It’s almost time for Rural Vermont’s favorite party of the year! Members, friends, allies, and supporters are invited to spend a fun and festive autumn evening with us in the NEK. The night will include a potluck dinner with BYOB, live music, stories from farmers including Hannah Pearce of Hillside Farm, an art station with our friend and collaborator Erok Gillard, a farm & food raffle, lots of social time, and more. We’ll share some Rural Vermont updates and plans, and invite your ideas and feedback. We’ll also be electing new Board members (check out our 2026-27 Board Slate!).

About the Farm & Food Raffle: Everyone is invited to bring something special from their farm or kitchen, valued at $5-$15 to contribute to the raffle. Raffle tickets will be $5 each and we’ll pick as many winners as we have prizes! Show off and share what you’ve got, and bring home something you don’t. All proceeds benefit Rural Vermont.

As always, this event is open to all and FREE for Rural Vermont members! Not a member yet? Join in advance for free entry (and to support our work!) or pay a sliding scale admission at the door.

Your RSVP helps us plan! Please let us know you’re coming by Sunday November 8th.

More Info & RSVP Here…

Join us for a day of hazelnut tree planting at Fledgling Farmstead in Tunbridge on Saturday, November 24th, from 10:00am-3:00pm! Help a local community farm establish a perennial fruit-and-nut food forest. Come plant hazelnut trees, learn about planting specifics, cultivar considerations for our climate zone, and how to use pollen charts to match cultivars. We'll provide lunch, tools, and education, though you’re welcome to bring your own digging shovel if you have one. Lunch will be provided, with lunchtime discussion focused on cooperative crop models.
Read More Here…

The Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act (S.1212) is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that protects and expands access to on-farm livestock processing.

The bill updates the personal-use exemption in the Federal Meat Inspection Act to align with modern USDA standards and clarify that clarify that it’s legal for non-farmers to buy a share of live animals and then hire someone as their agent to do the processing on-farm. It will protect the rights of livestock owners, producers, and itinerant slaughterers, helping smaller-scale local meat economies thrive. The LOCAL Foods Act will preserve accessibility and affordability of locally produced meat and build stronger, locally-controlled food systems for generations to come.

The bill didn't appear in the recent Senate Farm Bill, which was officially passed out of committee in September. Now the Farm Bill heads to the Senate floor, where we have an opportunity to include the LOCAL Foods Act as an amendment. Tell Senator Welch & Senator Sanders: we support on-farm processing in the Farm Bill. Include the LOCAL Foods Act (S.1212) and vote "yes" on a LOCAL Foods Act amendment!

Sign On Here…

Join us in Corinth at Bottomless Well Farm for a Yurt relocation & winterization! Join us in supporting winter housing needs for a local goat farmer in Corinth. Learn about yurt construction, deconstruction, and all the pieces that need to come together for year-round yurt living. Lunch provided. 

We are hoping for a “yurt raising”, where we are able to pick up and relocate the yurt while it is still intact. If that isn’t possible, we will be deconstructing, moving, and reconstructing the yurt as a group. Lots of project opportunities for all abilities. Please note: This is an off grid, walk-in site...with little service.

Work brigades are a popular educational tool used worldwide to strengthen communities and build trust and solidarity through collective labor, connection, mutual aid, and knowledge sharing. We provide all refreshments, education, and tools, but please bring your own (labeled) drill and drill bits if you have one. 

Read More & RSVP Here…