We're proud to be farmers and passionate about supplying you with healthy, vibrant food. We love what we do and love the connection between agriculture and community. We encourage you to ask questions about where your food comes from, how it is grown, and what it takes to get from its source to your table.
Organic Practices
At Root 5 Farm we believe that by working with the natural rhythms of the soil, plants, people and microorganisms we can grow excellent tasting food without the environmental and health risks that can accompany chemical intensive farming practices. We practice Certified Organic Farming and maintain certification with the Vermont Organic Farmers which is an accredited certifier of the USDA Organic Certification program.
Farmland Preservation
The importance of preserving our region’s best farmland relates directly back to the idea of our region being able to grow its own food. Without good land, farming is pretty much impossible. Farmland that is paved or made into suburban houses and lawns can not easily be returned back to a productive condition. We also think that farm land and open space contribute to the overall well being of any community. Farms and forests can be critical to preserving the purity of our water resources, they support wildlife and they provide places for hiking, biking and bird watching among other outdoor activities. We believe that every effort should be made to keep farm land from being developed, and also that mechanisms must be developed for making farm land affordable to new generations of farmers.
Training New Generations of Farmers
We recognize that our country is low on farmers (less than 2% of the total population) and that of these few remaining farmers most of them are nearing or past the normal retirement age. Farming takes lots of people, particularly farming in ways that are more ecologically oriented. If we're going to rebuild our food system into a localvore food system we're going to need a lot more farmers! Most young adults who are interested in farming for a career don’t come from farming families, and thus are in need of farm skill training in addition to farmland access. At Root 5 Farm we provide opportunities for farm skill building among our staff.
Part of the Community
Since we think agriculture is such an important part of our community, as farmers we seek to be integral and active members of our community. We feel that Community Supported Agriculture helps build community around the fundamental act of eating. We also seek to organize our farm in such a way that we can make local organic food available to everyone. Annually we donate over $8,000 worth of produce to Willing Hands. In addition to our plowing and planting work we also make time to reach out and participate in our broader community. We frequently give agriculturally related presentations at schools, conferences, and community events.
Organic Practices
At Root 5 Farm we believe that by working with the natural rhythms of the soil, plants, people and microorganisms we can grow excellent tasting food without the environmental and health risks that can accompany chemical intensive farming practices. We practice Certified Organic Farming and maintain certification with the Vermont Organic Farmers which is an accredited certifier of the USDA Organic Certification program.
Farmland Preservation
The importance of preserving our region’s best farmland relates directly back to the idea of our region being able to grow its own food. Without good land, farming is pretty much impossible. Farmland that is paved or made into suburban houses and lawns can not easily be returned back to a productive condition. We also think that farm land and open space contribute to the overall well being of any community. Farms and forests can be critical to preserving the purity of our water resources, they support wildlife and they provide places for hiking, biking and bird watching among other outdoor activities. We believe that every effort should be made to keep farm land from being developed, and also that mechanisms must be developed for making farm land affordable to new generations of farmers.
Training New Generations of Farmers
We recognize that our country is low on farmers (less than 2% of the total population) and that of these few remaining farmers most of them are nearing or past the normal retirement age. Farming takes lots of people, particularly farming in ways that are more ecologically oriented. If we're going to rebuild our food system into a localvore food system we're going to need a lot more farmers! Most young adults who are interested in farming for a career don’t come from farming families, and thus are in need of farm skill training in addition to farmland access. At Root 5 Farm we provide opportunities for farm skill building among our staff.
Part of the Community
Since we think agriculture is such an important part of our community, as farmers we seek to be integral and active members of our community. We feel that Community Supported Agriculture helps build community around the fundamental act of eating. We also seek to organize our farm in such a way that we can make local organic food available to everyone. Annually we donate over $8,000 worth of produce to Willing Hands. In addition to our plowing and planting work we also make time to reach out and participate in our broader community. We frequently give agriculturally related presentations at schools, conferences, and community events.
