The VYCC announced today that the Connecticut-based 1772 Foundation has generously awarded the VYCC with a $50,000 grant to support the rehabilitation of the recently purchased East Monitor Barn. Once renovated, the East and West Monitor Barns and nearly 400 accompanying acres will return to a single, conserved ownership for productive and sustainable, agricultural, educational and recreational use. These combined facilities will be training headquarters for the VYCC, allowing for continued organizational growth, including the expansion of a year-round and statewide alternative education program.

In April of 2008, following the purchase and successful rehabilitation of the West Monitor Barn, the VYCC acquired the neighboring East Monitor Barn, Carriage Barn, Farm House and 160 acres in order to fully develop the ‘Monitor Barn Leadership, Education and Training Center.’ Representing a highpoint in human and animal powered agriculture, these turn-of-the century barns are one among Vermont’s most important examples of architectural and agricultural heritage. The barns’ unique ventilating system runs from the windows in the clerestory to the stalls in the lowest floor, and allowed farmers to “monitor” the air flow. At the time of their construction, they represented a major advance in agrarian architecture.

Initially, the East Monitor Barn will need to be raised, a new foundation will be installed, and internal post and beam rehabilitation work completed. The VYCC is in discussion with various contractors and hopes to begin the first stages of work later this year.

Support from the 1772 Foundation makes this first phase of work possible, and according to Tom Hark, founding President of the VYCC, “this gift symbolizes a new beginning for a great Vermont structure. These barns are a great source of pride and we can’t wait to use them in ways that strengthen our programs and deepen our ties to the traditions and landscape of the region.”

Contributing to a comprehensive and ongoing effort to clean-up the newly purchased East Monitor Barn (EMB) property, 30 volunteers arrived with work gloves and tools on Saturday morning, November 8th, continuing the work of other volunteer groups and some of our school crews. This work is critical as we prepare to dive into the initial stages of the EMB revitalization, which depending on funding, could begin as early as this spring! The group helped with deconstruction in the Quonset hut, cleaned the interior of the EMB, and cleared brush and trees which were encroaching on the buildings.
If you have a group that is interested in contributing to our continued efforts to cleanup and revitalize the East Monitor Barn site, please contact Keegan Tierney, Lands and Facility Manager, at keegan@vycc.org or 434-3969 x141.

The VYCC Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) Crew has been hard at work this fall. The crew’s start date was September 3rd, and they have taken part in some exciting projects around the local area.

So far they have:

-Participated in watershed conservation projects with the Montpelier Parks and Conservation Commission
-Completed a trail clearing project on local nordic ski trails
-Worked on land stewardship projects here at the VYCC West Monitor Barn campus, which included sumac removal by the East Monitor Barn and cover crop planting in the garden

These students have also helped Maple Wind Farm harvest vegetables. Maple Wind Farm has been a strong educational partner of VYCC’s. VYCC swaps work on the farm for time on their ropes course, use of their farm equipment, and their advice for productive vegetable growing. It is a wonderful partnership!

As for the rest of October and November, they will be continuing land stewardship work at the VYCC, beginning with the VYCC Trail System and specifically the trail past the lean-tos. Their main focus will be drainage and erosion control, as water needs to be successfully guided off the trail, and drainage dips need to installed.

To learn more about the fantastic CVU School Instructors, Hillary and Matthew, click here.

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is proud to announce the acquisition of the East Monitor Barn Property with help from the Vermont Community Foundation. The VYCC will have two years to raise the purchase price and develop a plan for the site. The property is adjacent to the VYCC’s Leadership, Education and Training Center at the West Monitor Barn on Route 2 in Richmond.

On May 8th, at 6 p.m., the VYCC, Richmond Land Trust, Richmond Area Business Association, Richmond Historical Society and the Richmond Creative Communities are co-convening a public forum regarding this property. There will be site tours, refreshments, and an informational meeting aimed at giving the community the chance to help envision the programmatic uses for the property.

Download the event flyer or contact East Monitor Barn Project Manager Ginny McGrath at 434.3969 ext. 115 or gmcgrath@vycc.org for more information.