Danielle Allen and Ben Dana bought the farm in 2013, having both grown organic vegetables since 2001, and renamed it Root 5 Farm in 2015. The land has been certified organic by Vermont Organic Farmers since 2006 and is conserved with the Vermont Land Trust. About 7 acres are in vegetables and half an acre in perennial asparagus, rhubarb and blueberries, with more than 100 varieties grown across the season. The farm builds its sandy loam soils through crop rotation, cover cropping and minimal tillage, uses row covers on certain crops instead of insect sprays, and never uses herbicides.
Most of what the farm grows goes out in a weekly CSA box. Members choose their own vegetables, pick a Tuesday or a Friday, and collect from one of twelve locations around the Upper Valley from April through November. Boxes can be topped up with milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, fruit and dry beans from other local producers, and you do not have to be a member to order a one-off Farm Fresh Box. The farm also makes Power Kraut, a small batch organic sauerkraut in flavours including original, turmeric, beet, Bavarian and kimchi, sold year round in Upper Valley shops such as the Co-op Food Stores in Hanover and Lebanon, Chapman's Store in Fairlee and Jake's Quechee Market.
