Forest to the Southern Adirondacks.

• Listen to the squirrels and chipmunks scurry around as they put up their supply of acorns.

• Visit our sheep, with their thick wool coats, ready for the winter.

• Hike one of our many trails as the leaves fall around you.

• Catch a leaf mid-air and make a wish.

• Try the various herbs in our Children’s Garden one last time before it’s put to bed.

• Sit by a campfire on a brisk autumn evening.

• Capture the fall colors through art – photography, drawing, or painting.

• Look up and watch how the wind makes the leaves in the trees dance.

• As you walk through the woods, follow the beams of light through the tree branches and see what lies in the spotlight.

• Head to Page Pond for an adventure and maybe catch a frog or two.

• Stay in one of our rustic cabins to read, write, reflect and play cards.

• As dusk approaches, listen for the owls hooting at one another.

• Bring your (leashed) dog up through the farmstead and then let them run free on MFFC’s 30 miles of trails.

• Use iNaturalist to document some of Merck Forest’s fall wildlife during your hike.

• Count trail-side mushrooms as you follow Old Town Road or the Discovery Trail up to the farm.

• Have a fall picnic at our farm.

• Enjoy an early sunset.

• Hike to Viewpoint or Mount Antone and view the colorful foliage on nearby hills and mountains.

• Learn to make a whistle from an acorn cap.

• Use colorful crayons to make leaf rubbings.

• Collect a variety of colored leaves and flowers and create a mandala.

Planning for a Liveable Future

By Rob Terry, Executive Director

If you’ve recently paid a visit to the farm, you’ve likely noticed the hard work that our land management team has been putting in this field season. There’s a new roof and siding on the maintenance building, site work is underway for a new pole barn and equipment shop, the horses have a new run-in attached to the small animal barn, the floor in the hay maw has been replaced, the sap tank has new stairs and a fresh coat of paint, and a host of other small and medium scale infrastructure projects have been completed. The focal point of this flurry of improvements is two-fold. We are striving to shore up and protect the buildings that have served us (and those that came before us) well, some for nearly two-centuries, while simultaneously conducting a thorough needs and condition assessment to inform our evolving master planning process.

When our staff and trustees first recognized that Merck Forest would benefit from the development of a 10-year master plan, we reached out to a number of organizations that had relatively recently drafted master plans of their own. Through these conversations, we received a mountain of helpful feedback. While there were a number of common threads woven throughout the recommendations that we were given, one stood out due to the universally strong conviction with which it was delivered: “honor the process.” We quickly recognized a direct correlation between the amount of well-spent time that organizations dedicated to its master planning and the likelihood that the plan was being followed to the benefit of the institution.

We are approximately a year-and-half into our own master planning process, and would estimate that we are roughly threequarters of the way complete. We have finished the forest management component of the plan (perhaps the most technical aspect of the effort), are nearing completion of the farming portion, and have launched both the ‘fleet and facilities’ and ‘educational programs’ planning efforts.

In recent weeks, we have begun to feel these efforts coalesce in encouraging ways. For example, thanks to the feedback we’ve gotten from our community, partners and staff on the value and impact of our farming and forestry work, we are beginning to better understand how to incorporate this work into the rich tapestry of ecology focused workshops, camps, internships, apprenticeships, and group programs that have lately served as the foundation of our instructional efforts. Furthermore, we are beginning to dream.

As this process reveals new and exciting ways to bring our mission to life for our community, we are recognizing prospective projects that could significantly enhance visitor experience; projects like rehabilitating the historic Harwood Barn and upgrading its interior to provide space for visitors to experience permanent and temporary installations showcasing the importance of sustainable agriculture and forestry. Stay tuned in. In the upcoming months, as we begin to assess the the potential of some of these dreams, and those that rise to the top are codified into our master plan, we will have a host of exciting opportunities to support Merck Forest & Farmland Center as we boldly position the organization to continue to inspire our community to live well on, and in concert with, this beautiful planet we call home.

Harvest Festival Recap

On 9/17, 141 visitors and their families participated a hands-on, action-packed event centered around MFFC’s harvest - from our woods and from our farm. As you can see, fun was had by all!

