The Land:
Wildstone Farm is located in East Pownal on the western side of The Dome, one of the southern most of the Green Mountains. Our elevation of 1,400 feet above sea level gives the farm a cooler ( and windier ) climate than the surrounding valley towns of Pownal, Bennington and Williamstown, Massachusetts. The soil is a mix of silt loam prime agricultural soil and second growth forest. Our 21 acres is part of a larger farm which was started by Elijah Barber at the end of the 18th century.
When we moved here in 1984, most of the land hadn't been farmed in years and was growing up into goldenrod and tree seedlings. The soil was very infertile. Today the fields are cleared and we have very productive fertile gardens and a small orchard. We have added many greenhouses and a new barn.
Since 1989, we have produced Certified Organic vegetables, making us the oldest Certified Organic farm in Bennington County in Southwestern Vermont. We practice deep organic techniques in our intensively managed gardens. The use of high tunnels and a root cellar allows our produce to be available year round. Our water is drawn from a spring below the house and is pumped uphill to the greenhouses using a hydraulic ram pump. Our power is supplied by a 300 watt solar system that we use to run our small power-tools and electric fence around the chicken house. We use a small walk-behind tractor and hand tools to work the land. We do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides, as we are proudly Vermont Organic Certified!
Wildstone Farm is located in East Pownal on the western side of The Dome, one of the southern most of the Green Mountains. Our elevation of 1,400 feet above sea level gives the farm a cooler ( and windier ) climate than the surrounding valley towns of Pownal, Bennington and Williamstown, Massachusetts. The soil is a mix of silt loam prime agricultural soil and second growth forest. Our 21 acres is part of a larger farm which was started by Elijah Barber at the end of the 18th century.
When we moved here in 1984, most of the land hadn't been farmed in years and was growing up into goldenrod and tree seedlings. The soil was very infertile. Today the fields are cleared and we have very productive fertile gardens and a small orchard. We have added many greenhouses and a new barn.
Since 1989, we have produced Certified Organic vegetables, making us the oldest Certified Organic farm in Bennington County in Southwestern Vermont. We practice deep organic techniques in our intensively managed gardens. The use of high tunnels and a root cellar allows our produce to be available year round. Our water is drawn from a spring below the house and is pumped uphill to the greenhouses using a hydraulic ram pump. Our power is supplied by a 300 watt solar system that we use to run our small power-tools and electric fence around the chicken house. We use a small walk-behind tractor and hand tools to work the land. We do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides, as we are proudly Vermont Organic Certified!
