Cynthia and Jon Readnour from North Clarendon, Vermont, have enrolled about four acres of their Rutland County farmland in Vermont's Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

Jon also works off the farm as an environmental attorney. His wife Cynthia is a naturalist. Both understand the importance of CREP to the environment and to farming in Vermont. In fact, their cropland is currently being converted from corn to hay to help save the soil.

When asked why they chose to participate in CREP, Jon responded "We were worried about soil erosion and water quality and want to keep the land in farming and help wildlife habitat."

Jon also revealed that wild turkeys had returned to the area and Baltimore Orioles and Indigo Buntings were also spotted. A State zoologist indicated that rare Fresh Water Mussels are present in the project area and need protection. CREP filter strips and riparian buffer strips would help provide this protection by reducing stream sedimentation.

Over 1,500 native species tree seedlings and adaptive shrubs were hand planted along nearly half a mile of the Otter Creek and a supporting grassed filter strip is underway. Tree and shrub planting work was done by Stafford High School students enrolled in its technical forestry curriculum. The extent of the partnering and collaboration was certainly special and unusual in this very worthwhile project for the environment.

Several agencies and non-government organizations took special interest in this project and participated in the implementation including USDA's Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Vermont's Agency of Agriculture, local conservation district, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Nature Conservancy, among others.

Kathy Beland, forestry consultant, assists the students with tree planting..

Mark Skakel's high school tech forestry students plant trees according to the Readnours' Vermont CREP contract plan.

Over 1500 native trees and shrubs were hand planted by Stafford Technical Center students along Otter Creek to reduce stream sedimentation..

Mark Skakel, Forestry teacher at Stafford Technical Center in Rutland, Vermont, shows students how to plant trees in Vermont CREP Riparian Buffer.

Kevin Wright, student at Stafford Technical Center in Rutland, Vermont, learns 'hands on' about tree planting on Vermont CREP Riparian Buffer.

Vermont CREP participants Cynthia and Jon Readnour enrolled because they were concerned about soil erosion and water quality on their property, keeping the land in farming, and helping wildlife habitat.