Pine Island Farm

Pine Island Farm is a peaceful destination located at 1029 Pine Island Road, Colchester, Vermont, United States. This fourth-generation dairy farm is renowned for its delicious chocolate milk. The farm is also home to Pine Island Community Gardens, a space where first-generation Americans, including refugees and asylum seekers, can reconnect with farming roots and grow produce that is hard to find in Vermont.

The community gardens span seven acres and are used by over 75 families from 10 different countries. Families lease plots ranging from 1/16 to 1/8 of an acre and use well water for irrigation and goat manure from Dhaurali Goats for fertilization. The gardens produce a variety of crops, including African corn, eggplant, hot peppers, amaranth, bitter melon, and greens.

The gardens are organized by language or nationality to facilitate collaboration, with groups such as Somali Bantu, Bhutanese, and Swahili/French speakers. Pine Island Community Gardens originated as part of Pine Island Community Farm, a former dairy farm purchased at auction in 2012. The farm was home to various initiatives and businesses, including the Vermont Goat Collaborative, which evolved into Dhaurali Goats.

The Vermont Land Trust, a tax-exempt organization, oversees the management of the land. Dan, the Lands Director, is passionate about exploring the connection between people and land, particularly in relation to forests. In his free time, he enjoys canoeing, hiking, hunting, birding, and managing his family's woodland. Visit Pine Island Farm to experience a Vermont that feels like home and support a community dedicated to sustainable agriculture.