Vermont Country January-February 2025 by New England Newspapers, Inc.

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10 Highlights from Southern Vermont in 2024

January/February 2025

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Southern Vermont Travel & Tourism Guide

Vermont Winter Food, Destinations & Recreation

Southern Vermont Wedding Guide

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Early Summer

Fall Foliage

Theatre

Snow Playgrounds

Park-McCullough

Southern Verm Adventures in

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Bennington Museum

PHOTO CREDIT: CRAFT BREWERIES BY GREG NESBIT, © MARU LEÓN DESIGN

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MAY/JUNE 2024

Old First Church

Bennington Monument

Not drinking out this round No need to sit

Unique Lodging

Craft Breweries

Snowy Sunsets

Walkable Downtown

Covered Bridges

Plan your visit! Bennington’s Online Visitor Guide

ermont Country is an award winning bi-monthly magazine, and Southern Vermont’s adventure and tourism guide! We’ve set our sights on a hyperlocal approach that celebrates the vibrant Southern Vermont region, encompassing the captivating Green Mountain lifestyle, exciting events, noteworthy attractions, and rich cultural experiences. We aim to captivate not only our visitors and guests but also engage and inform South Vermont residents. Visit VermontCountry.com to explore our list of talented writing contributors and content creators, discover our distribution locations, and subscribe to our free newsletter. Enjoy reading all our content free of charge, and stay connected to Southern Vermont by following us on social media at @VtCoMagazine.

Wedding Guide EVERYTHING YOU

NEED TO PLAN

TABLET OF CONTENTS & CONTRIBUTORS HE WEDDING OF YOUR DREAMS AMIDST THE GREEN MOUNTAINS

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Wedding Guide: Venues, menus and more

10 Highlights from By Gabriel Schatz Vermont fat biking: PHOTO BY J&J PHOTOGRAPHY, Southern Vermont COURTESY OF KIMPTON TACONIC HOTEL Where snow By Chris Mays meets flow and Ahmad Yassir

Discover Southern Vermont: Your perfect day trip destination By Alexander Belogour and Ahmad Yassir

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A Pocketful of Why By Danielle M. Crosier

Kimpton Taconic: Where Love Finds Its Perfect Setting By Jennifer Brandt

43 Vermont Grower Spotlight: Green Mountain Gardens By Ivy Kirby

By Peter "Fish" Case

Aldworth Manor: A year-round destination

“How to have a really terrible wedding - part 1”

Starry, starry night, the winter night sky in Vermont

Winter woes

By Gabriel Schatz

By Victoria Osborne

Green Mountain Gardens homesteading couple committed to farming education By Ivy Kirby

The end is always nigh!: Gaming out the apocalypse at a theater near you By Dan Tebo

By Victor Capelli

By Katharine A. Jameson

Vermont Country Homes

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On the cover President and Publisher

Jordan Brechenser jbrechenser@reformer.com

Designer Cicely M. Eastman ceastman@reformer.com

Windham County Sales Manager Lylah Wright lwright@reformer.com "The Silo House in Ludlow, VT, designed and built by Gassetts Group"

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Bennington County Sales Manager

Susan Plaisance splaisance @benningtonbanner.com

Account Executives Ahmad Yassir ayassir @benningtonbanner.com Gabriel Schatz gschatz @manchesterjournal.com

Account Executives Richard Lolatte rlolatte@reformer.com Richard Battista rbattista@reformer.com Miles Mazel mmazel@reformer.com

2 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

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10 highlights from Southern Vermont in 2024

Kristopher Radder — Vermont Country

Evangeline Rera, owner of Midnights in Brattleboro, shoots some pool at the new bar. 4 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Garlic Town USA volunteers.

Photo by Lorianna Weathers

Chris Mays and Ahmad Yassir, Vermont Country Sponsored by Vermont Begins Here

outhern Vermont truly lived up to its reputation as the heart of the Green Mountain State in 2024. Conveniently located near New Hampshire, Upstate New York, and northern Massachusetts, Southern Vermont is becoming a premier destination for travelers seeking a perfect blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Witnessing the total solar eclipse

Kristopher Radder — Vermont Country

Viewing the solar eclipse.

On April 8, 2024, Southern Vermont became one of the best places to view the much-anticipated total solar eclipse. Thousands of locals and tourists gathered under the expansive skies of the Green Mountains to experience this rare celestial event. Communities united, making the day a shared celebration that highlighted the region’s beauty and charm.

Fall foliage at its finest The fall foliage season in 2024 was nothing short of spectacular. Vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold blanketed the hills of Bennington and Windham counties, drawing visitors from across the globe. Unlike busier destinations, these counties offered serene drives and peaceful trails, with the added convenience of free parking in many areas. The uncrowded roads and picturesque landscapes made for an unforgettable leaf-peeping experience.

VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 5

Kristopher Radder — Vermont Country

A large group of bike riders rode from the Common in Brattleboro to Gallery Walk.

Southern Vermont festivals earn signature status Garlic Town USA earned Vermont's Signature Event status in 2024. With over 130 vendors, including garlic farmers, chefs, and artisans, the festival celebrated all things garlic while showcasing Bennington's commitment to sustainability with zero-waste initiatives. "Garlic Town USA blends tradition and innovation while keeping our environment in mind," said event planner Mikaela Lewis. Meanwhile, the Vermont Wine & Harvest Festival at Mount Snow highlighted the region’s wineries, breweries, and cideries. Expanded craft fair offerings and live music enhanced the event, allowing guests to enjoy local flavors against the backdrop of stunning fall foliage.

Bennington’s charm gets national recognition In 2024, Bennington received well-deserved praise from a major travel publication, which described it as “Vermont’s first town, blending the best of Stowe’s charm with a rugged mountain feel.” This recognition solidified its status as a must-visit destination, offering historic buildings, a welcoming atmosphere, and authentic Vermont experiences.

Vermont Country file photo

Hemmings Cruise-in Series in downtown Bennington.

Downtown revitalization

In Windham County:

Bennington’s downtown revitalization efforts took center stage in 2024. New public art installations, including sculptures along the Downtown Bennington Riverwalk, and the launch of the Barn Quilt Trail, added a creative vibrancy to the town. Collaborations between the Better Bennington Corporation, Bennington Museum, and NBOSS have turned the area into an open-air gallery that reflects the community’s artistic spirit.

The weekly Food Truck Roundup at Retreat Farm paired local eats with live music.

Thriving event season

Business boom and diverse dining

Southern Vermont’s event calendar in 2024 was packed with festivals and celebrations. In Bennington: Garlic Town USA celebrated all things garlic. Mayfest and Harvest Fest reached new heights with record-breaking vendor lineups. The Southern Vermont Homebrew Festival showcased the region’s finest craft brews. Hemmings Cruise-Ins brought classic car enthusiasts together each month. Bennington Quilt Fest celebrated the region’s textile heritage.

6 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

The Brattleboro Winter Carnival continued its nearly 70-year tradition of family fun. Artful Ice Shanties transformed ice fishing into an art form. The Brattleboro Literary Festival drew authors and readers from near and far.

The culinary scene across Southern Vermont thrived in 2024. Southern Vermont’s culinary scene reached new heights in 2024, bringing an exciting variety of new and reimagined dining options to the region. In Bennington, Donovan’s Irish Bar made a vibrant comeback, becoming a hub for nightlife and social gatherings. Vermont Chef, a NYC-inspired bodega, delighted locals with its introduction of halal offerings alongside classics like chopped cheese. Taan embraced a rebrand while maintaining its dedication to authentic Thai cuisine, and Island Flavor expanded its menu of beloved Jamaican dishes with a beautifully themed dine-in space.

Kristopher Radder — Vermont Country

People voyage to Hogback Mountain in Marlboro to look at the leaves changing during the foliage season.

Over in Windham County, the dining scene also saw remarkable growth. Amaru introduced authentic Peruvian flavors, quickly earning widespread acclaim. Dover welcomed Black Ember Grill, where the tantalizing aroma of fresh barbecue became a signature feature. Downtown Brattleboro saw the revival of Plated, offering a refreshed atmosphere paired with

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Photo by Danny Zaffarano.

The Local and Co in downtown Bennington.

contemporary American dishes influenced by British and Indian cuisine. Meanwhile, Midnight’s Bar captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike, serving as a cultural crossroads where metalheads and theater lovers found common ground, embodying Brattleboro’s eclectic spirit.

Arts and culture on the rise Bennington’s creative energy thrived in 2024, with the Bennington Theater and Monument Arts and Cultural Center offering live performances. The Bennington Museum continued to host engaging exhibits, while local venues such as Little City Cider Co. and Union South kept the music scene alive.

Canoeing in Bennington.

