MONTPELIER — For the third consecutive year, farmers across Vermont will open their barn doors and garden gates to welcome the public for a behind-the-scenes look at Vermont’s vibrant working landscapes. Vermont Open Farm Week 2017 will be held Monday, August 14, through Sunday, August 20, and features 102 events at almost 50 farms across the state. Events are live and sorted by day and location on DigInVT.com.
Open Farm Week is a celebration of Vermont farms offering visitors a backstage pass to learn more about local food origins, authentic agritourism experiences, and the chance to build relationships with farmers. Activities vary and include opportunities to milk cows and goats, harvest vegetables, learn to make pickles, go on a scavenger hunt, enjoy an on-farm dinner with live music and more.
Each Open Farm Week event is created by a farmer and focused on highlighting the unique character of the host farm. Addison County participants include a garlic braid workshop on Aug. 16, at Last Resort Farm in Bristol, “Meet the animals, taste the tomatoes and tour the Farm” on Aug, 19, at the Lester Farm and Market in New Haven,  and daily events Aug. 17-20 at Champlain Orchards in Shoreham. (See Calendar for details).
Many events are free and some require pre-registration. Not all farms are open every day, so be sure to visit DigInVT.com to explore the diverse event schedule and plan a visit. Everyone is invited to join the Open Farm Week conversation on social media using the hashtag #VTOpenFarm.