From City to Countryside – Borderview and Allenholm Farms, Vermont

After a successful press conference, which unveiled our coach's Green Certification through the University of Vermont (UVM), tour riders and community guests traveled around the Vermont countryside to visit two local farms. Director and Natural Resources Specialist, Dr. Lisa Chase and Senior Program Manager, Dr. Dave Kestenbaum, both from the Vermont Tourism Data Center, developed the UVM Green Coach Certification program.

Lisa is also a ’99 Udall Fellow. After the exciting morning press event, she helped the Udall tour plan our afternoon which highlighted two local area farms in Vermont: Borderview Farm in Alburgh and Allenholm Farm in South Hero.

Our first stop was Borderview Farm in Alburgh, Vermont. To get to Alburgh from UVM, you must cross a bridge over the famous Lake Champlain. I had never been to Vermont nor seen Lake Champlain before our visit. It was a spectacular site. The water and mountains were breathtaking. Alburgh is a small town, called an Island by locals, but is rather a peninsula attached to Canada. Borderview farm is located right next to the Canada and USA border… which is probably why the farm received the name Borderview. Fellow rider Crystal Olin, one of our community guests, and I lightheartedly walked the few feet across the Canadian border. After leaving the country (jokingly), we quickly returned to the United States to rejoin the group. Dr. Doug Lantagne, Dean of the UVM Extension, introduced the Udall tour to the owner of Borderview Farm.

Borderview Farm is owned by Clare and Rodger Rainville. Borderview was previously a dairy farm. The Rainvilles, over the past three years, have converted the farm into a laboratory in partnership with the UVM Extension. They currently grow Canola in an effort to better understand and make local biodiesel. The farm also supports ongoing research projects to identify optimal growing conditions for plants (e.g. wheat, spelt, and soy beans). Dr. Heather Darby, UVM Extension Assistant Professor, works directly with the Rainville family. Heather gave us a tour of the farm. She was very engaging – lots of energy and high spirits.

The stop emphasized the need to have a self-sufficient local economy. The tour riders were also reconnected to the land. It is too easy for society to go to the grocery store and buy food products without even knowing how the plants that produce their oats, wheat, and different grains and beans actually look like. The farm was well marked with different signs and jars full of the various different harvested products. The farm was practical, experimental, and educational. I walked away from Borderview with increased knowledge of more sustainable farming practices.

After saying good to Rodger and Heather, we loaded back onto the biodiesel motor coach. I must note that besides traveling on our biodiesel motor coach, we have traveled using many forms of public transportation. Throughout our various adventures in the big east coast cities, we have journeyed on the DC “Metro”, the Philadelphia and NYC “Subway”, and the Boston “T”. However, after driving to South Hero, we went from the fast paced hustle and bustle of city transportation to a rural Vermont wagon and donkey!

When we drove up to Allenholm farm, located in South Hero, Vermont, owner Ray Allen welcomed us and directed the group off of the motor coach and onto his tractor pulled wagon. He drove us from his small family farm store and petting zoo up to his home and apple orchard.

Ray welcomed us into his home, which also serves as a bed and breakfast. Ray and his wife Pam both own and operate Allenholm farm along with their children and grandchildren. Their family has owned Allenholm since 1870 and their grandchildren are the 6th generation to live on the farm. The Allen family made an excellent lunch for our visit. We ate lunch outside in their beautiful yard – full of gorgeous flowers. Fresh applesauce and strawberry lemonade were some of my favorite menu items. Their beautiful apple orchard and Lake Placid were in view off in the distance. Perhaps my favorite part of their house was seeing a cute dusty orange cat curled up on its back in one of the bedrooms.

After our homemade lunch, Ray and Pam took us back onto the wagon to revisit their farm store and petting zoo. Ray and Pam talked with us about their business which includes a Bed and Breakfast, Farm Store, Petting Zoo, and Orchard. They also host different events on their orchard and will sell other items, such as homemade apple pies, to local area businesses and restaurants. They utilize several forms of agrotourism. Agrotourism helps them develop a sense of community at Allenholm and stabilizes their farming business.

The Udall riders really enjoyed visiting the Petting Zoo. A couple of the Allen’s bunnies had just birthed two litters of baby bunnies. Ray showed us the less-than-24-hour baby bunnies. They were hairless, but very cute, and already wiggled their little noses. The animal who received the most attention was their donkey Willy. Pam explained how spoiled Willy is on the farm. Ray will give Willy kisses by putting a peppermint candy between his lips … letting Willy “kiss” it from his mouth. Everyone was laughing at this silly site! He asked if anyone else wanted to try. Sure enough, Bret Strogen, Matt McMahon, and Julie Curti were up to the challenge. One by one they gave Willy a big kiss.

Doug explained that out of his many visits to Allenholm, he had never seen a visitor kiss Willy. I think everyone was surprised. Especially when the donkey, while kissing Julie, gave her such a big smoocher that Willy knocked her glasses off! Ray even let Martina Gast, who is afraid of horses, take a ride on Willy’s back. What a spoiled donkey! While I did not give Willy a kiss, the rest of us were very much a part of the laughter and excitement.

After visiting the animals, we went into the Allen’s farm store and ate dessert. They made us fresh apple pie with soft serve ice cream. It was amazing! Of course I couldn’t leave Vermont without trying some Vermont cheese and purchasing some Vermont maple syrup from the Allenholm Farm store. When we left Allenholm, it was like saying goodbye to our own family. Allenholm Farm was very welcoming. Having grown up in Virginia, I felt like I was in the south even though I was actually in the northeast…. Lots of kindness and home cooked food.

By the end of the day, my mouth was literally hurting from smiling so much. Borderview and Allenholm Farms both give me hope that society can work towards both peace and sustainability. I would like to thank both farms for giving us their time, passion, and for sharing their knowledge and businesses with us. I also give a big thank you to Rachel Cadieux who works for the Farm Service Agency with the US Dept. of Agriculture. I had the pleasure to learn so much about Vermont farms and culture while sitting next to her on our motor coach throughout our adventure. I can’t believe we'll be back in New York tomorrow. However, I’m already planning a return trip back to beautiful Vermont!.

By Jessica Fagan