intervale center
intervale center
strengthening community food systems since 1988
yes, you read that right – 1988! the intervale is way ahead of the sustainability curve. sitting on 350 acres along the winooski river, the intervale is a nationally recognized center for sustainable agriculture. it is more than a collection of farms – it is a center – promoting healthy land and water use as well as connecting people with their local food creating a community resource for burlington and beyond.
having been farmed for hundreds of years, the land is not only rich with history but also gives people today the opportunity to connect with and be engaged with it and all the land offers. today there are 11 independently-operated intervale farms. The intervale center’s relationship to the farms is as landlord and resource.
programs such as the ones below illustrate how the intervale strengthens vermont’s food system:
- farms program – creating opportunities for new farmers
- success on farms – providing business planning and technical assistance to farmers throughout the state of vermont
- intervale food hub – marketing and distributing local foods to 30 burlington-area workplaces
- conservation nursery – growing native, locally sourced trees and shrubs for riparian restoration projects throughout vermont
- abenaki heritage garden – growing traditional corn, beans and squashes
- gleaning and food rescue – collecting and distributing surplus food via a subsidized food hub CSA share
- consulting – sharing the innovative model with communities across the country and around the world
as it’s a community food system there are also plenty of ways for people to be involved:
they aren’t kidding when they call it “the one and only intervale” – it is and burlington is so lucky to have it.
if you get a chance, whether you are visiting vermont or live here – you should check it out. stop by the farmhouse, grab a map and explore.
MOOglevermont 