After the deal closed, this same coalition began searching for the
right candidate or organization to farm the property. The Vermont
Foodbank came forth with a proposal to grow the food it gives to the
hungry and the deal was set.
Work is currently underway on the property to create a state-certified
agricultural washing and processing station in the garage of the
parcel. Work to rehabilitate the soil and make it arable has been
underway since earlier this summer.
Now members of an organizational committee are contemplating how to
move forward with the project and how to best structure any agreement
by which the land is farmed and the property is used.
The opportunities for brainstorming the best possible Kingsbury
Farm/Vermont Foodbank project are incredible at this point. The
Foodbank could hire a farmer to farm the whole facility and, in keeping
with the objectives and mission of the project, use the facility for
community purposes and for agricultural education.
The Foodbank could allow a farmer to grow crops (for profit) on some of
the land in exchange for growing Foodbank crops on others. This would
result in more farmers in The Valley, more local food for the growing
local food market and a safe supply of organic local food for the
hungry. There may be opportunities to get more locally grown food in
area schools as well.
Beyond the fields, the barn could be used for raising meat birds or
some other type of livestock. The barn could be used for community
canning workshops and/or gardening workshops or small livestock
incubator space.
It's an exciting project that has not yet come to fruition, but it
will, and the myriad opportunities and great ideas that abound will be
sorted through in the coming months -- stay tuned.
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