Since 2008, Green Mountain Farm-to-School has been a leader in Vermont’s farm-to-school movement. Serving the Northeast Kingdom and beyond, we connect farms, schools, and communities to expand food access and build a stronger, more resilient local food system.
Thank you to our 2026 premier sponsors – The Abbey Group and Community National Bank!
Our work is made possible because of a network of businesses, institutions, organizations and community members who are in partnership with us. You can view all our supporters here.
Follow Our Story
We are seeking a volunteer to prune two apple trees at the Jay Westfield Joint Elementary School. Do you know how to prune fruit trees and want to lend a hand at the school to support our farm-to-school program there?
Please reach out to our Farm-to-School Program Manager, Elyse Perambo, at eperambo@gmfts.org
And please share this post to help us find someone!
The @vtharvestofthemonth for April is WHOLE GRAINS! We’re proud to work with Morningstar Farm to provide high-quality whole grain products to our customers, including a variety of grains, beans, cold-pressed sunflower oil, and stone-ground flour that they mill on site. They also produce seed crops, which they sell at locations across northern Vermont, including Healthy Living, @morrisvillecoop and Green Mountain Natural Foods.
Morningstar Farm is based in Glover, Vermont. Owners Seth and Jeannette take pride in the health of their soil, which they attribute to their regenerative farming practices, including running a certified organic and GMO-free operation. Healthy soil makes healthy crops… makes healthy food… makes healthy people.
The husband and wife team started Morningstar Farm in 2004 with the belief that “organic farming is more than just a method — it’s a responsibility to our land, our community, and future generations.”
Maple season is under way and we love meeting local sugar makers who open up their sugarhouses to students. 🍁 Huge thank you to Fradette’s Maple Syrup, in East Hardwick for welcoming Craftsbury Elementary students! Mario showed us around the evaporator and canning station, Bob took us on a tour of the sugar bush, and Mary Jane taught us about the origins of syrup through a story and a special treat. Before we said goodbye, we enjoyed sugar on snow with a special song to let it harden. Farm field trips are a great way to connect our students with their community and learn something new. We are so thankful for our sugar makers! 💛
This month at Troy School, kindergarten students prepared switchel for the Harvest of the Month taste test, highlighting maple syrup. The traditional beverage, known as “Nature’s Gatorade,” received mixed reviews. One student said she could “drink it every day,” while another shared that although the taste wasn’t her favorite, she would drink it again “for the health benefits.” Even though it sounded unfamiliar at first, curiosity helped students step outside their comfort zones and try something new!
Vermonters have no shortage of cheese options. 🧀 We want to take a moment to celebrate one of the state’s best: Creek Valley Farm. Located in Irasburg, Creek Valley Farm treats its cows like family. The cows always have access to the outdoors, even in the winter. The farm practices rotational grazing and does not use chemical fertilizers on pastures. Creek Valley operates a small cheese plant complete with a cave right on the farm. With their happy cows and sustainable farming practices, they proudly offer FOUR different kinds of incredible-tasting cheeses (🚨Creek Valley Gruyere available now)
Find Creek Valley’s incredible options at local stores like EO Randall General Store, @thegennyvt , @therootsfarmmarket
✨ Meet the Team: Piper ✨
Piper Toth joined the GMFTS team in 2023 and serves as our Finance Director, where she oversees the organization’s finances, guides budgeting and strategy, and supports staff with financial reporting.
With more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits, small businesses, and universities, Piper brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to our team.
Piper works remotely from her home office in Athens, Ohio, where she also teaches yoga in the community. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, swimming, painting, reading, and traveling with her husband and dog.🎨🧘♀️
Read more about Piper and our whole team on our website. 🌱
This week, 3rd grade students at Newport City Elementary School wrapped up their unit on Vermont Agricultural History! 🌱🧩
They worked together to build a timeline puzzle, explored dairy traditions from around the world, and tasted a variety of local Vermont foods. It’s been such a fun and engaging way to learn about our region’s roots—we’ve loved discovering this history together!
✨ Meet the Team: Elyse ✨
Elyse Perambo joined GMFTS in December 2021. As our Farm-to-School Program Manager, Elyse manages and supports our Farm-to-School program and AmeriCorps team, collaborating with 14 schools across the NEK. She also coaches the St. Johnsbury School District and MMUUSD School District to develop and strengthen their Farm-to-School programs.
Elyse’s work extends to the Educational Value team within the Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network. She was part of the team that organized and launched the statewide F.E.A.S.T (Farming, Education, and Sustainable Thinking) Summit, a remarkable youth-led event for 9-12th graders that is now thriving in its fourth year.
Outside of work, Elyse’s passion for farming and knitting shines through as she runs a small homestead farm with her family, raising Cashmere goats, sheep, chickens, and caring for two Angora rabbits that occasionally delight students during fall apple field trips.
You can read more about Elyse and our other team members on our website.
