2010 Annual Report

nutritious

resilient

sow

community

change

vision

growth

food

healthy

Vermont

revitalize

plow

fresh

support

local

landscapes

interconnected

strong

neighbors

vibrant

farm

enduring

seeds

market

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link Connecting farmers and consumers

2010 Annual Report

Local Farms Fresh Food Healthy People Resilient Communities

A team of Green Mountain College students glean green beans from Old Gates Farm for the Grow-a-Row program.

In 2010, 183 volunteers donated over 965 hours to RAFFL’s programs and events.

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link (RAFFL)

Our Mission

Employees (2010 - 2011)

• To support new and existing farms within and around the Rutland region

Lindsay Arbuckle Jill Perry Balzano India Burnett Farmer *Kate Jensen

• To inspire and expand community-wide participation in the region’s agricultural economy

Tara Kelly Garland Mason Mike Raymond Kristin Smith

Interns: Meghan Faulkner, David Mitiguy

Board Members (2010 - 2011) Philip Ackerman-Leist Julie Barber Greg Cox *Steve Eddy Mike Horner Wendy Leffel *Heather McDermott *Jon Place

• To develop an increased community appreciation for the positive impact local farms have on the whole Rutland region

John Pollard Marli Rupe Theresa Snow *Julie Sperling Carol Tashie Eleanor Tison *Beth Vickers

* Past Employee or Board Member Rutland Area Farm and Food Link

A M essage

from

T ara

and

G reg

RAFFL has a big vision: a vibrant, networked, year-round farm and food system that involves and benefits the entire Rutland region. We are pouring our energy into programs that increase access to local foods and stimulate the local economy.

This year has been an evolutionary one for us as we deepened our efforts on key programs – such as the New Farmer Initiative, the Locally Grown Guide, and the Grow-a-Row program – expanded our organization’s overall capacity, and taken strategic steps toward long-term goals.

Building on our core strength of creating connections, RAFFL has been effective in creating and increasing the local commitment to our vision. We are on the cutting edge of Vermont’s local farm and food movement.

We are pleased to see the extent to which Vermont’s recently published Farm-to-Plate strategy reinforces the very same priorities we established through extensive public input, on-theground assessment, and common sense wisdom. As Vermont moves the local farm and food agenda forward, RAFFL is poised to ensure our region plays a significant role in the “agricultural renaissance.” RAFFL staff and board members are actively engaged in discussions and big-picture thinking, striving to bring resources to our area that will move our area’s farm and food enterprises forward.

Thanks to the overwhelming response to our annual Twilight in the Meadow fundraiser and the support of generous individual donors and foundations who share our goal, we are on solid financial ground and putting those resources to work.

2011 promises to be a great year! There is a passionate movement afoot and the community is energized. We hope you will join us as we plow ahead.

Tara Kelly Executive Director

Greg Cox Board President

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link

P rogram H ighlights

Connecting the community and local foods

RAFFL envisions a dynamic, interconnected, and organized year-round farm and food system that increases access to local foods while supporting the region’s economy.

Food Access and Education Through the Grow-a-Row program RAFFL collected and distributed farmfresh produce to 26 different area food shelves and meal programs.

25 farms and 8 home gardeners

donated produce

115 volunteers dedicated 354 hours collecting extra produce at markets, gleaning at farms, and distributing the produce

Distributed over

17,500 pounds of fresh produce

In collaboration with the Rutland County Nutrition Coalition, RAFFL produced “What’s Cookin’ Rutland,” a monthly cooking show highlighting local foods and healthy choices for the local cable access channel PEGTV.

Celebrating Local Farms and Foods RAFFL published its fifth edition of the Locally Grown Guide, distributing 37,000 copies throughout the Rutland region. It included a map and listings for 90 area farms.

The second annual Twilight in the Meadow fundraiser dinner was a huge success with a sold-out crowd sharing in the night’s good cheer, delicious food, and lively celebration of our local farms and friends.

New Market Development

81%

In 2010 the Farm-to-Workplace Delivery program grew by over the previous year. Participating employees register for a farm share in the spring and then receive a weekly basket of produce throughout the summer, delivered directly to their workplace.

Volunteer and local farmer Bill Clark donated over 5,000 pounds of produce to RAFFL’s Grow-a-Row program

2010 Partners: Champlain Orchards, Dutchess Farm, Wood’s Market Garden, Boardman Hill Farm, Central Vermont Public Service, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Rutland Mental Health Services, Foley Services, Heritage Family Credit Union Rutland Area Farm and Food Link

R esources

for

F armers

Connecting farmers and opportunities

Greg Cox of Boardman Hill Farm and Jon Turmel (far right), State Agency of Agriculture Entomologist, discuss field pests at a Beginning Farmer Summer Workshop.

