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Cultivating Connections

October 2024

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Don't Get Cut Off! Click Here to View Newsletter as Webpage

Register for Our Annual Meeting

After two years of working out of a basic warehouse, we're stoked to be sliding down the row of loading docks into the former Vermont Soap Company retail space. This improved location will give us more visibility, and office/meeting spaces for improved customer support and staff comfort. (Hello, climate control!)


Be the first to see the new space and hear about how we're getting more fresh, local food into Vermonters' homes and businesses at our annual meeting.


We also have a rockstar lineup of changemakers from across the food system who will share stories about our community "showing up".

What: Food! Drinks! Stories! Community!

When: Monday, November 18, doors open at 5:30pm

Where: ACORN Food Hub, 616 Exchange Street, Middlebury

How: RSVPs are required so Janis, chef-farmer extraordinaire, has an accurate head count for her LOCAL RACLETTE FONDUE! πŸ«•πŸ§€πŸ₯–

There has been a LOT happening since we last wrote in July. (Clearly; I have not had enough time to update you all for three months). That should change because we're growing!


If you drop by the food hub, you might notice two new faces.


Alicia (above, standing) is our first ECO Americorps Service Member and we are so excited to have her on board, building on her deep knowledge of vegetable procurement and supply chain operations to help with food hub logistics. She'll also be threading the needle between the intersection of farming and the climate on a creative storytelling project. If you're a grower interested in speaking with Alicia to help tell your story, please let us know.


Abby (below) is our first ever Account Manager. Abby will be dedicated to relationship building and network weaving with folks who are interested in buying from the food hub, with a focus on schools, institutions, retailers and restaurants. Abby brings a passion for small farm viability after working on family farms in the Rutland area. We are so excited for our expanding team and hope you'll give both folks a warm welcome when you meet them!

We're the 2024 Non-Profit of the Year!

Thank you, Addison County Chamber of Commerce!

Do you shop or vend at the farmers' market?

Tell us why/ why not!

We are working with a group of Middlebury College students to learn more about the experiences of community members and farmers who shop/vend at, or choose not to shop/vend at, the local farmers' markets in Middlebury. Your insights will help us understand the opportunities and challenges faced by community members and how ACORN can better support local initiatives. This survey is short, only 3 questions.

Community Members: please take the survey here.

Farmers: please take the survey here.

Survey closes 10/31/24.

Working Bee in Orwell - Sunday, 11/3

Join us Sunday, November 3 from 9:30am - 3pm* at Tup’s Crossing Farm, 66 Young Rd, Orwell, VT for a pasture reclamation work brigade! We will be trimming back and wrapping shade trees in an 8 acre parcel to increase grazing opportunities for a herd of dairy goats. No previous skills necessary, but experienced chainsaw users are very welcome to bring their own saws (please contact mollie@ruralvermont.org about this).


RSVP required for planning purposes. Please RSVP HERE.


*We may finish before 3pm depending on numbers. It’s okay if you can’t stay for the whole time, but we encourage you to come at the beginning!

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Throughout the Year, Buy Local


ACORN's Online Market is flush with fall root veggies, for all your toasty, roasty, soupy dreams!

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Cultivate Community (Events)!

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We're so glad to be in community together.


Enjoy these shortening days,

Lindsey, Jess, Lilah, Abby, Alicia and the ACORN Board

FINAL SHOUT OUT

We appreciated this article "Yes Farms, Yes Food," written by Maddie Kempner, Policy and Organizing Director, NOFA-VT.

info@acornvt.org / www.acornvt.org