A Tour at Green mOuntain Orchards In putney, vermont
This was from back in August 2024, but my blog had issues - so I am pasting it in here now… Carry on ;)
Touring the land of Green Mountain Orchards, owner Andrea Darrow, Harley Sterling of WNSU and I sauntered through rows of 60 year old apple trees on our way to the ripened blueberries. As Andrea recounted stories of the orchard’s history, dragonflies flutter about in the fading sunlight, monarch butterflies greeted us and the beauteous apples hanging from the trees demanded attention. Third generation farmer, Andrea Darrow plucked an apple from one of the trees and bit into it. A bit tart and not quite ready, she pulled the two halves apart to reveal white apple seeds, “When they’re brown, you know the apples are ripe. These have a little longer to go.” she states.
Green Mountain Orchards is a generational farm having been in the family since William Darrow Sr of Chester, VT planted his first apple tree in 1914. Today the third and forth generation of Darrows manage 800 acres booming with; apples, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, plums, pumpkins and Christmas trees!
Such an iconic New England location. The storefront is quaint and boasts local goodies, and house made items such as apple cider, cider donuts and more.
As we crested the orchard hill, glorious views greeted us, welcoming us down into the blueberry patch. Green Mountain Orchards grows a variety of blueberries with different growing times allowing them to have blueberries to sell and pick from the start of the season until October!
Barn swallows dipped and swirled in the sky as we made our way to the luscious bushes loaded with sweet berries. We picked blueberries off various bushes, tasting a few as we walked along headed to meet the annual harvesters from Jamaica. These men were lovely: smiles beamed from their faces as they laughed with one another and filled their buckets.
Green Mountain Orchards is one of the many local farms involved in bringing fresh, quality food to local Vermont schools through Windham Northeast Supervisory Union’s Farm to School Cafe program. Through this program Vermont schools work closely with local farms to bring in local ingredients transforming school lunches to highly nutritious, tasty meals for kids.
As always, many thanks to all the hard working, dedicated and passionate farmers out there. Where would we all be without your tireless work?
Many thanks to Harley Sterling and the program above. The passion behind this program is changing the status quo for school lunches. Momentum will continue to grow, changing the course of standard lunches. Change is coming. The children deserve nutritious food in school. Many thanks to all…
-Kimberly
