Local First Vermont

Buy local this holiday! The Dept. of Vermont Tourism in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture launched a new online holiday shopping guide, 'Buy Vermont Made'. From coffee to sweaters, wine to honey, and much more, shop one-of-a-kind treasures from VT makers: https://www.buyvermontmade.com/

The new Restorative Moments Chocolate Bar Collection is the next step in Lake Champlain Chocolates’s sustainability journey. By partnering with the Intervale Center’s Conservation Nursery, 10% of net profits from this collection will fund planting trees to restore the quality and integrity of waterways, like the company’s namesake, Lake Champlain.

As a Certified B Corporation, Lake Champlain Chocolates believes in using business as a force for good- whether it’s exploring exciting flavor combinations, strengthening local agriculture, by using Vermont cream, honey and maple syrup in their chocolate, or fighting climate change.

Learn more about their work:

Lake Champlain Chocolates Launches New Chocolate Bar Collection inspired by Nature - VBSR Chocolate Preserves & Protects Life’s Restorative Moments BURLINGTON, VT: Indulge. Restore. Repeat. This is the mantra of Lake Champlain Chocolates’ (LCC) new line, the Restorative Moments Chocolate Bar Collection. Inspired by nature and crafted from organic and fair trade certified extra-dark c...

Local Motion's bike rentals are available at the waterfront in Burlington! Read about measures they are taking to ensure the safety of all, their top priority: https://www.localmotion.org/covid_19_statement

And rent a bike at www.bikevt.org!

COVID-19 Statement & Program Updates Vermont's nonprofit advocate for walking and biking

Get some fresh air while you enjoy the scenic rail trails of Vermont! Learn more about 4 trails from this article by Happy Vermont:

Biking on Scenic Vermont Rail Trails | Happy Vermont In this time of travel restrictions and canceled summer camps, Vermont rail trails offer wide open spaces to enjoy the outdoors.

Join Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) Wednesday, July 29th at 1pm for our next webinar, Where Our Food Grows: Retailers' & Restaurants' Path to Recovery. This webinar will focus on how Vermont’s food systems are adapting to and recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ll explore how national and regional market disruptions are affecting what’s on our shelves and our plates, if and how customers in the region now think differently about where their food comes from, and whether those shifts will last beyond the recovery phase of the pandemic.

After we hear from our panelists, we’ll have an interactive Q&A session with our panelists, moderated by Gaye Symington of High Meadows Fund, discussing what this recovery will mean for Vermont’s food system and economy in the months and years to come.

This is the second of a two-part webinar series brought to you by VBSR and High Meadows Fund, exploring how leaders in Vermont’s food systems are recovering, adapting, and building resilience, from farmers to restaurants to nonprofit leaders.

Presenters include: Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, Annie H. Harlow, Burlington Farmers Market, Farmhouse Group

This webinar is free for VBSR members and $20 for non-members. Learn more and register here:

VBSR Webinar: Where Our Food Goes – Retailers’ & Restaurants’ Path to Recovery - VBSR   Click here to register for this webinar.   Before COVID-19, Vermont’s agricultural sector was simultaneously at the heart of Vermont’s cultural & economic identity and facing a crisis brought on by global market forces, demographic shifts away from rural communities, and looming effects of c...

Get your summer ice cream fix at Lake Champlain Chocolates!

*NEW SUMMER HOURS*

Come and get your scoop on! Our Pine Street store is now open until 9pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Tonight the Grazers food truck serving up burgers and we'll be offering Buy One, Get One FREE ice cream cones from 5-9pm!

Join Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) on Thursday, July 23rd at 1pm for our next webinar, Where Our Food Grows: Farmers’ and Producers’ Path to Recovery. This webinar will focus on how food producers in Vermont are responding to COVID-related challenges, including supply chain disruptions, shifting wholesale markets, and workflow adjustments to prevent virus transmission.

We’ll hear about what resources are available and what Vermont’s farmers still need as they prepare for long-term recovery, and we’ll have an interactive Q&A session with our panelists, moderated by Gaye Symington of High Meadows Fund, discussing what this recovery will mean for Vermont’s food system and economy in the months and years to come.

Presenters include: Intervale Center, Ceres Greens, Vermont Family Farms, Vermont Agency of Agriculture

This is the first of a two-part webinar series brought to you by VBSR and High Meadows Fund, exploring how leaders in Vermont’s food systems are recovering, adapting, and building resilience, from farmers to restaurants to nonprofit leaders.

This webinar is free for VBSR members and $20 for non-members. Learn more and register here:

VBSR Webinar: Where Our Food Grows – Farmers’ & Producers’ Path to Recovery - VBSR   Click here to register for this webinar.   Before COVID-19, Vermont’s agricultural sector was simultaneously at the heart of Vermont’s cultural & economic identity and facing a crisis brought on by global market forces, demographic shifts away from rural communities, and looming effects of c...

USA Today has named Montpelier, VT the second best small town for shopping in the United States. And Bear Pond Books got the cover shot! Check it out:

USA Today has named Montpelier the second best small town for shopping in the United States. | Best of Central Vermont USA Today has named Montpelier the second best small town for shopping in the United States. Montpelier was one of only 20 towns across the country, and the only town in Vermont, to be nominated by a panel of experts for this award. This is the se...

Love Vermont - Your favorite Vermont business is struggling. Help save it. Buy a gift card, shop their online store, pick-up take out or donate to them. Stay home while supporting your favorite local businesses throughout the COVID-19 crisis:

Love Vermont - Your favorite Vermont business is struggling. Help save it. Buy a gift card, shop their online store, pick-up take out or donate to them. Stay home while supporting your favorite local businesses throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

From Vermont Economic Development: Your favorite Vermont businesses can help make Mother’s Day special, even from a proper social distance.

Check out Vermont Tourism's gift guide: https://vermontvacation.com/mothers-day

Mother's Day is Sunday! Give mom a gift of gourmet chocolates and fresh flowers from Lake Champlain Chocolates and Gardener's Supply Company!

Order today for curbside pickup or local delivery:
https://bit.ly/2KO0Fmc