From the 2007-2008 Annual Report
Rutland farmer Greg Cox likes to talk about his diversified farm in terms of Rudolf Steiner’s theory of biodynamics. “My philosophy is that you need to think about the farm as a whole and how things are connected,” he explains, “and also how people are part of that connection.” Out in his 15 acres of organic vegetables, these connections mean using the manure from the animals he raises as fertilizer and trusting that each year there will be thriving crops that compensate for any disappointing harvests.
Greg also sees these connections extending beyond Boardman Hill Farm to the Rutland community. For example, through a pilot program administered by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), he is providing nutritious, local food to over 150 seniors in the area—a satisfying complement to his thriving city farmstand, large CSA, and bustling farmers' market trade.
Despite growing interest in local food in Rutland County, Greg remains concerned about one major challenge to agriculture in the region: the lack of young people going into farming. As a mentor to NOFA apprentices and Green Mountain College students, he cultivates the next generation one farmer at a time. And if a particularly committed and passionate intern comes along, Greg and his wife, Gay, have been known to lend the aspiring farmer equipment and a few acres on which to hone skills and develop his or her markets.
A few years back, Greg joined with other farmers, local planners, and concerned citizens to expand his efforts to grow agriculture in Rutland from the bottom up. The result is the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link (RAFFL), a new incubator for young farmers modeled on Burlington’s Intervale. Their plans range from acquiring land with the help of VLT to investing in flash freezing equipment and other infrastructure.
“The economic model that we want to create here is a real community-based food system with a priority on accessibility,” says Greg. “Where’s our economic future? I think it’s what started communities from the beginning—agriculture. We can create a community and an engine for jobs around clean, local food that’s affordable.”
Greg also sees these connections extending beyond Boardman Hill Farm to the Rutland community. For example, through a pilot program administered by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), he is providing nutritious, local food to over 150 seniors in the area—a satisfying complement to his thriving city farmstand, large CSA, and bustling farmers’ market trade.
Despite growing interest in local food in Rutland County, Greg remains concerned about one major challenge to agriculture in the region: the lack of young people going into farming. As a mentor to NOFA apprentices and Green Mountain College students, he cultivates the next generation one farmer at a time. And if a particularly committed and passionate intern comes along, Greg and his wife, Gay, have been known to lend the aspiring farmer equipment and a few acres on which to hone skills and develop his or her markets.
A few years back, Greg joined with other farmers, local planners, and concerned citizens to expand his efforts to grow agriculture in Rutland from the bottom up. The result is the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link (RAFFL), a new incubator for young farmers modeled on Burlington’s Intervale. Their plans range from acquiring land with the help of VLT to investing in flash freezing equipment and other infrastructure.
“The economic model that we want to create here is a real community-based food system with a priority on accessibility,” says Greg. “Where’s our economic future? I think it’s what started communities from the beginning—agriculture. We can create a community and an engine for jobs around clean, local food that’s affordable.”
In an early RAFFL planning meeting, Greg was introduced to local VLT staff and began to think about the future of his own farm. This last year, he conserved it through VLT with support from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. “I owe this place a lot more than it owes me. It has provided for my family and provided for so many families over the years. So I really wanted to conserve this land to make sure it continued as a farm.”
Greg feels in his heart that his children will continue to farm at Boardman Hill, but now he knows for sure that if they don’t, someone will. And, with RAFFL helping new farmers get started and weaving the connections between farms and the community, the future of agriculture in Rutland is looking bright.
