Finally – Come and meet your farmers in person and celebrate what we have all done together! Break bread, hear stories, visit your farms, celebrate the change of seasons.
After seven years we have built our own regional food system – and farmers, families and Farmers To You Staff all deserve praise and gratitude for the commitment, work, and creativity it took. Come celebrate with us here in Vermont. The leaves are turning, the air is crisp and invigorating, we’re cooking up some amazing food (of course!), planning some spectacular farm visits, and so looking forward to seeing your family here where it all begins.
Come meet your farmers and hear their stories. What an opportunity for you and your family to get to know who feeds you each week. You’ll be talking about it for years! Or at least till you come back next year!
September 22nd-24th
446 Industrial Lane, Berlin, VT 05641
Directions, Full Schedule,
Lodging Suggestions and Other Activities Below
RSVP by September 20th – info@farmerstoyou.com
Limited to 50 families due to space constraints.
Full Schedule:
Friday –
4:00 – 8:00 Stop by the Hub in Berlin to taste amazing cheeses and beverages so we can help you get settled and in the mood!
Saturday –
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast at the Hub: Red Hen delights, Awake Coffee, Butterworks Yogurt, Granola
9:00 – 4:00 Concurrent farm tours – you pick your flavor. Box lunch included.
South Tour
Depart the Hub in Berlin 9:00am
Arrive Burnt Rock Farm 10:15am
7052 Main Rd Huntington
Depart Burnt Rock Farm 11:15am
Arrive Adams Berry Farm 11:45am
985 Bingham Brook Rd, Charlotte
Depart 1:30pm
Arrive Miskell Organics 2:00pm
718 Greenbush Rd Charlotte
Depart 2:45pm
Arrive Kimball Brook Dairy 3:15pm
2263 Greenbush Rd north Ferrisburgh
Depart 4:15pm
Back at Hub 5:15pm
4:00 – 6:00 Rest or go on one of our self guided tours of the tiny beautiful city of Montpelier.
6:00 till …. Whenever you get tired of dancing and eating and getting to know your farmers!!
Celebration Dinner at The Farmers To You Hub – Families, Farmers and Farmers To You all come together to get to know each other!
Farmers To You cornucopia of food prepared by our staff of talented foodies and provided by your farmers!
Brief Stories from
Jack Lazor of Butterworks Farm
Anthony Naples – Starbird Fish
Greg Georgaklis Founder of Farmers To You
Music – Green Mountain Playboys – Cajun Two Step!!
Sunday
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast at the Hub – Red Hen delights, Awake Coffee, Butterworks Yogurt, Granola etc…
Depart Hub 9:00am
von Trapp Farmstead – 251 Common Rd Waitsfield
arrive 9:45
depart 10:45
Red Hen Baking Co/ Nutty Steph’s Chocolate
961 US Rte 2, Middlesex
arrive 11:15
depart 12:45
Dog River Farm – Rte 12 Berlin
arrive 1:30
depart 2:15
Rogers Farmstead – 934 Rowell Hill Rd Berlin
arrive 2:30
depart 3:15
Return to the hub 3:30
OR – Self Guided tours of the area – We have a list of our favorites!
Cost: Suggested Donation of $75 per person or $175 per family. RSVP today!!
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Suggestions for “On Your Own” Itineraries
There is much to explore in Vermont! Here are a few of our favorite destinations and sights for those who want venture off on a self-guided tour of the area.
Late Afternoon Mini-Adventures for Saturday: Buses will be arriving back at the hub around 4 PM on Saturday afternoon so people have time to decompress and freshen up before our 6 PM party. Here are some things to do in the Montpelier area during this time:
- Mini-Hike to the Hubbard Park Tower in Montpellier Kid Friendly: Montpelier is home to a lush 190 acre dog friendly wooded park. There are many trails to explore. For a short uphill hike with a beautiful panoramic view at the end, park by the winter street entrance and follow the Pond-Tower Link Trail 15 minutes to a beautiful stone tower. Climb up the tower for long range views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
More information about the park: http://www.montpelier-vt.org/238/Hubbard-Park
A map: http://www.montpelier-vt.org/DocumentCenter/View/178
Directions to the Winter Street Entrance: Heading north on Elm Street in Montpelier, turn left onto Winter Street. Follow into the park. There will be a small pond and parking area on your left right after you have entered the gates. Note there is more than one entrance to the park from other parts of town and it can be confusing. Print the map to bring with you if you can!
- Tea Time or Wine Tasting at the North Branch Tea Room (41 State Street Montpelier, VT): Calm, relaxing atmosphere in downtown Montpelier right along the North Branch of the Winooski River. Choose from a wide selection of teas or indulge in a pre-dinner wine flight. Play a game or read a book from their bookshelf or sit at the window counter and people watch. Thenorth-branch.com
Sunday Sample Itineraries:
Road Biking, Foliage and Pastries: From Waterbury, Montpelier or the Mad River Valley, take in the fall foliage on a scenic bike ride to breakfast at Red Hen Baking (who bakes the bread we send to Boston). Enjoy a pastry, breakfast sandwich, and/or coffee treat. Walk next door to Nutty Steph’s (our chocolate maker) and check out the pottery at Montpelier Mud. Bike back fueled by delicious treats! Bike rentals are available at Onion River Sports in Montpelier.
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- From Waterbury: Heading East from Waterbury on Route 2, bike 5.2 miles. Red Hen will be on your right. Minimal elevation change, but fairly busy road.
- From Montpelier Kid Friendly: Start heading West on State Street (1.9 mi). Directly after the Dairy Cream, take a left onto Graves St. (.2 mi). Continue onto 3 Mile Bridge Road (.9mi). Turn right to stay on 3 Mile Bridge Road (.6). Continue onto River Road (2.7 mi). Turn right onto VT-100B N (.1 mi). Turn left onto US-2 W. Travel .3 miles and Red Hen will be on your left. 15 miles round trip, 180 ft elevation gain. An easy ride.
- From Mad River Valley: From 100 N, take 100B North 7.9 miles. Turn left onto US-2 W. Travel .3 miles and Red Hen will be on your left! 2.5-3 hour ride round trip, depending on where you start. Going to Red Hen is mostly downhill, but your journey back is an almost 1,000-foot elevation gain!
- Additional Info: www.redhenbaking.com 961 US Route 2 Middlesex, VT
More Road Biking! For other cycling suggestions, check out Central Vermont Back Road Bike Tours.
A Hike and a Mountaintop Picnic: There are many hikes to choose from in Central Vermont. We particularly love Sunset Ledge (a one hour round trip trek with spectacular views–Kid Friendly) in the Mad River Valley Area and Worcester Mountain north of Montpelier (4.3 miles, considered difficult, off the beaten path, and breathtaking). For other hiking ideas, check out this listing. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with the view.
Brunch and Strolling Downtown Montpelier (Kid Friendly): For a laid back morning or a rainy day, start with brunch in Montpelier at Kismet (52 State Street). Their prices are a little higher, but everything is delicious and you won’t be hungry for the rest of the day. Kismet is our best truly local and organic food restaurant. After brunch, meander Montpeliers adorable downtown and don’t miss our award-winning independent local bookstore Bear Pond Books (77 Main Street), our art gallery featuring local artists Artisans Hand (89 Main Street), and the Hunger Mountain Coop (623 Stonecutters Way) for stocking up on snacks or a cup of coffee for the ride home.
Cheese Tasting and an Amble: Stop in at the newly opened Mad River Taste Place to try all sorts of local cheeses, charcuterie and flights of beer or cider. Offering cheese from every producer in VT, this is a great place to try all the cheeses we sell, plus many, many more from the region.
Beer Trails: You could spend a whole vacation here just touring breweries! The Vermont Brewers Association provides ideas for self-guided brewery visits by region and/or theme. Their Beer Trails (suggested itineraries) in this area include:
- Stowe Beer Trail If you are staying in Stowe, Waterbury or the Mad River Valley, this trail includes stops in all of those towns. Brewers include The Alchemist, Idletyme Brewing, von Trapp Brewing, and Prohibition Pig.
- Eastern Vermont Gateway Trail Various breweries along 89 South (some farther off the highway than others) to visit on your way home. Brewers include Good Measure Brewing, Bent Hill Brewery, Brocklebank Craft Brewing, River Roost Brewery, Harpoon Brewery, and Trout River Brewing Company.
- Central Vermont Beer Trail Visit four breweries on your ride home to MA (15 minute to 1.5 hour detour depending on which breweries you choose to visit). Brewers include Norwich Inn, Harpoon Brewery, Long Trail Brewing, and Hop’n Moose Brewing Co.
On Your Way Home: If you want to continue to explore on you way back to Boston, here are three great options.
Forest Festival Weekend Kid Friendly (40 minute detour heading back to Boston): At the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock, VT (54 Elm Street). Naturalist-led tours, hands-on woodworking for children and horse-drawn wagon rides. Across the street at Billing Farm & Museum are more demos, crafts for sale, food and live music. Check out the event website for a full lineup of activities and special workshops.
19th-Century Apple & Harvest Festival Kid Friendly (40 minute detour heading back to Boston): A celebration of Johnny Appleseed’s birthday at the Justin Morrill State Historic Site ( 214 Justin Morrill Memorial Highway) in Strafford, VT (same town as our Strafford milk and ice cream!). Farm animals, make your own cider, apple tasting, Vermont ice cream, period games, hiking, exhibits, music and more! Lunch included. Visit their website for details. $5-$10/person paid at the gate for entry.
Orchard Stroll at Scott Farm (707 Kipling Road Dummerston, VT) (1.5 hour detour): If you are up for a longer detour, this is well worth it. Zeke Goodband (one of our apple growers) is one of the most knowledgeable orchardists in Vermont. Learn about heirloom fruits, orchard ecology and pest management. No charge. More info here. Also on Sunday 9/23 from 10AM-2 PM, for $50 they have a class at the farm on brewing with fresh hops!
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Lodging Ideas for the Farmers To You Equinox Celebration 2017
Friday, September 22 – Sunday, September 24
In Montpelier: Located about 10 minutes from the Farmers To You hub, our charming state capitol is replete with walkable streets, shops, cafes, bike paths and a beautiful wooded park.
- Airbnb: This is probably your best option if you want to stay in Montpelier or the area immediately surrounding. While most hotel rooms here are already booked, there is still a wide range of Airbnb rentals available (starting as low as $45/night for 1 person) in Montpelier. Check out Montpelier-area listings here!
Down the road a bit:
- Waterbury: A 20-30 minute drive from the FTY hub, Waterbury is home to the famous Heady Topper brewery, plus a lovely bookstore and numerous restaurants and shops. In addition to Airbnb in the area, other options here include The Old Stagecoach Inn, Best Western Plus, and Fairfield Inn and Suites. There is also the beautiful and family friendly Little River State Park with good camping options (see below for details).
- Mad River Valley Area: Located a particularly beautiful 30-minute drive from the hub along routes 100 and 2, and home to many farms and restaurants, this area has many motel, hotel and bed & breakfasts options. Google “Mad River Valley motel/hotel/Bed & Breakfast” to see options.
Camping: The Central Vermont area is home to some truly special camping grounds — a wonderful way to deepen your connection to the Vermont land that supplies our partner families with a bounty of delicious food throughout the year.
- Onion River Campground, Plainfield: Located about 20 minutes from the Farmers To You hub in Plainfield, this is a beautiful spot for camping. Amenities include bathrooms, hot showers, trails, tent spots along the Winooski river, full hookup for septic and electric (if you have a camper), and beautiful starry night skies. Prices are $22/tent and $30/RV. Plus, the campground is owned by the same folks who bring you Nutty Steph’s Chocolate! Check out their website at onionrivercampground.com or contact them at 802-426-3233 or onionrivercampground@gmail.com. Highly recommended.
- Little River State Park, Waterbury: This is just 30 minutes from the hub and many of their camp sites are available still. It is located within Mount Mansfield State Park at the edge of Waterbury Reservoir. Listen to the loons at night, paddle the reservoir as the morning fog lifts, swim and hike. Amble along a self-guided history or nature trail. They also have an excellent field naturalist who offers free workshops that are great for both kids and adults interested in the natural world. Boat rentals available. Prices start at $18/night (see here for full pricing list). Cabins also available. Visit their website at vtstateparks.com/littleriver.html where you can also make a reservation, or call the reservation center at 1-888-409-7579. This is a wonderful park, especially with kids.
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Directions to Farmers To You Hub – Berlin, Vermont
802-225-6383 | 446 Industrial Ave, Berlin, VT 05641
From Montpelier – from the intersection of Rte 2 and Rte 12, go north on Rte 2 to first light and then bear right onto Berlin Street. Go approximately 2 miles to Fischer Rd – go right onto Fisher Rd past hospital to second light. Go straight through second light onto Airport Rd then take second right onto Industrial Lane. Go past Blue Cross Building on right – road turns 90 degrees right – FTY is next driveway on the left. For deliveries turn right to West side of building, for parking and office entrance go straight then right to park and enter.
From I89 – Take Exit # 7 and continue on Rte 62 to the Third Light. Right on Airport Rd. Take second right on to Industrial Lane. Go past Blue Cross Building on right – road turns 90 degrees right – FTY is next driveway on the left. For deliveries turn right to West side of building, for parking and office entrance go straight then right to park and enter.
