Charlotte preservation project brings neighbors together
Thursday, 04/09/09
Mitch Wertlieb - Charlotte, VT
Options
Like many older farmers in Vermont, 90-year-old Art Burleigh has been thinking about his family's future.
Three years ago, he reluctantly decided that the only option to keep his family farm going was to develop the forestland on his 200-acre Charlotte property. It's a route many other Chittenden County farmers have taken out of economic necessity.
But then a neighbor stepped in with a different idea. Marty Illick is director of the Lewis Creek Association, and she helped Art Burleigh get in touch with conservation organizations.
In the end, Art struck a deal with the Lewis Creek Association, The Charlotte Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy and the Vermont Land Trust to save his farm. He received less money than he would have from a developer, but says it was worth it.
We visited Art recently, and followed him as he took his ATV up a muddy dirt road to show us the beautiful expanse of his land, along with Marty Illick and Joan Allen of the Nature Conservancy.
VPR Headlines
- Following DUI Charge, Salmon Speaks To Personal Responsibility Friday, 11/20/09 5:50pm
- Leahy To Meet With Homeland Security On Farm Worker Crackdown Friday, 11/20/09 5:50pm
- Rutland Remembers Joseph Foley Friday, 11/20/09 5:50pm
- Racine Supports Program Cuts, Tax Increases To Balance Budget Friday, 11/20/09 5:50pm
- VT Edition: Doug Racine Friday, 11/20/09 1pm
Vermont Edition
- Hunger Worsens In Vermont Monday, 11/23/09 Noon and 7pm
- State Senator Doug Racine Friday, 11/20/09 Noon and 7pm
- Going Blind Later In Life Thursday, 11/19/09 Noon and 7pm
Commentaries
More from Mitch Wertlieb
Interview: Margo Callaghan On Development And Small Town Aesthetics
Wednesday, 11/11/09 8:29am - VPR News
Activist to speak in Burlington
Thursday, 11/05/09 9:50am - VPR News
Interview: Bob Grady On NY's 23rd Congressional District Election Outcome
Wednesday, 11/04/09 8:15am - VPR News
Interview: VPR's Nina Keck On The Champlain Bridge Public Meeting
Wednesday, 10/28/09 8:52am - VPR News
Interview: Michael Dworkin On FairPoint & Bankruptcy
Tuesday, 10/27/09 8:38am - VPR News
© Copyright 2009, VPR
This is the online edition of VPR News. Text versions of VPR news stories may be updated and they may vary slightly from the broadcast version.