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The Mobbs Committee, under the direction of the Selectboard, oversees the management and maintenance of the Mobbs Property in Jericho. This committee meets every 4th Monday of each month.
If you would like to contact the Mobbs Farm Committee; you can email them atmobbsfarm@jerichovt.gov
We would like to advise visitors to MOBBS Farm to consider parking at the Browns Trace Lot.
If the Fitzsimonds Road Parking Lot is full, please use MOBBS FARM parking at 510 Browns Trace
Thank-you!
MOBBS MONTHLY
The Mobbs Farm Committee Newsletter
February/March, 2022
Late February
These two pictures capture the past two months of February and March, pretty accurately. To say that MOBBS experienced two months of roller coaster weather is an understatement. From full snow coverage, to bare ground, back to 10” of fresh snowfall, we all experienced one of the wildest, most unpredictable winters on record in Jericho. As the month of March wraps up, after temps in the 60’s, we woke up to 10 degrees and 4” of fresh snow, once again covering the hills, trails and fields at Mobbs. As we transition into spring and warmer temperatures, the old adage, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a minute”, seems appropriate!
Late March
With the advent of Spring, visitors may see plenty of vernal pools around Mobbs Farm. These pools are critical habitat for a number of amphibious species including frogs and salamanders. The pools eventually dry up, but not before serving their important role in the forest habitat, acting as natural nurseries for juvenile amphibians. Do not disturb any egg sacs or clusters that you may see in these pools. As warmer temperatures arrive, the eggs will hatch and vulnerable, young frogs, tadpoles and salamanders may be seen swimming around the pools until they are large enough to leave the pools and begin their lives in the forest. Please avoid walking, biking or riding horses through the pools, especially during April and May.
With the onset of Vermont’s “fifth season” aka MUD SEASON, the Mobbs Farm Committee has closed all trails to Mountain Bike and Equestrian use, until conditions improve. Many thanks for honoring the trail closures until further notice!
New Trail Maps for Mobbs Farm are soon-to-be-published, both digitally and in print format. The Mapping Subcommittee is wrapping up the year-long project this month and we are looking forward to updating trail signs and distributing information about on-line map options that visitors may download right onto their phones or laptops.
This spring, we are hoping to host volunteer trail maintenance days, to clean up winter damage, trash and remove any hazardous limbs, overhanging trails. Please consider joining the fun, when trail days are announced. They are a really fun way to meet neighbors, spruce up the trails and have a great day in the woods. More information will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
New signs, identifying the young trees in the new orchard at Mobbs Farm have been painted and hung on the wire enclosures that protect the trees from being damaged by deer. Annual pruning, fertilizing and mulching has been taking place to foster the development of these fruit bearing trees.
Click the buttons below to learn more about policies related to:
The Mobbs Committee, under the direction of the Selectboard, oversees the management and maintenance of the Mobbs Property in Jericho. This committee meets every 4th Monday of each month.
If you would like to contact the Mobbs Farm Committee; you can email them atmobbsfarm@jerichovt.gov
We would like to advise visitors to MOBBS Farm to consider parking at the Browns Trace Lot.
If the Fitzsimonds Road Parking Lot is full, please use MOBBS FARM parking at 510 Browns Trace
Thank-you!
MOBBS MONTHLY
The Mobbs Farm Committee Newsletter
February/March, 2022
Late February
These two pictures capture the past two months of February and March, pretty accurately. To say that MOBBS experienced two months of roller coaster weather is an understatement. From full snow coverage, to bare ground, back to 10” of fresh snowfall, we all experienced one of the wildest, most unpredictable winters on record in Jericho. As the month of March wraps up, after temps in the 60’s, we woke up to 10 degrees and 4” of fresh snow, once again covering the hills, trails and fields at Mobbs. As we transition into spring and warmer temperatures, the old adage, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a minute”, seems appropriate!
Late March
With the advent of Spring, visitors may see plenty of vernal pools around Mobbs Farm. These pools are critical habitat for a number of amphibious species including frogs and salamanders. The pools eventually dry up, but not before serving their important role in the forest habitat, acting as natural nurseries for juvenile amphibians. Do not disturb any egg sacs or clusters that you may see in these pools. As warmer temperatures arrive, the eggs will hatch and vulnerable, young frogs, tadpoles and salamanders may be seen swimming around the pools until they are large enough to leave the pools and begin their lives in the forest. Please avoid walking, biking or riding horses through the pools, especially during April and May.
With the onset of Vermont’s “fifth season” aka MUD SEASON, the Mobbs Farm Committee has closed all trails to Mountain Bike and Equestrian use, until conditions improve. Many thanks for honoring the trail closures until further notice!