Photo by Caroline Bonnivier Snyder

In Brattleboro, big-name acts like Leo Kottke and Frank Black performed, and the Next Stage Arts Bandwagon Summer Series brought outdoor entertainment to Windham County. The Blueberry Festival in Deerfield Valley also saw a resurgence, including a growing Dover parade.

8 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Let Us Help You Make Your House A Home!

Photo provided

Million Dollar Quartet at Monument Arts and Cultural Center.

Expanding craft tours Bennington expanded its craft tour in 2024, adding stops like Etc at The Local & Co. and W. Collective. Meanwhile, Brattleboro’s Gallery Walk provided a monthly venue for artisans, and events like the Putney Craft Tour highlighted the region’s creative talent.

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Outdoor recreation peaks Southern Vermont’s outdoor recreation options continued to grow. In Dover, Horace Hill introduced new mountain biking trails and a disc golf course. Bennington offered scenic hiking and biking, as well as winter sports at Prospect Mountain Nordic Ski Center. Across the region, the Southern Vermont Trails Association worked to enhance trail access, making outdoor adventures available year-round.

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Vermont Country file photo

People hike up a hill in the Mile Around Woods in North Bennington on a late Saturday morning.

Discover Southern Vermont: Your perfect day trip destination with Thruhike and Vermont Country

By Alexander Belogour and Ahmad Yassir Vermont Country SOUTHERN VERMONT — Southern Vermont offers the perfect mix of outdoor adventures, local businesses, and scenic spots ideal for a day trip. Vermont Country is excited to partner with Thruhike (thruhike.io), a platform that helps travelers explore the region’s hidden gems through curated, local experiences. Now in its second year, Thruhike connects visitors with Southern Vermont’s best-kept secrets, from charming cafes to scenic hiking trails. In this partnership, Vermont Country will share curated content showcasing the best local spots, including businesses, farms, and restaurants, making it easier for day visitors to discover all the area has to offer.

Explore beyond the crowds: Sustainable travel for day-trippers Thruhike’s CEO, Katherine van Hengel, emphasizes sustainable travel that goes beyond overcrowded tourist attractions. "We aim to offer a well-rounded view of Southern Vermont, connecting visitors with local places and products in an authentic way," she says. With Thruhike’s curated guides, travelers can easily find the best outdoor activities, food, and shopping spots, perfect

for a day trip. Whether you’re hiking, dining, or shopping, the platform offers a seamless experience that supports local businesses and enhances your visit.

Southern Vermont: Ideal for day-hikers and weekend visitors Southern Vermont is home to some of New England’s most scenic hiking trails. Whether you're looking for a relaxing stroll or a challenging hike, Thruhike’s interactive guides make it easy to find the perfect spot, with local dining options and accommodations nearby. By focusing on small, community-driven businesses, Thruhike allows visitors to support local economies while enjoying a personalized experience. With just a few clicks, you can explore Southern Vermont’s best spots, from local farms to mountain vistas.

Curated content: Your trusted resource for local adventures Thruhike curates content from locals, businesses, and trusted publications like Vermont Country, ensuring travelers get the most reliable information. Whether you’re planning your hike or choosing a spot to eat, Thruhike’s user-friendly platform has all the details you need to make the most of your visit.

10 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Kristopher Radder — Vermont Country

Hikers and bicyclist on the West End Trail enjoy the last few summer days in September. In collaboration with Vermont Country, Thruhike is sharing authentic local articles and guides, including recommendations for hiking, dining, and shopping. These insights are available on Thruhike’s site, offering an interactive, easy-to-navigate experience for day-trippers.

A digital experience for the modern traveler Thruhike transforms traditional content into interactive guides, making it simple to plan your trip. "We make it easy to discover, book, and explore Southern Vermont," says Whitney Lawson, Thruhike’s CMO. With a strong presence on social media, Thruhike’s platform is gaining traction, helping visitors find local experiences through Instagram, TikTok, and more. It’s a perfect resource

for anyone looking to explore Southern Vermont without the crowds.

Start planning your adventure today From scenic hikes to local shops, Southern Vermont has something for every visitor. With the partnership between Vermont Country and Thruhike, you can now access trusted recommendations to plan your perfect day trip. Explore Southern Vermont’s best local businesses and experiences at www.thruhike.io. Let Thruhike and Vermont Country guide your next adventure! Scan to Visit Vermont Country on Thruhike

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A Pocketful of Why

Photos by Danielle M Crosier — Vermont Country

(Left to right) Morgan Loeffler of Vermont and Lacey Anderson of Massachusetts explore Allyson Wendt's creations at a Pocketful of Why popup tent in downtown Brattleboro.

Danielle M Crosier Vermont Country

BRATTLEBORO — Allyson Wendt, founder of the Brattleboro-based children’s clothing company Pocketful of Why, has had numerous careers before becoming a seamstress and children's clothing designer. However, it was the combination of her lived experiences that brought the idea of Pocketful of Why to full fruition. Describing herself as “endlessly curious about all sorts of things, and I love learning – random facts are always welcome,” Wendt said that she served as the managing editor for Building Green, a former newspaper and current online resource focused on environmental building news.

“That was years ago,” said Wendt, as she grinned and waved a hand dismissively. She paused and then added that she could see herself returning to editing sometime, but not in the foreseeable future. According to Wendt, the evolution to seamstress and children's clothing designer was a combination of “well, having babies” and “when she couldn’t find pants to fit over her kids’ cloth diapers.” To solve that problem, Wendt began exploring the fit and cut of traditional children's clothing, and turned to historical patterns that had worked in the past — because they were practical. Wendt’s own pockets are full at the moment, though, having gone through

challenges as a parent, the pandemic, a divorce, and buying and settling in a home in just the past few years. Wendt, whose son is being tutored at home until a new placement in a therapeutic school environment becomes available, also has a daughter who is a type 1 diabetic. Her son, “twice exceptional” with autism and a learning disorder, is “very bright.” Her daughter requires an insulin pump and Wendt described her life as, “My normal, but my parenting load is — it’s intense.” With the pristine organization of her home and home studio, it’s evident that Wendt is able to carry this acutely high mental load with grace and humor, despite teetering on the brink of a stressful situation at any given time.

12 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Allyson Wendt of Pocketful of Why looks into one of her scrap drawers and sighs in humor and exasperation.

Allyson Wendt at one of her three work stations, stitching pockets. “Weird factoid about me, I worked for Circus Smirkus right out of college as a roustabout and then a stage manager,” laughed Wendt, adding that that was also where she met her ex-husband. “We drove a van we called the Frog — it was green and old, and held together with hope.”

arose, though, Wendt was forced to take a step back.

Wendt said that she feels more secure going out in public.

“I developed very bad chronic migraines and a seizure disorder, and I just couldn’t work anymore. I had to stop,” said Wendt, who decided to go on disability. “And, I’m still on disability.”

More recently, Wendt worked as a communications manager for a local nonprofit. When personal health issues

Now monitored by her golden retriever service dog named Dalia, who “will love on you as much as you let her,”

“She senses when I’m starting to get one. She knows about 20 minutes before I do. She stays with me when I’m having a seizure. She’ll lie either next to me or on me, and she’ll lick me to bring me around because I’m usually really, really out of it afterward.” Being a golden retriever, Dalia has also

VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 13

Prodcut samples Images provided by Pocketful of Why

Apple hoodie.

Hooded dress.

Mountain pants and hat. Chicken dress.

Danielle M Crosier — Vermont Country

Grow hoodie and moths.

Allyson Wendt laughs as she details the path to becoming a seamstress, clothing designer, and small business owner.

14 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Allyson Wendt irons the seam of a pocket to make it lie flat. been wonderful with Wendt’s children. “When my daughter was about 18 months or so and started going to daycare, I started sewing for her” recalled Wendt. “Then, people said, ‘Oh, your stuff is so cute, can I pay you to make us one of these?’” At the time, the items that Wendt was sewing were fairly simple cotton dresses. She knew the basics of sewing, and the growth since then has been a learning process. “I’d grown up sewing, weaving, knitting and playing with fiber in all its forms and I’d also worked in theater and I knew a bunch of costumers,” explained Wendt. One of the most favorite costumes that she ever created was a frilled lizard with a working frill that raised and lowered with the use of the hoodie cords, ”It went up and over the head to give it leverage.”

Photos by Danielle M Crosier — Vermont Country

“When my daughter was about 18 months or so and started going to daycare, I started sewing for her. Then people said, ‘Oh, your stuff is so cute, can I pay you to make us one of these?’” Allyson Wendt For Wendt, the fun was in creating that working element within the article of clothing. In this sense, Wendt is not just a seamstress, but an engineer of clothing, “I absolutely geek out about history, fashion history, fiber history.” Wendt diverges to something that she was reading, “It was about knitting being used as a binary encoding system like, during World War II. And, I always think of A Tale of Two Cities.

