Norwich Residents Show Concern Over Norwich Farms' Future
On March 5th the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT) exercised its option to purchase a 6-acre property on Turnpike Road in Norwich, VT from Vermont Technical College (VTC). The property, known as “Norwich Farms,” was once owned by Andrew Sigler as a non-profit demonstration farm. It consists of several barns, a residence, and mobile home.
The Norwich Farms complex is adjacent to UVLT's 352-acre Brookmead Conservation Area. The entire 358-acre farm was donated by Sigler to VTC in 2015 after UVLT pledged $300,000 to buy both the land and option contract, which gave VTC the cash it needed to start up dairy education programs there. The terms of the option specify that UVLT may pay an additional $50,000 for the other 6 acres should VTC ever cease its on-site agricultural education programs. In September 2017, VTC announced its plans to discontinue Norwich programs, triggering a 6 month option period which culminated in UVLT’s decision to exercise the option.
Since UVLT exercised the option last week, about 900 people have signed a petition to "bring the cows back" to the farm. UVLT President, Jeanie McIntyre, says UVLT is pleased to see such strong interest in agriculture from Norwich residents. “During VTC’s ownership, two different farmers were unable to make dairy work on the site. There haven’t been dairy cows in the barn since June 2017 when local farmer Josh Swift had to leave,” she said.
Chris Gray, a cheesemaker, and his family currently reside on the premises. He came to the property under an arrangement with VTC to teach VTC students how to use granted-funded processing equipment supplied by the school while developing his business, Norwich Farm Creamery. “The Grays would like to continue on the site,” McIntyre said, “They’ve known since September that a transition in ownership would necessitate a change in the lease arrangements because school funds won’t be available to cover the carrying costs of the buildings and grounds that they use. They held off submitting a proposal until they were sure that UVLT would be the owner, and now we are reviewing the plan they submitted March 12th.”
According to McIntyre, cost information supplied by VTC indicates there currently is a gap of over $100,000 between annual expenses and VTC's site rental income. UVLT is working with a business consultant with expertise in farm viability to help identify potential additional tenants, evaluate proposals and develop alternatives for financially viable uses. McIntyre said that the cost information supplied by VTC was shared with the Grays several months ago. “The recent local interest in dairy is quite hopeful. Maybe financial support from community investors could be what makes the difference with a new business model,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Norwich petition signers needn’t worry that the meadows and pastures of UVLT’s Brookmead Conservation Area are at risk of conversion from agriculture. The option contract does not involve that land. McIntyre says that UVLT had allowed VTC to use the pastures and hayland in support of their programs. With the school’s withdrawal, other area farms have expressed interest. “This land will not fall into disuse,” she said.
UVLT strives to support and promote healthy, local food and opportunities for those who grow it. Half of the properties that UVLT has conserved (which total 500 properties, and 52,000 acres) are agricultural land. McIntyre, who grew up raising calves and is a 2007 recipient of NH’s Andrew Felker Award for her work bringing conservationists and farmers together to foster the economic advancement of agriculture, says “We understand the importance of agriculture for the local economy and the rural character and way of life in the Upper Valley. That’s why it is so important that the next use of the Norwich Farms building complex be sound and sustainable for the long term.”
The option contract enables UVLT to purchase the farm complex in order to keep the agricultural buildings connected to the 352-acre Brookmead Conservation Area adjacent to the farm. The option agreement requires the property be conveyed free and clear of all personal property, tenants, and encumbrances. McIntyre said, "VTC has some steps to complete in order for that to happen. We’re looking towards a closing date 50 days out and are waiting to hear from them about how they plan to address these matters.” If an approach for long-term use of the site is not finalized before the closing, UVLT expects to rent the property at fair market value on a short-term basis to offset carrying costs.
