Caledonia County Natural Resources Conservation District

05/06/2026

Hmm, guess not all 🚩 (they're actually orange but who's counting?) are bad!

Last week, on a beautiful sunny day🌞, we had another successful riparian buffer planting!🌲🌳

Joined by members of the Stewards of Greensboro (Greensboro Association), Northeast Kingdom Trout Unlimited, U.S Fish and Wildlife's Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program, students and faculty from East Burke School, and many other volunteers, we planted almost 500 trees (498 to be exact) along the beautiful Haynesville Brook in East Hardwick, with a variety of native trees and shrubs on a private property where the landowners wanted to steward their land (and we are SO grateful to them for their willingness and efforts in doing so- thank you!) 💚

Willows, dogwoods, balsam poplar, tamarack, and other trees and shrubs suitable for riparian life and associated site conditions will help to:

🌧☂️ Minimize flood and fluvial erosion hazards

🍃 🧪 Filter nutrient and sediment pollution

🐢🦋 Restore riparian habitat (for our aquatic and terrestrial critters)🐟🦊

Many thanks to our funding partners at the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) and to USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program for their support of this riparian buffer planting!

A special thanks (again) to the Stewards of Greensboro and the program for identifying this and other riparian restoration projects! And of course, a big thanks to all of the volunteers that helped make this possible 💪🏼👏

We'd also like to shout out Smith's Grocery of Greensboro Bend for feeding our hungry crew for lunch! 🥪😋

Interested in learning more about how YOU can be involved in riparian conservation? Do you know a river or stream that could benefit from trees and shrubs? Want to know more about volunteer opportunities?

✅ ️Learn more on our website at CaledoniaCountyNRCD.org or send us a message!

04/28/2026

Join us on Saturday May 2 from 9-1 at the Barton Fairgrounds! There will be a small selection of plants available for those who didn't pre-order, but show up early to get the best selection.

04/22/2026

Looking for a great opportunity to get wet, down, and dirty with conservation? JOIN the Hazen Union Hatchery Club NEXT WEEK Friday, May 1st, 2026 to help remove tires 🛞 and trash from Cooper Brook in Hardwick!

This will be an extremely satisfying event where YOU can take part in helping to improve water quality in the brook (and aesthetics, really!) 🏞️🌿🩵

Want more details? Follow up with us here on FB, or reach out at [email protected]

Interested in more events? Visit our webpage at www.caledoniacountynrcd.org

Interested in more volunteer opportunities in Caledonia County? Visit our site or contact us at [email protected] to be signed up for our volunteer opportunity communication.

03/15/2026

Despite the returning chill and snow ❄️, Spring Equinox is just around the corner. And whether you're waiting for more snow or more sunshine, you don't have to wait to place your plant order for the plant sale. Orders are due by April 6th, so why not get yours in on this chilly Sunday? 🌿🌻😁

02/04/2026

The Vermont Conservation Plan folks are returning to the NEK for round two of public engagement! They will be hosting a Listening Session in Lyndonville at Vermont State University on Monday, February 9 from 4 pm to 7 pm. Join CCNRCD and provide YOUR feedback on Action Items from the most recent draft of the Vermont Conservation Plan! See below for more information about the meeting & registering. See you there!

The VCP held Regional Listening Sessions in July and August, and we are returning for round two of public engagement! We will be hosting Winter Regional Listening Sessions throughout the state of Vermont on Mondays from 4:-00pm – 7:00pm in February and March 2026.

01/31/2026

Anyone dreaming of Spring on this chilly Saturday morning?

Well, you're in luck! 💫 Online ordering for the 2026 NEK annual plan sale is officially open!!! So you can cozy up at home and get ready for Spring as you order your plants.

Head on over to Orleans County Conservation District Vermont website https://www.orleanscountynrcd-plantsale.org/ for more details and to access the online store!

We are looking forward to a beautiful May 2nd with you at the NEK Plant Sale and Conservation Fair! 🏵

In the meantime, we'll be thinking PLANTS PLANTS PLANTS! 🌿🌲🌻

The 2026 Annual Plant Sale online store is now open! Place your order by April 6. Sales are by pre-order only. Supplies are limited.

Place your order at:
www.orleanscountynrcd-plantsale.org/

Our Annual Plant Sale is now officially a NEK Tri-District effort, delivered in collaboration with our colleagues at the Caledonia County NRCD and Essex County NRCD.

NEW ITEMS for 2026! Mushroom logs, apricot trees, black and blue cohosh, wild ginger, serviceberry, goldenseal, Solomon's seal, and New Jersey tea, as well as calendula and bee balm starts grown by the FFA students at North Country Career Center.

Are you interested in establishing riparian buffers on your property? Check out our Multifunctional Productive Buffer Bundles, packed with woody and herbaceous plants ideal for creating edible gardens along waterways.

The goal of the Annual Plant Sale is to encourage individual self-sufficiency and land enhancements to private property. Planting on your property can provide many benefits including restoring natural ecological systems, preventing erosion during flooding events, protecting water quality, providing edible crops, and creating better habitat for wildlife.

01/15/2026

Today is as good a day as any (before temps drop again tomorrow🥶) to dream about spring 🌷 and work on your planting plans.

Looking to add some plants to your property this year? Look no further than the Annual NEK Plant Sale! You will be happy to find an assortment of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants to spruce up your pasture, riparian buffer or garden!

We are so excited to collaborate with our friends at Essex County Natural Resources Conservation District and Orleans County Conservation District Vermont for the 2026 plant sale and conservation fair at the Barton Fairgrounds this May!

This year's plant sale will focus on promoting multifunctional productive buffers and celebrating the working landscape: investing in nature and harvesting for generations! Think species that provide food 🫐, medicinal uses, and can contribute to water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat 🦋🐦improvement.

🌳 The online store will open at the end of January but you can start planning today! Gift cards are also available for purchase now! https://www.orleanscountynrcd-plantsale.org/shop🌳

Keep your eyes peeled for more information!

01/14/2026

We're excited to announce the NEK Farmer-to-Farmer Adaptation Planning Cohort, launching Spring 2026.

This pilot program is hosted by NOFA-VT in collaboration with Orleans County Conservation District Vermont, Essex County Natural Resources Conservation District, Caledonia NRCD, and The Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE). Together, we're bringing NEK farmers together to build practical, farm-specific climate adaptation plans.

Participating farms will:
🌱Work through a guided adaptation planning process
🌱Learn alongside other NEK farmers through cohort meetings, meals, and farm visits
🌱Receive a $5,000 implementation grant to jumpstart a priority resilience project

📅 February–May 2026
👩‍🌾 Open to farms of all types and sizes
📝 Interest forms due January 16

If you're interested in planning for climate resilience, and want to do it alongside other farmers, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more & Apply:
https://www.orleanscountynrcd.org/nek-farmer-to-farmer-adaptation-planning-cohort

12/10/2025

Hi all,

For those who were planning to attend our Sleepers Weirs event at DHS-- we wanted you to know we decided to cancel today's event due to inclement weather, which is expected to be in effect this afternoon. We were really looking forward to joining you all, but understand that everyone's safety comes first.

We will be sure to update you all if we can reschedule this event, many folks were really looking forward to it also!

Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Stay safe and warm!

- Caledonia County NRCD

12/09/2025

Tomorrow! 😁 We look forward to an afternoon discussing the Sleepers River Research Watershed, it's weirs, and community ties! See you at 1 pm at the Danville Historical Society. Parking behind the church!