News

Last week was the conclusion of the Monitor Barns Farm’s pastured poultry season. Since April, 900 chickens have passed though our hands and its a bittersweet feeling to see them go… The three hours dedicated daily to their chores and maintenance can now be focused elsewhere on our bountiful harvest of the coming autumn, but we all enjoyed the daily rhythms and interactions with our little avian friends.

Our main goal with the chickens was to allow them to live out their lives with as many natural instincts and inherent chicken traits as possible. In short, we want to raise happy, healthy chickens which in turn provide us with tasty, nutritious poultry. To keep our birds happy and clean, we kept them on pasture and moved their little homes (we call them tractors) twice a day and let them out of their tractors whenever weather permitted.

For anyone who doesn't believe Cornish Cross actually graze, take a look at this picture.

As with any system in its first season, this was definitely a learning process. Through the first two batches we refined our systems to become more efficient and profitable. In this final and last batch of 300 birds, we felt we had finally gotten all of our bumps out and ended up producing a great batch of birds (even with a small incident with a hungry raccoon). One of the crew leaders, Angie, was able to create a holistic budget for the birds that tracked every cent it took to produce them… results will follow. The interns here at MBF were able to learn every part of raising these birds- from raising the chicks in the brooder, to maintaining them on pasture, to processing the birds and finding a market for their sale.

We raised a breed called Cornish Cross or Cornish Rock. This is the generic white breed that commercial poultry producers use and has been hybridized and bred to put on weight quickly with an efficient conversion of grain and produces large breasts and legs. Generally, this is the breed that American consumers want. However, many people in the world of sustainable agriculture look down upon these super-hybrids as lazy and weak. And, while there is definitely more health issues with these birds than more-hardy, heritage breeds we saw excellent results. Our day old chicks were very active and healthy- we got them from Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio. We kept a pretty low mortality rate and tried to get them out on pasture as early as possible (around 2 weeks). It was blatant to us that the earlier we got them out on pasture, the better they were at foraging and utilizing those chicken instincts we were hoping to foster.

We hope you’ll enjoy feeding these chickens to your friends and family knowing how well they were cared for!  Please inquire with Amanda Payne, VYCC Farm Coordinator if you are interested in buying a chicken.  802.434.3969 x145

Raised with care and dedication,

Ben, Angie, Kelly and Melissa (The Monitor Barns/VYCC Farm Crew)

Our second session slideshow is now online! On August 22 all VYCC second session crews gathered at the West Monitor Barn to say their final goodbyes and gather for a last circle up. Throughout the last four weeks, our VYCC crews did a ton of work building new trails, removing invasive species, restoring natural areas, and constructing new bridges –one crew built two 28-foot bridges in three weeks! Whew!

Check our closure slideshow to relive the memories and see the amazing work we completed. Thank you to all of our 2010 crews for their hard work, passion, and endless energy!

Interested in being paid to build a solar kiln this fall? The VYCC is hiring fall crew members to work at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park from September 4 – October 2. Corps Members will be paid up to $400/week. We are trying fill these positions quickly! To apply call Lauren Abrami at (802) 434 – 3969 x138.

Open Houses for second session crews are quickly approaching! Join us as we listen to crew stories and celebrate each crew’s work accomplishments at their campsites throughout Vermont. All family, friends, and supporters of the VYCC are welcome. For specific details about open houses, please read the below information. For more information, call the contact number listed.

**Roving 1 Co-ed LDC (Crew Leaders: Marcus and Mo)**
When: August 11, 2:30 – 4:30pm
Where: Seyon Ranch State Park, 2967 Seyon Pond Rd, Groton, VT 05046
Google Directions
Seyon Ranch State Park Map
Call Ry for details about specific campsite (881-5023)

**Roving 2 FLDC (Crew Leaders: Heather and Briana)**
When: August 21, 8:00 PM
Where: West Monitor Barn – Hay Mow (top floor), Richmond, VT
Google Directions
Call Mary T for details (881-5028)

UPDATE! **Roving 3 LEAP (Crew Leaders: Cara and Elon)**
When: August 14, 5:00 PM
Where: Meet in front of the EAST Monitor Barn in Richmond, VT (the large barn just east of the West Monitor Barn)
Google Directions
What: Potluck Style! Bring a dish to share with crew and others
Call Eliza for details (881-5025)

**Roving 4 (Crew Leaders: Erin and Kateri)**
When: August 11, 5:30 PM
Where: Moosalamoo Campground, Goshen, VT — look for big blue and green tarps and gray van.
What: Potluck, fun, and campfire! Bring enough for crew of 8 young hungry folks.
Google Directions
Call Ry for details (881-5023)

**Roving 5 (Crew Leaders: Cyndi and Laura)**
When: August 15, afternoon, EXACT TIME TBD.
Where: Silver Lake Campground (NOT Silver Lake State Park)
Directions: from Rte 7. Turn east onto Rte 73. Turn left onto Town Hill Road. From Rte. 100 Turn west onto Rte 73, Turn right onto town hill road. There is a sign for Moosalamoo and Blueberry Hill Inn. Continue onto Capen Hill Road, turn left onto Flora White Road. At stop sign go straight onto silver lake road/forest service road 27. Veer right. Park in lot, trail head on backside of lot. Follow Goshen trail (approx .4 miles.) Be sure to veer right at first trail intersection. At next trail intersection, go right to campground sites 1 and 2
What: Potluck
Google directions
Call Ry for details (881-5023)

