Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont’s Winter Conference

NOFA VT's winter conference is a celebration of people and real food. And what a celebration it was. This year’s lunch broke the Guinness record for largest potluck. Best of all the conference is a weekend to catch up with old friends—many of whom I see only once a year (a pattern I hope to change with Vermont Farm Tours). This year was no exception. How fun to learn that Mark and Kirsten Kimball at Essex Farm across the lake now have a sizeable staff and new baby. And two friends I knew as a kid from Farm and Wilderness summer camp are now farming in central and southern Vermont.

My father, Henry, also came up from Massachusetts to visit for the long weekend and attend the conference. Fun to introduce him to our strong (and growing) local foods movement. My dad and I started a small farm and vineyard at the family homestead in Sutton, NH back in 2005. He has since returned to Arlington, MA to work for Youth Build.

One of the more memorable workshops was a cheese tasting and tour of Neighborly Farms. Jeff Roberts, author of Atlas of American Cheese, led the tasting and tour with impressive depth. My dad was so delighted with Neighborly Farms, he bought a whole case of their cheeses! It really is good stuff, and all the tastier after meeting the cheesemaker and cows, and hearing their story.

I’ll have a supply of good cheese for a month at least…

Why Vermont Farm Tours?

Good News! In June 2009 we will be launching Vermont Farm Tours, a Burlington, VT-based culinary tour company. Here's the background:

I love people. I really appreciate where I live. I love the science, lore, hands, and dirt that whisper to your tongue when you eat real food. And the more connected I am to the food I eat, the better I feel. I love to take part in the story that is eating, and I love to share that story with friends. I believe that growing food or meeting the people that feed you has the power to change lives and build community.

And, frankly, I miss spending time with my farmy, foodie friends.

Enter, Vermont Farm Tours. With some savvy, a lot of help (thanks!), and good planning, I will be able to stay connected to a community that I enjoy and share the story of inspiring places, people, and cuisine. If that I f that means learning QuickBooks and web design, all the better. There is an art to everything.

Ultimately, showing off the most unique farmers and producers in the country to a group of fun guests is my vision of an ideal day. You have to agree that there’s something special (if not mind-blowing) about tasting a cheese (or beer or carrot) after you saw the cows, learned about why the farmer farms, learned what the cheesemaker is thinking when he makes the cheese, and watched him do it.

Farm on!
Chris

Where it all began...

There's a little farm in the small rural community of Springfield, Tasmania, Australia, where I was first introduced to the potency of local food. It was probably my first breaths, or my first tip toes in the grass outside the log cabin my parents built, on their modest strawberry farm. Even though my family left behind that farm after 13 years, shortly after I was born, the stories were as vivid as ever growing up with my three older siblings. I can't really blame them for idealizing summer afternoons at the beach selling strawberry sundaes from my parents van. So, in an effort to introduce myself to this Vermont food blogging community, I'll show you my original farm home via a few images of my first visit with my Dad back to where I was born. I am confident that the farms Vermont Farm Tours shares with it's visitors are just as rich in family and personal lore, as 1 Log Cabin Rd. will always be on the other side of the world.

Test Test, This Blog on?

Welcome to Vermont. And if you're already here, you know how yummy (and snowy) it is! Ah, just last Wednesday I had the pleasure of a sugar on snow tasting at Mad River Glen. Imagine caramelized maple syrup over fresh powder. Looking forward to starting seeds and tapping trees!