Staff Articles
A Vermonter’s Approach to Sustainable, Affordable Housing
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Ten years ago this summer, Hurricane Irene tore through Vermont, leaving massive destruction and flooding in its wake. Among the hardest hit were mobile home parks, where many residents lost everything they owned—including the roof over their head. So, when Steve Davis, a … Read More
Rugged Ridge Grows Sugarbush, Business in Pace with the Forest
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund It’s often said in business that “bigger is better,” but for Josh Seidman, steward of Rugged Ridge Forest, “better” is making the highest-quality maple syrup sustainably. A 2010 University of Vermont graduate, Seidman became interested in forestry after taking a small woodlot management … Read More
Combined Heat and Power at Allard Lumber Saves Money, Jobs, and Environment
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund When the water pump on Allard Lumber’s boiler went a few years back, Trevor Allard finally had the excuse he needed to begin building the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system that he had been considering for years. “I couldn’t justify throwing out … Read More
Wood Curl Packaging Reduces Waste, Supports Healthy Forests and Local Economy
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Resourceful Vermonters have long looked to the forest for wood heat, building materials, and furniture, but Jim Lovinsky, owner of Sylvacurl in East Hardwick, may be among the first to see an alternative to plastic packing peanuts. The company produces wood curls that … Read More
Maple Landmark, America’s “Local Toy Company,” Rooted in Family, Forest
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Mike Rainville, founder and owner of Maple Landmark, landed his first wholesale account at age 15, when a traveling salesman noticed the wooden tic tac toe boards Mike had for sale at the Lincoln General Store. That was 1979. Today, Maple Landmark supplies … Read More
The Optimistic Caterer: Sugarsnap Keeps On Cooking
By Geoff Robertson, Business Assistance Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Her business vanished virtually overnight, but with creativity and coaching, Sugarsnap Catering is back stronger than ever and optimistic about 2021. Over a seven-day period that she refers to as “Twilight Zone Week,” Abbey Duke, owner of Sugarsnap Catering in Burlington went from a full … Read More
Loggers and Lagers: How Healthy Forests Help Brew a Better Pint
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund The story of von Trapp Brewing begins fifty years ago in the forested hills behind the resort, where a natural spring bubbles clear water up to the surface of the earth. The spring is fed by moisture that condenses on the forest canopy, … Read More
Vermont’s Lafoe Logging Named Northeast Region “Outstanding Logger”
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund In every industry, there are individuals who set the bar. In Vermont’s forest products industry, two of those individuals are Brian Lafoe and his son-in-law, Stan Parker, owners of Lafoe Logging. Last year, Lafoe Logging was named “Northeast Region Outstanding Logger” by The … Read More
Can Vermont’s Forests Help Save the Planet?
The Cold Hollow Carbon project in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is the first co-op model in the country to successfully enter a voluntary carbon market. By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Long valued for timber, recreation, wildlife habitat, and solace, Vermont’s forests are being recognized for providing another, more global, … Read More
Town Forests Bring Vermonters Together, Even While Social Distancing
By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund In the era of COVID-19, Vermonters are particularly fortunate to live in a rural state where access to the outdoors is abundant. Even people living in Vermont’s largest city and the epicenter of coronavirus cases in the state, most Burlington residents had access … Read More
What does the future of farming and food in Vermont look like?
We Need Your Input to Shape the Future Together By Jake Claro, Farm to Plate Director at the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund MONTPELIER, VT – The Farm to Plate Network, managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), just launched a public survey that will help develop a new vision for farming and food, and … Read More
COVID-19, Community, and Curbside Pick-Up
Upper Valley Produce Responds to New Needs of Vermont’s Food System By Geoff Robertson, Business Assistance Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund It’s no secret that the food industry has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19. The pandemic forced producers, farmers, and restaurants to adapt their business models—or close their doors—virtually overnight. In the middle … Read More