Customers, employees and community members – both the two-and four-legged varieties – know they can count on Ned Robinson who, along with his wife Shannon Mead, recently purchased Richmond’s The Crate Escape.
“I’ve always loved dogs,” he admits. His laser focus on customer satisfaction comes from 22 years as a high-level chef at celebrated spots like Colorado’s Vail Resort, while his deep connection to Richmond stems from his seven years at Stone’s Throw Pizza (more on that below…).
His dedication was evidenced on the evening of July 10th, and on throughout the long day and night of the 11th, as heavy rains and historic flooding devastated Vermont. On the banks of the inundated Winooski River, Richmond was plunged beneath six feet of water. Ned stood watch at The Crate Escape’s nearby Route 2 location as the river continued to advance, ultimately closing off the road in either direction and separating the dozens of boarding pups in his care from their families.
“I made the call and spent the night here during the flood so we’d have someone at the facility if no one else could get back here,” he says. In the end, “we escaped flooding, but it was pretty close,” he adds. He spent the following day on the phone, handling cancellations, providing detour directions, and checking in with staff.
But the chaos of the flooding soon drove into a spike in business as loyal customers lined up again for doggy daycare and boarding. “Whatever we lost in cancellations that day we immediately made back up in extra bookings for the rest of the week. People needed time to clean up and help friends and family with their clean-ups as well.”
The Crate Escape was operating at full capacity even before Ned and Shannon purchased it. “COVID puppies,” Ned says. “People got dogs during the pandemic when they were working from home, and needed boarding and daycare for them, especially after they returned to their offices,” he notes. When the business, which originally opened in 1995, came on the market, the friendly owner of a competing business encouraged the couple to buy it. “Demand is incredibly high for dog boarding, and he was pretty sure there’d be plenty of clients for all of us,” Ned recalls.
He’d been contemplating a career change, a departure from the restaurant industry he’d known for decades, when his boss at Stone’s Throw Pizza, a local VCLF borrower, encouraged him to take a look at the Loan Fund. Good to know, Ned says “because I’d already been rejected for loans from some of the larger banks. We pulled together all of our savings from my 22 years working, and Shannon’s 19 years, and got help from our families and it still wasn’t enough. VCLF helped us over the finish line.”
Ned praises VCLF’s lending team for their flexibility, guidance and generosity with their time, advice and assistance. VT SBA helped him craft a business plan with Ned at the helm, and Shannon coming on board later. The loan closed in May and Ned got to work on the improvements he’d planned. Ultimately, they’d retain all 14 employees and added additional help during the busy summer boarding season.
“I’m investing in this community. Richmond is a small town, and The Crate Escape is one of our anchor businesses. These jobs matter. I want this to be a quality place to work, where workers feel supported and respected,” he says. To that end, he provided raises for all staff on the day he took over.
Ned and his staff care for roughly 50 dogs every day, offering boarding, day care, plus lots of extras that adoring pet owners love. “We offer grooming, cuddle time, bedtime snacks and bedtime stories, trail walks, nail trims, oatmeal and skunk baths, you name it. And we’ve retained 100% of our customers over the course of buying the business,” he adds with a smile.
Post-flood, “Bookings are up, but we’ve got more staff members than before so we can keep the quality of care really high,” he says. “Without VCLF who knows what would have become this place that so many local folks count on, both as customers and employees? Now these jobs are safe, and these dogs are safe. It's the perfect story!” crateescapevt.com
In the 2nd Quarter of 2023, VCLF Loaned $3,361,700 to Vermont's small businesses, early care & learning programs, developers of affordable housing & community facilities and BIPOC-owned and led businesses. Financing was also provided to:
Active VT , Burlington
Active VT, owned and operated by CrossFit-certified Sam Werbel and located in Burlington’s historic Union Station, offers individual and group fitness training, nutrition coaching and adventure tours at local farms, breweries, and restaurants. He used VCLF financing to purchase gym equipment, flooring, furnishings, and to cover other startup expenses for their new waterfront facility. The loan created one new job. activevt.com
Ariana Natural Market, Essex Jct.
