Goodbye Seth! Hello Maddie and Mandy!
Dear Friends,
After 5 ½ seasons with the Intervale Conservation Nursery, I will be leaving at the end of July to begin a new adventure in the work of protecting and sustaining our good earth. This fall, I will begin the Sustainable Entrepreneurship MBA (SEMBA) at UVM’s Grossman School of Business. I look forward to learning new skills and hope to be part of the green business revolution taking place right here in Vermont.
I would like to thank my fellow Intervale Center staff, farmers, interns and the many hundreds of volunteers it has been my pleasure to work with. Together, we are writing a long and fulfilling story of stewarding Burlington’s one and only Intervale Center. Each and every one of us, from the lifelong farmer to the day visitor down for a walk or ski, helps make our little corner of the earth a special place of healing, community, good food, and love.
“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.” –Max Ehrmann
With gratitude,
Seth Gillim
Intervale Conservation Nursery Assistant Manager
Seth has been such an integral part of the Conservation Nursery team that we had to hire two employees to replace him! We’re pleased to welcome Maddie Cotter and Mandy St. Hilaire to our team. You’ll get to know them both in person when you volunteer with the Nursery, but until then, here’s a little bit about each of them:
I just finished a year of service with the ECO AmeriCorps program at the Conservation Nursery, and I am really looking forward to stepping into my role as a full-time employee. I’ve always cared about nature, but I had no idea how much I truly enjoy growing trees until I found myself at the Intervale Center. Taking care of 80,000 trees is no small task, and I wouldn’t be able to do it without the amazing team that works at the Nursery. I will miss working with Seth on a daily basis and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Maddie Cotter
Intervale Conservation Nursery Steward
It feels great to be back at the Intervale Center after spending a couple years outside of Vermont. While studying at the University of Vermont, I was lucky enough to be a work-study student, intern, part time field tech, and planting crew member before leaving the state to pursue post-graduate adventures and experiences. Since then, I’ve circled back to the Nursery--a place I’ve always considered home. I’m looking forward to being a part of this growing venture as a field tech. Mike’s (Nursery Manager) and Seth’s mentorship over the years have meant so much, and I’m sad to be returning just as Seth is pursuing his graduate studies. That being said, I’m so happy for Seth and his family—great things are to come from these new endeavors, good luck, and your humor and thoughtfulness will be so missed!
Mandy St. Hilaire
ICN Field Technician
mandys@intervale.org
Mandy and Maddie look forward to having you volunteer at the Nursery - check out our summer volunteer opportunities here!