Accommodations
Hotel Vermont
Price Range – $$$
Hotel Vermont is located on the shores of Lake Champlain in downtown Burlington – Vermont’s most populous city. The independently owned and operated hotel prides themselves in supporting their local community. From farm-fresh cuisine served at their in-house restaurant, to hosted events and pop-ups, down to the bathroom amenities and chocolate – their operations and practices all align with community development intentions. Designed with a rustic and modern ambience, this eco-accommodation naturally gives off a homey Vermont-feel, encouraging guests to act and immerse themselves as locals too.
Quarry Brook
Price Range – $ – $$
Quarry Brook’s Geodesic Dome is a unique stay located in Southern Vermont, about 5 miles from downtown Putney. Owned by farming couple Nick and Tara, their collaborative goals are to “make the joy of slowing down and connecting accessible to all” and to provide for their local community. Surrounded by miles of trails, a swimmable abandoned rock quarry, and mountains of trees, this eco-accommodation allows guests to relax, recharge, and experience sustainability off the beaten track.
Bonus points: Geodesic Dome out of your price range or booked? Quarry Brook also has a campsite available for $25-30/night if pitching a tent is more optimal for you.
Eateries
Shelburne Vineyard
Price Range – $ – $$
Located in Shelburne, Vermont, Shelburne Vineyard prioritizes sustainability to maximize their efforts in maintaining healthy soil and land quality – because that is what produces the best fruit! Using strategic farming practices, ethical materials, reduced mowing, and choosing to never use herbicides or cultivate the soil, the winery ensures that environmentally sound measures are being taken in all areas of operation. Because they recognize that every choice made will have an impact on our future.
The Works Café
Price Range – $
The Works Café is a New England based community-conscious eatery that values the people, the profit, and the planet through local, delicious food. Across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, this eatery serves a variety of artisanal sandwiches, traditional NY-style bagels, organic quinoa bowls, chef-inspired salads, and more. Their thoughtfully sourced menu promises to leave a more positive impact – through good jobs and fresh, healthy food.
Zenbarn
Price Range – $$
With a ‘soil to soul’ mission, Zenbarn in Waterbury, Vermont is a community space that serves fresh, farm to table fare taking inspiration from global travels and pairing it with live music. After converting their rustic century-old former dairy barn into the space known today, Zenbarn opened their doors in 2016 motivated to operate both environmentally and socially sustainably. Through eclectic, local cuisine and live entertainment, the underlying mission is to always put the wellness and strength of their local community first.
The Skinny Pancake
Price Range – $
Located across the state of Vermont, The Skinny Pancake is on a mission to change the world through making delicious, healthy food affordable and enjoyable. With a double bottom line mission statement, this eatery recognizes that “there is no profit without purpose, and no purpose without profit.” For example, they get all ingredients from farmers and food producers nearby, are on the mission to Zero Waste, commit 1% of their revenue towards food shed non-profit organizations, on top of many more. Through fast friendly service and local cuisine, The Skinny Pancake has become an iconic Vermont experience.
Farmers & Foragers Food Truck
Price Range – $
Farmers & Foragers is a food truck company located in Burlington, Vermont who is mindful of sourcing locally, supporting organic & sustainable farming, and celebrating Vermont food culture. The co-founders Lauren & Sol believe that everyone should be eating local food and therefore purchase all their food from farm partners, and even forage in the Vermont woods themselves! Staying true to seasonality, Farmers & Foragers has a regular rotating menu, based on what is fresh from their local farm partners.
Shopping
Billie Jean Vintage
Price Range – $$
Billie Jean Vintage is a premier vintage boutique by the Burlington Waterfront. They pride themselves in bringing customers high quality, one of a kind vintage items. By bringing new life to old clothing, the pieces found in this shop are meant to be long-lasting and extend the garment life cycle.
Experiences
Vermont Food & Farm Tours
Price Range – $$
Led by Amy Todisco, green living & wellness expert and tour guide, Vermont Food & Farm Tours is a guided organic farm, hydroponic greenhouse, and backyard garden tour for foodies interested in natural eating. On this tour, Amy will provide green living tips on healthy growing and cooking, and how healthy vibrant food can be used as natural medicine.
Bonus points: There is an optional add-on for a fresh, farm to table lunch. Bringing her teaching to life!
Wildcraft in the Mountains
Price Range – $$
Getting a true local experience, Ted and Linda will take you around the land on their property in their neighborhood to scour for food. Commonly finding ingredients like harvest young cattails, trout lilies, mushrooms, wild ramps, amongst other wild edibles, guests will be led through a cooking class to make either lunch or dinner.
New Leaf Organics
Price Range – $ – $$
Located in the Champlain Valley of Central Vermont, the New Leaf Organics farm is a mission-driven business that is heavily involved in the state’s vibrant agricultural community. From cozy mountain yurts you can stay in, to cooking and floral arranging classes, this local, community-based organic farm will personalize sustainable experiences whether you are stopping by for a few days or even just a few hours.
ecomadic is a sustainable tourism brand that empowers travelers to make more conscious decisions. By curating a marketplace to easily find and identify responsible businesses to support, and providing educational publications through our online green travel magazine, ecomadic is committed to helping empower travelers make responsible choices throughout their journeys.
