Independent Farms in the Intervale
Fresh, organic produce for Burlington consumer
There are three categories of farms that operate in the Intervale. Incubator farms are the newest farms and receive business planning support, mentoring and reduced prices for land and equipment. Enterprise Farms have operated for at least three years. Mentor Farms are mature farms who have been operating in the Intervale for at least five years and take on the role of mentoring incubator farms. All Intervale farms follow the organic standards set by the Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) organization. Several of the farms are also independently certified as organic.
Intervale Farmers sell their produce through a variety of markets — wholesale, farmers’ markets, retail stores, and CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture). Joining a CSA involves purchasing a farm share at the beginning of the season and receiving a season’s worth of produce in exchange. For more information about CSA’s, click here.
New farmers are welcome to apply. Contact Mandy Davis (802) 660-0440 ext. 108 or .
Contact individual farms for brochures and information.
Independent Farms operating in the Intervale,
on land leased from the Intervale Center
Click on a farm’s name for more information
Adam’s Berry Farm
Adam's Berry Farm is a thriving community oriented farm that grows delicious certified organic strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. This marks our fourth season at the Intervale cultivating berries in a unique urban agricultural environment. Our Pick Your Own is open from June to the middle of October, beginning with strawberries and ending with fall bearing raspberries. Our 10 varieties of strawberries, 9 varieties of blueberries, and 4 varieties of raspberries can also be found at local markets and restaurants throughout Burlington. As the season progresses, look for our fresh preserves in select markets and at the farm. The support of the Intervale environment allows us to flourish as the only full-scale organic berry farm within city limits. We are fully committed to providing fresh, local, and healthy fruits to the Burlington region. We invite you to the farm with your friends and family to enjoy the fresh berry harvest at our Pick Your Own and walk and bike the numerous trails at the beautiful Intervale. Come watch us grow!
Arethusa Collective Farm
Established on its current location on the Intervale in 2001, Arethusa Farm has been producing a diverse mix of high quality certified organic produce for local consumption. Produce is sold and delivered twice weekly during the season to local business and schools. Once a week we attend the Burlington Farmers’ Market. To find out more about our farm, how to buy produce from us, our work exchange program and employment opportunities please link to our website, www.arethusacollectivefarm.com.
CITY CHICKS
Located at the Intervale in Burlington, City Chicks is a one-acre pastured poultry operation that offers chickens fed organic grain and pasture through existing Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA) outlets. These city chicks are raised on fresh pasture, which allows them a clean and healthy living environment. They enjoy fresh air, exercise and foraging for plants and insects. The birds receive high quality organic grain but also receive a significant amount of their feed from pasture. This produces a high quality product with great taste and flavor. Try one and see!
98 Loomis St
Burlington, VT 05401
802.864.3271
Diggers’ Mirth Collective Farm
S’ra De Santis, Hilary Martin, & Hayden Boska
Diggers’ Mirth was founded in 1992 and currently has four members farming 15 acres. This is a worker-owned and operated farm. The name Diggers' Mirth was derived from a British agrarian collective that operated in the mid-1600s. The original Diggers reclaimed abandoned land to grow food for themselves and the poor. All collective members taking part in the farm have an equal voice in its operation. Each year Diggers’ Mirth cultivates approximately 1/2 of the field and cover crops the other portion to ensure soil regeneration, growing over 25 types of certified organic vegetables and fruits. Their most popular and focus crops are mesclun and carrots. The Diggers sell to City Market, Healthy Living, American Flatbread, Leunig’s, Mirabelles, Trattoria Delia, and Shelburne Supermarket. Additionally, they attend the Burlington Downtown Farmers Market on Saturdays, 8:30-2:30, and the Old North End Farmers Market on Tuesdays 3-6:30.
Pumpkins and Gourds
David Mitchell
Incubator
Fat Mitchell's Pumpkin Patch is the only pick your own pumpkin patch within Burlington city limits. On our 3 acre organic farm, we grow a diverse variety of pumpkins, squash, gourds, mums, and ornamental corn available for purchase directly at the farm and at local farmers’ markets throughout the fall season. In addition to this cornucopia of fall goodies, the Pumpkin Patch is home to many family and community oriented activities that occur on weekends during the season. Be on the lookout for pumpkin picking and carving fun, press your own apple cider, acoustic music, fall food festivals, the 1st Annual Intervale Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off and the debut of Fat Mitchell's very own pumpkin catapult. Fat Mitchell, better known as David Mitchell, has been dedicated to organic and sustainable farming and gardening for the last five years. David is also a well known lover of all things fun and all games playable. In creating Fat Mitchell's Pumpkin Patch, David decided to intertwine his passion for organic farming and building healthy communities with his enduring childish playfulness. Beginning in mid-September, come enjoy the Intervale's idyllic fall setting while experiencing organic farming in its most fun form!!!!
