Dear friends,
I’m both excited and sad to share that I am moving on from my role managing the Conservation District here. After almost five years doing my best to serve farmers and advise people on their trees, I’m taking a turn in the producer’s shoes. This winter I’ll be working at an apple orchard and then at one of the VT nurseries that supplies some of the trees sold here. In the near term I’ll probably move around a bit since many of these jobs are seasonal, but I intend to keep connected with the wonderful people I’ve met in Franklin County. I treasure the privilege I’ve had to walk your farms, hear your dreams and frustrations, and provide your trees. Thanks for supporting me and trusting me, and I hope you’ll similarly welcome the District’s new manager Lauren Weston.
Lauren's background includes water resources engineering, agriculture, climate resilience, and community building; she is excited to combine and continue these skills as part of her new role as District Manager. In 2015, Lauren graduated from Smith College in her hometown of Northampton, MA (very near my own hometown!). She worked in different places for a few years until settling into Vermont to work designing natural resources restoration projects from rain gardens to stream restorations to a dam removal. She spent the 2019 growing season in Franklin County working on a small farm in Montgomery and serving the community at two local restaurants. Lauren currently serves as an active Board Member for the Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition and is also a 2021 Fellow with the New Leaders Council Vermont. She is incredibly eager to work in Franklin County again with folks who are dedicated to the land, water, and life around them, and the District is eager for her talents and leadership. Please join us in welcoming Lauren!
-Jeannie Bartlett, outgoing District Manager
p.s. if you'd like to get in touch personally, write to Lauren at info@franklincountynrcd.org and she can connect us. Thanks!
