All Vermont NRCDs offer program navigation services. For our agricultural sector, we call this service Conservation Farm Teams. Orleans County NRCD staff provide farmers and other land stewards with one-on-one assistance in accessing resources related to voluntary conservation activities.

We provide advice, information, expertise, and tools to help facilitate the maintenance or restoration of natural resources and to improve the health of operations for the future. The bulk of the work is:

• Conducting site visits to identify problems and opportunities, determine objectives, and conduct initial inventory of natural resource base, issues, and needs
• While working with partners, providing landowners program triage and referrals to the appropriate grant resources
• Actively supporting access to Vermont natural resource programs by providing coordination of technical and financial services with local, state and federal partners on behalf of a landowner's expressed natural resource goals and needs

Specific tasks include:

• Convene one-on-one meetings to explore options
• Connect farmers to relevant partners in other agencies and act as a liaison with state and town regulators
• Coordinate and facilitate state, local and federal staff for site visits
• Help clients navigate funding opportunities, i.e., filling out applications, and writing grant applications and letters of support
• Assist with implementation of programming and projects

Download our Farm Teams  Program Factsheet

Sign up with our Farm Teams Intake Form

Learn more about the Farm Teams Facilitator Role

In the delivery system of Vermont conservation services, Conservation Districts (NRCDs) play a critical initial role in supporting land stewards in entering into a holistic conservation planning process. Learn more about our Program Navigation Services here.

If you would like to learn more about our Conservation Farm Teams, check our the resources below or reach out to our District Manager, Sarah Damsell (see side box for contact info).