The Center for an Agricultural Economy

CAE Welcomes New Executive Director

2013-01-24T09:20:00.000-05:00

The Center for an Agricultural Economy Announces Sarah Waring as New Executive Director Program Director for the Farm & Wilderness Foundation joins progressive food center in Hardwick Hardwick, Vermont – January 24, 2013 – The Center for an Agricultural Economy’s Board has announced Sarah Waring of Montpelier, as the incoming Executive Director for the CAE. Ms. Waring leaves her

Job Announcement: Professional Production Assistant for the VFVC

2012-12-17T14:40:00.000-05:00

Vermont Food Venture Center Professional Production Assistant The Vermont Food Venture Center, a program of the Center for an Agricultural Economy in Hardwick, VT is a semi-automated multi-kitchen incubator and processing facility. We offer our clients co-packing services as well as commercial kitchen production space supported by business and technical services. We are seeking an

A Harvest of Words is Friday, Dec. 7th at 6:30pm

2012-12-05T07:56:00.001-05:00

VFVC Producer Spotlight: Michelle's Spicy Kimchi

2012-12-04T13:03:00.000-05:00

Vermont Food Venture Center Producer Spotlight Michelle's Spicy Kimchi Michelle Guenard started Michelle's Spicy Kimchi in Craftsbury, Vermont, selling at local farmer's markets and has since grown her product to be included in retail markets and restaurants throughout the State. In our interview, Michelle talks about the challenge of marketing an ethnic product, growing her business (

Press Release: CAE Seeds New Growth

2012-11-28T12:20:00.001-05:00

Center for an Agricultural Economy Seeds New Growth Seeks an Executive Director For Immediate Release Hardwick, Vermont – November 28, 2012 -- Today, the Center for an Agricultural Economy’s Board announced new staff changes that will enable the organization to meet the growing opportunities in local, healthy food systems. Monty Fischer, the CAE’s Executive Director has been named the

Job Announcement: Executive Director

2012-11-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

Center for an Agricultural Economy Executive Director Position Over the last several years, the CAE has evolved from a young, start-up to an expanding and maturing organization. The management and ownership of two major properties, the growth of several program areas and the strengthening of the region’s local food movement have resulted in enormous opportunity to deepen our commitment and

A Harvest of Words - Local Authors' Reading

2012-11-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

A Harvest of Words - Local Authors' Reading in Hardwick, VT Join us in downtown Hardwick on Friday, December 7th at 630pm for our annual gathering of authors who will read their original works at the Center for an Agricultural Economy's office at 21 Mill Street, Hardwick. Hear local authors Shari Altman, Bethany Dunbar, Ben Hewitt, and Julia Shipley share their stories on agrarian life,

A Letter from our Executive Director

2012-11-27T13:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Friend of the CAE, How much food could New England (and the greater Hardwick area) really produce? We hear a lot about the virtues of “eating locally,” “food security,” and a “regional food system,” but what might such a system really look like on the ground? There is a bold, new food vision that calls for the region to build the capacity to produce up to 80% of clean, fair, just and

Save the Date! A Harvest of Words - Local Authors' Reading in Hardwick, Vermont

2012-11-13T12:33:00.001-05:00

For Immediate Release Save the Date! A Harvest of Words - Local Authors' Reading in Hardwick, VT Hardwick, VT, November 8, 2012 –Say good-bye to stick season and prepare for the coming snow with our annual gathering of agricultural authors and producers who will read original works on Friday, December 7th, at 6:30pm at the Center for an Agricultural Economy, 21 Mill Street, Hardwick,

No Kid Left Behind

2012-11-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

No Kid Left Behind Symposium is November 28th to help address the missing gaps when it comes to creating a viable chevon market in Vermont. Facilitated by Paul Costello of Vermont Council of Rural Development and sponsored by Vermont Chevon, the Center for an Agricultural Economy, Vermont Farm Viability and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture. Contact Shirley Richardson for more information.

VFVC Producer Spotlight: Yummy Yammy Sweet Potato Dips

2012-11-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Lisa Johnson of Yummy Yammy (far left) with our VFVC crew! Vermont Food Venture Center Producer Spotlight Lisa Johnson of Yummy Yammy, was one of the first clients we took on the Vermont Food Venture Center. Since her start, her fantastic energy and dedication have been an inspiration to all of us! In our interview, she offers marketing tips, challenges and what it means to move forward. I

Pies for People - Volunteers Needed!

2012-10-29T12:52:00.001-04:00

Join us on Tuesday, November 13th December 11th for pie making and baking at the Vermont Food Venture Center in Hardwick, Vermont. Every year, we gather volunteers to make and bake pies from donated ingredients and distribute to area pantries, schools and senior centers. We are excited to be doing this good work in the Vermont Food Venture Center's bakery and invite you to join us for an evening

The Hardwick Community Gardens are (Re)Born!

