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2012 marks the 40th year of the nonprofit Shelburne Farms. Over the course of this year, we'll present a series of articles commemorating the milestone and mapping our way to 50. Marshall Webb shares his thoughts first.
To understand how forming a nonprofit was the answer to this question, we have to back up a few years. The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. The environmental impact of 3.7 billion people living on the planet was making its way into the national consciousness, and a movement to counteract planetary degradation was beginning. A few days earlier on April 18, a group of us observed the first Green-up Day by driving an old flatbed dump truck out on Bay and Harbor Roads to pick up roadside trash. We spent all day between the Fishing Access and South Gate picking up three full loads of beer bottles, soda cans, and garbage.
That fall of 1972, I filed the application for 501(c)(3) status for Shelburne Farms Resources. A few months later it was approved, and the Farm was headed toward a new future.
Marshall Webb Spring Series on Education for Sustainability
Thursdays, JANUARY 26- APRIL 26 (no session March 8 - spring break) A great new series featuring national speakers, including Bill McKibben and Greg Smith, local practitioners of Education for Sustainability; panels and workshops. Come to one or ALL! More information. Join us for the kick-off on January 26, where our Jen Cirillo, Coordinator of Shelburne Farms' Sustainable Schools Project, will be one of the featured speakers! This seminar series is being offered by Shelburne Farms and its partners: UVM: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resource, GreenHouse Residential Learning Program, Sustainability Faculty Fellows Program, College of Education and Social Services; the Burlington School District, and the Vermont Commons School, the Sustainability Academy.
Wed., FEBRUARY 22, 6:00-8:00 pm. FREE. Join Doug Flack, farmer and sauerkraut producer from Flack Family Farm in Enosburg Falls, as he sparks a discussion about the modern American diet, how we got here, and how we as consumers can make different choices. Look at a fascinating timeline of industrial food production, and learn more about farm-fresh foods like raw milk, cultured dairy products, lacto-fermented vegetables and more. Co-sponsored with City Market. Farm to School Updates Read Vermont FEED's recent newsletter here. Farm to School Awareness Day! Wednesday, January 25
With a second set of roof panels on the Farm Barn (they went up in November — see photo), and our solar orchard in full swing, we thought we'd answer this common question. Solar panels work on light not heat, so they operate fine in the winter. In fact, as temperatures fall, photovoltaic cells become more efficient (as long as there's sun). Last year, the Farm Barn panels produced the most energy on March 27. Shorter daylight hours in winter, however, do affect power production. Also, if panels are covered with snow (not a problem so far this winter!), they stop producing power. When the sun melts the snow, or if the snow is removed, panels resume operation. Our one solar tracker tilts up automatically every morning to shed snow. Thanks! As we begin 2012 – the Farm’s 40th year as a nonprofit organization – we extend heartfelt thanks to all of the members, volunteers and staff who, over the years, have contributed time, support and expertise to help Shelburne Farms become the thriving education organization it is today. We appreciate your support and look forward to keeping you involved in our Education for Sustainability programs in the coming year. Cheers! |
Founding the nonprofit in 1972 was the culmination of over 3 years of intense family conversations about the future of the Farm and our planet. We (Derick Webb’s children) incorporated Shelburne Farms Resources to serve as an organizational umbrella for all sorts of educational activities on the Farm. It was our response to the question: how can we best use the farm to improve the future?
That summer of 1970 Alec started the first summer camp on land that is now part of Shelburne Bay Park. Two years later, I took over the camp and moved it to the Market Garden. We plowed up one acre of the heifer pasture in front of the house and built a small greenhouse and cedar pole structure. About 18 kids, half from low-income families in Burlington and half from a private school in New Jersey, lived in tents for 5 weeks. They picked produce to sell at the new Burlington Farmer’s Market (we were the only vegetable vendor that first year), dug clay for wood-firing handmade pots, and much, much more.
Real Foods, Real Health - 
Do solar panels work
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