Wazir Hashimi, who emigrated to Vermont from Afghanistan in 2012, opened Ariana Natural Market to meet the need in the growing local Afghan/Muslim community for Middle Eastern groceries and halal meats otherwise not readily available in Vermont. He used VCLF financing to purchase inventory and complete renovations to the new space. ariananaturalmarket.com
Aunt Sadie’s, Lunenburg
Aunt Sadie’s manufactures scented candles in 30+ fragrances, which they wholesale to gift shops, chain retailers, catalogues, and direct to customers. After being in business for 25 years, they found that some of their most hardworking and essential equipment – wax processing vats, digital thermometers, and various systems – were in need of replacement; VCLF financing helped cover these costs. auntsadiesonline.com
Bone Mountain Farm, Bolton
With a plan in place to expand and diversify crops and production on their 10 high meadow acres, farmers Tucker Andrews and Thomas Case came to VCLF for a SPROUT loan to help finance a new walk-in cooler, harvest bins and a seed separator that will enable them to scale up their sales to High Mowing Organic Seeds (another VCLF borrower!). The loan preserves one job. bonemountainfarm.com
Burlington Trolley Tours, Burlington
Earlier in 2023, New Americans Catherine Turyamureeba, Hannington Kasagga, & Barbara Asiimwe, emigres from Uganda, used a VCLF Justice Forward Fund to purchase the trolley to provide tours of the greater Burlington area (and of additional Vermont tourism sites, in the near future). This subsequent loan was used to pay vehicle taxes and insurance for the trolley. The loan helps create three jobs.burlingtontrolley.com
D’Aversa Furniture, Richmond
Since 2019, D’Aversa Furniture has been creating custom fine furniture including tables, bookshelves, desks and more, made from local wood. Now ready to expand his business, owner Nate D’Aversa used a VCLF SPROUT loan to purchase inventory, a drill press, band saw, jet lathe, shop vac, and dust collection system. The loan preserves one job, with one additional job anticipated. daversafurniture.com
D’s Transits Solution, Winooski
New American Didier Munyugu emigrated from Burundi to Vermont in 2018, earned an Automotive Service Excellence certificate at the Center for Technology in Essex and his commercial driver’s license, and started D’s Transits Solution in 2021, providing moving and delivery services throughout New England with use of a rented truck. He used a Justice Forward Fund loan to purchase an additional vehicle, doubling his capacity. The loan preserves one job and creates two new jobs. dstransits.com
Euphoric Hair Experience, Rutland
Entrepreneur Noting the absence of hair braiding services in the Rutland area, La’Keiah Batista Sanchez saw her opportunity. She came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund to start up her salon business, which will also include one barber’s chair for rent. The loan creates one fulltime and eight part-time jobs. euphorichairexperiencevt.com
Fresh Roots Farm, Sharon
Former VCLF borrower Fresh Roots Farm produces vegetables and herbs using organic and sustainable practices on its 10.5 acres, selling at farmers’ markets and local venues and through wholesale accounts. After suffering annual crop losses to deer, owner Colemann Coburn returned to VCLF to help finance an electric fence. The loan preserves one year-round job, with seasonal jobs as needed. nofavt.org/fresh-roots-farm
GBG Indian Kitchen, Burlington
GBG Indian Kitchen, a family-owned Indian restaurant, opened at the start of the pandemic in 2020 and has survived thanks to its incredible authentic menu. Looking to the future, the owners came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund loan to provide working capital that will cover restaurant improvements, higher wages for staff, and more. The loan preserves three jobs with additional new jobs anticipated. gbgindiankitchenvt.com
