The Intervale

Growing a Greener Future for Burlington, Vt.

The Intervale is a rich combination of farmland, forest and wetlands.

Gardener's Supply headquarters and flagship store are located at the edge of a 700-acre floodplain known as "the Intervale". Our backyard is a combination of farmland, forest and wetlands that's been under cultivation for at least 700 years.

Though the Intervale has a rich agricultural history from the mid-1900s on, it became a dumping ground for tires, old cars and trash. In 1986, Gardener's Supply began a community-wide effort to revitalize this unique natural resource and reinvigorate local, sustainable agriculture.

Today, the Intervale is an integral part of our local community. Visitors can see more than a dozen organic market gardens, producing everything from artichokes to zinnias to pasture-raised chicken—more than 500,000 pounds of food each year for the local community.

The Intervale Center, a nonprofit organization founded by Gardener's Supply, now oversees land stewardship and farming activities on about 300 acres in the Intervale. The center provides new farmers with access to equipment, compost, water and land at affordable prices. Intervale farmers find a ready market for their produce in local farmers' markets and restaurants. One of the most successful farms is the Intervale Community Farm, which provides more than 400 member families with fresh, organic produce each week from June through November.

Tons of compost are produced each year for farms and gardens in our region.

Another success story is the Burlington compost program. Started by Gardener's Supply back in 1987, the business is now under the umbrella of the Intervale Center. It produces more than 10,000 tons of compost each year from leaves, sawdust, horse and cow manure, food scraps from area restaurants and even ice cream waste. Compost is spread on farmland in the Intervale and is available to local landscapers and gardeners.

The Intervale is a great place to walk, bicycle or canoe. The Winooski River, which winds its way through this floodplain, is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Walking trails give explorers the opportunity to see great blue herons, deer, fox, and butterflies galore. From a canoe or kayak, paddlers can see otter, mink, kingfishers, beavers and even moose. Touring the Intervale by bicyle is fun for all ages. A gravel bike trail runs through the farmland and along the river, and links with Burlington's 10-mile Cycle the City loop.

For more information about visiting the Intervale, or to learn more about the Intervale Center, please visit www.intervale.org