Local Food, Farms, Wine, and Beer: An Active Tour of Localvore Vermont

The Trip

Vermont is well known for its lovely Green Mountains, rolling farmland, and charming country inns. Geographically old, the Green Mountains offer beauty and unspoiled habitat for many northern plant and animal species. These mountains have provided inspiration for countless authors, artists, and, more recently, a culture of local food enthusiasts. “Localvores” know that each time they buy local food the benefits ripple into the larger community, keeping Vermont’s agricultural heritage vibrant and reducing the distance that food travels from farm to plate, thus sustaining local farmers and producers. This trip will introduce you to the farmers and producers of fruit, vegetables, maple syrup, various meats and specialty foods, cheeses, wines and beer while you enjoy daily easy-to-moderate walks and one bike ride. Join us to actively enjoy the beauty of Vermont and the best it has to offer in local food and drink.

We will explore trails, farms, and producers in both Central and Northern VT, both hotbeds of local-food sentiment. By moving during the week, we will have the opportunity to enjoy different villages and inns as well as a variety of trails and food sources. Our two inns feature comfortable, well-decorated rooms with private baths and superb meals made by kitchens that vie for “best food” honors.

We will gather on the afternoon of day one for orientation and an opening dinner at our first inn, in Waitsfield, VT. The nearest large airport is in Burlington, about 40 miles away. Round–trip shuttle service is provided by the trip leaders.

Day 1: Arrive at Burlington airport by 2 p.m. for pick up and transport to our homey inn in Waitsfield. We will have an orientation at 5 p.m. followed by dinner (included in trip) provided by our inn hosts. Relax and have a good night's sleep to prepare for our busy days ahead.

Day 2: After eating breakfast and preparing our packed lunch, we depart to tour a hydroponic farm and then to tour Ben & Jerry’s. Stop at Trapp Family Lodge on the way to the Stowe bike path, where we will eat lunch and enjoy a walk. We then drive north through Smugglers Notch to visit a Sugar Bush (Maple Syrup Producer). On our way back toward home we will stop for dinner (on your own) at a popular local restaurant that features local foods. Afterward, head back to the inn for a well-deserved night’s sleep.

Day 3: After eating breakfast and preparing our packed lunch, we pack our vehicles for the move to our next inn, in Burlington. On our way to the inn, we will stop for a naturalist walk at Mad River Glenn, enjoy a beer tasting there of Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and have lunch on the sunny deck. Continuing toward Burlington, we will stop at Full Moon Farm for a talk with farmer/State Senator David Zuckerman. Then we're off for the last stretch to Burlington. After we arrive and have a little time to get settled at our new inn, we will head out for a historic walking tour of the city. Then we'll proceed to dinner (on your own) at a popular restaurant that features local foods, and return to our new home for a restful sleep.

Day 4: After breakfast at our inn, we will depart for a guided walking tour of the “Intervale," a non-profit food hub with fascinating projects at every turn. A tour of Burlington’s City Market Food Coop is followed by lunch at the Coop. After lunch, we depart for an afternoon class in cheese making. Yummy cheese we made! We head back to the inn for a little relaxation and short discussion with a special guest. Then we're off to dinner (on your own) at another restaurant that specializes in local foods. We'll overnight at our Burlington Inn home.

Day 5: After our breakfast at the inn, we depart for Shelburne Farms, a Vanderbilt model farm from the 1800s and now a bustling education center/hotel/restaurant/award-winning farmstead cheese haven. We will lunch there and have time to roam the Olmstead-designed grounds on Lake Champlain. On our way back to the inn, we will stop at Shelburne Winery for a tour/tasting of their fine wines. Dinner tonight is on your own at the summer-long celebration called “Summervale," complete with many vendors and a local band. We return to the inn for a good night’s sleep.

Day 6: After eating breakfast and packing our lunch, we will be fitted for rental bikes at a nearby shop. Off we go for a gorgeous ride on the Burlington Bike Path. It's 25 miles total with stops along the way to ride a ferry, enjoy our lunch, and sample a “Maple Cremee” from a favorite shop. When we return to Burlington, we will visit Champlain Chocolates for a tour/tasting. Dinner tonight is included; it's just a short walk from the Inn. After dinner, we can watch the sunset on the lake, stroll the shops on Church Street, or catch some music in town; eventually we will all head back to the inn for the night.

Day 7: After breakfast at our inn, we will walk together to the large and popular Burlington Farmers' Market on the City Hall Green. At noon, we will depart for Burlington Airport. Please plan your flight home to depart after 2 p.m.

Getting There

A shuttle from the Burlington airport to our first inn and returning from our second inn is included in the price of your trip. Please plan to be at the airport no later than 2 p.m. on the first day. This will allow us to get to the inn in time for our orientation, dinner, and first night together. Airlines servicing Burlington are US Airways, United, Jet Blue, Delta, and Continental. If you plan to drive, directions will be sent to you after you are registered for the trip. Flights from some sections of the U.S. make it impossible to get to Burlington by 2 p.m. If this is the case for you, please plan to arrive a day early and stay in a hotel. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in two country inns, one in Central Vermont and one in Northern Vermont. Our first inn is in the town of Waitsfield and the second is in the city of Burlington, about an hour apart from each other. Both inns have well-decorated rooms with private bath and provide excellent meals. In fact, Vermont inns have been accused of competing with one another when it comes to cooking. A limited number of single rooms are available and may be arranged through the leader for an additional charge.

Trip Difficulty

You should be in good physical condition and accustomed to walking several miles at a time. Our hikes will be easy to moderate, on bike paths, dirt roads, and meadow trails. Terrain may be uneven, but there will be very little elevation gain. We will have one 25-mile bicycle trip on a bike path. We will do some physical activity every day of the trip, interspersed with visits to farms and producers, including wineries, breweries, and Ben & Jerry’s.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need layers of clothing for protection from rain and the vagaries of mountain/lake weather. Bring broken-in hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes and a full rain-suit. Hiking poles, cameras, and binoculars are also recommended. Bring a day pack that will hold extra clothing, food, and your raingear; a personal first-aid kit (Band-aids, Moleskin, aspirin etc.) and of course any regular medications. The trip leader will be happy to discuss clothing and equipment details with applicants, and closer to the date of the trip will provide a full list of items to bring.

References

• Cotler, Amy, The Localvore Way: Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Food.
• Medeiros, Tracey, The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook.
• Dunbar, Bethany M., Kingdom’s Bounty, A Sustainable, Eclectic, Edible Guide to VT’s Northeast Kingdom.
• Meeks, Howard, Time and Change in Vermont, a Human Geography.
• Vermont Magazine: http://www.vermontlife.com
• Vermont Tourism: http://www.vermontvacation.com
• Edible Green Mountains (quarterly magazine and website): www.ediblecommunities.com

Conservation

We will be hiking near the Green Mountain National Forest on state and private land. On one morning we will take a guided hike with a noted local naturalist to see wildlife. He will also provide us with information about forest-related issues. Anytime we are on trails or bike paths, we will follow Leave No Trace protocol.