There’s Madame Defarge, and she knits the story into her work. I went as her for Halloween one year, but nobody got it.” Wendt does not plan on imbuing her clothing with secret messages, though, just pockets, really good ones. Returning to her love of design, Wendt said that most of the fabrics she uses are made with a heavier weight, and are of European design, which Wendt acknowledged were of much higher quality than most American-made fabrics. Loving a whimsical style and the quality of the European fabrics, Wendt started buying some of her specialty fabrics from Ella Randall of Wolf and Rabbit Fabrics in Sunderland and the two became friends. Randall’s designs feature garden vegetables against a blue background, gnomes in a forest of pines, the phases

VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 15

Photos by Danielle M Crosier — Vermont Country

Two examples of the colorful "grow with me" hoodies from Pocketful of Why. of the moon, beetles and moths, wildflowers, whales, feathers, toadstools, puffins, dinosaurs, toy trucks, woodland and farmland friends, pandas, rainbows, skulls, bats, and pumpkins, and lots and lots of coordinating stripes. Randall sends her designs to a European maker for printing. Randall’s experience in designing children's clothing was also a contributing influence in how Wendt modeled her own children’s clothing brand. With Wendt’s love of weaving and knitting, sewing children's clothing out of knit fabrics came relatively easy and soon Wendt had created a name for the business, “Warp Weft, but then I decided it didn’t quite fit what I was doing.” Although Wendt’s children had grown older, she did have a five-year-old nephew at this time, “And, he was deep in the why?-phase-of-life when I was renaming it, and I did put pockets in everything and you know, I just kind of stumbled across the name, and realized it wasn’t taken.” During the pandemic, the business took on another role, and Wendt pivoted to “super cute” mask making. Slowly transitioning back to children's clothing after the pandemic, Wendt’s business model began to focus more on the “grow-with-me-style clothing for kids.” “I did this because one, it fits longer, and two, if you’re going to pay $50 for a hoodie, it should fit for more than two seconds,” Wendt said, and laughed. “Also, I get a lot of grandmothers in my booth who

Danielle M Crosier — Vermont Country

Alison Wendt choosing a fabric.

16 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

don’t know exactly what size their kiddo is, and it helps to have the grow-with-me-sizing. And, having things that fit a wide range, helps.”

Both practical and realistic, Wendt understands the “donation pile of doom” that can roll around in the back of a vehicle — possibly for weeks at a time; she understands that the tiny scraps of fabrics in her scrap drawer sometimes overflow, and that it is better to just fill another drawer with the overstock than waste usable fabric; and she continually stresses her desire for items to have a “very usable, and very every day” kind of goodness to them. She looked into the fathomless pit of one of her scrap drawers, and sighed in humor and exasperation. Then, she threw her head back and laughed heartily. “I’m working through my scrap bin of doom,” said Wendt, “Now, it’s out of control. But, they’re all scraps that I turn into booties, mostly, and these strips are just the right size for a pocket edging. I’m just constitutionally incapable of throwing any of it away.” According to Wendt, Pocketful of Why “makes clothing for the adventures of childhood, colorful and interesting prints, sturdy and soft fabrics, grow-with-me-sizing, and pockets big enough for all your treasures. And because we support inclusion in all forms, we make clothes for grownups, too.” When she enters her home studio, she throws on an audiobook, and she can zone out. She can be transported with a story, she can satisfy that creative outlet that fulfills her — she can be productive. “And, if I’m swearing at my seam ripper, my seam ripper doesn’t get offended,” Wendt laughed. She sat down at one of the three workstations in the small home studio and introduced Rascal, the mannequin; Drama Queen, the temperamental cover stitcher; the not-yet-named serger machine; and more. Returning to her prior jobs, Wendt said, “I was just talking this through with a friend of mine, it feels like the sewing is the odd man out, in a way.” “My career path was tied together by a love of story — reading them, analyzing them, and telling them. Sewing, to me, feels more like it's part of a very long ‘(hi)story’ of humans making and using cloth in various ways,” said Wendt. “That story is a fascinating one that has all kinds of interesting twists and turns. It's a tenuous connection, but there's a thread there, pun fully intended.” All of Wendt’s roles and life experiences have prepared her to be a small business owner. “I've worked for a lot of small companies where the phrase, ‘other duties as assigned’ shows up,” laughed

Danielle M Crosier — Vermont Country

Allyson Wendt cuts out the pattern to a new hoodie, which she will add to her inventory for the upcoming First Friday celebration in downtown Brattleboro.

Wendt. “If you don't know how to do something – you research it and learn on the fly. I use that ability to research and learn, not only to hone my skills as a sewist, but also to hone my business skills and stay up to date on all the regulations I need to follow, as someone who makes children's clothing.” Her background in editing no doubt provided Wendt with an undeterred attention to detail and an ability to switch seamlessly from task to task and from role to role. Her time with the circus and in theater provided her with the the ability to manage, an element of fun and of entertainment, and an appreciation for whimsy. Her role in communications honed her acute sense of business ethics and public interfacing. “And, being a mom,” added Wendt, “also helps me design kids' clothes with parents in mind. I know what it's like to dress small wiggly babies, and kids with sensory sensitivities, and understand that clothing for kids needs to be super washable and durable. If it isn't ‘mud-season-proof,’ it doesn't make it into the lineup.” VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 17

The motivations and the business origin story go hand in hand, Wendt laughed, “I started sewing for enjoyment, and for therapy. For something to do, because I couldn’t work. I started sewing, because, why not? And then, people started buying them, and I just sort of taught myself. And, it is very therapeutic. Making stuff is just — very, very satisfying.” For the future, Wendt worries, “I mean, how do I scale the business sustainably — in a way that doesn’t lead to massive burnout? I have health issues, and I have to scale the business within what I’m capable of. I’ve been able to fit this into my life, and we all know the struggle of trying to find work that

fits with parenting, especially, when you’re a single parent.” For now, from Halloween costumes to adult clothing, and of course, the most whimsical children's clothing available, Wendt takes custom orders. On the weekends and some weekday evenings, Wendt attends the Allyson Wendt with her golden Brattleboro retriever service dog, Dalia. Gallery Walk, the Brattleboro Flea, and other local craft fairs, festivals, and markets in the area — and sets up her Pocketful of Why tent. Pocketful of Why’s clothing for kids and grownups, with “pockets big enough for treasures — and questions” can be found at pocketfulofwhy.com

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“How to have a really terrible wedding - part 1” Victoria Osborne, Owner, The Colonel Williams Inn

At the Colonel Williams, we specialize in creating and hosting dreamy Vermont barn weddings. But real disasters can happen – most of which are (sorry to say) self-inflicted. Here are five tips for How to Have a Really Terrible Wedding. Part 2 is featured on our blog “A Life Inn Vermont” at www.thecolonelwilliamsinn. com - and we are always happy to answer your wedding planning questions (or share more horror stories) at 802-257-1093. 1. Choose an overly complicated menu or inexperienced caterer Never let your guests go hungry. Your guests have been with you through the ceremony and cocktail hour, your big entrance, the first dance, an unfortunate speech by the best man… they are hungry. And potentially a bit tipsy. Be sure to work with an experienced caterer who can recommend a menu that can be finished on time (and on budget) and will cover all dietary needs: a fed guest is a happy guest. 2. Forget the seating chart Avoid a “Lord of the Flies” incident at your reception by assigning seats. We get it: figuring out the seating chart sucks. But don’t leave your beloved grandparents stuck at Table 20 because they couldn’t throw an elbow like your second cousin during the rush to get the “best” table. Just take a breath and assign seats, don’t leave it to chance. Everyone will be happier when they know exactly where to go and what to do. 3. Let out your inner ‘Zilla This day is about more than just you. We have seen our share of bridezillas (and groomzillas, tbh) and we get it: emotions are running high, and people who may generally avoid each other are forced to be in the same space. Don’t add to the drama. Do you really want to be remembered for the fit you threw because arugula was substituted for baby kale in the salad? No one can control the weather, the growing season of greens, or the behavior of your cousin’s kids. Yes, it’s your day. Don’t be a jerk.

4. Hire your brother’s friend’s cousin who sorta DJ’d a kegger in college For the love of everything good about weddings, use a music professional. “We’ll just make a playlist,” or “I don’t want the DJ to play [insert overused wedding song here],” or “DJs are expensive.” But a DJ doesn’t just play music. He/she is in charge of making announcements, encouraging the crowd to have fun, and ensuring that the mood and flow of your reception reflects your tastes and personality. A professional DJ will be happy to work with you on your playlist, and will read the crowd and adjust the mix or volume to match their energy. All of the above goes for bands, too. Don’t skimp on the music – it’s important. 5. Ignore your wedding planner’s advice Your wedding planner has seen it all, trust them to make things right. Whether your venue has an in-house planner (like ours), or you hire an independent coordinator–listen to their advice. They will work with your vendors, run interference with problematic guests, find safety pins, and smooth over hurt feelings. The goal is to

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make sure any problems are taken care of quickly, quietly, and before you even know about them. And yes, they will tell you that the photo of the groom and his party “relieving themselves” in the woods is NOT a good idea. Be open to advice from the pros – they know what they are talking about. So, there you go. For a terrible wedding, follow the tips above. For an amazing wedding - give us a call today!