2012-10-24T04:30:00.000-04:00

In September we were blessed with both beautiful weather and a wonderful bunch of community members with tools in hand, ready to construct the second incarnation of the Hardwick Community Gardens! To catch those of you who have not been following the story of the Gardens up to speed, in 2011 Tropical Storm Irene had wiped out the Hardwick Community Gardens, which was located on Hardwick town

Come to the Gardens!

2012-08-29T12:57:00.001-04:00

What a transformation! What was once a shrub covered, granite strewn lot has become an open expanse of field, surrounded by granite blocks. It's a blank canvas waiting to turn into a community garden and YOU can help. Lyndon State College students helped us out last weekend We have two work days scheduled on Saturday, September 1st and Saturday, September 15th, beginning at 9am and ending at

A Note from Pete's Greens

2012-08-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all of you who donated to the Vermont Farm Fund post Irene last summer. I appreciate your ability to recognize the vision of this new fund, for trusting us to do good things with your money, and for your fast reaction in the wake of that storm. We helped a great group of farms get back on their feet. I'm excited that the fund in moving forward with the innovation loan program and hope

Vermont Farm Fund - A note from us to you

2012-08-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a humbling experience to work within and for the agricultural community in Vermont. Every day, small farms across this nation face enormous pressures to survive, let alone thrive and prosper. In Vermont, we are fortunate to have a great network of organizations that look to support the needs of small and beginning farmers - UVM Extension and its many partners, the Vermont Agency of

Harlow Farm is "Sharing the Harvest"

2012-08-16T05:00:00.000-04:00

Paul Harlow - photo courtesy of VT Foodbank This great post from the Vermont Foodbank features Paul Harlow, the farmer behind Harlow Farm and Westminister Organics. He is also a recipient of a loan from the Vermont Farm Fund and we are so proud that we could be a part of his recovery after Tropical Storm Irene. Harlow Farm: Sharing the Harvest For nearly a century, the 150-acre Harlow Farm

Kingdom Farm & Food Days - Thank you to those that give...

2012-08-15T15:08:00.002-04:00

High Mowing Organic Seeds, the Center for an Agricultural Economy and the New England Culinary Institute would like to express our deep appreciation and thanks to the folks who have so generously donated food items to the Kingdom Farm and Food day event. Without their kind donations we would not be able to provide such an array of amazing local fare. Thank you all so much for your contributions

When Mark Bittman came for a visit...

2012-08-03T14:02:00.004-04:00

...we decided to have a cocktail and tasting party. July 31st, Mark Bittman toured the area with Sterling College before heading to the Vermont Food Venture Center for a personal tour and gathering before his dinner at Claire's. Many thanks to Sterling College for arranging and to Mr. Bittman for an engaging visit. Fifteen of our clients set up tents and samples Mark Bittman checking

Hardwick Community Garden Site Visit

2012-07-25T15:19:00.004-04:00

We've been very busy planning the relocation of the Hardwick Community Gardens to Atkins Field on Granite Street and taking the first steps these past few weeks in preparing for the big move. This week, LG Bellavance & Sons has transformed the new site for a garden space by removing brush, moving granite blocks and creating structures like a small amphitheater. The current ATV/VAST Trail is

Sweet Heart

2012-07-25T13:44:00.003-04:00

This short was created for the Green Mountain Film Festival by a few local high school students with their friends and families, and won the GM 48 Hour Film Slam 2012 . Enjoy! .

Connecting happiness to our local food system (Pt. 2 of 2)

2012-07-24T05:30:00.000-04:00

By Heather Davis, Food Systems Monitoring and Evaluation Research Associate at the Center for an Agricultural Economy See the first part of this blog How does measuring happiness and well-being relate to the work I do at the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) and the general work of the organization? The CAE’s mission is to, “bring together community resources and programs

Vermont Farm Fund - Update 2012

2012-07-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

July 13, 2012 Thanks to YOU and your contributions, the VermontFarm Fund and the Center for an Agricultural Economy gave out over a dozen loans to Vermont farmers in 2011, totaling $125,000! The farms you helped are: Kingsbury Market Garden

Kingdom Farm & Food Days coming up!

2012-07-04T04:35:00.000-04:00

SAVE THE DATE!! Kingdom Farm & Food Days August 18 & 19, 2012 It's that time of year again for the Northeast Kingdom to celebrate local food! A collaboration between the Center for an Agricultural Economy, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Pete’s Greens, the New England Culinary Institute and the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, the annual Kingdom Farm and Food Days is a celebration of Vermont food &

Meet Sweet Rowen Farmstead

2012-06-18T05:30:00.000-04:00

A recipient of a Vermont Farm Fund Emergency Loan in 2011, Paul Lisai of Sweet Rowen Farmstead recently celebrated a May 2012 grand Re -opening of his business and processing house. This is what he had to say about how the VFF Emergency Loan helped him get to this point. After the fire at Ploughgate Creamery I needed to find a new place to process my milk and I settled on the idea of building