Jamaican Jewelz, Bellows Falls
Jamaican Jewelz, a Black woman-owned Jamaican food truck and catering business, opened in 2021 and has grown steadily since. In addition to the food truck, the business also sells at festivals and other events via a towable mobile unit, which is in need of refurbishing and updated equipment. They used a Justice Forward Fund to cover costs of these updates, for staff wages and working capital. The loan preserves two jobs. jamaicanjewelz.square.site
The Mill School, Woodstock
Caroline and Craig Olsen own Nutty Life, makers of plant milks, for which they’ve previously borrowed from VCLF. They returned to the Loan Fund for help financing their new start-up early care & learning facility, the Mill School. This loan covered costs of renovation and fit-up of the new facility, including flooring, electrical and plumbing installation, sheetrock and more. The loan creates 17 early care & learning slots and six jobs. themillschool.com
Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation/Yellow Barn Business Accelerator, Hardwick
The Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation (NEKDC) came to VCLF for help financing the renovation of the iconic Hardwick Yellow Barn, adding a new 25,000 square foot business accelerator facility to accommodate the nonprofit food business incubator the Center for an Agricultural Economy, and renowned cheese makers Cabot Creamery and the Cellars at Jasper Hill. VCLF’s gap funding will bridge the initial construction costs as the developers await disbursement on federal and state. The loan creates 50+ jobs. nvda.net/yellow_barn/about.html
Shiki Wrap, Burlington
It’s estimated that over 2.3 million pounds of discarded paper gift wrap is sent to US landfills every year. Meagan Downey looked for an alternative, more environmentally sustainable alternative and came up with the idea for Shiki Wrap, based on the Japanese furoshiki wrap process. Shiki Wrap utilizes fabric from recycled plastic, as gift wrap. Meagan used a previous VCLF loan for start-up financing, and recently added fabric gift bags to her product line. She used this most recent loan to purchase gift bag inventory. The loan preserves one job. shikiwrap.com
Shires Housing/Willows Mobile Home Park, Bennington
Longtime VCLF partner Shires Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, owns and manages 400 rental units throughout Bennington County, providing property management and SASH (Support and Services at Home) program services. As they undertake a new project adding seven new zero-energy rated modular homes to their Willows Mobile Home, they’re using VCLF financing to bridge payment for project & infrastructure costs until grant reimbursement arrives. The loan creates seven new rental homes for lower-income families, and eight construction jobs. shireshousing.org
South End Sliders, Burlington
Kujtim Hashani, a new American refugee from Kosovo, started South End Sliders food cart & catering as a college student, selling burgers, pulled chicken and other ‘slider’ sandwiches and more. Wanting to expand his catering and festival appearances while maintaining his food cart’s prime location on Burlington’s Church Street, he came to VCLF for a SPROUT loan to purchase the additional equipment needed to operate in two locations at once. The Loan preserves one job and creates one new job. churchstmarketplace.com/south-end-sliders-cart
Star 5 Travel, East Ryegate
Star 5 Travel is a start-up travel agency booking high-quality trips at reasonable prices, with a focus on ocean cruises and travels to the Bahamas and Europe. Owner Antwyne Denny, a Black man, assists customers with all aspects of travel planning and emphasizes customer service. He used a Justice Forward Fund loan to provide working capital and to cover purchases of laptops, printers and phones. The loan creates one job and five part-time jobs.