Education & Program Updates

by Chris Ferris-Hubbard, Education Director; Cara Davenport, Education Manager; Elena Santos, Education Coordinator; Rob Terry, Executive Director

2022 Summer Camp parent: “He absolutely loves this camp! He tells everyone about it and so do I.”

Summer wrapped up with the oversight of our summer camp sessions - young campers had joined us for 8 week-long sessions filled with hiking, exploring, and discovery in our woods, at our pond, on our farm and in our fields. Camps were designed for rising 1st graders to 8th graders.

Things became startlingly quiet for a bit after a full summer of active campers, but it didn’t take long before college groups and field trips were being scheduled and programming and service project visits commenced as the school year started up again.

The Education and Program team has continued to develop interpretive signage for the property, from kiosk panels to tree ID signs, and more. The team has been getting ready for our Next Generation Science Standards program for 5th graders and planning for 2023, including a fall season with NGSS school programs, activities and workshops, working with the Mettawee Community School, and signature event planning.

“This summer I have watched visitors walk through the property in all kinds of weather- scorching heat, hazy humidity, thunder and lightning storms, gusty blustery days, bluebird skies, and the seemingly rare perfectly temperate ones. Now that we can feel autumn slowly but surely making its way via crisp, cool air and the ever present buzz of late summer insects, I’ll be continuing my current post as a roving interpreter - continuing my visitor interactions around the Visitor Center, the farm, and on the trails. These interactions include collecting surveys on a tablet, tracking the data I collect, and counting the number of visitors that come through on the weekends. This work will carry me through foliage and into the end of October. At the end of October, I will transition back into my school-group oriented work, both at MFFC and at Mettawee Community School.”

- Elena Santos, Education Coordinator

Mettawee Community School Satellite Campus Update

This fall, we will deepen our relationship with the Mettawee Community School by:

• embedding a MFFC educator at the school to work with students and teachers one day per week

• continuing to lead programming at the property adjacent to the school and at our main campus

• engaging the school community in the next steps of the trail and access design and permitting process.

In addition to benefiting the Mettawee School community, the creativity and innovation going into these programs is positively impacting the work that our education team does with a variety of schools around the region. While these programs have long focused primarily on 5th and 6th graders, we are excited to be piloting new programming at a variety of levels from pre-k through high school.

On the Farm

By Hadley Stock, Farm Manager

This field season will wrap up with 200 meat birds, 7 pigs, 16 turkeys & 14 lambs in the freezer, almost 1,000 lbs of blueberries picked, and 1,500 bales of hay put up in the barn. After the hustle of this growing season, planning for the next one will be welcome. Planning includes:

• deciding on breeding dates for the ewes and Strawberry Jello, our sow; planning for next spring’s lambs, piglets and chicks

• thinking through new aspects to the farm program for next summer

• continuing to build integrated systems that make the farm work a little bit better for everyone who enjoys it.

We especially enjoyed having the Student Conservation Association on property in August and teaching this cohort of remarkable young land stewards from New York City about regenerative farming and food production.

Earlier this year we learned of a substantial gift from an anonymous fund holder at the Vermont Community Foundation to support our work at the Mettawee Community School. The contribution is intended to help us improve access to the parcel from the school and establish a sustainable route through the low-lying wetland areas, allowing students to explore fragile habitats without damaging them. Over the summer, Rob worked with a team of three seniors from the University of Vermont’s Rubinstein School via a class in which students partner with organizations around the state to help address realworld challenges. Through this collaboration, we were able to make a significant amount of progress on acquiring the permits necessary for this work, creating a set of GIS layers that will aid in the development of the trail network, and designing a host of interpretive waypoints that will allow students to install temporary educational resources that they create.

Fleet & Facilities

by Dylan Durkee, Fleet & Facilities Manager

As we all know, this summer was very dry, but with the dry weather we were able to get a lot of work done. We were able to get hay baled, trees cut down and sawed up for several on property projects, such as:

• putting new floor joist in the Harwood barn

• new siding on the maintenance building

• bog bridges on the wildlife trail

• constructing chicken tractors

• new outdoor chicken coop

• run-in for the horses

• sawing lots of timbers for an upcoming timber frame project

This fall we will focus on constructing a new timber frame building which is intended to be very versatile. The building will be used for parking all the equipment that is currently outdoors and for sawing timbers undercover. The building will also be used for putting together new timber frame buildings in the future. This project will most likely take up most of the fall. Stop by the top of the Farm Trail if you see us working to say hi and see what we are up to!

