At the heart of restoring any region’s agricultural heritage is the imperative to re-learn the lessons of those who have come before us. No doubt the paramount teaching of our ancestors is this: to mindfully provide for ourselves and make our homes in balance with the natural world. The 1836 farmhouse, back house, attached barn and farm at the Two Rivers Center are living testaments to this ethic of sustainability, an ethic that is clearly so necessary at this critical point in our history on the planet.

In 2001, Food Works assumed stewardship of this once legendary farm on the outskirts of Montpelier, first owned by Revolutionary War veteran Col. Jacob Davis. Our vision for this land from the beginning has been simple: to provide a home base for people of all ages to come and learn how to rebuild a local food system from the ground up; to create a commons where neighbors and visitors alike can engage in the cycles of food growing – working the soil, planting the seeds, tending the crops, bringing in the harvest and partaking of the fruits of our labors. Walking in the footsteps of those who have come before us, we rediscover the power of our history rooted in the land, of living and learning together in sustainable ways.

Today we are undertaking a historic Capital Campaign to fully restore this landmark farm as a regional educational, demonstration and outreach center committed to building a model food system that provides access to safe, healthy and affordable food for all. The first stages of the Campaign have now been completed, including all of the necessary excavation and foundation work under the entire structure. Rebuilding the foundation has entailed employing an intricate hydraulic jacking system that lifted over 90 tons of timbers, bricks and mortar four feet above ground level, in tandem with the massive excavation of truckloads of subsoil, thus creating a full eight-foot basement which will serve as Central Vermont’s own community root cellar.

We are now raising funds to finish the structural framing, roofing and interior the main house, including furnishings and installations. Upon completion of the main farmhouse, we will continue on to restore the back house and barn, and to construct a new “Living Traditions” Barn adjacent to the existing buildings. Of our initial goal of $2.8 million, we have raised just over $800,000, leaving us $2 million still to go.

Remembering the spirit of our ancestors, we share our deep, deep gratitude to everyone who is helping to restore this piece of history for generations to come.