The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) hosted the first of their summer Pizza Socials at Miller Farm (Vernon, VT), bringing the community together in a fun-filled celebration of local organic farming and food systems. 

The threatening weather held off providing the perfect (albeit windy) evening to enjoy freshly made pizza, cool off with organic maple milk and soft serve made with Miller Farm dairy, as well as sample some of the many yogurt products provided by Stonyfield Farms. Families were also invited on a hayride tour of the farm and to stick around for the 8:00pm milking of the cows.

Attendees included Peter Allison of the Farm Institute of New England, Harley Sterling School Nutrition Director of WNESU and Executive Director of Food Connects Richard Berkfield, who discussed Harley’s efforts to utilize local products and produce a part of the summer meal kits his team distributes throughout the area. Earlier in the day they completed no less than 1400 meal bags which contain 7 days worth of breakfast and lunch and included local dairy products from Miller Farms! 

On hand were members of NOFA staff including Director of Programming Helen Rortvedt, Wholesale Markets Program Director Lauren Griswold, Database & Member Events Manager Katie Robinson, and Farm to School Program Manager Kayla Strom. 

Other volunteers helping throughout the evening included Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership Executive Director Olga Moriarty, and Field Coordinator Abigail Wilson, Journey Away Program Director at Leland & Gray Jessa Harger, and UVM 4H Extension and Youth Agricultural Programs Coordinator Liz Kenton. All of whom were excellent assistants to “Pizza Master” Jeff who stood by the wood fire pizza oven churning out pizzas just as fast as patrons could eat them! 

Tables were set up inside one of the many barns on the property for guests to sit and relax while live music was performed by local group The Hickory Horned Devils, who’s violin player Britt Lundgren serves on the NOFFP board of directors as well as being Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Stonyfield. There were free activities for kids and families to do and take home provided by Vernon Free Library and Butterfield Library who had coloring pages, bubbles, crossword puzzles, scavenger hunts & sunflower seed packets to support Ukraine. 

Miller Farms has been owned and operated for over 5 generations and has produced organic dairy for the community since 2009. It also is one of the producers for Stonyfield Farms in nearby New Hampshire. Keith Franklin, who has worked at Miller Farms since 1988 with his wife Tina, expressed his pride in his work, and credited owner Peter Miller and his wife Angela for helping guide the farm to where it is today. The family run business includes Peter’s brother Arthur and his wife Judy, their parents Paul & Mary, daughter Abigail, and son-in-law Brandon.

Helen, Peter and Harley all took turns at the mic, addressing why we gathered together that evening and why it is so important to cultivate community resilience around farming and food systems on a local level. Helen directed attendees to fill out postcards which NOFA would be delivering to state and federal officials to raise awareness about the new farm bill The Senate was currently working on, and a push to continue state funding of Farm to Share CSA Cash Crop programs which enabled lower income families to access locally grown produce and products. Helen put it best, “Change begins with relationships, coming together, sharing a meal, sitting under the same roof…during a crazy wind storm!” 

I felt that spirit of change with every person I met, whether they were an advocate, farmer or community member interested in educating themselves about where their food comes from. Having no background in farming or food systems, I expected some of the conversations to be somewhat beyond what I could make sense of. However, each person who I had the opportunity to speak to, shared their knowledge and personal experiences in a way that was approachable, and allowed me to see that I too can play a critical role in shaping the future of food where I live. 

Whether it is advocating for inclusive legislative action, educating the public on the impacts of climate change on farmers, or the importance of incorporating local food into our school systems, Vermont is chock-full of change makers who are in the fight for the long haul. 

Check out the full line-up of summer events hosted by NOFA by visiting their website. 

NOFA Summer Event Series Sponsors include:

• Candy Family Charitable Trust

• Conservation Innovation Grants Program at USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Vermont State Office

• Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement 

• Forrest and Frances Lattner Foundation

• Stonyfield Organic

• USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Transition to Organic Partnership Program

• USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities

• Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Clean Water Initiative

By Elyse Morckel