Land Conserved by South Hero Land Trust

South Hero Land Trust

Maxham Farm

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South Hero Land Trust
P.O. Box 455
South Hero, VT
05486
(802)372-3786
Fax (802)372-3753

info@shlt.org

Click Map to Enlarge

		Conserved Land	Above Picture: Looking east across the conserved Maxham Farm and Keeler Bay Parcel.

		Conserved Land
		Conserved Public Land - public access is allowed on this property
		Round Pond State Park- including private Apple Island Resort easement donation (2001-2003) Summary: approximately 150 acres of spectacular wetlands, fields, woodlands, and 2000 feet of Lake Champlain shoreline. To become involved join Friends of Round Pond The Round Pond State Park and Natural Area consists of approximately 125 acres of spectacular wetlands, fields, woodlands, and approximately 1100 feet of Lake Champlain shoreline. The property was conserved as part of the two-part Landon Farm and Round Pond Conservation Project in 2001, involving the partnership of the South Hero Land Trust, Vermont Land Trust, Lake Champlain Land Trust, and the Nature Conservancy. The property was then donated to the State of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, with conservation easements held by the Lake Champlain Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Round Pond State Park’s diverse mix of natural communities provides critical wildlife habitat for numerous animals, including deer, mink, wild turkey, and a variety of amphibians. Several rare natural communities exist on the property- Lake Shale Beach, Lakeshore Grassland, and Lakeside Floodplain Forest are examples of community types that are found in few places in Vermont. The Round Pond Wetland is considered one of the most important wetland complexes on Lake Champlain. Beaver, nesting marshland birds, migrating neotropical songbirds, and an uncommon stand of native Phragmites all play a role in the wetland’s diverse and ever-changing ecosystem. Round Pond State Park’s rich natural beauty can be enjoyed throughout the year. Public access is allowed on the property and provides a fantastic resource for low-impact recreation, education, and hunting.	Round Pond (Click Picture to Enlarge) Cleaning up Round Pond Snowshoeing to Round Pond
		Apple Island Resort generously donated a conservation easement to the Lake Champlain Land Trust on 23.3 acres adjacent to the Round Pond State Park in December of 2002. The parcel includes the natural wetland area not owned by the State of Vermont, as well as a critical buffer area along the steep cliffs to the north of the wetland. The easement protects over 900 feet of lake frontage, a population of a rare plant, and several rare natural communities. This property remains in private ownership, with respectful pedestrian public access permitted on the established trail. In fall of 2002, SHLT established the Friends of the Round Pond, a group of volunteers dedicated to maintaining the natural beauty of Round Pond State Park. Please see our Friends of the Round Pond page on this website for more information or call (802) 372-3786.
		Conserved Private Land - Public access is not allowed on the following properties without landowner permission.
		Lakeside Jersey Farm (2008) - South Hero Land Trust, Vermont Land Trust, and Castanea Foundation worked with Ron and Celia Hackett to conserve 92 acres of agricultural land, forestland, and farm infrastructure formerly known as the Roy Farm. The property is now owned by Ron and Celia, who are leasing the property to the Maxham family. The Maxhams use the property for cropland and raising their prize-winning Jersey herd. This project was partly funded by a generous grant from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board and has a conservation easement that is co-held by the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.	Hackett/Maxham Farm
		Islandacres Farm (2008) -160 acres of farmland just to the north of the South Hero village were conserved by the Robinson Family in 2008. Conservation of the property helped facilitate a generational transfer of farm ownership to Steven and Kelly Robinson who plan to continue operating the dairy farm as well as producing vegetables for sale at their farmstand. This project was partially funded by a generous grant from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. Productive farmland, valuable wetlands, and lakeshore have been protected by a conservation easement co-held by Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.	Islandacres Farm
		Buermann Hill (2006) - Buermann Hill consists of 33 acres of conserved farmland and woodland along Route 2. The property has exceptional scenic value, providing panoramic views of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains for travelers heading east. Buermann Hill adds to a continuous block of conserved land extending south to the Wells Family Farm and Round Pond State Park. Thanks to generous easement donations from the Buermann family, the property will continue its agricultural use for Bob and Ann Buermann's Paradise Bay Farm wool and sheep operation. Buermann Hill is conserved in partnership with Lake Champlain Land Trust who holds the conservation easement on the property.	Buermann Hill
		Landon Farm (2001-2003) - The 170 acre Landon Farm is comprised of approximately 100 acres of tillable land and 70 acres of woodland, consisting mostly of mixed hardwoods. The property was purchased in 2001 as part of the Landon Farm and Round Pond campaign, a partnership project of the South Hero Land Trust, Vermont Land Trust, Lake Champlain Land Trust, and The Nature Conservancy. As part of the protection of the 170 acres, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was established with the intention of finding a farmer to purchase the property, ideally a farmer who would contribute to South Hero’s diverse agricultural landscape. Farmer response to the RFP was tremendous. South Hero Land Trust staff and Board members used the guidance of local farmers to determine the criteria by which to select the farm’s new owner.	Landon Farm
		The review process culminated in the selection of new owners Erik and Annette Wells, a young farming couple who owned and operated a pastured poultry operation (Erik’s Pastured Poultry) in Burlington’s Intervale. Erik and Annette plan to utilize the property’s vast resources for pastured poultry, heifer-grazing and livestock production, a wood-fired brick oven bakery, maple sugaring, and other agricultural pursuits. Conservation easements on the property are held by Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and the Lake Champlain Land Trust.