**Roving 6 (Crew Leaders: Nikki and Dom)**
When: August 11, 5:30 PM
Where: Hapgood Pond Campground Site 17, Peru, VT
Google Directions
Hapgood Pond Campsite Map
What: Potluck Dinner with project presentation
Call Eliza for details (881-5025)

**Roving 7 (Crew Leaders: Matt and Katie)**
When: August 11, 5:00 PM
Where: Grout Pond Campground, West Wardsboro, VT
Google Directions
Grout Pond Campsite Map
Call Eliza for details (881-5025)

**Roving 8 (Crew Leaders: Chris R and Elizabeth)**
When: August 11, 5-7:00 PM
Where: 4266 VT Rt 14, South Royalton, VT 05068
Google Directions
What: Potluck snacks
Call Eliza for time and details (881-5025)

**Roving 9 (Crew Leaders: Shane and Ashley)**
When: August 11, 6:00 PM
Where: North Hero State Park, Loop 2, lean-to Apple and Cherry
Google Directions
What: Italian-themed Potluck
Call Ry for details (881-5023)

**Roving 10 (Crew Leaders: Patrick and Lisa)**
When: August 11, 7:00 PM
Where: MMU High School, Jericho, VT. Off Packard Road, in parking lot.
Google directions
What: Potluck, no desert please!
Call Mary for details (881-5028)

UPDATE! **Roving 11 (Crew Leaders: Dave and Carly)**
When: August 11, 5:00 PM
Where: Open House in Dummerston, VT at the Congregational Church in the center of town.
What: Potluck
Directions: Take 91S to the Putney Exit and turn left on the East-West Road into Dummerston. The Congregational Church is in the center of town.
Google directions
Call Mary for details (881-5028)

UPDATE! **Roving 12 (Crew Leaders: Pete and Vanessa)**
When: August 15, 3:00 PM
Where: Crew’s campsite at Sand Gate (near Arlington)
Directions: Take Rte 7 south through Manchester. 10 miles South of Manchester take 313 West. Take a left to stay on 313 West. Take a Right onto Sandgate Road. The crew will be greeting guests about one mile down Sandgate Road.
*Note: Destination on this map is approximate. Drive about a mile on Sandgate road until you see the crew! Google directions
Call Mary for directions and details (881-5028)

**Wilderness 1 (Crew Leaders: Carrie and Rick)**
When: August 15, 12:00 PM
Where: Gate on top of Forest Road 58, near Peru, VT
Directions: From rt 11, turn onto Main St in Peru. Bear left Hapgood Pond Road, and then bear left again a few minutes later onto North Rd (there is a sign for Wings XC). Turn left onto Mad Tom Notch Road (FR 21). Take a right onto FR 58, Mad Tom Notch Rd. Travel approx 10 minutes until you see a gate!
Google directions
What: Potluck. Festivities will start at the gate, but if interested, prepare for a one hour intermediate hike to see campsite and work project.

**Wilderness 2 (Crew Leaders: Meg and Brigitte)**
When: August 11, 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Potluck begins at 6:00PM
Where: 2000 Lottery Road Shrewsbury, Vt. On LT/AT. Welcoming crew will be there to escort you to the site.
Google Directions
What: Bring dish to share, preferably your child’s favorite! Expecting 20 people. Bring silverware, plates, and drinkables.
Questions: call Meg or Brigitte at 881-5017 or supervisor Katherine (774-239-2371)

**Wilderness 3 (Crew Leaders: Maureen and Thorin)**
When: August 15, 12:00 PM
Where: At the crew campsite, off of Stony Brook Rd, Notown, VT
Directions: From Richmond: 89 South to Exit 3 for Bethel. Turn right off the exit ramp. Stay on rt 107, after bearing left at intersection in Bethel. Continue for approx 10 – 15 minutes. Turn left onto Stony Brook Rd. Follow for 20 minutes. You’ll see a gold Rav-4 on the left, near a foot bridge. Campsite is through the meadow to the left.
Google Directions *Note destination not exact, keep following road until you see the gold Rav 4!
What: Potluck

Second session crews begin July 24! All Roving and Wilderness Corps Members should meet at the West Monitor Barn between 9:30-10am for registration. Please remember to bring either your valid passport or your driver’s license/learner’s permit and social security card or birth certificate. We will double check your medical form, corps member agreement, and have you fill out W-4 and I-9 forms. Afterwards, we will circle up as a community and start forming crews! Parents will be able to attend a short parent info session after the circle up and then can head out. For more information, email info@vycc.org

Driving Directions to the West Monitor Barn in Richmond, VT:

If driving north on I-89, take exit 10 (Waterbury). From the exit ramp, turn left on Route 100 South (towards Waterbury). Route 100 will dead end in one mile. Turn right on Route 2 West. The West Monitor Barn is located on the right side of Route 2, one mile after Jonesville.

If driving south on I-89, take exit 11 (Richmond). From the exit ramp, turn right on Route 2 East (towards Richmond). The West Monitor Barn is located on the left side of Route 2, two miles after the light in the town of Richmond.

Check out these great pictures from our first session Wilderness and Roving crews! On Saturday, July 17 first session crews returned to the West Monitor Barn in Richmond for a final community circle up. The session was a great success with crews based throughout the state, from the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in Swanton to the Appalachian Trail outside of Stockbridge. Thank you to all of our corps members, crew leaders, sponsors, partners, and VYCC staff who made the crews possible!

With one session finished, the next session is just around the corner! Our second session crews start this Saturday, July 24. If you have any questions about crew start up or would like to visit a second session crew, email info@vycc.org.