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Venues, Menus R

esting on a 30-acre hilltop in Manchester Village, The Wilburton Inn is a one-of-a-kind setting for destination weddings. The historic turn-of-the-century estate, complete with grand mansions, vacation homes, and sweeping views of Vermont’s Green Mountains, is the perfect backdrop for your love story. The Wilburton specializes in hosting weekend-long wedWe believe every special occasion deserves to be celebrated with exceptional food. At Mystico, the freshest seafood, housemade pasta, and our signature focaccia bread transport you straight to Italy. Whatever you’re celebrating, Mystico provides more than just a meal — it’s an experience.

ding celebrations where your reception is just one part of a broader experience. Couples can welcome their guests with a rehearsal dinner under the estate’s awning or by a roaring bonfire – complete with tiki torches, music, and s’mores. The Marble Pavilion Tent, surrounded with views of rolling mountains and deep valleys, provides a stunning space for receptions with up to 225 guests. Dogs are welcome any time at the Wilburton, and weddings are no exception. From walking down the aisle to joining outdoor festivities, your furry friends can play a starring role in your big day. The dog-friendly bridal suite, featuring a fireplace, jacuzzi, and private deck with breathtaking views, adds a touch of luxury for pet-loving couples. The Wilburton offers exclusive access to the property for weddings, guaranteeing privacy and a highly personalized experience. With over 100 lodging options on-site and additional nearby accommodations, the estate is perfect for hosting family and friends for a full weekend of celebration. Call 802-362-2500 or visit wilburtoninn.com to start planning your Vermont destination wedding.

Artisan Cuisine

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and more by Gabriel Schatz

October wedding at The Eagles Haven in Petersburg, NY.

Photo provided by Meghan Morgan-Puglisi Photography.

chic modern celebration, her approach ensures a natural and heartfelt visual narrative.

Meaghan's wedding packages, starting at $1,800, include eight hours of dedicated coverage. Her dedication ensures that every detail—from intimate ceremonies to lively receptions—is captured. Her services include high-resolution images, a mix of digital and film photography, a thoughtfully crafted photo book, and stunning prints, making it easy to relive your special day for years to come.

www.fotosbymeaghan.com | 240-277-7877

hen it comes to wedding photography, photographer Meaghan Morgan-Puglisi offers more than just pictures—she provides a timeless collection of moments, captured through her unique documentary style. Based in Bennington, Vermont, Meaghan combines digital and film photography to tell the story of your wedding day with artistry and authenticity.

For couples seeking a personal touch, Meaghan offers custom packages tailored to your unique needs, along with engagement portrait sessions to capture the excitement leading up to your big day. With a background in both documentary and event photography, Meaghan has a keen eye for the candid, unscripted moments that make your wedding day unforgettable. Whether you’re planning a rustic Vermont barn wedding or a

Trust Meaghan Morgan-Puglisi Photography to preserve the beauty, joy, and emotion of your wedding day with elegance and authenticity. Contact her today to book your wedding package or discuss your vision.

“Affordable Elegance” We pride ourselves on personal service in a relaxed atmosphere. For all your Bridal, Bridesmaid, Mothers, Special Occasion, Prom & Tuxedo needs. 17 Main Street, Jaffrey, New Hampshire 603-532-7641 | www.countrybridals.com

A Magical Wedding starts at Tuxedo & Suit Rentals for the Bridal Party and a Gift Registry for the Special Couple 106 Main St. Brattleboro, VT vtartisan2@gmail.com

Open 7 Days or call for appointment

(802) 257-7044

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Venues, Menus and more I

n the heart of Manchester Center, Mystico - Cucina Italiana provides guests with an authentic Italian dining experience. Combining traditional dishes with the culinary imagination of Executive Chef Timothy Cocheo and the freshest ingredients New England has to offer, a dinner at Mystico is one you won’t be forgetting in a hurry. Mystico's intimate ambiance and top-notch staff create the perfect setting for celebrations of all sorts and sizes. At the heart of the menu are dishes that pay homage to Italy’s culinary heritage, including pasta (made daily in-house, of course!), fresh seafood, and their signature focaccia bread. Mystico is led by Debbie Pazos, whose fine dining expertise from New York City is evident in her meticulous attention to detail. A devoted mother and wife, Debbie ensures that Mystico is a restaurant where guests feel like family. Her commitment to excellence is matched by Chef Timothy Cocheo, a graduate of the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York City. Chef Cocheo has a talent for creating visually stunning, farm-to-table dishes, drawing on his experience in Manhattan's fine dining scene and his previous success at The Number 9 in Millerton, N.Y. to create a dining experience that

is both exciting and familiar. With its dedication to sourcing locally and crafting dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious, Mystico succeeds in combining the essence of Italian cuisine with Vermont's renowned focus on building local communities. So whether you're marking a milestone or just treating yourself to a quiet evening out, you’ll find more than a meal at Mystico—it’s a personalized journey to the heart of Italy that will leave you eager to come back. Reserve your table today and discover why Mystico Cucina Italiana is a must-visit destination for food lovers near and far.

Hours:

Lunch: Tue-Sat, 11:30am-2:30pm Dinner: Mon-Sat, 5:00pm-9:00pm 4928 Main Street, Manchester Center, Vermont 802-768-8086 | mystico802.com 28 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

by Gabriel Schatz

et at the foot of Equinox Mountain, The Equinox Resort in Manchester stands out with plentiful and breathtaking venue spaces, including the historic Meadow House and scenic 1811 Lawn. With a variety of picturesque indoor and outdoor venues, couples can host anything from a small gathering of 10 to a grand celebration for up to 300 guests. The resort’s standout wedding spaces include the elegant Colonnade Ballroom, with an antique crystal chandelier and floor-to-ceiling windows, and the 1811 Lawn, which adds a touch of New England history to the special day. For larger gatherings, the Meadow House lawn offers a backdrop of lily ponds and mountain views. Smaller receptions find a cozy home at the Pond Pavilion, an al fresco venue with sweeping vistas of Equinox Pond and Mount Equinox. Equinox’s wedding specialists will ensure every detail fits your vision, from personalized menus to pre- and post-wedding activities. Guests can enjoy luxurious accommodations across the Main Inn, Orvis Inn, and private vacation rentals, as well as amenities like world-class dining, golf, and fly-fishing.

Provided by Equinox Resort & Spa.

A joyous couple celebrates their wedding day with the iconic backdrop of the Equinox Resort & Spa, a quintessential Vermont destination. So whether you’ll be exchanging vows under the open sky or hosting a candlelit reception in a historic hall, The Equinox is an unforgettable setting for couples to celebrate with their loved ones. Visit equinoxresort.com to start planning your dream wedding.

Happily ever after begins here

aldworthmanor.com

603.903.7547

184 Aldworth Manor Rd. Harrisville, NH 03450

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Happily Ever After Starts Here

Nestled in the idyllic Green Mountains, The Equinox provides a stunning backdrop for your dream wedding weekend. With the ideal balance of historic charm and modern amenities, it is the perfect mountain resort to host a full weekend of festivities, from rehearsal dinner to farewell brunch & all of the activities in between.

The Equinox Resort 3567 Main St. Manchester Village, VT 05254 802-362-4700 | equinoxresort.com

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Photo provided by the Cathedral of the Pines

See our ad on page 26 VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 31

Vermont fat biking: Where snow meets flow Photos provided by Burrows Specialized Sports

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A journal of a fat bike, the Trek Farley 7! Peter “Fish” Case, Owner of Burrows Specialized Sports

at biking … is dead, they say! "I’m not riding one of those ridiculous-looking things. Those bikes are like taking a tractor to a NASCAR track." These are just a few remarks you’d hear from the haters who don’t want to invest the money in rediscovering that childhood feeling of glee—bombing a trail or gliding over sand or snow on 7 PSI. I got a Trek Farley 7 at Burrows Sports in Brattleboro this year, and it’s quickly become my primary way to pound through the woods. The beauty is, I don’t have to stop riding this thing in the winter. Remember, “there’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.” To add to that age-old Vermont saying… “and bad tires.”