Land Management

by Mike Stock, Working Lands Operations

Summer went well - we completed infrastructure projects, hayed, logged, worked with animals, improved fencing, mowed and helped out wherever it was needed! Working with the SCA group was also very satisfying.

This fall brings plenty of tasks as well. Stacking wood for the cabins , keeping trails free of debris and blowdowns and working on the new timber frame equipment storage/ shop space will keep me busy. I’m looking forward to learning the timber framing art from Dylan and making Merck Forest as accessible as possible for everyone.

Visitor Experience & Outreach

by Stephanie Breed, Visitor Experience Coordinator

The Visitor Center was humming this summer! The Ecology Open House started things off and summer brought constant crowds to MFFC. Despite the minor heat wave earlier on, the weather was perfect. As we adjust towards the next season, there still is excitement in the air. Foliage is changing and the days are crisp and clear. The coolers are filled with humanely-raised pork, lamb, chicken and turkey, all raised at Merck Forest. We have fresh eggs, frozen blueberries and of course our famous maple syrup. Come say hello, pat Ellie the cat and go for a hike.

Many previous staff/interns have recently visited. It’s been fun hearing about their experiences. One woman shared her Merck Forest intern experience with her daughter who, in turn, became inspired to join the forestry service. Love to hear those stories!

Systems Improvements

by Marybeth Leu, Communications Coordinator

I am implementing new cloud-based systems - for cabin reservations, workshop registrations and G/L and accounting functions, assisting in finalizing 2023 operating budgets, facilitating the production, recording and acknowledgement of Annual Campaign contributions and managing merckforest.org.

Team Collaborations College Visits

MFFC hosted first-year student experiences in August and September this year, with Tufts University, Harvard University, and Williams College, who all traveled to Merck Forest for several days of camping and volunteering. From building bog bridges and stacking firewood to clearing trails and picking berries, students lent a hand in the multitude of tasks around the farm and in the forest.

Rupert Old Home Days

MFFC participated in the Rupert Old Home Days Parade in August, creating a tractor-pulled float that focused on Pioneer Days.

September 11: Day of Public Service

MFFC worked with over 30 Burr and Burton Academy sophomores, who spent the day on property pulling invasives and helping on the farm.

As a mission-driven nonprofit corporation, Merck Forest & Farmland Center relies on financial support to connect people to the land in rich and meaningful ways. We strive to keep founder George W. Merck’s guiding principles of free access to outdoor recreation for all and of collaboration and learning to advance environmental stewardship alive, vibrant and forward-facing.

With the arrival of this fall season, so too comes our Annual Fund’s fall campaign. MFFC’s Annual Fund, our largest fundraising effort each year, provides the institution with the critical financial resources necessary to do our work and meet our mission.

We deeply appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you up on the mountain soon! Stop by the Visitor Center to say hello or visit our website to keep up to date on what’s happening at MFFC.

Keep an eye on your mailbox later this month (October) for our annual appeal letter. If you’d prefer to donate now, please visit merckforest.org or use the QR code found on pages 15 or 23. In any event, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with Liz Ruffa at liz@merckforest.org or at 802-394-2579.

What makes MFFC special?

Merck Forest offers a sense of place, a palpable connection to nature and a sense of belonging. It also offers a feeling of being a positive contributor to our regoin and our planet.

MFFC is free and open to the public 365 days a year from dawn until dusk - just as George Merck intended when he first established the Vermont Forest and Farmland Foundation Inc. in 1950 as the first environmentally focused nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of Vermont.

There is no better place to learn about the diversity of the forest and its lifeforms, hill farm life and history, regenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration possibilities and the beauty in seasonal landscapes.

The experiences that MFFC provides - be it hiking, camping, hunting, skiing, etc. - plus the educational side of sustainable farming, forest health, wildlife habitats and ecosystems is very unique and not available anywhere else.

Why MFFC deserves your support

MFFC aims to reverse peoples’ disconnection from nature by making connections to the land through our open gates and educational programming. Our welcoming environment inspires all who visit and our team works hard to encourage curiosity and a safe setting for people to explore and deepen their knowledge about natural and working lands.

