We launched the Jack Lazor Memorial Soil Health Stewards program in the spring of 2021 to honor the legacy and wisdom of Jack Lazor, an organic farming leader and the co-founder of Butterworks Farm, who passed away in November 2020. This learning cohort promotes farmer-to-farmer education and relationship building in an effort to address both shorter-term soil health improvement strategies, as well as long-term systems change.
The inaugural cohort of livestock and dairy farmers expanded their knowledge regarding soil health through soil testing, peer-to-peer discussion, on-farm visits, and more.
Two new cohort groups will launch in the winter of 2023, with applications opening in the late fall of 2022. One cohort will be for diversified livestock farms and one will be geared toward small-scale, intensively cultivated vegetable farms. Both are intended for intermediate to advanced farmers who are excited about farmer-to-farmer learning focused on soil health and climate resilience.
Applications for the 2023 cohorts are currently closed. Please click below to complete a brief form to express your interest in the program and we will contact you when the next round of applications is open.
Program Objectives
- Directly address soil health on Vermont farms
- Increase knowledge of soil health, climate resilience, and innovative practices to support long-term farm viability
- Facilitate farmer-to-farmer educational opportunities for farmers to learn from and with each other
- Seed a network of soil health stewards across Vermont who will contribute to educating others through mentorship and on-farm education about soil health practices
- Continue to bring farmer voices into soil health advocacy work