My love for cycling began like most people’s — riding around the neighborhood with all the other hoodlums, pretending to be a motorcycle gang (that still listened to their mothers) Peter “Fish” Case We live in the age of the bike. Gravel is the hottest commodity right now, followed by mountain, road, and recreational biking. These categories span half of spring, all of summer, and most of fall. Then, maybe, we dust off the winter sport gear to continue our outdoor addiction — and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! But your love for cycling is number one, and let’s face it, nobody should put baby in the corner. Fat biking is more than just a sport or a mode of transportation; it’s a way to embrace the outdoors, challenge yourself, and find joy in unexpected places. The thrill of conquering different terrains, the physical and mental benefits, and the opportunity for exploration make fat biking an exciting and fulfilling activity. Whether you’re looking to stay fit, explore unbeaten paths, or simply enjoy a unique riding experience, fat biking has something to offer. So, grab a fat bike, hit the trails, and get ready for an adventure you can enjoy year-round. That’s not to say you can’t tackle similar terrain on a regular 29er — you can, and I do. But adventures just seem so much cooler on a 4.5-inch-wide tire. Fat biking is like riding a monster truck, but for your legs. Imagine a bike with tires so wide they look like they could VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 33

crush a watermelon without trying. These chubby wheels let you plow through snow, sand, and mud like a boss, turning even the dullest terrain into a playground. You’ll feel like a kid again, bouncing along trails with a goofy grin plastered on your face. In the case of my newfound "trail whale," Trek’s Farley 7, with its cushy front suspension fork and 4.5-inch-wide Gnarwahl Tires, I find myself exploring the woods completely differently. This bike is stable and handles well for something I’ve nicknamed the Bumble Beast (it’s yellow and black). I tear through the woods now with a newfound sense of purpose. Whether it’s steep climbs, tight switchbacks, or rock-strewn single tracks, I tackle it all with a grin, weaving seamlessly through the forest as if I’m part of the landscape. It’s the perfect partner for adventure. My love for cycling began like most people’s — riding around the neighborhood with all the other hoodlums, pretending to be a motorcycle gang (that still listened to their mothers). We were constantly building Frankenbikes, cutting the forks off other bikes to create completely structurally unsafe choppers. I bring this up because, during one of these weeklong rebuilding and re-engineering sessions, I think we invented the fat bike! It’s true. We came across an old motorized minibike and thought it would be cool to put its tires on an old Schwinn Stingray. Several problems arose — like having to bend the frame to fit the tires, filing the

slots where the bolts would slide on, and trying to find compatible gearing and a chain. We did it! We named her Kitty Hulk (a nod to the Wright Brothers and our then-favorite Marvel hero, The Hulk). The Schwinn we butchered was green, so it fit. Much like the Wright Brothers’ first flight, we got the bike to roll. It was like pedaling a piano, and the front fork was so compromised that the tire wobbled uncontrollably until the frame gave out, sending me straight through the ape hanger handlebars. But the hook was set, and decades later, fat bikes became a thing.

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There are many fat bikes on the market now, but when it comes to handling and movement, the Trek Farley 7 stands out — a robust fat-tire bike made for versatility and adventure. There are many fat bikes on the market now, but when it comes to handling and movement, the Trek Farley 7 stands out — a robust fat-tire bike made for versatility and adventure. It’s not the only Farley in Trek’s line; the 9, 5, and 9.6 also offer the same level of fun and adventure. You can find them all at Burrows Sports on Main Street in Brattleboro! Snow on the ground is no excuse to stop riding, and the Trek Farley line enables that mindset. With tires you can stud (or not), the aggressive tread keeps you upright and ready to see furry woodland creatures up close. Simply put, fat biking is about exploring diverse landscapes and taking on challenging conditions with comfort and control. It offers a different, exciting way to enjoy the outdoors on two wheels. Or — if I’m being completely honest — I just wanted one! So, what are you waiting for? Fat tires and fun await!

HAND CRAFTED SPIRITS & LIQUEURS FROM SOUTHERN VERMONT’S DEERFIELD VALLEY

Your neighborhood spot for VT craft beer, local milk, fresh bread, sandwiches and more! 436 Western Ave, Brattleboro, VT 05301

(802) 257-9254 vermontcountrydeli.com VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 35

STARRY, STARRY NIGHT, THE WINTER NIGHT SKY IN VERMONT Victor Capelli

Vermont Country correspondent

ising high over the dark sleeping hills of the Green Mountain massif in the east, the resplendent full white face of the Hunter Moon gleams balefully down like a celestial searchlight casting a stark brilliant glaze over every shadowed nook and cranny and hidden darkness of the Vermont landscape, softening the glittering and sparkling January frost with an almost supernatural glow. The Man in the Moon smiles almost leeringly down into the Vermont night with his gray cheeks; the plains of Mare Tranquilitatis, (the Sea of Tranquility where Apollo 11 landed), Oceanus Procellerum, Mare Fecundatitis, (the Sea of Fertility) and the dark spot of Mare Crisium (the Sea of Crises) at the top of his gleaming white disc, along with the ancient cratered, cracked and pitted lunarscape of the Highlands shining out into the black void of space. As the Hunter Moon (or the “Wolf Moon” by the Native Algonquin Indians called because they often associated howling wolves running under its influence) rises into the eastern sky, many stars are blotted out by its blinding effulgence flooding the earth. But not Jupiter, which is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon. It is the largest planet of the solar system which shines steadily blue-white in the freezing cold, unlike the twinkling stars of the other 88 constellations in the Vermont night sky. Planets shine and stars twinkle. Jupiter is one of the six planets that can be seen by the naked eye leading up to January 21st. Venus, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the other five. But in January

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2025 all seven planets will be seen altogether in perfect alignment until the end of February, a true astronomical phenomenon. Mercury is the seventh and will be the most difficult to spot because it is closest to the sun. Jupiter was at its closest approach to the earth and sun on May 18, 2024 (perihelion) 380 million miles away. Full opposition of Jupiter was on December 7 with its full shining disc between the earth and the sun and as a result has a brilliant star like extravagance dangling like a glittering white jewel in the utter blackness of space.

In England, the Big Dipper is known as The Plough “Great Wain” or wagon with the wagon wheels at the four corners of the bowl and the long tail the wagons yoke. A gas giant 86,000 miles in diameter and 11 times the size of the earth (1,300 earths could fit inside), Jupiter is like the three other smaller gas giant planets (ringed Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) composed of liquid hydrogen and helium and orbited by more than 16 moons, four of which can be seen by the naked eye — Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa. Rising and setting like the other planets according to date and time, Jupiter is currently found in the constellation of Taurus the Bull glaring at Orion the Hunter with his eye, the star Aldebaran or Alpha Tauri. In April, however, Jupiter will be found in the constellation of Gemini. As Jupiter ascends into the star spangled winter night sky of Vermont, all of the dramatic mythology of Greek and Roman legends comes to life. Begin your star journey by tracing a straight line out from the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl,

called the Pole Pointers (Merak and Dubhe), pointing towards Polaris, the North Star at the tail end of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. The Big Dipper, Ursa Major or the Great Bear as the Native Americans call him, is the third largest constellation in the sky and has an interesting story. The three little Indian braves in the tail are always chasing the bear but they never seem able to catch him. Yet, they are always ready for him with the one Indian warrior in the middle of the bears handle carrying the cook-pot with which, if they can, catch and eat him. An endless chase that goes ‘round and round’ the sky and an entertaining tale that enlivens the other stories of the sky. In England, the Big Dipper is known as The Plough “Great Wain” or wagon with the wagon wheels at the four corners of the bowl and the long tail the wagons yoke. A straight line west from Polaris in Ursa Minor will take you right across to Cassiopeia with its characteristic upside down W, then to Andromeda with the attached Great Square of Pegasus and just below Ursa Minor to the tip of Cepheus, The King, and Draco the Dragon to the east of him. In fact, centering yourself with the Big and Little Dipper and using a flashlight to orient yourself you can find all the constellations of Vermont’s night sky easily. All the actors of the play are right there starting with Andromeda and Perseus. Poor Andromeda. According to the age old story, she was chained to a rock on the shoreline of the ancient Kingdom of Ethiopia to be eaten by the sea monster Cetus as punishment by the gods for her mother’s (Queen Cassiopea) inexcusable offense of unbridled vanity when she boasted that her beauty (silly vain mortal) exceeded even theirs. Along comes Perseus to the rescue riding his winged horse Pegasus! Pulling the severed head of the dreaded Gorgon Medusa out of his bag (that he killed by using the mirror of his shield to protect himself and reflect the horrible image back at it), he hung the head of the medusa in

front of Cetus, instantly freezing the monster into stone and sinking it into the sea. Perseus then freed Andromeda from the rock and they flew off together to live happily ever after. The inverted W of Cassiopeia by the way is the upside down throne of the Queen which was another punishment by the gods for her outrageous pride in her good looks. Pegasus, the winged steed of Perseus (born from the blood of gorgons that Perseus slew) is represented by the Great Square of Pegasus, an almost equilateral square with four stars, 15 degrees high and 13 degrees wide, and connected to Andromeda through a long crooked line of stars. The Star Alpheratz marks the head of Andromeda joined to the Great Square. Mirach is at her waist and the third star Almaak

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is where her foot is chained to the rock.