The MFFC team strives to provide a continually better experience for all who come to enjoy the Merck landscape and its programs and offerings. That takes communication and outreach. As our networks grows, we seek out opportunities to spread our message to others.

Merck Forest is unlike any place: it’s an amazing resource for visitors of all ages in and out of the community. To be able to immerse oneself in nature is a gift that Merck Forest provides to visitors every single day. The team here gets excited when visitors return and deepen their relationship with the property and the institution. Your support helps make that authentic connection happen.

Ways you can support Merck Forest:

• Donate to MFFC’s Annual Fund, which supports annual operations.

• Look for our fall campaign materials online or in your mailbox later this month.

• Become a Member of MFFC! Members help keep the property well maintained and free to all.

• Memberships are also a great way to introduce someone to MFFC. Gift one!

• Consider a Planned/Legacy Gift. Contact us for more information.

• Does your workplace have a matching gift program? If so, access it!

• Consider becoming a sustaining/monthly donor. Contact us for info.

• Attend workshops, trainings and special/signature events!

• Volunteers are invaluable to nonprofit organizations - gift your time!

• Purchase Merck-Made products - meats, eggs, syrup - at the Visitor Center.

• Connect with the Advancement Office if you have ideas/questions.

“The virtue of giving good things to others freely and abundantly.... What exactly generosity gives can be various things: money, possessions, time, attention, aid, encouragement, emotional availability, and more” - Science of Generosity Initiative, 2012, a project of Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley

Interested in making a monetary donation? Use one of these three options:

1) Mail a check to: Merck Forest & Farmland Center PO BOX 86 Rupert, Vermont 05768

2) Donate online at: www.merckforest.org

3) Or scan and donate:

2022 Annual Fund fall campaign is a project of MFFC Advancement Office

“I LOVE THE WOODS AND I LOVE LEARNING AND I WANT OTHERS, OF ALL AGES, TO SHARE IN THAT EXPERIENCE.”

- MFFC SUPPORTER

Animal Ambassadors

by Liz Ruffa, Advancement Director and Chris FerrisHubbard, Education Director

A great idea developed this past spring.....why not start an Animal Ambassador program where people - from school aged kids to adults, could volunteer and learn about how to care for farm animals by shadowing our farm manager and ed team.

MFFC Farm Manager Hadley Stock now has 8 ambassadors in training, all students from Long Trail School who are involved in an “E” class which allows them to explore topics of interest. These students opted for the Animal Ambassador program with MFFC due to their interest in animal husbandry, and they are now involved with caring for our farm animals. They’re learning about safety protocols and risk management, animal nutrition, health and welfare, as well animal behavior and more. In addition, they will have the opportunity to be involved with and have up-close observations of veterinary visits, sheep shearing, horse farrier services, and more.

Great ideas evolve in wonderful ways. Thank you for your partnership Long Trail School, and special thanks to our inaugural cohort of Animal Ambassadors!

SCA: A Working Visit from Urban Conservationists in Training

by Rob Terry, Executive Director

A group of young Student Conservation Association crew members from New York City spent two weeks on our farm helping with farm projectsthey lent a hand in taking care of the farm animals, building chicken tractors for next year’s chickens and processing meat birds.

The SCA participants were all alumni of SCA’s New York City Community Crew, a program run in NYC that provides local youth with the opportunity to experience conservation work in an urban setting.

This experience at MFFC allowed participants to step out of the City and experience what conservation is like in a relatively rural and remote setting.

Crew members were able to experience the full scope of both the farm and forest products value chains. Their time at MFFC involved many firsts for the crew members, including: milling timbers, processing chickens, experiencing “darkness and quiet,” and living in the backcountry.

What our Visitors Say:

Amazing experience, friendly staff and breathtaking views from the top of Mt. Antone. The added perk of fresh picked blueberries is just an added treat.

A gem of a place with many miles of hiking that offers different difficulty levels. You have got to check this place out!!

Stunning, peaceful views. The farm animals and wildlife are special.

Love the peaceful atmosphere and the care taken to ensure that nature is the most important aspect.

