Stewarding the Intervale
The Intervale represents nine hundred acres of wetlands, forests, farm fields, and meadows along the Winooski River just north of downtown Burlington. Stewarding 360 acres of this unique community resource, (located just one mile from City Hall) the Intervale Center is a crucial part of Burlington’s reputation as a sustainable and livable city. Since 1988, we have worked to restore the land. By supporting agriculture, rebuilding depleted soils and preserving the historical legacy, the Intervale Center’s commitment to this incredible resource continues today. Thank you to the 30,000+ people who visit each year to walk, ski, bike, garden, learn, work, and play for being a part of this mission!
Our Approach
As home to numerous programs and enterprises, independent farms and community gardens, and miles of nature trails, the Intervale Center works alongside many partners from Burlington and beyond, including local businesses and volunteers, the University of Vermont, USDA, local and regional farmers, AALV, and the City of Burlington. Every day we strive to provide a platform for gardening, agriculture, habitat restoration, recreation and scientific research.
At the Intervale Center we practice ecological and organic management and take a proactive approach to conservation. Whether removing invasive species, planting a cover crop, managing riparian buffers, or beautifying public spaces, we’re always working to create a multifunctional landscape. Productive farms, healthy ecosystems, and resilient communities are all elemental to our approach. We seek to model regenerative land stewardship practices and share our work with others.
As a research station, a recreation area, a haven of sustainable agriculture—whatever the Intervale means to you—this is a place to connect with a long and unmatched history of natural beauty, human habitation and agricultural production. An emerald jewel in the crown of our Queen City, we are proud to be its stewards.