In the cold winter skies of Vermont, you can also see the tiny brilliant collection of stars known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters found in Taurus.

Cepheus, the mythological King of Ethiopia, Cassiopea’s husband and Andromeda’s father, is located right next to Cassiopea and as a distinct tent shape filled with multiple double and triple variable stars fluctuating in brightness is known as the Cepheid Variables. These famous pulsating changes in stellar luminosity became the light standards or candles for stars and their corresponding distance in space.

One of the most wondrous and beautiful sights to behold in the panorama of stars in Vermont’s wintertime night sky is to look up, either with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope and look into the constellation of Andromeda to observe one of the most famous nebulae ever to shed its 2 million year old light upon our eyes — the Great Andromeda Galaxy, M31. That smudge of galactic light is barely visible within Andromeda, but found by using a small telescope and tracing a line from the star Mirach beta across Andromeda’s middle

to the other side. A turning pinwheel of stars, Andromeda is a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way galaxy more than 220,000 light years across with open spiral arms and teeming with millions and millions of stars and planets (perhaps some earthlike) and with possible extraterrestrial civilizations. Two nearby smaller companion galaxies accompany it. Astronomers and astrophysicists predict the Andromeda Galaxy will collide with ours, millions of years from now, in a great coalescence of mingling nebulae, stars and interacting spiral arms. In the cold winter skies of Vermont, you can also see the tiny brilliant collection of stars known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters found in Taurus. A person with good eyesight can see all seven. An open cluster of more than a 100 hot blue white stars, the Pleiades have an average surface temperature of 20 — 60,000 degrees that is hotter than our own sun and shines at a mere average temperature of 10,000 degrees. The Pleiades star cluster will burn out perhaps in 20 million years as fiery youngsters on the long time scale of

File photo.

While the Park-McCullough Historic Governor's Mansion is officially closed for the season it is lit up for the holidays. The cupola on the top of the mansion is lit up as well as the waxing moon is seen to the left. 38 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

stellar evolution. Some say The Pleiades are the Seven Muses responsible for our creative talents spurring our terrestrial works of art, writing, music and poetry. A signature winter sight, the ethereal twinkling Pleiades is a premier scintillating crown of intense stellar beauty shining down upon the cold crisp snow of the Vermont landscape and a sharp actinic snapshot of the deep dwelling infinite spaces lancing into our numbed earthly eyes. As the edge of the gleaming opalescent face of the Hunter Moon sinks below the dark western hills of the brooding Taconic Range, its brilliant white face slowly disappears into the shadows of the Vermont winter night sky like a specter of mystery melding into the old half billion year old Ordovician rocky hillsides of shale, slate and quartzite. Now, as the creamy nocturnal light of the moon is consumed by the true nighttime kaleidoscope of whirling nebulae, stars and the cosmic deep, a new sky show begins in Vermont with flashing streaks of meteors, tiny bits of sand and dust from the depths of space incinerated in the upper atmosphere at speeds between 25,000 and 150,000 miles an hour. Shooting stars blaze into the earth’s upper atmosphere with their constant incessant fire of immolation at the rate of more than 10,000 an hour and if they are larger, explode in fragments as incandescent gaseous bolides that are searred in your visual memory for minutes afterwards. Shooting stars or meteoroids are the remains of asteroids that cross the earth’s orbit around the sun or the rocky icy tails of comets (like Halley’s or Hale Bopp). Meteoroids can reach the earth’s surface and if they are large enough, can punch a hole in the earth’s crust; by which, meteoroids are then called meteorites. The most visible evidence of meteorites hitting the earth are craters like the Barringer Crater in Arizona, which was caused from a car sized meteor or asteroid striking the earth 50,000 years ago. Meteoroids are mostly beach sand sized particles and almost every month provide shooting star showers like the most spectacular of the year — the Perseids ( July 14-Sept. 1), the Geminids (Dec. 14-21), the Ursids-(Dec. 16-22) and the Quadrantids, the first shooting stars of the year (Dec. 2-Jan.16, 2025). Considered the second most vivid meteor shower of the year, the Quandrantids (after the Perseids) have peak rates on Dec. 13, 40 or more an hour and with speeds of more than 21 miles per second. Each meteor shower is associated with a radiant point coming out of a particular constellation. In Vermont, look for the Quadrantids shooting out between the head of Draco and the end of the Big Dipper’s Handle and best viewing is after midnight. Then, like a rippling shimmering curtain of subatomic fire in earth’s expelling breath sweeping down from the star spangled northern night sky in Vermont’s cold winter, the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights completes the night sky transformation. Interacting with the earth’s magnetic field emanating out of the north magnetic pole, the continuous solar wind of protons, photons and electrons — explodes into crackling waving sheets of charged ionized radiation above the snowy and frozen land-

File photo.

Under a glorious night sky dominated by the Milky Way, diagonal stripe from top, dim red lights, used to preserve night vision, illuminate the sea of amateur astronomers gathered on Breezy Hill in Springfield. scape of the Arctic, Canada and the northern United States and seen by many, even as far south as Texas. For every eruption of a solar storm, coronal mass ejection or flaring prominence in the suns 11 year minimum and maximum cycle of stormy weather, the Northern Lights expands and contracts like a colorful radiating accordion of snapping, writhing and flowing fluorescence, illuminating and casting sparks across the northern skies of Vermont. Like an earthly neon tube above the north pole where atmospheric nitrogen molecules flare into purple or blue in the electro- magnetic fields (60 miles high) or oxygen igniting as red and greenish-yellow tongues of fire (150 miles higher), the Aurora Borealis is a living expression of our living planet whirling in the empty vastness of space and part of the ever changing sky show above our wintry snow covered hills in the Green Mountain State.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT WITH KAT

Winter woes By Katharine A. Jameson

Vermont Country correspondent he holidays lead us into the long, cold march through winter toward spring. Spring is the reward we get for making it through the snow, only to be forced to embrace mud season. The first sign of a budding tree fills us with rapture so palpable that many of us jump for joy. I went to college in western New York where the lake effect snow buried us often. Icicles formed off of the hood of my puffy Tommy Hilfiger jacket as I trod across the quad to class. Winters in Vermont can be just as brutal, but never had I walked around in so much snow as I did when I arrived in Syracuse. The first glimpse of spring sponsored many a frat guy to move their sofas onto the lawns in front of their houses. The feeling of spring inspired excitement, an animated exuberance that little else matched on a college campus.

Katharine A. Jameson — Vermont Country correspondent

Jammin' Preserves 40 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

The Thanksgiving snow we had this year blanketed us before many of us were ready. The ground had yet to freeze after consistently warm temps, and I wondered if the plants were ready themselves to receive a winter blanket so early. In the last 38 years, I don’t remember ever having a white Thanksgiving, though we welcomed it with open arms this year. My four-year-old son asked me if the animals were ready for the winter, and I began to think – what is it in nature that signals to animals to get ready for winter? They don’t have a calendar or an iPhone. Our temperatures have been so mercurial of late that the gradual chill we used to get rarely sets in now adays. As animals ready themselves, how might we prepare for the joys and the tolls that winter brings? The last full winter I spent in Vermont, I was 27 years old. Alone on a March day, I had set to painting a living room wall, when a late spring snow began. It didn’t stop. It wouldn’t stop, and I needed it to. I needed sunshine and grass. I needed a warm breeze, and yet was stuck in a perpetual winter. I remember staring out the window feeling despondent, and with each new layer of white that fell, so did my tears.

Seasonal sadness Commonly known as seasonal depression, seasonable affective disorder (SAD) is typically seen in adults, and most often in women. It’s easy to feel blue when the days are so short they’re barely noticeable. As the clock falls back, we race to the winter solstice losing light each day with few glimpses of spring, flowers or fresh fare. SAD tends to set in after the holidays, in January and February, and come the onset of mud season, tends to diminish for most people.

Seasonally sleepy. Our bodies’ circadian rhythm is what wakes us up, puts us to bed and makes us jet lagged. No matter what the clock says, our bodies know better. Other than regulating our internal clock, our circadian rhythm is integral to regulating our digestion, hormones and body temperature. Our body makes melatonin when it’s dark, so when it gets darker earlier, we make more melatonin, which has been linked to SAD. Daytime fatigue and increased sleepiness are symptoms of SAD, as are typically depressive symptoms like loss of interest in social activities, hopelessness, decreased libido, lack of ability to focus

and mental fogginess, weight gain and anxiety, among others.

