Harvest time at the Intervale Center

Spring means harvest time at the Intervale Center! While it’s too early for vegetables, we’re busy harvesting native trees. The Intervale Conservation Nursery grows and plants native trees for restoration projects along streams and rivers in Vermont. This month, we will harvest over 20,000 trees to be planted along Vermont’s watersheds to protect water quality, mitigate climate change and restore our native landscape. Last week’s warmer weather allowed us to (finally) get started!

We harvest from our very own production fields right here in the Intervale, pictured at right. Last week, we harvested red osier dogwood and silky dogwood, both deciduous shrubs that thrive on lake and stream edges. With the help of UVM volunteers, our seasonal planting crew and Intervale Center staff (pictured below), we harvested over 3,000 trees in one day! These trees are 2-3 years old and will be planted this spring along streams and rivers in Vermont.

Why native? For one thing, these trees and shrubs are well suited to survive in our Vermont climate. Also, trees grown in Vermont don’t have to endure lengthy and stressful transportation, like trees grown at conventional nurseries in the Midwest. Our trees have a 75% survival rate — well above the industry standard!

Our Conservation Nursery is special for many reasons – but especially because of our community engagement. We couldn’t do it without dedicated volunteers from our committed Vermont businesses, schools, churches, colleges, and organizations who get their hands dirty and help us plant, harvest, weed and care for these trees and shrubs. We are working hard to protect Vermont’s watershed by growing and planting native trees and our community is 100% behind us supporting each and every tree!