Intervale Community Farm

Intervale Community Farm

     Our visit to the Intervale Community Farm occurred during the second week of April. The farm is located in Burlington, VT and there were a plethora of clouds in the sky. We met with Andy Jones who spoke to us about the basic functions of the farm. Andy described many of the functions regarding managing the largest CSA in Vermont. 

Intervale manager Andy on the combine.

    Andy discussed many of the hardships of managing a farm even through his own behaviors. We spent a fair amount of time looking for Andy but he was very busy working on some tractors and then a combine. Eventually he got the combine working and brought it near the fields. Andy explained the importance of CSA's to the farm and how they have allowed the farm to expand. 

    The farm recently added another barn that provides them storage options in the off-season and when they are not using it the Intervale Conservation Nursery uses the building for their young trees. After meeting with Andy we began to explore the farm. 

Working in the greenhouse.

   The first place we visited was the greenhouse, where many of the seedlings were being prepared for transfer to the fields. There were a handful of people working in the greenhouse preparing various plants for the transition to the outside. Besides for the greenhouse for the Intervale Community Farm, there were many other greenhouses for the other farms in the Intervale area.

Brussel sprouts from the previous season

    Once we left the greenhouse we headed out into the fields. The first stop was the berry bushes that provided many families with berries while in season. Beyond this, were a few fields including one which still had the brussel sprouts from the past season. One of the major issues with the farm was the location.

   The farm is located directly beside the Winooski River which has a tendency to flood. This can be a major issue as well as a benefactor to the farm. The flooding of the river can bring about fresh soil and plenty of silt which helps with the nutrients and growth of the plants. Along with the nutrients, the river can bring rogue seedlings that may be weeds or other plants that the farmland does not need, but without the flooding it would be difficult for the river to get the required nutrients.