Seasonal solutions. While hopping on a plane and going to Florida in the dead of winter sounds like the best plan, here are some more realistic solutions: Keep spring alive – second best to picking fresh fare from your garden is going to the pantry to find some of summer’s best memories. Even if you’re not a canner or planner (which I am not,) it’s easy to keep a few fresh things around for winter. Cut and freeze some fresh fruit. It’s easy to store fruit in wax paper-lined plastic bags or glass containers. Preserving fruit. While my grandmother made a mean guava jelly, she never taught me to can. I once tried to can some fresh peaches, but decidedly did not incorporate any sugar, so the process didn’t work, or it didn’t taste like it had worked. Saving summer in a jar just might breathe some spring into our step. A great option (that requires zero planning) is to buy frozen fruit and make the jammin’ preserves below! You needn’t even can it, just use it right away to happily remember the sweet and decadent charms of summer.

Take steps to… Lighten up. Some have found that sunlight has helped to lighten their mood. A sunny window can do wonders, but we can’t always rely on that during the dead of winter. Some swear by light therapy and many companies market lights specifically for SAD.

Walk it off. Although it may be the last thing we want to do when we’re feeling down, talking a short walk can make all the difference. Not only does it get our blood flowing, but physical activity has been linked to reduced anxiety and general depression to enhanced mood.

Vitamin D. Vitamin D is intricately connected to mood, so it may come as no surprise that researchers have found a connection between low vitamin

VERMONTCOUNTRY.COM | @VTCOMAGAZINE | 41

FOOD FOR THOUGHT WITH KAT

Jammin’ Preserves

Ingredients 1 pound strawberries, fresh or frozen 1/3 cup maple sugar (or to taste) ½ lemon, juiced Method In a medium saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until berries are soft and mashable. Allow to reduce into a jam-like consistency. Can or simply store and use immediately. (It will last up to a week once open!)

Ragin’ Red Onions

Ragin' Red Onions.

Katharine A. Jameson — Vermont Country correspondent

D levels and SAD (as well as general depression and anxiety). Add seafood, shellfish, eggs and dairy to your diet to get more D, or get a good quality supplement.

Limit caffeine Though it sounds counterintuitive when we’re sleepy, caffeine has been shown to inhibit the absorption of vitamin D. So, if we are feeling especially low, cut the coffee and grab for the D

to see if you can observe a benefit.

Reach out Although we may gravitate toward isolating ourselves when we are feeling down and out, the worst thing we can do is to steer clear of friends and family. Reach out to loved ones or pick up the phone. These recipes are the easiest things to make, but they taste like spring, and summer, come to think of it!

42 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Ingredients 1 large red onion, thinly sliced 1 large jalapeno, sliced 3 cloves garlic, peeled 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 1 cup water 1 cup white vinegar 2 tablespoons maple sugar 1 tablespoon kosher salt Method Fill large, clean jar with onion, jalapeno, garlic and peppercorns. Boil water and vinegar. Stir in sugar and salt to dissolve. Pour over onion mixture. Allow to cool before closing with top. Put into fridge once cool. They will be delicious in two hours, but will get better with time. Store refrigerator for up to two weeks, if they last that long! Katharine A. Jameson, a certified nutrition counselor who grew up in Williamsville and Townshend, writes about food and health for Vermont News & Media. For more tricks, tips and hacks, find her on Instagram: @foodforthoughtwithkat

Green Mountain Gardens homesteading couple committed to farming education Ivy Kirby,

GreenMountain Cannabis News correspondent. Editor’s note: this article was previously published by GreenMountain Cannabis News — Subscribe for free! ROCKINGHAM — In 2019, Nathan Brown, his wife Thalia, and their 5-year-old son Finne moved onto a 38-acre Rockingham property that was formerly a functioning farm. Nathan, a chef and butcher, and Thalia, a mom and farmer, quit their day jobs and committed themselves to homesteading. They put up growing greenhouses for vegetables, raised layer and meat chickens as well as heritage pigs, and started a cannabis business.

Nathan first started growing cannabis when he was a teenager and expanded this knowledge to become a Vermont-based cannabis grower. The Browns started their company and farm, Green Mountain Gardens, as a way to educate others on how simple growing food and plants can be. They hold a mixed-tier 1 cannabis cultivator license. “I’ve been growing cannabis since I was a kid. I was pretty heavily involved in black-market cannabis for most of my life. It’s something I always thought was great for people, it was a much better option than say alcohol or other drugs, and I felt that the demonization of cannabis was

Nathan, Thalia, and Finne Brown on their property in Rockingham.

just completely wrong,” said Nathan Brown. “It was something I believed in doing all the time. I always grew my own personal cannabis and cannabis for friends and whatnot.” “I think it’s a pretty amazing plant, it has a million and one uses whether it’s hemp for paper or clothing production, seed for oils and medical conditions, or concentrates for helping people with PTSD and anxiety. It has so many medicinal and wonderful uses.

Photos provided

Two cows with a double rainbow in the background at Green Mountain Gardens.

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The strain "Smokey's Cake" from the 2023 season. It’s non-addictive, non-toxic, and there are very few health issues associated with it. It’s just something that totally enamored me, and it’s beautiful to watch grow. It’s an incredible plant. The diversity of the plants you can grow is incredible.” Nathan and his wife grow 100 percent of the food they consume. A big part of their mission is educating others about healthier and better food options. “We’ve provided countless thousands of pounds of food and help,” Brown said..” We try to make the farm a part of the working community, which is one of our main goals. It’s not just to be a farm or a homestead, or to do your own thing; it’s all about educating people, helping people learn and helping people see there are better ways to help than just going to a grocery store and buying whatever.” Brown added, “It’s not difficult to do what we do. It takes time and it takes effort, but it’s worth its weight in gold, I think.”

“I’ve been growing cannabis since I was a kid. I was pretty heavily involved in black-market cannabis for most of my life. It’s something I always thought was great for people, it was a much better option than say alcohol or other drugs. Nathan Brown Green Mountain Gardens cannabis is grown in all-organic compost, and no sprays, pesticides, or herbicides are used on the plants. They were recently Sun and Earth certified, a beyond organic certification for cannabis that proves the company focuses on human empowerment, community engagement, earth care and cultivation. The couple donates vegetables to their local library for plant sales, they help people in the community start new gardens, and aid in showing the com-

munity earth-friendly ways to farm. Their regenerative farming techniques create high-quality products while doing as little to no harm to the environment. Some of the challenges they’ve faced have been the high costs of testing, packaging, and registration. In the future, Brown would like to see a complete reconfiguration of testing requirements. Last year, the state changed pesticide and pathogen requirements right before harvest. Every strain or cultivar needed to have pathogen testing and only five strains were allowed to be tested from each pesticide lot. Before, if a section of plants were grown, planted, and fertilized the same, that would be considered a harvest lot. A sample was taken from the harvest lot and if the sample was clean the flower could be sold. “Our testing costs went from about $3,000 year one to approximately $10,000 or $12,000 year two. And this year, we’re already over $10,000 in testing. Last year we had to do 16

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Cannabis plants on the couple's 38-acre property. pathogen tests for an area that was about 3,000 square feet.” “A lot of people come into it wanting to grow cannabis which is amazing, but you also need to market said cannabis, deliver said cannabis, you need to be a salesman, a marketer, a delivery guy, a bookkeeper, and a farmer to make the whole business work,” said Brown. “These first three years have been primarily just us doing all of the work. My wife does all of our graphic design, maintains books, and also helps in the fields. I do the majority of the fieldwork, and the maintaining, drying, and curing during that portion of the work,” said Brown. “We’ve worked together for years, on and off, we have a great working rela-

“These first three years have been primarily just us doing all of the work. My wife does all of our graphic design, maintains books, and also helps in the fields. I do the majority of the fieldwork, and the maintaining, drying, and curing during that portion of the work.” Nathan Brown

The couple’s 11-year-old son gets to see 100% of the day-to-day business operations. “He’s not super into it right now, he thinks it takes a lot of mom and dad’s time. It allows us to be home, and it allows us to be together as a family for three meals a day.”

tionship, we’re very lucky,” said Brown. The duo plans to stay small but hopes to hire an employee in the next year or two.

For more information on Green Mountain Gardens, visit their website at greenmountaingardensvt.com/ home or follow @greenmtngardensvt on Instagram

46 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Green Mountain Gardens products can be found at Bud Barn, in Brattleboro; Juniper Lane, in Bennington; Ratus Cannabis, in Wilmington; Green Mountain Therapeutics, in Londonderry; Sunday Drive, in Woodstock; Mountain Girl Cannabis, in Rutland; among others.