Steinmetz, Burlington
Brian and Ruth Steinmetz came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund to help finance their start up real estate and interior design business. Brian is a licensed Vermont realtor, and Ruth, a New American and native of Kenya, has worked extensively in design. Their business will offer wrapround real estate and design services, with a focus on New American clients looking to buy a home in Vermont. They used a Justice Forward Fund loan to pay for marketing, equipment and fit-up of their home/office space. The loan creates two jobs, with two more jobs anticipated. steinmetz-vt.com
Threading Beauty Studio, Burlington
Threading Beauty Studio beauty salon, owned and operated by Nepali émigré Doma Thapa, is a full-service salon specializing in eyebrow threading. The business currently has a five-star Google customer rating. Doma came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund loan to help finance the purchase of a former salon’s business assets including its customer list. The loan preserves three jobs. domathapaltd.com
Vermont Kitchen/Nutty Life, Woodstock
Since 2018, Nutty Life has been manufacturing almond, cashew, oat, coconut and hemp milks made from ethically grown nuts and sweetened with Vermont maple syrup. Planning to increase capacity and focus on higher volume bulk and wholesale orders, they located two commercial units ideal for their purposes, and approached VCLF to help finance the purchase. The loan preserves two jobs. nutty-life.com
Walnut Hill Farm, Pawlet
Walnut Hill Farm, VCLF borrowers since 2015, raises and sells pigs for processing into charcuterie; they also raise a variety of fresh produce.They used a new VCLF loan to finance repairs to their pigs barn, the expansion of their heirloom corn operation and to purchase some new equipment. The loan preserves three jobs, plus additional seasonal positions. walnuthillfarmvt.com
Customers, employees and community members – both the two-and four-legged varieties – know they can count on Ned Robinson who, along with his wife Shannon Mead, recently purchased Richmond’s The Crate Escape.
“I’ve always loved dogs,” he admits. His laser focus on customer satisfaction comes from 22 years as a high-level chef at celebrated spots like Colorado’s Vail Resort, while his deep connection to Richmond stems from his seven years at Stone’s Throw Pizza (more on that below…).
His dedication was evidenced on the evening of July 10th, and on throughout the long day and night of the 11th, as heavy rains and historic flooding devastated Vermont. On the banks of the inundated Winooski River, Richmond was plunged beneath six feet of water. Ned stood watch at The Crate Escape’s nearby Route 2 location as the river continued to advance, ultimately closing off the road in either direction and separating the dozens of boarding pups in his care from their families.
“I made the call and spent the night here during the flood so we’d have someone at the facility if no one else could get back here,” he says. In the end, “we escaped flooding, but it was pretty close,” he adds. He spent the following day on the phone, handling cancellations, providing detour directions, and checking in with staff.
But the chaos of the flooding soon drove into a spike in business as loyal customers lined up again for doggy daycare and boarding. “Whatever we lost in cancellations that day we immediately made back up in extra bookings for the rest of the week. People needed time to clean up and help friends and family with their clean-ups as well.”
The Crate Escape was operating at full capacity even before Ned and Shannon purchased it. “COVID puppies,” Ned says. “People got dogs during the pandemic when they were working from home, and needed boarding and daycare for them, especially after they returned to their offices,” he notes. When the business, which originally opened in 1995, came on the market, the friendly owner of a competing business encouraged the couple to buy it. “Demand is incredibly high for dog boarding, and he was pretty sure there’d be plenty of clients for all of us,” Ned recalls.
He’d been contemplating a career change, a departure from the restaurant industry he’d known for decades, when his boss at Stone’s Throw Pizza, a local VCLF borrower, encouraged him to take a look at the Loan Fund. Good to know, Ned says “because I’d already been rejected for loans from some of the larger banks. We pulled together all of our savings from my 22 years working, and Shannon’s 19 years, and got help from our families and it still wasn’t enough. VCLF helped us over the finish line.”
Ned praises VCLF’s lending team for their flexibility, guidance and generosity with their time, advice and assistance. VT SBA helped him craft a business plan with Ned at the helm, and Shannon coming on board later. The loan closed in May and Ned got to work on the improvements he’d planned. Ultimately, they’d retain all 14 employees and added additional help during the busy summer boarding season.
“I’m investing in this community. Richmond is a small town, and The Crate Escape is one of our anchor businesses. These jobs matter. I want this to be a quality place to work, where workers feel supported and respected,” he says. To that end, he provided raises for all staff on the day he took over.
Ned and his staff care for roughly 50 dogs every day, offering boarding, day care, plus lots of extras that adoring pet owners love. “We offer grooming, cuddle time, bedtime snacks and bedtime stories, trail walks, nail trims, oatmeal and skunk baths, you name it. And we’ve retained 100% of our customers over the course of buying the business,” he adds with a smile.
