Marshall Woods
Shelburne Farms is creating Marshall Woods to celebrate Marshall Webb’s lifetime of turning vision into action and to further his legacy of protecting this special place and our planet.
The project will:
- Plant a grove of 200 native trees as a tribute to Marshall’s love of our woodlands, and his devotion to cultivating and capturing the beauty of all of the farm's landscapes and historic structures.
- Show how our forests and soils are key to meeting the goal of being Net Zero by 2028, when we will be capturing more greenhouse gases than we are producing on campus.
- Create a place at Shelburne Farms for people to go for renewal and inspiration.
Marshall Woods will be planted in Spring 2024 on three acres of pasture that hug the edge of the Butternut Trail on the western slope of Sheep’s Knoll. A mix of trees such as Sugar Maple, Black Birch, Red Oak, Quaking Aspen, Swamp White Oak, Burr Oak, and American Basswood will be planted.
Using our lumber, we will handcraft a bench in Marshall’s style at a spot looking eastward to Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump—a view reflecting Marshall and Shelburne Farms’ connection to the rest of Vermont and the world. Students and visitors can learn about and be encouraged by Marshall’s life.
Climate Action
Marshall Woods will be a focal point in the transformation now underway to make Shelburne Farms Net Zero by Earth Day, April 22, 2028—Marshall’s 80th birthday.
The Woods will be part of Shelburne Farms’ Woodlands Management Plan, now in development. As a result of decades of following best practices, the woodlands already sequester a major portion of current carbon emissions from the organization’s buildings and operations. We estimate that Marshall Woods will store 7.5 to 10 tons of CO2 in its first five years and more than 530 tons of CO2 by the end of the century. The new Plan will also look at how to maintain the health of the woodlands in a changing climate.
Project Funding
Marshall touched so many of us—at Shelburne Farms and family and friends worldwide—with his great knowledge, incredible energy, abundant kindness, and deep devotion. Marshall Woods is an opportunity to show appreciation for Marshall’s life and to further his vision for Shelburne Farms to be a leader on Climate Action. The cost of the project, including three years of maintenance costs and longer term stewardship, is estimated at $150,000.
We invite you to contribute below, and to join us for the planting of the trees in Spring 2024. Gifts may also be mailed to: Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne VT 05482. Please add a note or write "Marshall Woods" in the check memo.
We appreciate everyone who has already contributed to the Marshall Webb Climate Action Fund which has enabled Shelburne Farms to move forward on its goal to reach Net Zero by 2028 and to advance global Climate Action education. The Marshall Woods Project is part of Phase One of the Shelburne Farms Climate Action Plan.
The Marshall Woods Volunteer Committee: Jacob Scherr, Kate Webb, Molly Webb, John Griffin, Nan Jenks-Jay, Bob Kinzel, Ken Mandelbaum