A Fairy's Dream Farm, LLC
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Since moving to Danville in late 2024, my husband, two daughters, and I have become deeply-rooted in this community. Knowing that our current housing and land accommodations could not work for us or the farm long-term, we’ve been quietly dreading the day when we would have to move, fearing that it would mean leaving Danville.
Now, we have an opportunity to lay down roots in Danville permanently through a lease-to-purchase agreement for a property on Route 2 that is truly a perfect fit for expanding our current vegetable operation from a small farm into a vital community resource.
In order to make this happen, we are seeking to raise $75,000 to cover the option to buy deposit, the first six months of rent, as well as essential infrastructure and site prep needed to start planting in Spring.
Why This Land Matters: The Immediate Impact
We don't just want to move our farm; we want to create a long-term agricultural asset for Danville and the broader Northeast Kingdom. By securing this Route 2 property, we can immediately launch two critical community initiatives:
- The Giving Garden & Donation Hub: We will dedicate a significant plot of land to be a dual-purpose community resource. It will serve as a Community Garden space where neighbors can gather, grow food, and share knowledge, while also supporting donations of food being made to our local partners fighting hunger in the Northeast Kingdom. Your contribution means fresh, organic food and community connection go hand-in-hand.
- Expanding Local Access: Our Delivery CSA Program: Moving to the Route 2 property allows us to dramatically expand our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. This expansion includes launching a local delivery service, making organically grown, farm-fresh produce more convenient and accessible to families throughout Danville and the surrounding areas.
A Long-Term Commitment
Securing this property through a lease-to-purchase is our first step toward a much bigger, multi-faceted vision that will serve our town for decades:
- A Retail Farm Store & Bakery: Taking advantage of the commercial zoning to sell our produce, baked goods, and local products, boosting the local economy.
- Affordable Housing: Thoughtful development of desperately needed affordable housing units for farm workers and community members.
- Community: Hosting field trips and early childhood educational opportunities for local schools and childcares, providing produce boxes to families participating in summer events at the Pope Library, building community resilience through on site activities such as potlucks, pumpkin carvings, and self-sustainability workshops
- Agritourism: Establishing the farm as an event space for workshops, wellness events, and a destination for visitors using the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.
The Alternative
This property is being marketed to buyers as a development opportunity. For the last several years, the plan for this land was to build a multi-unit housing complex. While there is value in that - the housing crisis is real - this land, and our community, deserves more.
Soil maps indicate that 79% of this property is farmland of statewide importance. The more farmland we remove from the local agriculture pool, the more reliant we become on sourcing our food elsewhere. It has been proven that food grown for the purpose of long-distance transport is nutritionally deficient and more laced with chemicals than food intended to be distributed and consumed locally. We need to preserve our farmland, this land, and our agricultural legacy, for the sake of our health and community resilience.
What We Need to Start Planting Today
The lease-to-purchase agreement allows us to build the business and financial equity necessary for a final purchase in a few years, but we need the immediate capital to sign the paperwork and get started this spring.
Fund Allocation
- $54,500 - Lease Security & First Six Payments: Securing the agreement and ensuring our move is financially sound
- $15,000 - Site Preparation & Infrastructure: Installing tunnels and irrigation
- $5,500 - Organic Soil & Seeds: Purchasing bulk organic inputs to guarantee a successful first harvest for the CSA and the Giving Garden
Every dollar raised goes directly into turning this unused land into a flourishing, giving hub for our community and protects it from being turned into a large residential subdivision.
Our Gifts to You: Thanking Our Supporters
All supporters will have their names inscribed on a “Founding Supporters” list on our farm’s website and displayed in a framed dedication on our farm, unless they choose to remain anonymous.
$25 - The Seed Starters - A personal email thank you with a photo of the first seeds planted on our new property in the Spring
$50 - The Sprouts
- Local Option: Receive a $5 Nursery Credit redeemable starting in the Spring for any plant start or transplant
- Non-Local Option: A plant start will be donated in the Spring to a local food bank
$75 - The Harvest Sampler
- Local Option: Receive a canvas tote bag filled with a selection of our organically grown produce after our first harvest in the spring
- Non-Local Option: Receive a canvas tote bag (shipped to you) and donate the produce to a family in need.
$100 - The Punny Farmer - Receive a t-shirt with an exclusive garden themed pun, available only to those who support this vital stage of our development
$250 - CSA Supporter
- Local Option: Receive a 10% discount on your first full-season CSA Membership redeemable at sign up.
- Non-Local Option: You fund a "Donated CSA Share" for a local family in need
$500 - Giving Garden Plot Sponsor - Receive a framed photograph of the Giving Garden plot that your donation helped fund, plus a permanent, small plaque with your name (or a name of your choice) displayed at the garden site.
$1000 - Our Founding Family - Receive an exclusive invitation for two to our private, "First Planting" thank-you dinner/potluck on the new Route 2 property this coming summer, cooked using the farm’s fresh produce.
Join Our Dream!
Our family is deeply invested in this community. This move isn't just about our business; it's about creating jobs, providing access to healthy food, and building community resilience right here in the Northeast Kingdom.
We know this is a big ask. People are struggling. SNAP Benefits are at risk, causing so many seniors, families, and individuals to wonder how they are going to put food on the table. This is what makes our mission so much more important.
Help us sign the lease, put down roots, and start giving back on a larger scale, so that during times of crisis our Northeast Kingdom communities can remain strong, fed, and resilient.
Please donate today and share our story with your friends, family, and local community groups!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Charlene Parker and Family
Owner/Farm Manager, A Fairy’s Dream Farm