Meet your Farmers
Ben and Danielle have both been farming organic vegetables since 2001. They found their separate ways to the University of Vermont in the late 90’s where Ben studied forestry and Danielle majored in political science. They didn’t meet until years later when they both independently came upon a love of farming.
Ben got his start on a blueberry farm in Maine and then returned to Burlington, Vermont, to start Arethusa Farm at the Intervale in 2001. He and his friend, Thomas Case, rented 24 acres of river-bottom land from the Intervale Center, and they successfully grew certified organic, mixed vegetables, dry beans, and herbs for local wholesale and farmers’ markets.
Eventually Ben and Danielle crossed paths when Danielle began working at the Intervale Community Farm in 2003, just down the road from Arethusa. Danielle was intrigued by Ben’s unusual hat collection, Ben thought Danielle had a nice smile, and the rest is history.
Danielle gained valuable experience working at four different organic vegetable farms in the Burlington area. In 2006 she took a year off from farming to study Landscape Design at the Conway School, and shortly after joined Ben and Thomas to help manage Arethusa Farm. Ben and Danielle were married in 2009. After working together to run Arethusa Farm for four years, they became interested in a longer-term investment in the land, and started a search for a farm to make their home.
A devastating flood at Arethusa Farm caused by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 intensified Ben and Danielle’s search for new farm land, and they were lucky to find and purchase Your Farm, from Kevin and Laura Channel, in March of 2013. They moved to Fairlee just in time to get started seeding in the greenhouse and working the land for the 2013 season. In 2015, Ben and Danielle re-named the farm to Root 5 Farm. They're thrilled to continue farming the rich soil of the Connecticut River Valley and to be part of a community that supports organic farming.
Ben got his start on a blueberry farm in Maine and then returned to Burlington, Vermont, to start Arethusa Farm at the Intervale in 2001. He and his friend, Thomas Case, rented 24 acres of river-bottom land from the Intervale Center, and they successfully grew certified organic, mixed vegetables, dry beans, and herbs for local wholesale and farmers’ markets.
Eventually Ben and Danielle crossed paths when Danielle began working at the Intervale Community Farm in 2003, just down the road from Arethusa. Danielle was intrigued by Ben’s unusual hat collection, Ben thought Danielle had a nice smile, and the rest is history.
Danielle gained valuable experience working at four different organic vegetable farms in the Burlington area. In 2006 she took a year off from farming to study Landscape Design at the Conway School, and shortly after joined Ben and Thomas to help manage Arethusa Farm. Ben and Danielle were married in 2009. After working together to run Arethusa Farm for four years, they became interested in a longer-term investment in the land, and started a search for a farm to make their home.
A devastating flood at Arethusa Farm caused by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 intensified Ben and Danielle’s search for new farm land, and they were lucky to find and purchase Your Farm, from Kevin and Laura Channel, in March of 2013. They moved to Fairlee just in time to get started seeding in the greenhouse and working the land for the 2013 season. In 2015, Ben and Danielle re-named the farm to Root 5 Farm. They're thrilled to continue farming the rich soil of the Connecticut River Valley and to be part of a community that supports organic farming.
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