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The Spirit of Christmas Powers-Up Stewardship Efforts in Vermont

Businesses in Williston and Vergennes Donate Power Tools

MONTPELIER, VERMONT — December 22, 2008 — In the spirit of Christmas two companies from Vergennes and Williston, responded to an appeal from the Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy to ‘power-up’ their conservation work.

Country Home Products in Vergennes, VT wrapped-up an arborist’s saw and Harvest Equipment Company in Williston, VT tied a ribbon on a Husqvarna 339 XP chainsaw delivering these gifts ahead of Santa’s normal schedule. With lightweight power tools in-hand stewardship staff and volunteers will be able to cut down buckthorn and other invasive shrubs in one-tenth of the time. Stewardship staff, no longer facing the prospect of lugging a 16 pound chainsaw ½ mile into the woods to remove 14 inch diameter trees toppled across public hiking trails by wind and ice could be heard singing, Rejoice! Rejoice!

Shelburne residents Barbara Leer and Steve Antell, approached Country Home Products after Steve volunteered for a day at the LaPlatte River Marsh Preserve in Shelburne, and experienced first hand the challenge of using a bow saw to cut down dozens of 10 inch diameter buckthorn trees. This exotic invasive shrub crowds out Vermont native plants on the forest floor and restricts the growth of native tree seedlings. Although native songbirds like the brightly-colored northern cardinal and the dashing cedar waxwing are drawn to its berries, they provide few nutrients and have even been called junk food for birds.

Emily Seifert, Stewardship Manager at the Conservancy said, “It is community support like this which helps us fight the good fight against invasives, and to maintain trails which are open to everyone on Nature Conservancy natural areas located throughout Vermont.”

Winter is a beautiful time to be outside. Shelburne Pond Natural Area located on Irish Hill Road in Shelburne, LaPlatte River Marsh Natural Area on Bay Road in Shelburne, and Williams Woods Natural Area on Greenbush Road in Charlotte, all have trails under a mile in length suitable for family snowshoe outings. Plan to visit again in the spring when the trails come alive with wildflowers and songbirds.

Since the Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1960, it has helped to protect over 198,000 acres of the state’s finest forests, wetlands, and shorelines, and maintains a network of more than 50 natural areas across Vermont. For more information, call (802) 229-4425.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.