		Jackson's Point (2002) - The Jackson’s Point (or Phelp’s Point) conservation project is a joint project of the South Hero Land Trust and Vermont Land Trust. In March of 2002, the seven families who jointly own the property protected it by donating a conservation easement on 60 acres of woodland. Jackson’s Point provides habitat for various wildlife and is adjacent to what was known as the South Hero Dunes, a series of sand formations established thousands of years ago. The State of Vermont’s Natural Heritage Program lists several threatened and endangered species in close proximity to the property. The conserved land lies near the western shore of South Hero and abuts Crescent Bay Farm, conserved by South Hero Land Trust and Vermont Land Trust in 1999.	Jackson Point (Click Picture to Enlarge)
		Wright Property (1999)- In 1999, SHLT worked with Glen and Rose Wright who donated a conservation easement on 76 acres of agricultural fields and woodlands to Lake Champlain Land Trust. The property is adjacent to the Landon Farm (now Wells Family Farm) to the south and across Route 2 from Buermann Hill, conserved in 2006 by South Hero Land Trust and Lake Champlain Land Trust.	Wright Property (Click Picture to Enlarge)
		Crescent Bay Farm (1999) - The 122-acre Crescent Bay Farm is a second-generation family farm situated on the shores of Lake Champlain . The property's prime location near the lake, combined with a height of land with spectacular views consisting of over 50 acres, made this parcel highly developable. The Lane family, however, wanted to maintain the land as a working farm, and worked with the South Hero Land Trust (SHLT) and Vermont Land Trust (VLT) to accomplish their conservation goals. The farm is now conserved through a Vermont Land Trust conservation easement which protects the farm's diverse agricultural resources (beef, syrup, alpaca wools), wildlife habitat, and the highest point of land in South Hero. In addition to agricultural pursuits, the Lane's also run a bed and breakfast out of their historic farmhouse. Crescent Bay Farm is adjacent to the conserved Jackson 's Point property, protected by SHLT and VLT in 2002.	Crescent Bay Farm (Click Picture to Enlarge)
		Maxham/Wilder Farm (1999) - The Wilder/Maxham conservation project represents a significant step towards keeping dairy farming alive in South Hero. Prior to 1999, Tim and Jill Maxham operated a successful dairy operation on a rented farmstead and land. Their dream of owning a farm became a reality when Don and Helena Wilder decided to conserve and sell their historic 150-acre farm off of Route 2. Tim and Jill purchased the conserved farm in 1999, with hopes of expanding their dairy operation and constructing a state-of-the-art dairy facility. South Hero Land Trust and Vermont Land Trust worked in partnership with the Maxham's and the Wilder's to protect the property's agricultural resources by means of a conservation easement. At the time of transfer, the development rights were conveyed to the Vermont Land Trust, giving the Wilder's peace of mind that their farm would remain in agricultural use. Since the acquisition of the parcel in 1999, Tim and Jill have worked to create a model dairy operation. Local school groups visit the farm to learn more about dairy farming and it's importance to their lives and the town of South Hero . They currently milk over 250 cows, taking full advantage of their new free stall dairy barn. The Maxham's continue to lease land throughout South Hero, keeping a large portion of South Hero's agricultural land base open and productive.	Maxham/Wilder Farm (Click Picture to Enlarge)
		Hackett's Orchard (1999) - Hackett’s Orchard is a mainstay in the South Hero community, where locals and visitors alike can find fresh apples, produce, and baked goods at their South Street farmstand. Ron and Celia Hackett worked with South Hero Land Trust and Vermont Land Trust to conserve approximately 50 acres of agricultural land, ensuring that the land will remain open in perpetuity. The property lies adjacent to Allenholm Farm (conserved by South Hero Land Trust and Vermont Land Trust in 1997), and includes ten acres of prime soils and twenty-four acres of statewide soils. While the majority of Hackett’s Orchard is dedicated to apples, other fruits and vegetables such as pumpkins, corn, and berries are raised on the farm as well. Hackett’s Orchard sees thousands of South Hero residents, visitors, and area school children annually. Hackett's Orchard	Hackett's Orchard (Click Picture to Enlarge)
		Keeler Bay Parcel (1998 & 2001) - The 190 acres of hay fields and forest constituting the Keeler Bay Parcel are protected through a generous conservation easement donation to the Lake Champlain Land Trust. Working with the Lake Champlain Land Trust and South Hero Land Trust, Randall Munson initially donated a conservation easement on 138 acres of land in December 1998, with an additional 54 acres conserved in December 2001. In addition to the property's agricultural and scenic value, the Keeler Bay Parcel also contains several types of wildlife habitat including wetland areas, softwood cover, and several snags and cavity trees. Thanks to Randall Munson's generosity an important agricultural resource is now permanently protected.	Keeler Bay Parcel (Click Picture to Enlarge)
		Allenholm Farm (1997) - As the oldest commercial apple orchard in the state, Allenholm is an important local and statewide resource. The protection of Allenholm farm became the impetus for the creation of South Hero Land Trust in 1997. In partnership with the Vermont Land Trust, SHLT worked to protect this 300 acre farm, which is comprised of over 200 acres of prime and statewide soils, forested land, open meadows, and scenic ridgeline views of the Adirondacks. The diversified farm is a well-established tourist destination, seeing over 15,000 visitors during the annual fall Applefest event. In addition to apples, many varieties of fruits and vegetables are raised on the farm and sold at the Allenholm farmstand and through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program..Allenholm Farm	Allenholm Farm (Click Picture to Enlarge)

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