To preserve and promote Vermont’s working landscapes, RAFFL provides technical, educational, and business support to new and existing farmers and food producers. Through resource fairs, workshops, and one-on-one consulting, RAFFL connects farmers with the resources they need to succeed.

2010 Numbers and Successes

100

Linked over area farmers with service providers and resource organizations through an annual Farmer Resource Fair co-sponsored by Green Mountain College and Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District

6

Hosted skills-building workshops in partnership with NOFAVT. Experienced farmers led workshops about marketing strategies, soil building, business plans, managing pests, and more Initiated Collaborative Marketing Workshops, in partnership with the Intervale Center, to increase farmers’ sales to area restaurants, schools, and other wholesale markets

20

Assisted over new farmers one-on-one with technical questions, resource referrals to statewide organizations, networking, and other challenges Rutland Area Farm and Food Link

As we begin farming in the Rutland area, we feel very grateful for the presence of such a strong and vibrant organization.

Ryan Wood-Beauchamp Evening Song Farm

2010 F inancial R eport Throughout 2010 RAFFL focused on increasing our capacity, expanding our programs, and deepening our impact. With strong community support and a commitment to expanding Vermont’s local food systems, we are confident about our future fiscal stability and continued growth.

Our Revenues Program $15,788 Government Contracts $7,057

Growing Annual Revenue 2006 - 2010

$129,316

$100,718 $67,361

Interest $122

Individual Donations $27,345

Management & General $17,175

$10,988 2007

2008

Foundation Grants $77,874

Our Expenses

$43,498

2006

Events $34,590

2009

2010

Fundraising $15,896

Program $110,597

Assets Operating Fund Savings Account Total Assets

$53,454 $30,028 $83,482

Liabilities Payroll Liabilities Total Liabilities

$602 $602

Equity Unrestricted Net Assets Net Income Total Equity

$63,771 $19,109 $82,880

In-Kind Support Office Space Rent $38,000/year Internet Services $720/year Office equipment and furniture acquired by donation

Thanks to the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and Green Mountain College for their generous in-kind support.

Total Liabilities and Equity $83,482

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link

2010 D onors $0 - 249

Amy Allen Linda & Robert Amelang Baird Farm Julie Barber Royal & Zip Barnard Bear Mountain Bakers Nancy & Robert Beauchamp Karen James & Alan Betts Ludy Biddle Bill Lohsen Plumbing & Heating Mary Ashcroft & Harold Billings Ilene Blackman Bob-White Systems Martha Johnson & Richard Bondareff Kenneth Bushee Suzanne & Robert Carey Castleton Crackers Castleton Pizza Place Central Vermont Public Service Changing Focus Consulting Anne Lezak & Harry Chen Choke Cherry Farm Joanne Cillo Ann Clark Betty Clark Seth & Sherry Clark Mary Cohan Sandy Cohen Eugenia Cooke Eleanor Tison & Mark Dailey Robert Der Stein Courtney & Joe Desena Lisa & Joe Donohue Steve & Nancy Eddy Barbara Fenhagen Deedie & Allen Frey Kiki McShane & Mike Galvin Maureen Gibeault Elizabeth & Roland Gibson Ben & Theresa Gleason Pam & Rich Green Green Mountain College Green’s Sugar House Jon and Rheba Haley John Hartmen & Gabrielle McDermit Marsha & Martin Hemm Anne Hicks Tim Hollander Ethel & Harvey Horner Michael Horner Jason Ingle Ted & Martha Izzi Lillian Jackson Paul Jardine Ida Mae Johnson Johnson Energy Abbie Kaveny Merle & James Kelly Tara Kelly & Elizabeth Hinterberger Pat & Leonard Kent Krueger-Norton Sugarhouse Whitney Lamy Michele & Philip Lapp Wendy Leffel Robert & Susan Lloyd

and

S upporters

Linell & William Lohsen Kimberly & Jon Mathewson Laurie Mecier Kim & Kathleen Meisinger Mighty Food Farm Ralph & Sharon Nimtz Steve Morneau Mountain Times Catherine Thomas & Herbert Ogden Old Gates Farm Karl & Blossom Parsells Dana Pellistri People’s United Bank Trish & Matthew Peschl Jennifer Peterson Philip Picotte Jon Place John Pollard Proctor Gas Jesse Pyles Sheryl Rapée-Adams Russell & Donna Reay Sandy Reiber Linda Reis Jeanne Bouchard Sampson Lynn Johnson & Jack Shackelford Cathy Baker & Stan Shapiro Megan & Gregory Smith Theresa Snow Someday Farm Beatrice & Charlie Stagg Ronald Steffens Kathryn Milillo & Robert Stein Kris Jacoby & Adam Stevenson Betty & Larry Sullivan Esther & Daniel Swett Andrew & Marcy Tanger The Rutland Garden Club Kathy & Peter Upton James & Linda Vignoe Cathy & Todd Walker Shelly & Charles Watts Wehse & Kinney Insurance Phyllis & Michael Wells Cynthia & George White III Susan & Charles Whiting Annabelle & Robert Williams Mary Lou Willits Rachel & Ryan Yoder Sally & Leonard Zivitz