The end is always nigh!: Gaming out the apocalypse at a theater near you Dan Tebo, Vermont Country correspondent

hen I was initially approached about writing this column, it was the fall of 2020 and I was quarantined at a cabin in rural New Hampshire. It was the pre-vaccine days, when we were still bleaching our groceries and avoiding all human contact. Society wasn’t actually on the verge of collapse but it certainly felt like it was. A jokey movie column seemed like the perfect antidote to those frighteningly uncertain times.

This month we’re going to talk about films that chronicle the end of days (but not the film “End of Days,” which is not worth talking about). While it’s nearly impossible to compete with long-form streamers like “The Last of Us” or “Station Eleven,” there’s no shortage of apocalyptic big screen fare, much of which was produced this century. Whether your doomsday predilections involve viruses, aliens, zombies, or nonspecific what-have-yous, you’ll find a film of this list that’s guaranteed to keep you up at night.

awakens to discover that society has been decimated by a virus that turns people into rage zombies who move unreasonably fast. Notoriously frenetic director Danny Boyle leaves the audience feelingly like they’ve just suffered through a two hour panic attack.

The Stand (1994): Stephen King’s 1978 killer pandemic tome has grown more frightening with each passing year. While the 2020 TV adaptation completely misses the mark (weird, right?), the original 8-hour,1994 mini-series is the perfect blend of B-list performances (Molly Ringwald! Corin Nemec!),1990’s tackiness, and existential dread. Independence Day (1996): A fleet of CGI spaceships assemble in the skies over planet earth and proceed to violently incinerate most of the population in this lighthearted summer blockbuster featuring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and a wacky assortment of character actors. From disaster fetishist Roland Emmerich, who would go on to direct “”2021” and “Moonfall,” among others. 28 Days Later (2002): In this still unrivaled horror flick, Cillian Murphy stars as a coma patient who

War of the Worlds (2005): While it’s rarely listed among his top 20 films, Steven Spielberg’s finely crafted adaptation of H.G. Wells’s novel is a stomach churner that’s ripe for reassessment. People tend to remember that the star of the movie (Tom Cruise) went on a disastrous press tour where he defiled Oprah Winfrey’s couch more than they remember the movie itself. WALL-E (2008): For viewers looking to share some post-societal vibes with their little ones, there’s this virtually silent yet endlessly delightful animated flick from Pixar. In the year 2805, our decimated planet has a population of one: an adorable trash-compacting robot named WALL-E. It’s a love story and a

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terrifying environmental message movie for the whole family! The Road (2009): It’s difficult to imagine that there’s someone out there who finished reading Cormac McCarthy’s novel about a father shepherding his child across a post-apocalyptic hellscape while being pursued by gangs of cannibals and thought “they should really make a movie out of that!” This film is faithful to the source material, which is a good thing if you enjoy feeling upset. Zombieland (2009): The end of the world doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. This winsome road movie finds Woody Harrelson and a cast of future Oscar heavies (Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg) yukking it up and killing a ton of zombies on their way to a safe haven in LA. Also available in “Shaun of the Dead" for those who prefer British humor. Melancholia (2011): Here’s a flick that also appeared on our Top 10 Wedding Films list, strangely

enough. After Kirsten Dunst’s marriage goes bust, she spends the last half of the film moping around a mansion with Charlotte Gainsbourg, waiting for earth to be struck by a rogue planet.Visually stunning and fleetingly watchable, like any good Lars Von Trier film. Bird Box (2018): When earth is invaded by non-specific entities that cause most of the population to commit suicide, a pregnant Sandra Bullock is forced to take shelter in a large house with an all star cast. Survivors must stay blindfolded as one glimpse at the “monsters” leads to certain death.You know who else never gets to see these monsters? The audience. Apparently not in the budget. A Quiet Place (2018): Who would’ve guessed that Jim Halpert from “The Office” would co-write and direct an unassuming little thriller that would jumpstart a horror franchise? John Kransinski and his actual wife Emily Blunt play a couple who’ve stashed their family in a farmhouse after an invasion of blind murder aliens. Trouble arises when the family makes noises of any kind. 48 | VERMONT COUNTRY MAGAZINE | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025

Photo provided by Brattleboro Area Realty See our ads on pages 50-51 vermontcountry.com | 49

Vermont Country Homes

636 Tunnel St, Readsboro, VT 8 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3,504 sq ft 0.50 acres • $849,999 MLS # 5017912

Almost there! This owner has taken a traditional farmhouse and transformed itinto an amazing home full of style and grace. There are many ways to consider this home...over 3500 square feet of single family living with 4 bedrooms (or even 5) and 3 baths...live on one floor, AIR B&B all or part of the other floor....rent both levels and use as a vacation home on off seasons. The kitchen is large enough for a bevy of cooks with an island for bread or candy making. The heart of the house, you can be a part of the party while you whip up some fab eats. Tile and glass and reactive bidets make the baths sparkle and inviting. The 2nd floor main bedroom sports a mini kitchen, balcony with hot tub, soaking tub and is big enough for a California King. The living room on the first floor was designed to become another primary suite on a moment’s notice....close the french doors! Yes, we are almost there! Last to be completed is the yard with a circular drive. Bring your imagination and create a huge deck, a secret garden with gazebo or cozy seating, stone walls, or anything you can imagine in a home you can claim as your own, in Vermont, under the moonlit skies, where the river sings a lullaby.

More information: Christine Lewis, CRS, CBR, GRI Brattleboro Area Realty Cell: 802-380-2088 * Office: 802-257-1335 Chris@BrattleboroAreaRealty.com

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7 Hammond Rd, Charlestown, NH 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 1680 sq. ft, 0.93 acres $380,000 • MLS #5021971

More information: Christine Lewis, CRS, CBR, GRI

Brattleboro Area Realty Cell: 802-380-2088 Office: 802-257-1335 Chris@BrattleboroAreaRealty.com

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Vermont Country Homes

Consisting of 2 lots that merge into a wonderful corner yard filled with fruit trees, blooming bushes and flower beds. There is a fenced yard for little ones, pets or backdrop for even more planting. Add the back deck to sit and enjoy your gardens and you have a winner! Inside you have a versatile and playful floor plan just interesting enough to fit most lifestyles. Open concept kitchen with either dining, family room, or conversation area. Plenty of room for a living room and den ..or formal dining... You choose, but the circular floor plan is perfect for entertaining, as is the huge peninsula counter offering a place to sit and sip while you chop and toss.The big secret is the lower level with a walk out, just begging for a playroom, media room, inside she shed or man cave...what ever extra space you need. Just at the edge of town, so you can drop your shoulders when you get home, but close enough so the in town chores are a breeze.

Vermont Country Homes

$3,500,000 1324 Middle Road, Dummerston, VT 7 bedrooms, 7.5 baths, 8718 sq. ft. • MLS # 5023586

Truly a rare and remarkable property situated on 40+ acres. This custom home was lovingly designed and constructed with a clear vision for bringing the Vermont scenery in, while maintaining the rustic charm be fitting a country estate. The main house features gorgeous exposed timber frame construction throughout, natural wood flooring, paneling & trim, extensive artisan stonework inside and out, including 3 stone fireplaces, dry laid angular walls & fountains. High end wrought iron work, & extensive soaring glass take in the gorgeous easterly view, pastoral setting, and gardens. Featuring a viewing tower, recording studio, library, theater, wine cellar, car barn, underground tunnel, multiple primary and guest suites & more. Situated in the quiet town of Dummerston, just outside of Brattleboro. Near by amenities include orchards, farm stands, covered bridges, swimming holes, & extensive trails. A must see for a discerning buyer looking for a private, one-of-a-kind Vermont retreat.

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$895,000 67 Castle Hill Road, Wilmington, VT 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3436 sq. ft. • MLS #5010972

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Vermont Country Homes

Rare opportunity to own a meticulous 1830s vintage farmhouse, completely turnkey with extensive updates, renovations, & modern amenities. Conveniently located just outside the village of Wilmington for shopping, dining, a short drive to Mount Snow & the Hermitage Club, and just up the street from the Lake Whitingham boat launch and beach areas.The interior features 4+ bedrooms, 3.5 ren vated baths, 3 full living areas including a main floor primary suite option. Offering the original foyer, a country kitchen with stainless appliances, Corian counters, gas stove & brick hearth, vintage wet bar, wood floors, gorgeous sunroom, main floor laundry, and the list goes on. Perfect home to entertain guests. Spacious & bright combining character with convenience. Enjoy mountain views over the village from the front porch, or take in the beauty of the amazing stone walls, & perennial gardens.There is a 2 car new garage barn w/second floor for expansion potential, fiber internet, ample parking, plus town water & sewer. A welcome respite from metropolitan life.

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