Post-flood, “Bookings are up, but we’ve got more staff members than before so we can keep the quality of care really high,” he says. “Without VCLF who knows what would have become this place that so many local folks count on, both as customers and employees? Now these jobs are safe, and these dogs are safe. It's the perfect story!” crateescapevt.com
In the 2nd Quarter of 2023, VCLF Loaned $3,361,700 to Vermont's small businesses, early care & learning programs, developers of affordable housing & community facilities and BIPOC-owned and led businesses. Financing was also provided to:
Active VT , Burlington
Active VT, owned and operated by CrossFit-certified Sam Werbel and located in Burlington’s historic Union Station, offers individual and group fitness training, nutrition coaching and adventure tours at local farms, breweries, and restaurants. He used VCLF financing to purchase gym equipment, flooring, furnishings, and to cover other startup expenses for their new waterfront facility. The loan created one new job. activevt.com
Ariana Natural Market, Essex Jct.
Wazir Hashimi, who emigrated to Vermont from Afghanistan in 2012, opened Ariana Natural Market to meet the need in the growing local Afghan/Muslim community for Middle Eastern groceries and halal meats otherwise not readily available in Vermont. He used VCLF financing to purchase inventory and complete renovations to the new space. ariananaturalmarket.com
Aunt Sadie’s, Lunenburg
Aunt Sadie’s manufactures scented candles in 30+ fragrances, which they wholesale to gift shops, chain retailers, catalogues, and direct to customers. After being in business for 25 years, they found that some of their most hardworking and essential equipment – wax processing vats, digital thermometers, and various systems – were in need of replacement; VCLF financing helped cover these costs. auntsadiesonline.com
Bone Mountain Farm, Bolton
With a plan in place to expand and diversify crops and production on their 10 high meadow acres, farmers Tucker Andrews and Thomas Case came to VCLF for a SPROUT loan to help finance a new walk-in cooler, harvest bins and a seed separator that will enable them to scale up their sales to High Mowing Organic Seeds (another VCLF borrower!). The loan preserves one job. bonemountainfarm.com
Burlington Trolley Tours, Burlington
Earlier in 2023, New Americans Catherine Turyamureeba, Hannington Kasagga, & Barbara Asiimwe, emigres from Uganda, used a VCLF Justice Forward Fund to purchase the trolley to provide tours of the greater Burlington area (and of additional Vermont tourism sites, in the near future). This subsequent loan was used to pay vehicle taxes and insurance for the trolley. The loan helps create three jobs.burlingtontrolley.com
D’Aversa Furniture, Richmond
Since 2019, D’Aversa Furniture has been creating custom fine furniture including tables, bookshelves, desks and more, made from local wood. Now ready to expand his business, owner Nate D’Aversa used a VCLF SPROUT loan to purchase inventory, a drill press, band saw, jet lathe, shop vac, and dust collection system. The loan preserves one job, with one additional job anticipated. daversafurniture.com
D’s Transits Solution, Winooski
New American Didier Munyugu emigrated from Burundi to Vermont in 2018, earned an Automotive Service Excellence certificate at the Center for Technology in Essex and his commercial driver’s license, and started D’s Transits Solution in 2021, providing moving and delivery services throughout New England with use of a rented truck. He used a Justice Forward Fund loan to purchase an additional vehicle, doubling his capacity. The loan preserves one job and creates two new jobs. dstransits.com
Euphoric Hair Experience, Rutland
Entrepreneur Noting the absence of hair braiding services in the Rutland area, La’Keiah Batista Sanchez saw her opportunity. She came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund to start up her salon business, which will also include one barber’s chair for rent. The loan creates one fulltime and eight part-time jobs. euphorichairexperiencevt.com
Fresh Roots Farm, Sharon
Former VCLF borrower Fresh Roots Farm produces vegetables and herbs using organic and sustainable practices on its 10.5 acres, selling at farmers’ markets and local venues and through wholesale accounts. After suffering annual crop losses to deer, owner Colemann Coburn returned to VCLF to help finance an electric fence. The loan preserves one year-round job, with seasonal jobs as needed. nofavt.org/fresh-roots-farm
