upcoming events

Visit the Lidback’s farm for the Dairy Fun Field Day during Vermont Open Farm Week

Sunday, August 4, noon – 3pm
1580 Lakeview Rd, Westmore

Come see conservation practices in action! Enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich, tour the farm, and participate in other family-friendly activities.

The Farm at Wheeler Mountain raises a mixed breed herd of 70 milking cows, crops about 200 acres of hay and no-till corn silage, and pastures 50 acres. The farm is an excellent example of an Orleans County farm employing conservation practices. Adam and Joanna Lidback, owners of the Farm at Wheeler Mountain, have been working with the District since 2017 to meet the Required Agricultural Practices on their farm and to enhance conservation best management practices. The Lidbacks have committed to employ various conservation practices including no-till and cover cropping of their corn fields, improved heifer manure storage, added livestock exclusion fencing, and the planting of riparian areas.

Would you like to host an Open Farm Week event at your farm? You can find out more and register here.

WE ARE HIRING! 

Orleans County NRCD seeks a part-time Business Operations Manager to join our growing, highly functioning and mission driven team in meeting our strategic goals. Do you have experience managing farm or business books? Are you comfortable with using online management software? The ideal candidate is an organized, positive professional with strong communications, financial management and administration experience. This new internally focused position’s basic function is to deliver business management needs to support our work with landowners for the protection of Orleans County natural resources. With room for creativity and growth, responsibilities include: 1. Provide operational and administrative tasks and clerical office assistance to staff.  2. Lead financial operations. 3. Meet open meeting laws for board meetings. 4. Work on special projects.

The ideal candidate can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the organization, brings a local community network, shared passion for stewardship of natural resources and has knowledge and/or practical working landscape experiences. The position is based out of our office in Newport VT in a hybrid shared office workstation. Bachelor’s degree is ideal but not required and at least 3 years of related work experience.  Orleans County NRCD offers staff a supportive work environment with a goal of meeting our clients needs as well as the wellbeing of our staff.  

To learn more, find the position description here.

All applications submitted before June 17th will be considered, with later applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled.

To apply please send your cover letter and resume as one PDF to sarah.damsell@vt.nacdnet.net.

Our organIZATION IS GROWING! wELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

First, we bid a fond farewell to two members of our Board of Supervisors, Pat Sagui and Tim Buzzell. We thank them for their contributions, totaling over nine year of service! We will miss their valuable insights and support.

And we are thrilled to pass the torch to FIVE new members: David Fox, Alyssa Conn, Chris Steel, Emily Dehoff, and Bruce Urie. Not only are they fascinating people, but they also bring a passion for conservation and a suite of skills that is sure to be deeply impactful. You can read  their bios in our Spring and Summer Newsletters and on our “meet the board and staff” page.

Orleans county farMers doing good conservation work

The Farm at Wheeler Mountain — owned and operated by Orleans County NRCD board chair, Joanna Lidback — has been focusing on conservation efforts since 2017. They have been implementing BMPs with assistance from OCNRCD staff and with technical and financial support through the USDA NRCS Memphremagog RCPP program. Check out the farms accomplishments in this one pager.

Water Quality Reports & Resources

• VTDEC Lake Memphremagog Basin Plan – September 2023
• Lake Memphremagog Water Quality Reports
• Watch this YouTube video on Vermont’s Tactical Basin Planning Initiative – Past, Present, and Future

Conservation Success Stories!

Orleans County NRCD highlights local farmers who reduced their nonpoint source pollution by installing best management practices that have measured phosphorous runoff reductions in Orleans County watersheds!

Click here to read the Jones Farm conservation practice adoption success story.

Click here to read the Morin Farm over 85% phosphorus reduction success story.

Click here to read the McCormick Farm 50% phosphorus reduction success story.