(802) 863-9101
fatmitchellspumpkinpatch@live.com
Franklin Heyburn’s Bees
Bees are very important to vegetable growers, and Franklin is helping to pollinate the Intervale’s crops along with the flowers. Bees help cross-pollinate plants and increase production. Plus, they need the pollen to make honey. It's a win-win relationship. Franklin has hives sprinkled throughout the Intervale and distributes his honey to a variety of markets.
Intervale Community Farm
We are a 500-member household community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm that began in 1990. Owned by the members of the Intervale Community Farm Cooperative, ICF grows about 20 acres of certified organic vegetables, herbs, flowers and berries of 45 acres of intervale bottomland. We offer summer and winter CSA shares, with membership priority given to ICF Co-op members. All produce is distributed at ICF in the intervale where members may enjoy the bounty of the land firsthand. ICF is committed to providing a diverse blend of excellent quality organic food at a good consumer value in a sustainable and participatory manner. For information on membership, operations or employment, please contact Intervale Community Farm.
Half Pint Farm
As small as the name suggests, Mara and Spencer cultivate 1.5 acres of sandy silt loam Intervale soil. Half Pint Farm is dedicated to growing high quality baby and specialty vegetables using bio-intensive methods designed to build a healthy soil, while providing high yield. They have experimented with these methods, utilizing them in a variety of climates, from the tropical South Pacific as U.S. Peace Corps volunteers to the high plains of Colorado, to graduate school in agro-ecology in Western Pennsylvania. Mara & Spencer are also using hoop-house structures to extend the growing season and increase the quality of their produce. Half Pint Farm produce can be found at area farmers markets, local restaurants, caterers and natural grocers in the Burlington area.
Open Heart Farm
Owned and managed by the husband-and-wife team of Rachel Daley and Josh May, the Open Heart Farm is a 4-acre vegetable, flower and herb farm. Rachel and Josh are looking forward to their fourth season operating a CSA farm in the intervale. In addition to providing nourishing, beautiful produce to many local families directly, they also sell at the Shelburne Farmers’ Market throughout the summer season. They are committed to ethical and affirmative farming practices and use only organic methods and bio-dynamic applications on their farm.
Click here for a CSA brochure and order form.
Pitchfork Farm
This 6 acre certified organic vegetable farm, named after a dog named Pitch, grows heirloom and staple vegetables for Burlington markets and the greater Chittenden area. Their operation is a unique one, utilizing hand-built bicycle powered machines for keeping fields weed-free and a van powered by fry-grease for deliveries. They sell to restaurants and grocery stores in the region, including American Flatbread, Skinny Pancake, Bistro Sauce, Healthy Living and Shelburne Market. They are also providers to the Burlington Food Basket, a multi-farm CSA operated through the Intervale Center. Due to their relatively small size and built in flexibility, Pitchfork Farm is available to provide fresh produce to your summer parties and barbecues (quantity minimums apply). Call or email with questions, and be sure to inquire about purchasing one of their farmers’ market shares. Eric and Rob farm with an emphasis on simplicity and a love of good food. Look for them all over, from the farmers’ market to locally produced hot sauces.
StrayCat FLOWER Farm
StrayCat Flower Farm cultivates a one-acre cutting garden of Vermont-hardy perennials, specialty annuals, and succession bulbs. Our collection of perennials and shrubs has been growing since we began farming in the Intervale in 1990. Our cover crop rotation includes 3 pigs, whose foraging and manuring activities do wonders for the beneficial microbial life of the soil and for bindweed eradication! Look for us under our pink-top tent at the Burlington Farmers’ Market; we also deliver retail bouquets twice weekly to City Market, Healthy Living, and Fresh Market throughout the growing season. Wholesale customers currently include Stone Soup, Parima, and Champlain College. Check out our portfolio of wedding and event work on our website; and please call ahead to schedule for shopping out of our cooler at the farm.
Sugarsnap
Sugarsnap is a take-out restaurant and catering company owned and operated by two chefs, Katie and Kirk Fiore, and a farmer, Abbey Duke. We specialize in wholesome food made from farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients. Our menu changes frequently and the selections change with the seasons. Whenever possible, we use products that are grown on farms in Burlington's Intervale -- much of which will come from our own farm. We lease three acres of land in the Intervale where we grow dozens of varieties of herbs, salad greens and specialty vegetables. In 2008, we added pigs and chickens to our farm. Sugarsnap is located at 505 Riverside Avenue, at the entrance to the Intervale. Come by for a delicious, farm-fresh lunch or to pick up a healthy, fast take-home dinner!