Common Roots Organic Farming Takes Big Leaps Forward at the Underwood Property and the Farm at South Village…so much Gratitude!

Thanks to very generous community support over the past year, Common Roots organic farming has taken some major leaps forward in its goals of raising, selling and sharing nutritional, local produce. One goal of farming is to begin to sustain our six programs. Another key goal is food education and food access for families who face food insecurity in our community at large.

This big leap began when Common Roots needed sponsorship for our farmer’s salary to begin the next levels of soil preparation on two acres of the Underwood property, owned by the City of South Burlington. Generous gifts from the South Burlington Land Trust, Dealertrack, Bond Auto Parts, the Vermont Community Foundation and several gifts from generous community members made hiring farmer Michael Bisogno possible. Thank You!

As plans for the Underwood property were well underway in 2016, the Farm at South Village stewardship committee offered Common Roots access to their two green houses and three high tunnel growing structures at a reduced rental price. Common Roots had been growing food in raised beds at the Farm at South Village for eight years with our Growing Gardens, Growing Kids program, thanks to Will Raap’s understanding the importance of our mission.

At the end of the 2016 growing season Farmer Michael reported to the stewardship committee that while the Farm at South Village has substantial structures on the farm, it lacked the infrastructure. The stewardship committee of the farm listened and took Michael’s feedback and moved into action. One good deed led to another.

Gratitude for key gifts of support in the last six months are:

• A gift of $10,000 from South Village resident John Owens to install a well which provides frost free water
• A gift of $10,000 from the South Village stewardship committee brought electricity to the farm
• A gift of $10,000 from South Village resident Richard Horn and Ann Patterson for materials for the new barn to house refrigeration for the produce and support other farm functions
• A gift of skilled labor from the Sterling Construction Company, owned by Collin Frisbee, enabled the barn to be built

While the farm needs a viable road for this farm scape, the season is lining up for success. Because of these very generous gifts to the South Village stewardship fund, Common Roots is lining up a dynamic farm season while focusing on our mission of food education and food access to children and families.

The Common Roots budget plan for the farm include:

Common Roots has CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares for sale.

Other markets in our business plan includes selling to the South Burlington Nutritional Services and some commercial accounts.

We will also vend at the Shelburne Farmers Market. The farm plan will also support food for our six programs and Meals on Wheels.

Farm Stand will be open daily this season for community members to access local organic produce and support our six programs.

Other forthcoming programs include expansion of the farm stand at South Village for the general public. About one hundred children each week this summer will attend the Growing Gardens, Growing Kids program to take part in learning how to grow vegetables and learn about nature on this inviting farm landscape.

Come visit Common Roots’ team at the Farm at South Village this summer!

www.commonroots.org