Posted by Diana Vachon on Sep 11, 2019

CSH Rotary Club

Regular Meeting

9/11/19

Member Attendees:  John Hammer, Roz Graham, Erik Kolomaznik Past President, Diana Vachon Secretary, Jessica Brumsted, Charlie Kofman, Joan Lenes, Chris Davis Vice President, George Schiavone, Keith Walsh President, Jon Lowell, Howard Seaver, Phil Denu, Nancy Danforth, Sam Feitelberg, Linda Schiavone, Tod Whitaker, Bill Deming, Bob Sanders, John Dupee, Trafton Crandall, Francis LeBlanc, Linda Barker, Adam Marsh

Guest Attendees: Peter Swift Guest Speaker, Allison Kurtis, Carol Geski

 

The meeting was called to order at 8 AM and started with the Pledge of Allegiance and an Invocation by Nancy Danforth.

Peter Swift is the owner of the Mount Philo Ridge Farm and Market in Charlotte, VT. The farm is 275 acres on which they raise 60 cows of a Scottish breed, pigs, and 1000 chickens, and turkeys. New, today, is the beef available from the first herd of cows bred and raised on the farm. The cows are grass fed and grass finished. Peter pays particular attention to the last 60 days of the cow’s lives to make sure they are eating well and gaining weight (fat).  They raise cows and lamb for meat and grow vegetables to sell through their market. Most of the food served in the market is grown on the farm. 

 

Peter grew up in Los Angeles went to UCLA. He graduated from Medical School in Syracuse, NY and did his residency in New Mexico. In Seattle, WA he did radiology oncology. He first worked in Anchorage, AK for 3 years and then moved to Burlington, VT. He joined the UVM Medical Center and stay there until about 10 years ago. Living in Charlotte, his neighbor was dairy farmer David Foote. In 2012 Mr. Foote retired and put the farm up for sale. Peter and his wife decided to buy it and keep working the fields. But there was a tremendous amount of clean up and restructuring to do. They worked with UVM Extension to assess quality of the soil and productivity. The soil was exhausted/depleted of organic matter. He learned the best way to bring back the soil is not to till it and instead have diverse pasture grasses. Integrate animals into the pasture to use it in a specific way called mob grazing. Mob grazing is when the animals eat the grass down to about 4 inches while spreading manure and are moved on to another pasture sequentially. This process called Regenerative Agriculture. He also tests the amount of CO2 that the pastures are able to take out the air, which benefits the soil and addresses the greenhouse gas issues. Another goal to partnering with UVM Extension is to come up with a business model for other farmers in the state to consider using.  He would like to have a community compost. The regenerative scheme is interesting from science point of view, making compost from the animals, farm and market. They would build a special barn to house the cows and collect the manure.  Then cover the manure with hay and wood chips then more manure and keep making layers. The cows stay up on top layer where it’s dry. From December to May the manure is saved and initiated along with an aeration and hydration system inside the barn. The compost process is finished outside in the fields. 

 

The market also creates a gathering place for community. They host music events. Peter plays with Kevin Clayton in band called the Meat Packers. There were 250 people at their last event at the Market. Another exciting project is Chris Gorman from the Bread and Butter farm is doing local TV show for kids. They will be filming on Mt. Philo Ridge Farm.

Jon Lowell Sargent at Arms collected Happy Fines: for 911, our speaker Peter Swift, Shark Tank, Rotary golf teams, scoot fines, and Volunteers helping out with the Shelburne Library move. 

John Dupee won the raffle. Drew an ace and the pool rolls over.

Keith asked that one member from the each committee attend the Board meeting next Thursday.

Current Service Projects: Shelburne Market. Shelburne Library is moving. Hand out water at the race Saturday at the covered bridge. October 12th on Shelburne Farms is next race. Parking at Harvest Fest next Saturday 9/21 from 10 am – 4 pm. 

Saturday 9/14 is the Pierson Library Grand Opening starting at 9:30 AM. 

Light the Night – Walk through Burlington. Charlie Kofman made arrangements to meet after the event at Shelburne Tap House. Park at Hood Dairy Farm on South Winooski Ave. $100 person is suggested amount. The walk benefits the Leukemia and blood cancer research. 

Car raffle on is on Friday October 11th

Halloween parade is coming up the last Sunday in October.

Charlotte trackor parade is coming up. They have a field with food and booths at the end. It would be good marketing for CSH Rotary to have a presence.

Greta Thunberg a sixteen year old from Sweden, is speaking at United Nations next week on climate change.  She has full-blown Asperger’s Syndrome. She boycotted school to sit in Parliament and tell them there is no future for kids. Students here in Burlington are rallying on 9/20/19 between 12pm – 2pm at City Hall on Church Street. Ben & Jerry’s and Burton will stop working to release adult workers to go to rally to support climate activism and motivate the adults to do something to preserve the future of our planet.  

Adjourn at 9 am.  Respectfully submitted by Diana Vachon Secretary.