New Trail Maps for Mobbs Farm are soon-to-be-published, both digitally and in print format. The Mapping Subcommittee is wrapping up the year-long project this month and we are looking forward to updating trail signs and distributing information about on-line map options that visitors may download right onto their phones or laptops.
This spring, we are hoping to host volunteer trail maintenance days, to clean up winter damage, trash and remove any hazardous limbs, overhanging trails. Please consider joining the fun, when trail days are announced. They are a really fun way to meet neighbors, spruce up the trails and have a great day in the woods. More information will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
New signs, identifying the young trees in the new orchard at Mobbs Farm have been painted and hung on the wire enclosures that protect the trees from being damaged by deer. Annual pruning, fertilizing and mulching has been taking place to foster the development of these fruit bearing trees.
Click the buttons below to learn more about policies related to:
The members of the Mobbs Committee would like to express our gratitude for the overwhelming support expressed for the conservation of Mobbs Farm on Town Meeting Day. Article I passed with 91% of the vote, and we couldn't be happier that voters agreed that Mobbs Farm should be protected for future generations of Jericho residents and wildlife. With conservation costs now 100% funded, we look forward to the work of preserving this beautiful land.
So… What are the Next Steps?
In collaboration with the Jericho Underhill Land Trust (JULT) and the Vermont Land Trust (VLT), the Mobbs Committee will seek the Selectboard’s approval to move forward with the conservation effort. Assuming an affirmative Selectboard vote, Town leadership will work with VLT toward conveying a conservation easement.
If you are interested in learning about the components of a conservation easement, please read the attached summary provided by the VLT. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments, and THANK YOU for your continued support!
The Mobbs Farm Committee is currently initiating the effort to permanently conserve Mobbs Farm.
A recent survey by the Mobbs Farm committee at the 2020 Jericho Town meeting (312 participants) determined the following:
78% of the participants believed Mobbs was already conserved
85% of the participants supported conservation of Mobbs
The proposed cost of a permanent conservation easement is approximately $43,000. Funding for this effort would come from the following:
$10,000 grant from the Jericho Underhill Land Trust
$10,000 grant from the Vermont Land Trust
$10,000 from the Jericho Conservation Reserve fund.
This leaves around $13,000 to be made up from public fundraising
The intent here is to eliminate any further tax burden on Jericho residents.
A non-binding article is being added to the Jericho Town meeting agenda to allow residents to vote on moving forward with the conservation effort, with the proposed wording (to be finalized by the Selectboard) as follows:
“Should the Selectboard pursue the conveyance of a conservation easement (in perpetuity) over 234 +/- acres of the total 275 +/- acre Mobbs Farm property (excluding the Town Garage and solar farm) to the Vermont Land Trust at an estimated expense of $43,000 +/-, using grants, gifts and previously raised funds, for the purpose of protecting its natural resources, wildlife habitat, trails, recreational and educational opportunities, productive farmland and forestland, and scenic value?"
The vote is "non-binding" because the Town has not yet finalized the details of the conservation easement with VLT, but a "yes" vote will offer the Selectboard the community's support to act on behalf of the Town and convey an easement.
Bumper stickers will be made available to support this effort.
Further details will be listed as a monthly update on this website.
Please see the “Conserving Mobbs FAQ” on the right sidebar for further information, “Leave a Comment” tab or leave a comment on this tab should you want to leave a comment for the Committee. If you leave a question, you may not get a direct answer, but be assured that the Mobbs Committee is reading comments and questions and are considering them.
The Committee will be hosting an online Q&A session using Zoom to provide further information on February 27 at 5:30pm. Please tune in to ask your questions there.
Jericho residents are welcome to join our final informational ZOOM meeting to discuss the initiative to Conserve Mobbs Farm. The meeting will take place on Saturday, February 27th at 5:30 PM and the public is welcome to attend. Please use the link below to join the meeting, hosted by members of the Mobbs Farm Committee:
The Mobbs Valley and Mobbs Hill maps are posted at the Mobbs Farm Trail head kiosk on Fitzsimonds Road. The maps identify some major trails by name and identify 6 key intersections. The maps at the kiosk are 16" x 21", while the maps at the intersections are 8.5" x 11". The maps posted at this website are scaled to 8.5" x 11" (3300x2550 pixels).
On the trails, there are two aids to navigation-intersection maps/markers and arrows on trees on two main routes. All "main" trails on the map are well used, and should be easy to follow. Some of the "secondary" trails have very little use, and they may be difficult to follow.
You can print just a portion of a map. For example, if you are interested only in the Americana trail on Mobbs Hill, you can zoom in on the trail, and in "File:Print...." select "Current view" for the "Print Range".