This is a great place to go on a hike. The views are incredible and there’s lots to see and do. The trails around the farm are very hilly so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. It was amazing seeing the sheep and it’s nice that you can walk your dog as long as they are on a leash.

Beautiful views, natural setting...walk the trails. This is a great gift to the public.

Lots of hiking trails available for all levels. Super friendly staff in the visitor center. Great opportunity for outdoor activity in the Manchester area. There is a working (seasonal) maple sugaring facility that you can self-tour.

Such a peaceful place! It’s so nice to visit the sheep and horses and see how well cared for they are. There are some decent trails to hike and they have the best maple syrup.

What an incredible place. Thank you to all the people who make this accessible to the public. Truly beautiful.

We spent couple of hours here and really enjoyed it. The staff is helpful and one of the guys there showed us around and give us a chance to feed the animals.

This is a great escape with so many trails to explore (varying terrain), and a beautiful farm as well. The history of this amazing place is fascinating and inspiring. Cabins are fabulous to rent for and make some awesome memories.

A great concept of environmentally conscious tourism on a real farm that produces delicious maple syrup sold on premises. Pay a visit to the Visitor Center before your hike for info on trail conditions and tips for visitors (and of course to buy syrup if interested). It is possible to rent cabins and camp. Our family did a few hours long hike and learned about maple syrup extraction. Recommend to any age and fitness level.

Been camping there for over 25 years. A wonderful place to get away from it all. Bless this place.

Love the peaceful atmosphere and the care taken to ensure that nature is the most important aspect.

Loved the beautiful trail up past the barns, and our kids had a great time! The staff member who helped us at the Welcome Center was lovely and made sure we knew where we were going and what was fun to do with the kids.

Book Review: Animal Architects by Wanda Shipman

By Cara Davenport, Education Manager

I often find hidden gems on the bookshelves at the Visitor Center- over the years the space has accumulated a diverse and eclectic collection of books, from field guides and IDs, to construction manuals, to local historical nonfiction, to educational resources and curriculum. Recently, I was perusing the shelf closest to my desk and discovered a book called “Animal Architects”, published in 1994 with a charmingly illustrated glossy cover depicting nests, webs, beaver dams, and underground tunnels and burrows. The subtitle stated “How Animals Weave, Tunnel, and Build Their Remarkable Homes.” Immediately interested, I pulled it off the shelf and flipped through to the first chapter, entitled “Blueprints for Survival,” and was hooked by the way the author (who is from nearby Pawlet, Vermont!) explored the building materials and designs of animals’ homes.The description on the back of the book summarizes it well: “Animal Architects explores the many ways mammals, birds, insects, and fish use their instincts and creativity to take what the environment provides them and shape it into a home.”

Accompanied by pen and ink drawings, the book highlights an assortment of insect, mammal, and bird shelters and constructions, with appreciative examples that paint the animals as engineers, skilled at their methods of designing, constructing and maintaining homes for themselves and their young. One chapter that particularly caught my attention was “The Orb Weaver’s Silken Sculpture”, as this is a spider that I’ve been seeing all over the place in the fields at Merck Forest this year. Complete with diagrams of the process that the spider goes through to carefully craft her web, the chapter explained the different parts of the Orb Weaver’s web, and I came away with a new appreciation for how systematic and purposeful each element of the web is.

This summer during summer camp sessions, one of my favorite things was to watch campers creating structures with natural found materialswhether it was forts, fairy houses, nature mandalas, daisy chains, or acorn cap towers. Seeing the creativity and imagination behind which materials they decided to use, watching them puzzle through how to fit something into place or problem-solve to keep a structure standing, and getting to admire the beautiful, crafty, imaginative results- it’s a really wonderful way to spend time in the woods, with anyone of any age.

We have a Fairy House Workshop coming up in October, and I’m looking forward to another chance to spend time in the woods with creative people, seeing the forest as a place filled with possibilities and creative opportunities for building some tiny temporary structures. For us, it’s more play than survival, but as we build we’ll be in good company- animals and creatures will be constructing and maintaining their homes too, below, beside, and above us!

Check with our Visitor Center and/or your local bookstore for availability of these books.

