Neighborhood Roots Food Collective

12/04/2025

Neighborhood Roots Food Collective has been busy! Together with our volunteers we’ve created:

🌱 An online food hub where SNAP benefits go further with additional subsidies, making fresh, local food accessible
🌱 The first stages of development for our community farm at Autumn Hill:
- Property made safe by filling in old foundation
- Energy restored with new electrical work
- Water sourced with new well pump and pressure tank
🌱 Hands-on workshops teaching food preservation, gardening, and cooking skills
🌱 A pay-what-you-want plant nursery to support home gardeners
🌱 Two Little Free Pantries where food can be given and received day and night
🌱 Annual plant and seed swaps where we support each other in growing

In 2026 we will continue to develop the infrastructure we are building at Autumn Hill. The property will provide:

🌳 Farm plots for local farmers to contribute to Guilford’s food supply
🌳 Agricultural activities located steps away from the Guilford Central School to enhance the farm-to-school program
🌳 A “People’s Medicine Garden” where neighbors grow and learn side by side
🌳 Educational trails and outdoor classroom for gardening and nature workshops

Thank you for being part of a community that values local farmers and that believes we're all better when we grow together. If you are able, please make a donation to keep the work going! 💚

NRFC Annual Fund

11/05/2025

NOFA-VT is giving a $20 discount on produce to anyone who is experiencing food insecurity for the month of November. In addition, the Neighborhood Roots community has created a Bridge Fund for anyone who needs help paying for food.

Depending on household size, you can receive either a $25 or $50 discount on groceries at the Guilford Food Hub (as long as funds are available). There’s nothing to prove. If you’re feeling worried about paying for food, these discounts are for you.

If you’re an individual or small family needing help buying food:
$20 off on produce
+ $25 off on all other groceries
= $45 off at the Guilford Food Hub

If you’re a family with children needing help buying food:
$20 off on produce
+ $50 off on all other groceries
= $70 off at the Guilford Food Hub

The regular Crop Cash discount (50% off all produce) is also still available if you are paying with SNAP/EBT. To maximize all the discounts, be sure to have at least $40 of produce in your shopping cart!

Added bonus: All of this money stays within our local community. Every dollar spent at the Guilford Food Hub goes to local farmers and food producers. Staying fed at the Guilford Food Hub feeds our community.

Never shopped at the Guilford Food Hub? Food is purchased online and then picked up and paid for at the Broad Brook Community Center. All food is locally sourced and sold at cost. There’s produce, meat, eggs, yogurt, cheese, bread, prepared frozen foods and much more!

💚 To buy food through the Guilford Food Hub, sign up here: https://www.neighborhoodroots.org/guilford-food-hub

If you are in a position to give, please consider donating to our SNAP Bridge Fund, Donate Here: https://nrfc.betterworld.org/campaigns/NRFC-SNAP-Fund

10/30/2025

The federal shutdown has paused SNAP and EBT benefits. Vermont has a plan to backfill funds through November 15. But the future of food assistance programs is uncertain, leaving many Vermont families unsure how they’ll afford it. At Neighborhood Roots Food Collective, we see how deeply these programs matter. This year alone, $7,025 in SNAP dollars have moved through the Guilford Food Hub, feeding families and supporting local farms and food producers.

To make sure no one is turned away when benefits pause we’re launching the SNAP Bridge Fund to help neighbors cover that gap when buying through the Food Hub.

This fund also bridges the gap when a family has run out of funds at the end of the month.

Every donation helps twice: it keeps food on local tables and dollars in our local farms and food systems.

Give today at https://nrfc.betterworld.org/campaigns/NRFC-SNAP-Fund

10/28/2025

A southern VT grower started American Persimmon trees from seed this past spring and has generously offered them to Neighborhood Roots for our fall fundraiser.

The bareroot saplings will be given out with donations of $25 (3 trees), $40 (5 trees), and $75 (10 trees).

