The Orleans County Natural Resource Conservation District (OCNRCD) is hosting its annual plant sale. The fundraiser is an opportunity for community members to purchase quality bareroot trees, shrubs, berry bushes, and other plants, while supporting the District's important conservation programming. Some of the goals of the sale is to encourage individual self-sufficiency and land enhancements to private properties.

Plant supplies are limited and sold by pre-orders, due by Friday, Apr 14th. Information on ordering can be found on the OCNRCD website at www.vacd.org/conservation-districts/orleans-county/. Orders are picked up by customers on Saturday, May 6th at the Orleans County Fairgrounds in Barton, 9am-noon.

New additions this year include: fun T-shirts and mugs with art from NEK local artist Meg Gibson, Indian currant, American plum, Blake's pear, horseradish and trout! Customers can purchase rainbow and brook trout for stocking private ponds. Support students in the Future Farmers of America program at North Country Career Center by purchasing wildflower starts. We also will have local compost from the Jones farm in Craftsbury available again for purchase at our pick up day.

For over 20 years, the Conservation Districts in Vermont have been offering their communities a variety of bareroot plants for sale, including berry bushes, fruit and nut trees, evergreens, and a selection of native wetland plants and shrubs. Some of the species for sale – such as ferns, dogwood, Indian currant, willow and plum trees – are helpful for stabilizing soils, gullies and riverbanks. Planting along streams, rivers and shorelands can help prevent soil erosion. Land erosion can lead to the build up of nutrients and phosphorus in our waterways, which negatively impacts water quality.

For questions, please contact Sarah Damsell at sarah.damsell@vt.nacdnet.net or at 802-334-6090, ext. 7008.