In 2018, my partner and I moved to a small home nestled within 54 forested acres in Southern Vermont. We immediately rolled up our sleeves and began to learn all we could about our new ecosystem. In an effort to have a positive impact and be good stewards of our surroundings, we began our work by removing invasive plants, improving habitat, and safeguarding water quality. As a result, I also developed a deep admiration and connection to the forest. New artwork came out of all this doing, learning, and experimentation, as I explore how humans and nonhumans affect each other within a shared habitat. 

 

With support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), my partner and I have already completed a few projects to repair damaged areas. Firstly, we coordinated the regrading of an abandoned logging road to combat erosion. We also worked on improving the upland habitat through a tree release, which is the process of thinning the tree canopy to improve forest structure and food sources for wildlife. Additionally, we worked with Vermont Fish and Wildlife to peacefully coexist with our neighborhood beaver population.

The work is ongoing, as we continually keep invasive plants at bay, creating room for the region's natural diversity to return. The Stratus Field itself is a 4-acre early successional habitat in which we work toward diversifying shrubs and herbaceous perennials. These types of forest clearings are in decline in the region and provide crucial forage, hunting, and nesting opportunities for wildlife. My goal—in my art, in my community, and in the forest—is to benefit the communities I encounter and hopefully leave things a bit better than I found them.