Announcing the Philo Ridge Farm Foundation

Philo Ridge Farm Completes Transition to Nonprofit Foundation

Dear Community,

When we started Philo Ridge Farm in 2012, our goal was to establish a thriving organic regenerative farm that would demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices in the Champlain Valley. After a transformative journey over these past years, we are excited to share that we have officially completed our transition to become a nonprofit organization, the Philo Ridge Farm Foundation. This milestone fulfills our vision to ensure that the farm will be a multigenerational community asset for Vermont. To us, this transition is a natural next step in our evolution. We recognize it has been a period of change for the farm and our community, and we are grateful for your support.

We believe a key part of our future is to keep working lands working, which is why Philo Ridge Farm has always been—and will always remain—a working farm. Since we announced our transition, our core team has been diligently tending to crops, caring for our animals, and making infrastructure improvements to keep the farm flourishing. We have welcomed new lambs to our existing flock, brought back heritage pigs and pastured chickens, and grown our Belted Galloway herd, continuing our commitment to the land that has always been at the heart of our mission.

Research and education have been central to our work from the start. Throughout the years, we have gathered valuable data around soil health, organic regenerative practices, and sustainable farming for our region. Now, as a nonprofit foundation, we can expand these initiatives through deeper research, educational programming, and community engagement. This transition allows us to ensure that the farm will continue to serve as a living laboratory long into the future.

Creating and sharing good food has always been a part of who we are, and we are eagerly preparing to welcome you back to the farm this summer. The design and development of this nonprofit has taken time, and we deeply appreciate your patience and continued support as we have worked to build what comes next. While we finalize reopening plans for our dining facilities and Market, we are actively rebuilding our team and are getting ready to once again serve as a gathering place for our community.

We are immensely proud of the significant impact our team has made over the past decade, and we look forward to what the future holds.

We will be sharing more details about our reopening plans in the coming weeks and cannot wait to welcome you back this summer.

Your neighbors,

The Philo Ridge Farm team

FAQs

What is Philo Ridge Farm announcing?

After a transformative and deeply rewarding decade, we are pleased to announce that Philo Ridge Farm has officially received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, establishing the Philo Ridge Farm Foundation. This milestone represents the culmination of 18 months of thoughtful planning and marks an exciting new chapter for the farm.

What is different?

Philo Ridge Farm has undergone a fundamental transition, becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This change ensures the farm will exist beyond the lifetimes of founders Peter and Diana, establishing it as a multi-generational community asset.

What can we expect as community members and visitors?

This is an exciting time of growth at Philo Ridge Farm, and we will continue to grow organic produce, raise grass-fed meat, and allow the opportunity for visitors to purchase these products in our Market as well as provide new on-farm dining experiences, events, and educational opportunities. We encourage community members to join our e-newsletter to receive news and updates from the farm. Sign up on our website.

Why did Philo Ridge Farm decide to become a nonprofit?

This transition allows us to more fully realize our founding vision. Since the beginning, research and education have been core components of our mission alongside food production and community engagement. A nonprofit designation enables us to prioritize educational initiatives and agricultural research that support land stewardship, keeping working lands working, and contributing to the future of Vermont's agricultural landscape for generations to come.

What kind of research does Philo Ridge Farm conduct?

Research has been part of the farm since its founding and has focused on organic regenerative agricultural practices, including rotational grazing, carbon sequestration, soil health, and biodiversity. The farm has also developed partnerships with organizations including the USDA, Vermont Land Trust, The Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, and Audubon Vermont to study and document how our organic regenerative practices impact soil health and the overall health of our surrounding ecosystem.

What has been happening at Philo Ridge Farm since December 2023?

While our public-facing operations were quiet, our farm has remained active. Throughout this period, a core team has been diligently tending to crops, planting gardens, caring for our animals, and making infrastructure improvements to maintain Philo Ridge Farm as a working landscape. We've continued our rotational grazing practices, welcoming new lambs, pigs, and chickens, as well as managing our Belted Galloway herd. This time has also allowed us to develop long-term strategies and establish the foundation for our nonprofit organization.

When will Philo Ridge Farm reopen to the public?

Our team is planning to welcome the community back to the farm this summer. We are currently in the process of rebuilding our team and finalizing our offerings. We look forward to sharing more specific details about our reopening, including dates and hours of operation, in the coming weeks.

Are you hiring?

Yes. The farm is actively rebuilding our team. We encourage those interested in joining our team to review current job openings listed on Good Food Jobs.