Stowe Land Trust

THE STOWE LAND TRUST IS DEDICATED TO THE CONSERVATION OF SCENIC, RECREATIONAL, AND PRODUCTIVE FARM AND FOREST LANDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GREATER STOWE COMMUNITY.

STEWARDSHIPIN 2021, STOWE LAND TRUST SPENT THE REMAINING FUNDS FROM A $1,500 OAKLAND FOUNDATION GRANT RECEIVED IN 2020 ON A RIPARIAN TREE PLANNING AT DUMONT MEADOW. IN 2019, THE CANADIAN FRIENDS OF STOWE LAND TRUST GRANTED $20,000 TO SLT TO SUPPORT PUBLIC ACCESS AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS AT BROWNSVILLE-STORY RIDGE FOREST. INITIAL IMPROVEMENTS COSTING $2,325 WERE MADE IN 2020, AND IN OCTOBER 2021, STOWE LAND TRUST PAID $3,014.16 TO STOWE TRAILS PARTNERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING REPLACING A BRIDGE AND CONSTRUCTING A NEW CONNECTOR TRAIL. THE REMAINING BALANCE OF $14,660.84 WILL BE SPENT ON UPCOMING RECREATION PROJECTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE OF VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS, PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE STOWE TRAILS PARTNERSHIP. OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONOUR 2021 SUMMER NATURALIST, A VHCB AMERICORPS MEMBER, RESUMED IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS THIS SUMMER, WITH A FOCUS ON CELEBRATING LOCAL FARMS AND FOOD.IN 2021, STOWE LAND TRUST WORKED WITH PLACE CREATIVE, A BURLINGTON-BASED BRANDING FIRM TO UPDATE OUR ORGANIZATIONS VISUAL AND VERBAL BRAND IDENTITY, WHICH INCLUDED AN EVOLUTION OF OUR LOGO, TO HELP FURTHER OUR GOAL OF ENGAGING A BROADER AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE. STOWE LAND TRUST WAS AWARDED A $3,000 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FROM THE VERMONT HOUSING & CONSERVATION BOARD IN 2021 WHICH WENT DIRECTLY TO THIS PROJECT. AN ADDITIONAL $8,448 WENT TOWARD THIS PROJECT IN 2021 FROM THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCES EXCELLENCE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH AWARDED STOWE LAND TRUST $15,000 IN 2017. LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS STOWE LAND TRUST IS CURRENTLY PARTNERING WITH KEN RICKETSON AND THE VERMONT LAND TRUST TO CONSERVE ONE OF STOWES FEW REMAINING FARMS: THE 217-ACRE RICKETSON FARM. IN 2021, STOWE LAND TRUST RAISED $577,965 TO HELP COVER THE $2.5 MILLION ACQUISITION, PROJECT, AND STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT COSTS AND IS CONTINUING LOCAL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. CONTINGENT UPON RAISING ALL OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS, A CLOSING IS SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2022.STOWE LAND TRUST CONTINUED TO WORK ON STRATEGIC PLANNING AND LANDOWNER OUTREACH ON THE SHUTESVILLE HILL WILDLIFE CORRIDOR INITIATIVE. THERE WERE NO ACTIVE LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS IN THE CORRIDOR IN 2021. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY RELEASED $4,940 TO STOWE LAND TRUST FROM THEIR FUNDS RECEIVED THROUGH THE CATALYST CAMPAIGN FOR STOWE LAND TRUST STAFF TIME SPENT COORDINATING CONSERVATION EFFORTS WITHIN THE INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.IN 2020 AND 2021, STOWE LAND TRUST RAISED $12,005 TO HELP THE VERMONT LAND TRUST PURCHASE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE VALCOUR-HURSH FARM IN MORRISTOWN AND TO MAKE THE PROPERTY AFFORDABLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS. STOWE LAND TRUST DISBURSED $10,000 TO VERMONT LAND TRUST IN MARCH 2021 TO CLOSE THE PROJECT. THE REMAINING $2,005 WAS ADDED TO STOWE LAND TRUSTS LAND ACQUISITION FUND FOR FUTURE LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS.GENERALSTOWE LAND TRUST RECEIVED AND SPENT A $23,800 PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM LOAN IN 2020 FOR PAYROLL COSTS. THE LOAN WAS FORGIVEN IN FULL IN JANUARY 2021.