Habitat Improvement Project at Mission Farm

Mary Beth and Matt Poli, of Poli Gardens, have begun work on a River Buffer Habitat Improvement Project along the Ottauquechee River in Killington.  Next year, they plan to grow vegetables in the surrounding area at Mission Farm. They consulted with Hilary Solomon, District Manager of Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District, to come up with a plan for the installation, management and maintenance of a native pollinator forage and river buffer along the segment of the river that flows between Route 4 and Mission Farm Road. 

​The Poultney Mettowee NRCD provided the grant for the shrubs and trees for phase one of the project. On Saturday, June 16th the Polis, Solomon, and the Rev. Lee Crawford planted about 200 winterberry holly, dogwoods, and other native flowering shrubs in the swale between the road and former hay field (the one that floods in spring) and along the river behind the vicarage at Mission Farm. About 50 elderberry shrubs, along with white birch and sycamore trees, will tentatively planted on Saturday, August 11th. Email Mary Beth at poligardens@gmail.com for more information. 

Mary Beth Poli invited anyone interested in the project to walk the trail by the river, (Mission Farm’s Diane’s Trail) and look for the brightly flagged stakes--next to each one is a native shrub they planted.  She suggested a great time to visit would be during the next Killington Farmers' Market on August 16th from 3-6pm. Poli or Crawford can point you in the right direction, and after the walk pick up some local food and goods to take home.