Posted by Carrie Fenn on Aug 12, 2020

Megan Camp and Alec Webb of Shelburne Farms

 

Contented members of the SF Dairy's Brown Swiss herd

August 12, 2020

Bob Sanders, Carrie Fenn, Chris Davis, Bill Deming, Carole Obuchowski, Nancy Danforth, Charlie Kofman, Susan Grimes, Linda Gilbert, Linda Barker, John Hammer, Denis Barton, Jonathan Lowell, Bill Deming, Roz Graham, Jessica Brumsted, Joan Lenes, Howard Seaver, John Pane, Ric Flood, Dan York, John Dupee 

Chris Davis rang the bell at 7:30.

We had a few moments of silence for George Schiavone, who passed this week. 

Rotarians volunteered this week at the RunVermont race. Good time was had by all.

Linda kicked off the Charlotte Community School garden service opportunity with Susan and Chris. Lots of veggies to be harvested and weeds to be picked.

Shelburne Day is August 15; it could be worthwhile for Rotary to have a table and a tent. Do we have things to hand out? Time is “business hours” 9-2. Chris will be there 9-12 in his blue shirt, so folks should join him. 

Thanks to Bob for producing the first budget draft. 

Alec Webb and Megan Camp are our speakers today. They need no introduction!

Link to Megan's presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lpQmuqpE_8h_ZGrkKGJGTx-lsqSnjCV6/view?usp=sharing

The pandemic’s impact on non-profits is unprecedented and the Farm is no exception. The pandemic hit in March just before they were about to hire their summer staff, so they were able to stave off hiring folk. Their budget is 11 million, with a 2.3 million shortfall due to the shutdown. The Farm is taking advantage of all the government programs they can, and they have supporters from 49 states and several countries. Kitchen staff is doing prepackaged meals in lieu of opening the restaurant, and are renting out the residences to families for extended stays. 

One family rented the whole inn, which was helpful to the finances. 

Shelburne Farms isn’t closed! Just open in a new and different way. The pivot was a chance to do things differently. Some of the changes will end with COVID, but others will stay.

The 1400 acres of trails are the public’s to enjoy. 

There are no admission charges but people are being invited to become sustaining members. Dogs are allowed before May 1 and after September 1. 

There’s no tractor this year, and the farmyard isn’t open with the activities but the animals are there. There’s been an amazing amount of appreciation from people who are so happy the Farm is open.

Schools are opening up and they want to know what ways the Farm can work with schools and teachers.

Staff will be working with teachers to do digital field trips. 

Teachers come from all over the country and from all over the world to learn from Shelburne Farms, and some teachers who have been part of the program have done virtual field trips at their own schools.

Courses for teachers have gone online, which means the program has been able to expand. Teachers from Africa and Nepal have been able to join in. 

Food security has been a big of the program, working with NOFA, Hunger Free Vermont, the Vermont Foodbank, and with the schools to feed kids. 

The Farm has been growing lots of food, and without the inn and the farmer’s market they’ve had to be more creative. Selling soups and other foods at the farm store. Order online and pick them up curbside!

https://shelburnefarms.org/shop

https://o-bread-bakery.weeblysite.com/s/order#2/

Farmers to Families program, taking Vermont products and distributing it through the National Guard. 

The Welcome Center is open 7 days a week, and OBread is taking preorders and selling at the Welcome Center. Croissants are available on the weekends. 

Every day you can see something different- it’s so beautiful and such a gift to the community. It seems like it’s the most beautiful summer. Alec said he is seeing things for the first time.

Just formed a new partnership with the College of Education and Social Services so all courses will be offered through UVM- students can receive a Certificate in Sustainability.

They are getting cash donations and people are renewing their memberships.

If you’d like a drive through pass, you should be able to ask the staff member at the gate. 

Go to the website and click the accessibility link to email the staff to avoid challenges at the gate.

 https://shelburnefarms.org/form/accessibility-pass-request

It’s great to see how successful they’ve been at pivoting to these challenging times. 

The food is great- veggie and meals are delicious. Order up some of the good stuff and enjoy it!

We’ll be donating a book to the Pierson Library to thank Alec and Megan for joining us.

Roz has our closing words:

“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot - it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.”- Maya Angelou

 

Have a great week!

Respectfully submitted,

Carrie Fenn