Staff and Trustee Transitions

by Liz Ruffa, Advancement Director Kathryn Lawrence

Kathryn Lawrence is retiring as Assistant Executive Director after twelve stellar years running MFFC’s business operations. Kathryn joined the Merck Forest staff in October, 2010 as Office Coordinator and Bookkeeper after honing these skills at area enterprises, including Riley Rink at Hunter Park.

Kathryn and her husband Rick operated and managed a 90 cow dairy farm before transferring their love for farming to a smaller farm with perennial gardens, a vegetable garden and five horses in Pawlet. Kathryn’s love of farming and the outdoors attracted her to the opportunity at Merck Forest. Their three children and their families visit Vermont as often as is possible.

We wish Kathryn the best and look forward to seeing her enjoying the MFFC farm and trails with her family. Marybeth Leu is stepping into the role of Business Manager. Congratulations Marybeth!

Testimonial for Kathryn Lawrence

by Keld Alstrup

Kathryn has been as steady as a rock during these last 12 years. There was nothing that Kathy wouldn’t or couldn’t do to make sure things worked as intended at Merck Forest. As issues came up, she took care of the animals, dealt with employment issues, cleared trails, did cabin checks, etc. in addition to her bookkeeping, accounting and administrative duties.

From 2015 -2021, I had the pleasure of working closely with Kathy on the financial and accounting side of things when I served as Treasurer. Merck Forest has benefited greatly from the fine job she has done over these past dozen years.

Kat Deely

Kat Deely is stepping off MFFC’s Board of Trustees. Thank you Kat for your vision, your voice and your service as a Trustee and as Secretary.

From Kat: After focusing my graduate field work at Merck Forest, when George Hatch asked, I was thankful for the opportunity to stay connected by serving on the Board of Trustees. Though my work has taken me to locations all over New England, now far from Vermont, being tied to Merck Forest has had a great grounding influence on me. I’ve loved witnessing the new initiatives and energy brought to the org by Rob Terry and the staff. Though I will dearly miss being involved in decisions at MFFC, I’ll always be a big supporter and tell nearly everyone I meet to check out Merck Forest!

Kat serves as Director of Conservation for Frenchman Bay Conservancy, which protects new lands in perpetuity in Maine’s Union River Watershed, Frenchman Bay Watershed, and the Schoodic Corridor, for the benefit of all. Her professional experience focuses on community conservation and outreach, landscape-scale land protection, and experiential education. Kat holds a Master’s Degree in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont Field Naturalist and Ecological Planning Program.

Special Thanks

Thanks to the Stocks - Brantley, Amelia and Creighton for being so helpful at Merck Forest. From throwing hay to moving fences, you guys rock! Thank you!

Some of Kathryn’s Favorite Recipes:

KP’s Norwegian Apple Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups diced apples

1 cup raisins

1/2 chopped walnuts (optional)

Whoopie Pies

Instructions:

1. Mix unsifted flour, sugar and unbeaten eggs. Add baking powder, salt, vanilla.

2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, pour batter into a well buttered pan, bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

3. Batter will look like there is not enough to cover the apples, but it all comes together while baking. A pie plate works well.

Zucchini Relish

1. Process ingredients (12 cups of zucchini, 4 cups of onion, 1 cup of carrots) in a food processor or chopper of some sort. Place in a large bowl, sprinkle with 3 tsp of salt and let stand several hours or overnight.

2. Drain well

3. Place chopped vegetables in a large saucepan, add:

2 ½ cups vinegar

4 ½ cups sugar

3 tsp celery seed

3 tsp mustard seed

½ tsp nutmeg

¼ - ½ tsp black pepper

1 tsp turmeric

4. Bring to a boil, simmer for 30 minutes, stirring periodically.

5. Pack in pint jars and seal. Hot water bath them for about 30 minutes.

1. Cream together: ¾ cup shortening, 2 cups sugar. Add two eggs, two cups of milk, two tsp. vanilla.

2. Sift and blend in: four cups of flour, three tsp. baking soda, 2 tsp. salt, ¾ cup of cocoa.

3. Drop the thick cake like batter by teaspoonful on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes.

4. Cool on racks. While “cookies” are cooling prepare cream filling.

5. Cream together one cup of shortening, 1 ½ cup of powdered sugar, ¾ cup of marshmallow fluff, 1 tsp. of vanilla, add milk slowly up to ¾ of a cup, until filling is smooth and spreadable.

