Getting Outside with Kids!

by Chris Hubbard

Our work with the Mettawee Community School (MCS) and Mrs. Lea’s and Mrs. Porrier’s 6th grade classes wrapped up this May as we celebrated with students during their annual Spring Carnival field day. As groups of students created rock cairns, went on scavenger hunts, explored hula hoopsized ecosystems, and met with Vermont Fish and Wildlife staff members on the school grounds, other groups joined Cara and myself as we hiked with students out onto the adjoining Merck Forest land, where they honed their observation skills and experienced the quiet of the natural world through sitspots.

The 6th graders’ work culminated with the creation of a kiosk of what they learned, including descriptions of the various ecosystems on the Merck property, information on the various components found in those ecosystems, and how to steward the land. We’re looking forward to our continued work with MCS when the new school year rolls around in the fall.

With school coming to a close and summer finally arriving, our camps are in full swing! After months of hopeful planning, we now have kids on the landscape, meeting our chickens, scooping in the pond, and taking hikes. Our first Trail Crew campers, donning yellow hard hats and gloves, have been clearing trails and laying out a connector trail between the Discovery and Burke Trails as they learn the principles of Leave No Trace and meet with Vermont Youth Conservation Crew members. Laughter can be heard in the woods as our young campers experience the joy of being outside with friends, old and new while learning new skills.

Projects up on the Mountain

by Dylan Durkee

This summer, there has been a lot of work happening up at the farm as well as on the trails, cabins and at the new Welcome Kiosk. We started the early part of the summer with a firewood processor on property, cutting firewood for 2022’s cabin rentals, the Visitor Center (which MFFC heats with wood) and to cover powering our next maple sugaring season. After finishing the firewood project, I started laying down stone under the new Welcome Kiosk and brought in material to landscape up around the building.

I am also working on designing a new entrance sign at the road on Route 315 and looking forward to coming up with a plan that lets folks know about what is happening up at Merck Forest when we have programs and events.

Tyler and Daniel were working on trails, specifically the Mount Antone trail. They used 6” drainage pipe to help with the sitting water that pools after a big rain. I am very happy to see how it is working already. Daniel has also been improving intensive grazing protocols on the farm and giving our ewes and Jonny nice cud to chew on. We have successfully put in our 1st cut hay into the Harwood Barn. These are just a few of the things that have been happening up on the mountain over the first part of the summer.

Northshire Grown: Direct

by Liz Ruffa

Northshire Grown: Direct has a new summer home! This direct-to-consumer local food purchasing platform has started working out of the Marble House Project’s amazing Event Barn off the Dorset West Road. MFFC is so pleased to be partnering with MHP, which is a very busy and productive creative residency program offering several three week residency sessions each summer and fall to writers, poets and visual, performing and culinary artists. NG:D’s customer base has continued to help farmers and food producers remain whole. As Covid-19 ebbs and our region returns to normal, please continue to support your local farmers! More information can be found at www.northshiregrown.com.