They are random crosses from an orchard of named cultivar parents (Prok, Yates, Meader, Early Golden, Juhl, as well as other more obscure ones). Persimmons are more true to seed than apples, so they should produce excellent fruit. Please note that some of these seedlings are male that won't ever set fruit. Plant at least 2 to ensure fruiting.

Bareroot trees will be available for pickup (and planting!) on November 12th, from 1pm - 6pm at the Broad Brook Community Center in Guilford, VT or by other arrangement (if needed). Sorry, we can't ship trees.

All donations are tax deductible and will go to support Neighborhood Roots' efforts to boost our local food economy, build community connections, and improve food access for everyone. Neighborhood Roots is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Donate & Get your Persimmons here (while supplies last!): https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/SHFW9U95YSAN8

10/03/2025

Workshop: Preserving Orchard Fruit ... and more

When: Sunday, October 12, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Where: Broad Brook Community Center, Guilford

Register here: https://airtable.com/apptB2TtzvgiBHof0/pagl3LfVm9Dac8vSM/form

There are so many ways to preserve fruit! Dehydrated in slices, pureed and dehydrated into a fruit leather, turned into jam or fruit "butter", juiced and canned. Dehydrated fruit makes an excellent light weight snack for travel and camping, can be rehydrated while cooking oatmeal or a savory dish. Enjoy your own home made juice!

We will revel in the abundance of apples, while also discussing how to work with other fruit, including berries, in these various preparations.

Cost: We ask that you help cover the cost of ingredients and supplies. This will be $10-25, depending on the workshop and quantity you take home.

Instructor: Gina Shvartsman - an herbalist, farmer, shiatsu practitioner, and owner of Radical Rose Botanicals. You can find many of her herbal products at the Guilford Food Hub. Learn more about Gina and her work at www.radicalrosebotanicals.com

08/25/2025

Canning: The Abundance and Diversity of Tomatoes

When: Sunday, August 31, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Broad Brook Community Center, Guilford

Whether we grow our own tomatoes or buy local in bulk during the season, canning tomatoes at home is a much more affordable way to enjoy the abundance. Tomatoes can be made into sauce and paste, which can then be used as a base for ketchup, barbecue sauce, salsa, and more!

In this class, we will make and can tomato sauce together. We will also discuss the canning process in general, as well as how to go about making additional recipes to can for you to try at home. Bulk tomatoes will be provided for folks to purchase to take home our final canned tomato products. Please bring jars and new lids for canning. Extra jars will be available.

Cost: By donation. But, we ask that you help cover the cost of ingredients and supplies. This will be $10-25, depending on the workshop and quantity you take home.

Register online: https://airtable.com/apptB2TtzvgiBHof0/pagIzHbN2EWsb2MrE/form

Instructor: Gina Shvartsman - an herbalist, farmer, shiatsu practitioner, and owner of Radical Rose Botanicals. You can find many of her herbal products at the Guilford Food Hub. Learn more about Gina and her work at www.radicalrosebotanicals.com

08/10/2025

Neighborhood Roots Food Collective is offering a food preservation workshop series. Sign up for one or all! Details on the Neighborhood Roots website. https://www.neighborhoodroots.org/events

08/10/2025

Canning: The Abundance and Diversity of Tomatoes

When: Saturday, August 31, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Broad Brook Community Center, Guilford

Whether we grow our own tomatoes or buy local in bulk during the season, canning tomatoes at home is a much more affordable way to enjoy the abundance. Tomatoes can be made into sauce and paste, which can then be used as a base for ketchup, barbecue sauce, salsa, and more!
In this class, we will make and can tomato sauce together. We will also discuss the canning process in general, as well as how to go about making additional recipes to can for you to try at home. Bulk tomatoes will be provided for folks to purchase to take home our final canned tomato products. Please bring jars and new lids for canning. Extra jars will be available.

Register online: https://airtable.com/apptB2TtzvgiB.../pagIzHbN2EWsb2MrE/form

Cost: By donation. But, we ask that you help cover the cost of ingredients and supplies. This will be $10-25, depending on the workshop and quantity you take home.

