The Vermont Foodbank purchased the Kingsbury Farm from the Vermont Land Trust with the assistance of local conservation groups earlier this year. The 22-acre farm will be used to grow food for the Vermont Foodbank. A steering committee for the farm project is in the process of selecting a farmer to whom the farm will be leased.
UPDATE THE BOARD
Thurlow was at a Warren Select Board meeting on December 7 to update the board on progress on the project. He told the board that the new produce washing and processing garage was now a three-season building complete with water and power. The barn, he said, would be used for dry storage.
The barn was full of "pigeon evidence," which had to be removed, Thurlow said. The Vermont Foodbank has been meeting with local organizations discussing common goals and objectives, including the Mad River Path Association. Thurlow said the Foodbank would allow a path right of way and parking area and would be building a bridge over a tributary for tractor access. That bridge, he said, will also accommodate the Mad River Path.
NATIVE SPECIES
"We're going to be doing some planting in the riparian area, including native species along the buffer. But our goal is to grow enough food, invest in a farm infrastructure so that in the long run we have a agricultural asset for The Valley," he said.
"We serve eight agencies and hope to provide high-quality produce," he added.
Thurlow told the board that the Foodbank would not be applying for a nonprofit property tax exemption because, "With the demand for our services, we didn't think it would be fair to not pay full taxes."
MOVING ALONG
"Things are moving along. A lot of people really value Kingsbury Farm. As we move into operation we hope to continue partnering with other organizations," Thurlow said.
He said that the farmhouse itself would likely become a residence or a space rented out to employees of the farm, "workforce housing."
"We recognize the need and we want to accommodate that," he added.
"We don't want to compete with other farms in the area. The model we're working with is that someone will grow food, give us a good deal of it and rent the space, but also sell some of the food on site. The feeling I'm getting is that there is capacity in The Valley for retailing more fresh food," he said.
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