Support Cross Farm's Recovery After Flood

Cross Farm is a certified organic pasture based livestock farm located in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, in the town of Barnet, which was severely impacted by unprecedented flooding.

The farm suffered devastating losses during the catastrophic storm and flooding the night of July 10th. Zach and Olivia are in need of community support so they can rebuild crucial infrastructure; replace hay, firewood and large amounts of fencing that were destroyed; tackle the monumental task of cleaning mud, debris and hundreds of boulders and rocks from their barnyard, pastures and within the barn itself; and replace crucial roofing and building materials, purchase new material for repairs and rebuilding their woodshed. The waters flooded and contaminated their certified organic pastures, making them unsuitable and unsafe for grazing livestock. When the barn flooded, 400 one-week-old broiler chicks died, essentially ending their chicken season even before it has really begun.

Cross Farm is a crucial piece of the agricultural landscape of Barnet , VT, and one of very few certified organic, pasture-based livestock operations in the area. Their farm is cherished by many, not only for their ethical, humane and restorative farming practices, but for their presence in our community, preserving a historic homestead as a working farm, in such a conscientious and responsible way.

Funds raised from this effort will go toward the infrastructure rebuilding, repairs and clean-up mentioned above, ease the burden of the significant loss of sales from product they now can not produce due to deaths of broiler chicks and loss of safe, clean pastures to graze livestock, and allow them to continue caring for the animals and land they steward in the most attentive way. Any residual funds raised over the goal amount will be donated to other area farms and agricultural programs in need.

Zach and Olivia are down-to-earth, humble and hardworking neighbors, expecting their first child this fall. They are quick to lend a hand to fellow farmers and community members, lending equipment, dropping what they are doing to help move a neighbors' animals, assess the health of other farmers' flocks, pitch in on other fields during haying, share their knowledge and expertise in all areas of livestock farming, the list goes on. They are the genuine, kind, tireless farmers WE rely on to nourish our families, and keep our town a working-lands, agricultural community. Like many farmers, they are reluctant to ask for help, but let's allow them to rely on US- their community- now, to help them through this rough time.

You can read more about their farm here : https://www.crossfarm.com

and find more information, photos and videos of flood damage and their experience on their Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/Crossfarmvt

and their Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/crossfarmvt/

I am a friend and neighbor of Zach and Olivia and I am creating this fundraiser with their permission. Thank you for your support of small family farms- truly the heart and soul of Vermont.