Shelburne Farms
Encyclopedia
Shelburne Farms is a nonprofit environmental education center and National Historic Landmark
on the shores of Lake Champlain
in Shelburne, Vermont
. It is also one of the principal concert sites for the Vermont Mozart Festival
.
Shelburne Farms was created in 1886 by Dr. William Seward Webb
and Eliza Vanderbilt Webb as a model agricultural estate. They commissioned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted
to guide the layout of 3800 acres (1,537.8 ha) of farm, field and forest, and New York architect Robert Henderson Robertson
, to design the buildings. Shelburne Farms was incorporated as a nonprofit educational facility in 1972. Nearly 400 acres (161.9 ha) of sustainably managed woodlands received Green Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council
in 1998.
The Shelburne Farms grass-based dairy
supports a herd of 125 purebred, registered Brown Swiss
cows. Their milk is made into an award-winning farmhouse cheddar cheese
. The farm serves as an educational resource by practicing rural land use that is environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable
. Visitors may enjoy the walking trails, children’s farmyard, inn, restaurant, property tours and special events.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on the shores of Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
in Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne is a town in southwestern Chittenden County, Vermont, United States, along the shores of Lake Champlain. The population was 7,144 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. It is also one of the principal concert sites for the Vermont Mozart Festival
Vermont Mozart Festival
The Vermont Mozart Festival was a series of indoor and outdoor concerts presented annually at sites throughout the state of Vermont. The inaugural Festival of 1974 was conceived as a celebration of both the natural beauty of the state and the genius of the Festival's namesake, composer Wolfgang...
.
Shelburne Farms was created in 1886 by Dr. William Seward Webb
William Seward Webb
William Seward Webb, M.D. was a businessman, and Inspector General of the Vermont militia with the rank of Colonel. He was a founder and former President of the Sons of the American Revolution.-Biography:...
and Eliza Vanderbilt Webb as a model agricultural estate. They commissioned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
to guide the layout of 3800 acres (1,537.8 ha) of farm, field and forest, and New York architect Robert Henderson Robertson
Robert Henderson Robertson
Robert Henderson Robertson was an American architect who designed numerous houses, institutional buildings and churches.-Life and career:...
, to design the buildings. Shelburne Farms was incorporated as a nonprofit educational facility in 1972. Nearly 400 acres (161.9 ha) of sustainably managed woodlands received Green Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products...
in 1998.
The Shelburne Farms grass-based dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
supports a herd of 125 purebred, registered Brown Swiss
Brown Swiss
Brown Swiss is a breed of dairy cattle that produces the second largest quantity of milk per annum, over . The milk contains on average 4% butterfat and 3.5% protein, making their milk excellent for production of cheese. The Brown Swiss is known for a long gestation period, immense size, large...
cows. Their milk is made into an award-winning farmhouse cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is a relatively hard, yellow to off-white, and sometimes sharp-tasting cheese, produced in several countries around the world. It has its origins in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset....
. The farm serves as an educational resource by practicing rural land use that is environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
. Visitors may enjoy the walking trails, children’s farmyard, inn, restaurant, property tours and special events.
External links
- Shelburne Farms Website
- A Pastoral Preserve Faces the Future in Smithsonian Magazine by Chris Granstrom, May 1998.
- Opulence and comfort on a Vanderbilt scale in The Boston Globe By Patricia Harr and David Lyon, September 12, 2004
- Shelburne Farms in The Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance