Ferment Fest 2025

Come celebrate local fermentation at The Soda Plant, 266 Pine Street, Burlington VT
Vendors will be stationed throughout The Soda Plant, each highlighting a specific type of fermented food, beverage, natural dyes, and more! Mingle, ask the fabulous fermenters questions, sample their products, eat prepared fermented foods, and buy some to take home with you.

We hope you leave inspired to eat and make more fermented foods and continue supporting the wonderful fermenters in our community!

Taste the Valley 2025

Taste the Valley is a tradeshow event that brings together diverse local food producers and buyers to connect and discover the flavors of Vermont's Champlain Valley.

We'll gather on Thursday, March 20 from 9:30-12 at Middlebury College's Wilson Hall for a casual morning of good food, conversation, and connections.

This event is hosted by the ACORN Food Hub in Middlebury, Vermont with support from Middlebury College. If the registration fee will be prohibitive but you would like to attend, get in touch!

We will be providing light snacks and refreshments.

Bread Fest!

On Saturday, March 1st, the Brattleboro Food Co-op will celebrate local bread with Bread Fest. This event will feature an amateur bread baking competition (see the info and registration link at the bottom of this page) judged by local baking luminaries, opportunities to speak with master bakers, and a talk and book signing by Jonathan Stevens, baker and author of The Hungry Ghost Bread Book.

Champlain Valley Hops Farm Crew

Contact Name
Max Licker
Phone Number
802-448-0525
Email
[email protected]
Details

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Champlain Valley Hops is the largest hop farm in New England. Located about 30 minutes south of Burlington, we grow and process premium hops for the region's growing number of craft breweries as well as home brewers. 99% of hops in the United States are grown in the Pacific Northwest. CVH is passionate about local agriculture and are proud to give brewers out East greater access to local ingredients that represent the region. 

Our farm is located in the town of Starksboro on a sandy plateau in Vermont’s Champlain Valley. We are about 10 miles from Lake Champlain and 20 miles south of Burlington. The beautiful 240 acre property was a dairy farm before we purchased the land and planted our first hops in the spring of 2018. We currently grow 10 varieties of hops on 37 trellised acres. As a relatively young farm, we are constantly working to improve our growing practices with quality, yields, and sustainability in mind. We encourage all crew members to participate in the company's development and to make suggestions when they see an opportunity for improvement.  You can learn more about Champlain Valley hops through our website(ChamplainValleyHops.com) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/champlain.valley.hops/).
 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Champlain Valley Hops is seeking hard working individuals to join our spring farm crew.  Spring season runs from early April to late June. Spring crew members will be given the opportunity to return for hop harvest, which runs from late August to late September.  Full season work may be available for the right individual.

Spring activities consist primarily of “stringing” and “training”.  Every season, new strings are hung from the top of our 18 ft trellis and are staked into the ground by our crew.  Hops are perennial plants and the season's newly emerging bines are then hand trained to grow up the strings. Like most farm work, these tasks are repetitive and physically demanding but rewarding for folks that enjoy moving their bodies and working outside.

Ideal candidates are available full time, M-F, 8-5 from early April through late June. Candidates seeking part-time work will be considered on a case by case basis.

We recognize that hops have very little (recent) history in New England, and that applicants may not have direct experience with them. We’re more focused on finding crew members who are willing to work hard, learn new skills, implement detail-oriented tasks, keep a productive pace, and work as a team. Our goal is to create a safe, fun, and inclusive work environment for our staff.

 

JOB REQUIREMENTS / DESIRED SKILLS

  • Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks
  • Desire to get your hands dirty
  • Detail oriented
  • Dedicated, positive attitude
  • Works well as part of a team
  • Adequate clothing and footwear for the frequently changing weather
  • Safety mindset: understanding and adherence to safe work practices

 

COMPENSATION: Starting at $18.00/hour + seasonal bonus (typically an extra $1-2/hr).

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please send a resume and explanation as to why you are interested in this position to [email protected].

Vermont Maple Open House Weekend 2025

Join us for a delightful weekend celebrating Vermont’s rich maple heritage! The Maple Open House Weekend offers visitors an opportunity to explore sugarhouses statewide, witness the maple syrup production process, and enjoy a variety of maple-inspired experiences. All participating locations are proud members of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association (VMSMA), ensuring an authentic and high-quality maple experience.

Seeking Part-Time Field Crew Members on Our Organic Herb Farm

Contact Name
Taylor Katz
Phone Number
802-685-3174
Email
[email protected]
Details

Field crew positions at Free Verse Farm provide the opportunity to experience first-hand what it takes to work on a small herb farm. The work will be mostly in the field, focused on the cultivation of herbs, with employees spending the majority of their time planting, weeding, and harvesting crops, as well as drying and processing herbs. Folx with a background and/or interest in herbalism generally find this role extremely rewarding.

Please note that we are a growing business and there is opportunity for long-term employment and growth for the right candidates!

The ideal field crew member:

● Is a hard worker who enjoys manual labor, regardless of weather conditions 
● Is able to lift 50 pounds
● Is flexible, patient, and detail-oriented
● Is comfortable working alone, as well as in a group
● Has a positive attitude and a team mentality
● Has a dedicated interest in farming and/or herbs
● Has previous farming experience (not required, but strongly recommended)
● Has reliable transportation (we re in a rural area with limited access to public transportation) and a commitment to arriving on time to work

The Details:
● Wages start at $16-19, based on experience level.
● The season runs from approximately May through October. Depending upon our needs, there may be the opportunity to begin the season earlier in the year, and/or continue farm work with us into November and December.
● Field crew members are expected to commit to the full farming season. Long trips during the farming season are discouraged, as they can significantly disrupt our season and increase the workload for our small crew. However, we always work to maintain open communication with our staff and do our best to accommodate their needs while working to minimize the impact of any time off.
● Workdays usually begin at 8 am, lasting 8-9 hours. 
● Positions are for 2-3 days per week on the farm (ideally 3), with the possibility of being full-time by taking shifts at the Farm Shop and/or Apothecary.
● There is also the possibility of extra farm work during the growing season and farm sitting for us during the occasional short trip we might take during the summer months.
● Benefits of this position include access to fresh herbs and vegetables from our farm (when available), 15% off all groceries at the Free Verse Farm Shop, first-hand instruction on growing, tending, and processing herbs, and the opportunity to expand your farming knowledge and experience while spending the summer on a beautiful hillside in Vermont.

Free Verse Farm is an equal-opportunity employer that values inclusivity and diversity in Vermont's farm community. We are a family-run business offering a respectful work environment that encourages input and feedback from employees.

As managers, we strive to establish strong lines of communication with all of our employees, as we deeply appreciate the ways that employees commit their time, energy, and physical bodies to our farm during the season. We take the physical and mental health of our employees very seriously and strive to teach and model healthy body mechanics and mind frames. We approach employee management with open-heartedness and a deep respect for each individual's needs, strengths, and interests.

To learn more & apply: 
https://www.freeversefarm.com/employment-opportunities

ABOUT OUR FARM: 
Free Verse Farm is a co-creation of Taylor Katz and Misha Johnson, two artists/farmers with a passion for growing, eating, and sharing delicious and nourishing food and herbs.

We're a small, certified organic herb farm and apothecary in Chelsea, VT specializing in naturally-grown teas, culinary herbs, bulk herbs, herbal remedies, and herbal body care. Our herbs and remedies are available at our Farm Shop, a variety of retail stores, and through our Community Supported Apothecary subscriptions.

Since 2012, we have grown medicinal, culinary, and tea herbs at our small farm, cultivating approximately 2 acres of herbs and wildharvesting from our open meadows, pastures, and woods.

Using the herbs we grow as our primary ingredients, we offer a line of herbal remedies, tea blends, herbal body care products, and culinary herbs. Our products are available in boutiques, groceries, farmstands, gift shops, restaurants, and cafés, primarily in the northeast, as well as at our own shop in the heart of downtown Chelsea.

Our herbs are harvested by hand and freshly dried right on our farm. We dry the majority of our herbs in our new, solar-powered herb drying barn, taking the utmost care to preserve the essential constituents that give each herb its flavor, potency, and magic. We handcraft our herbal products in small batches in our downtown apothecary, sourcing as many herbal ingredients as possible directly from our farm.

At Free Verse Farm, we pride ourselves on providing our community with the highest quality organic herbs and herbal remedies. We cultivate our herbs as naturally as possible through hard work and an ever-deepening partnership with the earth. We use mostly hand tools to work the soil, only composts, manures, and mulches for fertility, and never any chemicals. We believe that nothing is more satisfying, nourishing, and potent than herbs tended with loving care; we hope our herbs and products relay that passion.
 

Garden Assistant

Contact Name
apply at https://willinghands.org/join-our-team/
Phone Number
802-698-0265
Email
[email protected]
Details

 

Position Title:

Garden Assistant                                   Dated:  2/2025

Classification: 

Non-Exempt

Expected hours of work:  

Seasonal: June-October, 32-40 hours/week

Salary grade/level/range: 

Assistant Level: $18-19

Supervisor: 

    Farm Manager

 

Willing Hands’ Mission is to reduce food waste and expand equitable and reliable access to fresh food. 

 

Willing Hands grows, gleans, and recovers nourishing fresh food and distributes it for free to our neighbors in need through a network of approximately 80 human service organizations in the greater Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire.

 

Program Summary:

Willing Hands’ four gardens play a crucial role in our goal to provide fresh produce throughout the year to our recipient organizations. Gardens located in Norwich VT, East Thetford VT, and Lebanon NH provide Willing Hands the opportunity to engage hundreds of volunteers in our work, and to grow targeted food crops that supplement our food recovery efforts.

 

Job Summary: The Garden Assistant works closely with the Farm Manager to accomplish all tasks related to growing and harvesting vegetables in Willing Hands’ gardens in any of our 4 growing locations.  They will also lead or co-lead volunteer groups during scheduled garden work sessions, support communication with volunteers, accurately enter crop data, and work collaboratively with the gleaning, communications, and operations team.

 

Key Accountabilities:

  • Add capacity to the Willing Hands garden program which is currently growing food at 4 locations.
  • Support the execution of the yearly garden crop plan as developed by the Farm Manager.
  • Coordinate, train, and manage volunteer groups during regular garden sessions, at special group workdays in the gardens, and support small group or individual volunteer sessions.
  • Keep accurate records to ensure proper documentation of program data, and help maintain inventory and proper upkeep of supplies, tools, and first aid materials needed for the garden program. 

 

 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

 

Duties/Responsibilities:

 

Growing Food & Volunteer Crew Management:

  • Assist with all garden duties including but not limited to seeding, planting, watering, cultivating, weeding, harvesting.  
  • Maintain accurate records of harvest crops and weights, and label and transport harvested produce from the gardens to Willing Hands. 
  • Support the recruitment, training, retention, safety, engagement, and education of volunteers and the volunteer experience. Help maintain volunteer records and garden events calendar in the Willing Hands POINT database and document volunteer attendance.

 

Administrative

  • Help maintain accurate and current records / files with crop, growing site, and volunteer information. 
  • Support Willing Hands outreach and communications by taking photographs and helping create content to share with the public through Willing Hands channels including social media.
  • Participate in small and large group team meetings to discuss program evaluation and improvement.
 

Skills/Abilities:

  • Highly organized, efficient, and ability to be flexible to changing needs of the gardens.
  • Outstanding communication, writing, phone and public relations skills with diverse groups of people: co-workers, farmers, volunteers, donors, and Board members. 
  • Excellent record-keeping, computer, and data entry skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate with and manage volunteers in variable outdoor conditions, and work effectively with diverse and multi-disciplinary groups of individuals.
  • Self-motivated, disciplined and committed to being part of a team.
  • Interest in agriculture, resource management and engaging community.
  • Valid driver’s license and excellent driving record required.
  • Available to work early mornings, nights, and weekends as the job requires.
 

Required and/or preferred Education and Experience:

  • Large garden and/or farming experience, and a passion for growing organic food in a sustainable manner and contributing to the current transition of the Willing Hands gardens to no-till regenerative methods for growing food.

 

 

Physical Requirements and work environment: 

  • Will spend long periods of time in the outdoors doing often strenuous agricultural tasks
  • Must be able to comfortably lift 50 pounds
  • Must  be able to adapt to a changing schedule based on the demands of the gardens and weather considerations.  
  • The position generally requires working (on site, and/or simply fielding calls or emails from co-workers, partners or volunteers as the job requires) at variable times including early mornings, evenings and weekends and may include work in adverse weather conditions.
 

General Expectations of all Staff

  • Understand and support the mission of Willing Hands as expressed by the Board
  • Greet the public through all channels of communication with courtesy and respect
  • Coordinate and integrate efforts with staff working on other Willing Hands programs
  • Work in a safe manner and report any safety hazards to the Executive Director
  • Maintain individual workstation and office in a clean manner
  • Practice good work habits of flexibility, efficiency, punctuality, dependability, and confidentiality
  • Strive to grow existing skills and learn new ones
  • Employ good communication skills by sharing information, listening to others, and giving positive input
  • Work as a team member by helping others and making suggestions for improvements

 

 

Benefits and Work Environment

  • Paid time off and holidays 
  • This position is based in our Norwich office, with gardens located in Norwich, Lebanon, and East Thetford.
  • Mileage is reimbursed at the current federal reimbursement rate for all approved work travel with a personal vehicle. 
  • Opportunity to set professional development goals with supervisor
  • Regular meetings of Willing Hands staff
  • We care deeply about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable work environment

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Slaughter and Processing slots open for organic cattle at Montshire Packing

Contact Name
Mark Boyden
Phone Number
8025985508
Email
[email protected]
Details

    Hello-  this is Mark Boyden from Boyden Farm in VT and we now own Montshire Packing in No Haverhill NH, right on the border with Vermont.  This is a full USDA facility that does slaughter and processing of beef.   We have openings now and year round to do your organic cattle and specialize in great retail packaging as that is what we do for our beef sales as well.   We have a strong dedicated crew that takes great pride in what they do.   Please note that we are beef only as are specializing in doing that and doing it well.  Please call 603-787-9199 Thanks!!

 

Footprint Farm is hiring a High Tunnel Specialist

Contact Name
Taylor Mendell
Phone Number
802-318-2090
Email
[email protected]
Details

Footprint Farm (Starksboro, VT) has one more available position for 2025. Our farm is small (2-3 acres depending on the time of year), diverse, and focused on providing high quality, year-round produce to our community. We run a 150+ member CSA and serve around a dozen wholesale outlets including caterers, the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, and restaurants. We run a low-till, mostly hands-on operation with main focuses on soil fertility, continuous improvement/learning, and supporting the people involved with our farm now and into the future.

Our team is typically made up of 5-7 individuals filling multiple roles that match their skills and interests. We are looking for one more person to fill out our team, ideally someone interested in specializing in high tunnel crops. We grow trellised tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, and eggplant in our 5 (soon to be 6) high tunnels and are looking for someone who has experience or interest in acting as the point person for trellising, pruning, harvest and IPM. Experience is preferred, though we could work with someone brand new to tunnels if the right person comes along. This position is full time from May - October with potential for work outside of that timeframe. We provide PTO, a gear stipend, produce, and contributions to a SIMPLE IRA for each employee. All of our positions start at $17, and this position's range of potential hourly wage is $17-$20/hour depending on experience.

Please find full job descriptions including open roles, compensation packages, and qualifications on our website: www.footprintfarmvt.com/jobs

Northeast Kingdom Community Action Planning

In December, NOFA-VT hosted a series of meetings in the Northeast Kingdom to bring the farm community together and take steps toward building resilience in response to the past two years of flooding. We are convening a follow-up meeting to review the results from December’s focus groups, develop community action plans, and collectively decide how to allocate the implementation funds of $22,500 towards meeting the community’s goals. Farmers, we would love to have you join us!

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