Making farms the engine of economic
growth ... and community connection

On the shores of Lake Champlain, the Intervale Foundation has established one of the nation's most successful farm incubator programs, giving would-be farmers access to land, equipment and training--and the city's residents access to great food, responsible recycling, and a wealth of other benefits.

By Laura Sayre and Dan Sullivan
December 9, 2004, Burlington, VT

A restored barn from an early Intervale farmstead. "The agricultural landscape is part of our culture and our character—and it's also a huge benefit to our tourism industry. But you can't preserve that landscape without farmers working the land."

After 12 years Diggers' Mirth Collective has survived Incubator, passed Enterprise and now claims Mentor rank as one of the programs elders. "Enterprise farmers pay full, market-value rates for land, they pay for equipment usage per hour, for greenhouse space per square foot and for cooler space per pallet."

Field of fennel growing on an Intervale incubator farm

"This is a very magical place . It's hard to explain, but frequently, things just seem to come together."