Kim Stanford grew up in the beautiful valley that runs along Route 38 in the Town of Richford, Tioga County. The family property runs along the west side of the highway and up to the ridge top and an old orchard. The old farmhouse is charming and shaded by mature trees, but that just made the inside seem even more cold and drafty. When Kim returned to take over her parents’ home, she struggled to cover the high heating bills. And when her Cornell job became part-time and her furnace was red-tagged due to a cracked heat exchanger, she knew it was time to seek help. Watch Kim Stanford talk about her home.

Snug Planet installed a high-efficiency furnace, and got to work on sealing the drafts and adding insulation to the attic and walls. All of this work should keep 114 tons of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Kim’s grant of $2,286 is the thirteenth award from the Climate Fund, and our first grant outside of Tompkins County.

Kim expressed her appreciation to the donors of the Fund, and shares their values when it comes to protecting and cherishing our beautiful landscapes and ecosystems. She hopes to open her home as a B&B sometime soon and share the beauty of this setting. Meanwhile, she will be enjoying much lower heating bills and greater comfort as she continues her family’s stewardship of this homestead.