Jump to a section below: I. Mission & Vision II. History III. Our People IV. Intervale Farms ABOUT US MISSION Our mission is to strengthen community food systems. Founded in 1988, the Intervale Center manages a 360-acre campus of farmland, trails and open space along the Winooski River in Burlington, VT. Our influence radiates out from this beloved place as we work across Vermont to enhance farm viability and land sustainability, and more broadly as we serve as a model for food and farming organizations throughout the world. For 30 years, we’ve led a community food revolution. We’ve pioneered game-changing initiatives like community-supported agriculture (CSA), large-scale composting, food hubs and farm incubators. We continue to innovate so that more good food is available for anyone who wants it. Click here to read our 2020 Impact Report! VISION At the Intervale Center, we believe in the power of good food. We envision food systems that support joyful, vibrant communities. Farms and food businesses thrive, natural resources are healthy and protected, and people are nourished and happy. The Intervale Center – our people, programs and place – is the living embodiment of this vision. Our work is guided by three high-level organizational goals: FARMS To enhance the viability of farming LAND To promote the sustainable use and stewardship of agricultural lands PEOPLE To ensure community engagement in the food system BACK TO TOP HISTORY In 1986, Will Raap, founder of Gardener’s Supply Company, spearheaded an Intervale clean-up effort to restore the Intervale – 700 acres of bottomland within the city limits of Burlington, Vermont – to its agricultural roots and feed Burlington. Thanks to more than 30 years of extraordinary work by the Intervale Center (initially named the Intervale Foundation) and those who farm here, the Intervale has been transformed into a nationally recognized center for sustainable agriculture. In the 1980s, the Intervale was a dangerous and unwelcoming place for visitors. Agricultural fields had been abandoned, and people were using the Intervale as an informal dumping ground for tires, furniture and other garbage. Will Raap and many other dedicated community members removed garbage and debris, rebuilt depleted soils through composting and started gardening and farming, and through their actions, began to transform the Intervale from an informal dump to a beautiful agricultural and recreational resource for Burlington. Today, visitors find in the Intervale a unique and innovative community built around growing, eating and celebrating locally grown food. At the Intervale Center, they find a mature nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community food systems by enhancing farm viability, promoting the sustainable use of agricultural lands and engaging people in the food system. The Intervale itself has a long history of agricultural productivity. Native Americans have farmed here for a millennium. Since the 1700s, Vermonters have operated dairies and grown flowers and food here. The Intervale Center and the farmers who steward the Intervale today recognize that we are a part of this rich and diverse history of Intervale stewards, and we work to sustainably care for this place with this history – and these people – in our hearts. A TIMELINE HISTORY OF THE INTERVALE 3000 BCE: small bands of Native Americans harvest game and seasonal forage crops 1500 CE: Larger native settlements thrive as agriculture provides a more reliable food source 1609: Samuel de Champlain documents extensive cornfields at the mouths of the major rivers on the lake's east side – almost certainly including the Winooski 1772: Ethan, Ira, Heman, and Zimri Allen form the Onion River Land Company to sell Intervale land 1787: Ethan Allen builds a homestead 1861: Central Vermont Railroad lays track in the Intervale 1900: Calkins, Arns and LaCasse families operate dairy farms 1927: Intervale experiences epic flooding 1944: Municipal dump opens; operates through the 1970s 1950: McKenzie family operates a pig farm 1977: First segment of Vermont 127 is built through the Intervale 1983: Will Raap founds Gardener's Supply Company 1987: Burlington rezones the Intervale to exclude industrial and residential growth 1988: Intervale Center (then known as Intervale Foundation) is established. BACK TO TOP OUR PEOPLE STAFF Sara Armstrong Donegan, Farm Business Specialist Christine Badalamenti Smith, Administrative Coordinator Hannah Baxter, Gleaning and Food Access Manager Anthony Beringer, Conservation Nursery Production Technician Annalise Carington, Conservation Specialist Christine Cramer, Conservation Nursery Services Coordinator Lexie Daly, Finance Director Keith Drinkwine, Purchasing and Quality Assurance Manager Patrick Dunseith, Land Manager Bella Fazio, Everyone Eats Community Outreach and Distribution Manager Taylor Firestein, Food Hub Operations Coordinator Mandy Fischer, Director of Development and Special Projects Kiana French, Conservation Nursery Propagation Coordinator Melanie Katz, Development Manager Nathan Lake, Field and Farm Coordinator Nikki Lennart, Farm Business Specialist Travis Marcotte, Executive Director Kristen McDowell, Food Hub Assistant Operations Coordinator Morgan Milhomens, Events Coordinator Duncan Murdoch, Natural Areas Stewardship Coordinator Lynda Prim, Conservation Nursery Manager Reid, Sales & Marketing Manager Sam Smith, Farm Business Director Tyler Van Liew, Food Hub Customer Service Assistant Carolyn Zeller, Bookkeeper BOARD The Intervale Center has a dedicated, all volunteer Board of Directors. They work closely with our Executive Director on policy and governance issues. They are also our organization’s most important advocates and champions. Jonathan Abodeely Peter Asch Vice Chair, Owner, Twincraft Skincare Kathy Beyer Housing Vermont Katelyn Ellermann Associate General Counsel, VT Department of Environmental Conservation Allison Gibson Honey Road Restaurant Lori Rowe Margaret Leddy Treasurer, American Flatbread and Zero Gravity Noelle MacKay Chair, Chief Operating Officer, Regulatory Assistance Project R.W. “Eli” Moulton III, Esq. Moulton Law Group Joe Perrotto, Secretary, New Vitality FM Muñoz Director of Marketing, VT Farm Table Leslie McCrorey Wells Pizzeria Verità, Trattoria Delia, and Sotto Enoteca Katharine Montstream Montstream Studio BACK TO TOP INTERVALE FARMS Since 1988, the Intervale Center has reclaimed over 350 acres of historic agricultural land for vegetable, flower, herb and other food production. The Center leases land to nine small to medium-sized local organic farms that operate independently of the non-profit. This amazing community of farmers, made up of both mentor farms and incubator farms, provides Burlington area residents with around $1.4 million worth of local products every year. Diggers' Mirth Collective Farm Wholesale & Market (Produce, Herbs) Franklin Heyburn's Bees Wholesale & Market (Honey) Half Pint Farm Wholesale & Market (Produce, specialty: baby vegetables) Hallow Herbs Farm Direct and Wholesale Medicinal Herb Intervale Community Farm CSA (Produce, Herbs, Flowers, Berries) Pitchfork Farm Wholesale & Market Vegetables June Farm Farmers Market, Weddings, Wholesale deliveries (Cut flowers & Bouquets) Sugarsnap Farm dedicated to Restaurant & Catering business BACK TO TOP STAFF DIRECTORY RESEARCH EMPLOYMENT IN THE NEWS FAQ DONATE SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.