NORWAY — After years of trying to fund a warming hut for the trail system at Roberts Farm Preserve, The Western Foothills Land Trust received notice just before Thanksgiving that two grants had been approved for funding, one from the Davis Conservation Foundation and the other from the Betterment Fund. The latter was a grant submitted jointly by SAD 17 and the land trust to fund the hut and a drilled well to serve the garden-to-school program at the Roberts Farmstead.

The shed/warming hut was designed by local timber framer and builder, Shawn Kane, to modestly accommodate the Trust’s equipment and program needs on the newly completed trail system. Based on traditional farm shed forms, the three-bay timber framed structure will include two unheated storage bays and an insulated warming hut bay that can be heated to accommodate school groups, competitors and other trail users.

Together the grants will provide $32,000 towards materials and labor of what was estimated to cost $35,000 in 2009 when the shed was designed. The land trust is looking for potential donations or contributions towards materials from suppliers who would like to be listed as hut contributors. Metal roofing, insulation, interior and exterior doors, windows, v-match and dimensional lumber will be sought. In addition, the hut is designed to be off grid, using solar collectors for the limited power needs on site. Any suppliers that would like to donate or contribute to the effort are welcomed to contact Lee at 739-2124.

The warming hut will be built in the preserve’s parking area just south of the start/finish field. As hut construction progresses, the Trust may be looking for volunteers to help get the structure ready for active use in 2012. Interested volunteers should email Lee at wflt@megalink.net.

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