About

Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center is a non-profit educational organic farm located on conserved land along the Connecticut River in East Thetford, VT. Our farm consists of over 40 acres and, as well as growing organic produce, is home to a bustling Farmstand, Café, commercial kitchen, and Education Center. We are dedicated to agricultural scientific research in the public interest, and to providing agricultural education and training to children, parents, educators, farmers, consumers, students and other members of the public.

Over the 20 years of our existence, the Farm’s practices have evolved to incorporate regenerative organic farming, and the Farm’s purpose and activities have evolved to include a thriving education program and opportunities for community engagement. Cedar Circle Farm operates as an organic farm with a social mission, and we prioritize involving members of our community as we develop and share practices that promote regenerative agriculture, good health, and a resource-rich environment.

Prior to 2000 Cedar Circle Farm was owned and operated by Robert and Marilyn Stone. Over their approximate 22-year tenure the farm’s main focus was growing annuals and perennials as bedding plants and operating a pick your own strawberry patch, blueberry patch and pumpkin patch. The Stones sold the development rights on the farm to the Vermont Land Trust in 1990. Prior to the Stones’ ownership Cedar Circle Farm had been a horse farm and a dairy farm.

When Will Allen and Kate Duesterberg became the proprietors, they kept the essence of the Stone’s business while transitioning the farm to organic growing practices. Their goal was to become a farm and education center. They envisioned the farm as a place raise public awareness about the benefits of local organic agriculture and to research and experiment with new organic growing practices.

​1500 B.C.: Hunter-gathers migrate into the Upper Valley

1500s: Native American inhabitants establish permanent agriculture practices along the Connecticut River. Read our land acknowledgment and about the Abenaki Nation’s historical presence on this land here.

1978: Robert and Marilyn Stone purchase the land and start Cedar Circle Farm

1990: The Stones sell the development rights of the farm to the Vermont Land Trust

2000: Will Allen and Kate Duesterberg take over as farmers

2001: The first growing season with organic practices

2002: Cedar Circle Farm hosts the first annual Strawberry and Pumpkin Festival

2004: Received organic certification through NOFA-VT and started our Community Supported Agriculture Program

2005: Built the Hello Café and held the first Dinner in the Field event

2011: Built a commercial kitchen on the property

2013: Our first wedding and the start of our wedding flower business

2015: The first season for our Homeschool and Little Farmers program

2016: The first year of summer camp and the start of our Research and Development department

2019: Purchased Sunny Fields blueberry patch after 30+ years of leasing

2020: Became a non-profit organization