$250 - 999

AA Plumbing and Heating Joan Aleshire Kathleen & Bob Allen Robert & Bonnie Baird Cabot Creamery Barbara & Bill Carris Bill & Susan Clark Marsha & Paul Fonteyn Sandra Clayton Gagnon & Kenneth Gagnon Gagnon Lumber Ingrid & Paul Gallo Edgar Holmes Horizon Organic Tricia & Tom Huebner

Pat & Sherman Hunter Kathleen & Wayne Krevetski Julia & Greg Kunkowski Tricia & Mark Lawrence Judy & Christopher Louras Sue LaPorte & John Malcolm Barbara & Ed Morrow Rebecca Purdom Melinda Quinn Jo & Grant Reynolds Rutland Area Food Co-op Rutland Regional Medical Center Mary Saceric-Clark Nancy & Paul Saueracker Share Our Strength Foundation Elizabeth & Richard Swartz What’s Cookin’ Co-op

$1,000 - 4,999

Anonymous April & Gary Kanew James T. Bowse Community Health Trust New England Grassroots Environment Fund NOFA-VT Rutland’s Magic Brush Painting Vermont Community Development Program Stanley & Rene Wilbur

$5,000+

Agency of Agriculture Serena Hatch High Meadows Fund JF Foundation Tom Johnson & Ina Smith The John Merck Fund Vermont Community Foundation

In-Kind Support

Alchemy Gardens Amee Farm Amtrak Ann Clark Limited Annie’s Bookstop Apple Hill Garden Applewood Inn Jan & Frank Asch Ayer’s Egg Farm Baird Farm Michael Beattie & Leslie Silver Beaver Meadow Farm Alix Berry Blackpowder Foods Blue Cat Bistro Blue Ledge Farm Boardman Hill Farm Brown’s Orchard Cabot Creamery Café Provence Pat Carbonell Castleton Community Center Celebration Tent Rentals Cerridwen Farm Champlain Orchards Christopher Laughs Artisans Cinco Gringos

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link

Cooper Clark Clark Farm and Maple Country Kitchen Sandy Cohen Consider Bardwell Domestic Diva Dutchess Farm Erin’s Edibles Susan Farrow Filthy Farmgirl Soaps Foggy Meadow Farm Foley Services Paul and Marsha Fonteyn Garden Time Elmer Garrick Jackie Gauthier Green Mountain College Mark Hamilton Christie Harris - c2 Consulting Marsha & Martin Hemm Hick’s Orchard Jaya & Scott Holliman Honey Pond Golf Course Horsewise Farms Hubbard’s Portable Restrooms Inn at Weathersfield Lincoln Peak Vineyards Little Harry’s Dan Mack Paul Marshall Mendon Mountain Orchard Mike’s Country Store Milky Way Organic Farm Mom’s Country Kitchen Elaine & Dick Nordmeyer Old Gates Farm Palms Restaurant Perfect Wife Restaurant Picture Perfect Farm Pittsfield General Store Putney Winery Radical Roots Farm Right Mind Farm Riverside Farm Rutland County Solid Waste District Rutland Redevelopment Authority Rutland Regional Planning Commission Shoreham Inn Singing Cedars Farm Sissy’s Kitchen Sunrise Hill Farm Sustainable Rutland The Gymnasium Thrive Center of the Green Mountains Vermont Maple Granola Victorian Inn Vermont Farmers Market Vermont Herb and Salad Wallingford Country Store Wallingford Toy Works Roman Wdowiak Ralph Williams Robert C. Williams Winter Farmer’s Market Woods Market Garden

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link P.O. Box 561 East Poultney, VT 05741

www.rutlandfarmandfood.org info@rutlandfarmandfood.org • (802) 417-1528

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link Our Values A strong and vibrant farm economy is essential to the enduring strength of our region.

All people should have access to healthy, affordable, and nutritious food from local sources.

The Rutland region’s long-term food security relies on the success of local farms.

Community connections to local farms are important to the preservation and appreciation of our region’s working landscapes.

Community collaborations and partnerships are essential to achieving our mission.

Help RAFFL strengthen Vermont’s local food system by donating today!

Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 561 East Poultney, VT 05741 or donate online at www.rutlandfarmandfood.org