Instructor: Gina Shvartsman - an herbalist, farmer, shiatsu practitioner, and owner of Radical Rose Botanicals. You can find many of her herbal products at the Guilford Food Hub. Learn more about Gina and her work at www.radicalrosebotanicals.com

Questions? Email [email protected]

07/28/2025

Food Preservation Workshop Series

Lacto fermentation: Pickles + Kraut
In this two hour class, we will begin the process of two lacto ferments together: pickles and sauerkraut. Participants are invited to be part of the preparation and everyone is welcome to take home some soon-to-be ferments. We will discuss the fermentation process, how-tos, recipes, ingredients, storage and additional resources.

September: Canning: The Abundance and Diversity of Tomatoes
October: Preserving Orchard Fruit and more
November: Making Jerky at Home

Neighborhood Roots Food Collective is offering monthly food preservation workshops through November. The classes will be held at the Broad Brook Community Center and taught by Gina Shvartsman, a Guilford Food Hub farmer and vendor. The workshops will be hand-on with folks being able to take home what is made together.

The workshop fee is by donation, but we ask that you help cover the cost of ingredients and supplies. This will be $10-15, depending on the workshop and quantity you take home. No one will be turned away.

Register here: https://airtable.com/apptB2TtzvgiBHof0/paglB88pyw980gzpW/form

06/05/2025

Herbal Shrub Workshop

When: Saturday, July 5, 10:00am

Where: Broad Brook Community Center, Guilford (map)

Shrubs, or drinking vinegars, are made when honey, fruit, and herbs are extracted in vinegar. Shrubs are a simple delicious way to integrate more plants into your days! Non-alcoholic and easy to make, shrubs provide a deeply hydrating electrolyte blend and are especially great at extracting minerals. They can be drunk as is, added to water or seltzer, and even used as salad dressing.

In this two hour class, we will discuss the ins and outs of making shrubs, make a strawberry shrub together that folks can bring home with them, and sample a variety of shrubs. Bring any herbs you are inspired to use!

Register online: https://airtable.com/apptB2TtzvgiBHof0/paglB88pyw980gzpW/form

Cost: By donation. Materials fee $5-15 for those wanting to take home a shrub. Feel free to bring your own jar or bottle; vessels will be available for those who need one.

Instructor: Gina Shvartsman

Gina Shvartsman is an herbalist, farmer, shiatsu practitioner, and owner of Radical Rose Botanicals. You can find many of her herbal products, including shrubs, at the Guilford Food Hub. Learn more about Gina and her work at www.radicalrosebotanicals.com

Questions? Email [email protected]

05/15/2025

Community Plant & Seed Swap

When: Saturday, May 17 at 10:00am (sharp!) - Arrive 5-10 minutes early to set up

Where: Guilford Community Park, 24 Church Dr
Rain or shine! We'll be under the timber frame pavilion.

Celebrate spring at the annual spring Community Plant Swap. We'll exchange our extra seeds, plant starts, houseplants, and perennial divisions as we get ready for the new gardening season. Don’t have anything to swap? That’s OK! There’ll be plenty of plants for everyone.

Please arrive on time! We can not control the exuberance of gardeners swapping plants. In past years, people began swapping right away and late comers missed out on some of the fun.

No registration required for this free community event.

05/08/2025

Are you interested in alternative land access and tenure, and alternative business structures? Join NOFA-VT and guest presenters from around the country and Canada for a monthly discussion exploring alternative land access models and business structures. Each month, we’ll hear from an agricultural project actively engaged in land access or land tenure outside of conventional mechanisms, with a specific focus on first-generation, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ farmers and land stewards.

Are you interested in alternative land access and tenure, and alternative business structures? Join NOFA-VT and guest presenters from around the country and Canada for a monthly discussion exploring alternative land access models and business structures. Each month, we’ll hear from an agricultural...