6. Spread filling on one cooled cookie and top with a second. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, can be frozen.

Recipe from All Recpies

Groups MFFC will welcome this fall:

Backroad Adventure Tours

Bennington County Regional Commission

Burr and Burton Academy

Burr and Burton Mountain Campus

The Darrow School

The Dorset School

Farm & Wilderness Camp

Harvard University First Years

Hudson Carbon

Long Trail School

Manchester Elementary and Middle School

Mettawee Community School

Orvis

Pillar VC

Red Fox Community School

Shrewsbury Elementary School

Southern Vermont Art Center

Tinmouth Elementary School

Tufts University Wilderness Outdoors

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Vermont NR206 class

Vermont Land Trust

Williams College First Years

Community Food System Work

by Liz Ruffa, Northshire Grown: Direct

Food Access Presentation

MFFC deepened its partnership with the GRACE Initiative in August when Liz Ruffa, Project Director of Northshire Grown: Direct participated in the United Nation’s World Humanitarian Day Forum at Southern Vt Arts Center. She presented on community food systems and MFFC’s Northshire Neighbors in Need program.

Foodshed Assessment

NG:D is assessing its impact on our regional food system this year thanks for funding from Lookout Foundation. In November, MFFC will host consumer focus groups and farmer foodshed forums in Manchester and Bennington.

Contact liz@merckforest.org if you are interested in helping to increase availability and grow our local food economy.

Generosity in Action

Thanks to the generosity of NG:D customers last spring, MFFC was able to make a significant donation to the World Central Kitchen to support their emergency relief and food assistance in and around Ukraine this summer.

The World Central Kitchen was founded by chef José Andrés and is a nonprofit organization that provides meals in parts of the world facing natural disaster and/or conflict.

NG:D’s customer philanthropy efforts revolved mainly around supporting local families in need of extra food support, yet we felt it was important to help with this global cause this summer. In 2020, we raised donations for Soulfire Farm in Albany, a nonprofit that connects BIPOC farmers with land and markets.

It is amazing what can happen when we all pitch in a little - World Central Kitchen as made over 200 million meals since 2010!

Thank you!

Upcoming Events

Please reserve your spot in one of our workshops by registering online at merckforest.org/shop/. Most of the listed activities have an outdoor component –all members of your party should be dressed appropriately for conditions, including water, snacks, sturdy footgear. Due to the low cost of our programs, refunds are not available unless an event is canceled by MFFC. Visit merckforest.org for an updated schedule of events.

Fairy House Workshop

10/8/22 (Saturday) 10:00am - 12:00pm

Come spend some time in the woods creatively constructing tiny homes and structures with natural materials. From a mix of provided building materials and items foraged from the forest floor, we’ll imagine and build our own structures, and learn about the other tiny animal architects that live at Merck Forest. Dress appropriately for outdoor activity. $10/person

Wreath Making

12/3/2022 (Saturday) 10:00am - 12:00pm (Morning session)

12/3/2022 (Saturday) 1:00 - 3:00pm (Afternoon session)

12/4/2022 (Sunday) 1:00 - 3:00pm (Afternoon session)

Create a holiday wreath from greens sourced at Merck Forest. Ribbons for bows provided, along with a limited amount of natural materials for decorating. Bring along your own decorations to add to your wreath to add to your wreath. We will have three separate workshops this year. $25/wreath

Full Moon Hike

12/7/22 (Wednesday) 5:30pm-7:00pm

The moon will be rising in the east tonight, and hopefully skies will be clear! Join us for a guided moon-lit hike on our trails on a wintery evening. Meet up at the Visitor Center. Bring a headlamp and dress warmly, with proper footwear, including Microspikes or snowshoes, depending on ground conditions. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the program. Covid protocols will be in place as needed. $10.00 per person, and reservations are required.

2023 Signature Events

March: Maple Open House

May: Meet the Lambs

July: Ecology Open House

September: Harvest Festival

Details coming soon!

A tax-exempt, 501(C)(3) corporation in Vermont that has, for over 70 years, inspired curiosity, love and responsibiliy for natural and working lands through land stewardshipand conservation education.