The Land and Our Farming Philosophy :
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.
This farm was once part of the hunting grounds of the Mahican and Abenaki peoples. Our indigenous predecessors did not believe that an individual should own The Land. That tragically changed with the coming of Europeans. Over the next couple of centuries, this land has been in agriculture, sometimes cherished but often abused. Now in 2025, only the 21 acres that are Wildstone Farm remain in agriculture, a small portion 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 worn out. Today the fields are cleared and we have very productive, fertile gardens and a small orchard. We have planted many trees and pollinator islands. We have added many greenhouses and a new barn.
As stewards of this land, we have long been conscious what a precious gift this land is. We are keenly aware of the necessity to ensure the Farm’s longevity beyond our tenure. To that end, in 2022, with the cooperation of the Vermont Land Trust, a conservation easement has been placed on this land called Wildstone Farm, protecting it as a working farm forever.
Since 1989, we have produced Certified Organic vegetables, making us the first Certified Organic farm in Bennington County in Southwestern Vermont. We practice deep organic techniques in our intensively managed gardens. We use a small walk-behind tractor and hand tools to work the land. We do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides.
We believe words have meaning. The pioneers of biological agriculture intuitively built upon indigenous knowledge; working with nature rather than against it. The USDA organic has often capitulated to industrial/corporate agriculture, trying to dilute the true meaning of organic agriculture. We choose to honor our forbearers and uphold the ideals of organic agriculture. To that end we are proudly Vermont Organic Certified and Real Organic Project 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.
This farm was once part of the hunting grounds of the Mahican and Abenaki peoples. Our indigenous predecessors did not believe that an individual should own The Land. That tragically changed with the coming of Europeans. Over the next couple of centuries, this land has been in agriculture, sometimes cherished but often abused. Now in 2025, only the 21 acres that are Wildstone Farm remain in agriculture, a small portion 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 worn out. Today the fields are cleared and we have very productive, fertile gardens and a small orchard. We have planted many trees and pollinator islands. We have added many greenhouses and a new barn.
As stewards of this land, we have long been conscious what a precious gift this land is. We are keenly aware of the necessity to ensure the Farm’s longevity beyond our tenure. To that end, in 2022, with the cooperation of the Vermont Land Trust, a conservation easement has been placed on this land called Wildstone Farm, protecting it as a working farm forever.
Since 1989, we have produced Certified Organic vegetables, making us the first Certified Organic farm in Bennington County in Southwestern Vermont. We practice deep organic techniques in our intensively managed gardens. We use a small walk-behind tractor and hand tools to work the land. We do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides.
We believe words have meaning. The pioneers of biological agriculture intuitively built upon indigenous knowledge; working with nature rather than against it. The USDA organic has often capitulated to industrial/corporate agriculture, trying to dilute the true meaning of organic agriculture. We choose to honor our forbearers and uphold the ideals of organic agriculture. To that end we are proudly Vermont Organic Certified and Real Organic Project Certified!