9,168 — Acres brought into organic management by 37 producers newly certified by Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF), the certification program of NOFA Vermont, bringing the total to more than 110,000 acres.
1,500 — Number of limited-income Vermonters receiving community-supported agriculture shares through our Farm Share & Senior Farm Share Programs.
2,164 — Pizzas made with our mobile, wood-fired oven at 40 events statewide.
62 — Restaurants, co-ops, and food stores that supported the Farm Share Program through their participation in Share the Harvest, our annual fundraising event.
128 — Visits made to over 50 farms, providing production and business planning technical assistance.
95 — Classrooms that received seasonal letters from 60 farmers participating in our Farmer Correspondence Program.
48 — Farmers markets that have electronic benefits transfer (EBT) capability enabling low-income Vermonters to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.
2,039 — Farmers, gardeners, and food lovers who attended over 30 summer workshops and our annual Winter Conference.
The Journey Farmer Program is a two-year program for beginning farmers who are in the first few years of running their own farming enterprise in Vermont. The program is largely shaped by the farming interests and goals of the Journey Farmers, and enables aspiring new farmers to advance their farming skills and experiences, along with being a part of a learning community of other aspiring farmers and farmer mentors. NOFA-VT Journey Farmers receive an educational stipend, farmer-to-farmer mentoring, free admission into NOFA-VT’s workshops and Winter Conference, business planning support and access to technical assistance by the NOFA-VT staff. New farmers are being welcomed to the fold each year…find out more about the application process here.
Ivy Pagliari is the owner of Grex Eggs, an organic egg farm in Morrisville, Vermont. She was an English teacher in China before she came to Vermont to farm. She loves chickens and cows. When not cultivating delicious dairy products, she likes playing the accordion and knitting, although not simultaneously.
Ryan Miller and Nicole Burke co-founded Golden Well Farm & Apiaries in New Haven, Vermont in 2012. Since they first began keeping bees and growing food, their vision has always been to create a model farm where they could share thier love of sustainable agricultural with others. They’ve been steadily working towards this vision and began growing on their neighbor’s land and selling vegetables as well as honey products at markets for the last few years. Last year they started a successful CSA and are working to expand their membership as well as enter into the wholesale market. In addition to farming, the pair also owns and runs 2 Wolves Center in Vergennes, a wellness center where they host yoga, martial arts, and community classes and events.
Taylor Hutchison and Jake Mendell run Footprint Farm in Starksboro where they produce organic vegetables, flowers, and eggs for their CSA, farmers markets, and local weddings. They also produce small-scale pastured pork that is sold as whole shares, and maple syrup just for fun. In 2015 they are looking forward to hosting mushroom forays, herb walks, and homesteading workshops for the public as well as farm tours. This will be Footprint Farm’s third season in production, and the farmers are looking forward to the next two years of growing with their fellow Journey Farmers.
Raised in the liberal backwoods of western Massachusetts by vegetarian social workers, Eli Hersh’s first word was “kale.” Since his inspiring introduction to agriculture as a seasonal intern on an organic veggie farm near Seattle, WA, he has worked with raw milk production, diverse pastured livestock and poultry, and endless fields of product. Running a successful one-season experimental farm business in 2011 gave him the confidence to seek out self-employment as a long term goal, and the focus to learn as much as possible from his elders and mentors in the community. Eli is currently working at River Berry Farm in Fairfax, while leasing land on the property for his small vegetable operation, Shadow Creek Farm. He is excited to work with NOFA-VT to reach his goal of diversified production on permanent property.
Willow Brook Farm is a family operated farm owned by Molly Willard and Nattie Emmons with their two daughters, Elizabeth and Elsie. Their mission is to produce high quality fresh food for the local and surrounding communities. They offer CSA memberships, a winter share, and sell wholesale to various businesses throughout the Northeast Kingdom. They use organic practices and are working toward certification.
Ryan Demarest came to Vermont for college and always seems to return to the state after time away. He began his farming career in Oregon while living and apprenticing at an organic CSA farm in Corvallis. After interning at an educational and production based farm in Eugene, Oregon, Ryan made the eastward trek back to Vermont to participate in the Farmer Training Program at the University of Vermont. The following season he began a small-scale vegetable operation in Waterbury. He is pleased to be expanding his operation in 2015 for his second year in agriculture.
Kalyn Campbell found her passion for farming as a student at the Dickinson College Farm. She started dairy farming and making cheese soon after college and fell in love with the process. Kalyn is grateful for the opportunity to continue the Family Cow Farmstand and provide people with healthy, nutritious food.
The 33rd Annual NOFA Vermont Winter Conference was held February 14-16 at the University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington. “Growing the Good Food Movement” brought together organic farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, and consumers for 3 days of workshops, keynotes, singing, feasting, and mid-winter blues bashing. We hope you will enjoy these photos from the Conference. And please be sure to join us next year (we’re already planning the 2016 Conference)! Photos by Ali Zipparo
After her address, Natasha Bowens chatted in front of the podium with a conference attendee.
An exhibitor shows his wares.
Jean Richardson (Nat. Organic Standards Board) chats with Dave Chapman (Long Wind Farm) and Nicole Dehne (NOFA).
In what has become a tradition for the Conference, attendees of all ages worked on a giant community art project with artist Bonnie Acker.
Sen. Bernie Sanders delights the audience by calling Vermont farmers “revolutionaries” in agriculture.
Cat Buxton is the 2015 recipient of the Jack Cook Award, an award given annually to a NOFA-VT member who embodies the theme of the conference and shares their knowledge with others. Cat is the past Education Coordinator of Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford and is currently serving as the Field Organizer for the Vermont Right to Know GMOs Coalition. Thank you for your efforts and congratulations Cat!
A volunteers helps at registration.
The conference featured 6 different workshop sessions with more than 80 workshops to choose from.
Workshop topics varied widely, from “Aquaponics in Cold Climates” to “Homesteading in the 21st Century”.
Speaking to a full house, Natasha Bowens, our keynote speaker, blended storytelling, photography and oral history, to show how true food sovereignty means a place at the table for everyone.
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund staff smile for the camera during a break in the conference schedule.
“All You Need is Love” singalong!
Farmers/fiddlers Caleb Elder, Edith Gawler, and Bennett Konesni played oldtime ballads and hollers, livening up the halls of the conference.
Community artist Bonnie Acker helps a Children’s Conference attendee find a place on the tapestry for his piece.
Children’s Conference participants concocted unique flatbreads which they cooked themselves outside the Davis Center in the NOFA wood-fired stone oven.
A member of the National Young Farmers Coalition shows some swag in the Exhibitors Hall.
Vermont farmers are blessed with a supportive Congressional delegation. Appearing at the Winter Conference to speak to a packed house were, from left to right: Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Patrick Leahy, NOFA Vermont Executive Director Enid Wonnacott, Governor Peter Shumlin, and Representative Peter Welch.
Hearty conference attendees braved the brutal cold, with arctic winds and temperatures below zero.
Local Farms • Healthy Food • Strong Communities • • • the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
