Farm & Food Program

• Paul Feenan, SerVermont Americorps VISTA, Food and Farm Program Coordinator

  

  Paul was born and grew up in Bennington, Vermont.  After studying sustainable agriculture, community development, and education at UVM and Evergreen State College, his real education took place in his own classroom when he was given the opportunity to teach alternative high school right out of college. Teaching is extremely important to Paul.  He believes that his work in agriculture, education, and coaching has taught him exponentially more than he has taught his students.  In particular, working with disadvantaged students and coaching high school basketball galvanized Paul’s core values for working with people.  Paul also credits his family.  His parents instilled a strong work ethic and the importance of “working hard and smart.”  His brothers and sisters helped raise him and continue to help with his own children.  Most importantly, his wife Kirsten and their children John and Ruby are the foundation and driving force for all of Paul’s work.  Paul recently moved his family back to Vermont after having lived, worked, and farmed in Western Washington State for the past twenty years.  He finds himself lost on roads that he once could navigate without thought, but is happy to be back living and working in his home state.

  1. paul.feenan@vycc.org

• Olivia Bulger, SerVermont AmeriCorps VISTA, Food Security Coordinator

  

  Olivia is originally from South Berwick, Maine, about twenty minutes inland from the glorious Atlantic!  She grew up nestled between the hardwood forests and oceanic coast, which helped foster her deep respect and love for the environment.  Olivia received a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Food Systems from the University of Vermont in 2012.  While at UVM, Olivia enjoyed working at two organic vegetable farms.  During her junior year, she studied abroad in Oaxaca City, Mexico, focusing on urban agriculture in community spaces.  Olivia came to the VYCC with experience in environmental, outdoor education and Farm-to-School programs.  After an 8-week stint as a Food and Farm Intern with The Farm at VYCC, she signed on for a year of service as Food Security Coordinator.  In this role, she works with youth crews, medical personnel and low-income families to coordinate The Farm at VYCC’s main food security initiative, the Health Care Share.  When not growing vegetables or raising poultry, Olivia enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking and sharing food, ice cream, hammocks and live music.  Olivia is ecstatic to continue her journey living and working in beautiful Richmond, Vermont.

  1. 802.434.3969, ext. 145
  2. olivia.bulger@vycc.org

• William Lintilhac, Venture Apprentice

  

  Will has developed a strong sense of place here in Vermont.  He grew up in Shelburne, Vermont on the shores of our great lake.  Will graduated from the University of Vermont in 2010 with a degree in Integrated Natural Resources.  At UVM, he designed his major around the intersection of community development, ecological design, and food systems.  His studies involved classes in forestry, studio photography, and alternative education.  In the summer of 2007, he enrolled in UVMs first permaculture class, which he still considers a turning point in his education.  During his senior year he became a founding member of the Ecological Learning Institute (ELI), a group of graduate and undergraduate ecological designers that functioned on the principle of socially engaged ecological design.  Will interned at the Center for Whole Communities in the summer of 2011, where he developed management skills helping to host week-long intensive workshops.  This is also where he picked up spoon-carving and refined his skills in the art of dialogue.  Will also has a deep interest in natural building and is working on completing a Sustainable Design/Build Certificate with Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vt.  If you want Will to really open up, talk to him about skiing or mountain biking.  You can also get him going about Yellow Birch and tracking.