GBG Indian Kitchen, Burlington
GBG Indian Kitchen, a family-owned Indian restaurant, opened at the start of the pandemic in 2020 and has survived thanks to its incredible authentic menu. Looking to the future, the owners came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund loan to provide working capital that will cover restaurant improvements, higher wages for staff, and more. The loan preserves three jobs with additional new jobs anticipated. gbgindiankitchenvt.com
Jamaican Jewelz, Bellows Falls
Jamaican Jewelz, a Black woman-owned Jamaican food truck and catering business, opened in 2021 and has grown steadily since. In addition to the food truck, the business also sells at festivals and other events via a towable mobile unit, which is in need of refurbishing and updated equipment. They used a Justice Forward Fund to cover costs of these updates, for staff wages and working capital. The loan preserves two jobs. jamaicanjewelz.square.site
The Mill School, Woodstock
Caroline and Craig Olsen own Nutty Life, makers of plant milks, for which they’ve previously borrowed from VCLF. They returned to the Loan Fund for help financing their new start-up early care & learning facility, the Mill School. This loan covered costs of renovation and fit-up of the new facility, including flooring, electrical and plumbing installation, sheetrock and more. The loan creates 17 early care & learning slots and six jobs. themillschool.com
Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation/Yellow Barn Business Accelerator, Hardwick
The Northeast Kingdom Development Corporation (NEKDC) came to VCLF for help financing the renovation of the iconic Hardwick Yellow Barn, adding a new 25,000 square foot business accelerator facility to accommodate the nonprofit food business incubator the Center for an Agricultural Economy, and renowned cheese makers Cabot Creamery and the Cellars at Jasper Hill. VCLF’s gap funding will bridge the initial construction costs as the developers await disbursement on federal and state. The loan creates 50+ jobs. nvda.net/yellow_barn/about.html
Shiki Wrap, Burlington
It’s estimated that over 2.3 million pounds of discarded paper gift wrap is sent to US landfills every year. Meagan Downey looked for an alternative, more environmentally sustainable alternative and came up with the idea for Shiki Wrap, based on the Japanese furoshiki wrap process. Shiki Wrap utilizes fabric from recycled plastic, as gift wrap. Meagan used a previous VCLF loan for start-up financing, and recently added fabric gift bags to her product line. She used this most recent loan to purchase gift bag inventory. The loan preserves one job. shikiwrap.com
Shires Housing/Willows Mobile Home Park, Bennington
Longtime VCLF partner Shires Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, owns and manages 400 rental units throughout Bennington County, providing property management and SASH (Support and Services at Home) program services. As they undertake a new project adding seven new zero-energy rated modular homes to their Willows Mobile Home, they’re using VCLF financing to bridge payment for project & infrastructure costs until grant reimbursement arrives. The loan creates seven new rental homes for lower-income families, and eight construction jobs. shireshousing.org
South End Sliders, Burlington
Kujtim Hashani, a new American refugee from Kosovo, started South End Sliders food cart & catering as a college student, selling burgers, pulled chicken and other ‘slider’ sandwiches and more. Wanting to expand his catering and festival appearances while maintaining his food cart’s prime location on Burlington’s Church Street, he came to VCLF for a SPROUT loan to purchase the additional equipment needed to operate in two locations at once. The Loan preserves one job and creates one new job. churchstmarketplace.com/south-end-sliders-cart
Star 5 Travel, East Ryegate
Star 5 Travel is a start-up travel agency booking high-quality trips at reasonable prices, with a focus on ocean cruises and travels to the Bahamas and Europe. Owner Antwyne Denny, a Black man, assists customers with all aspects of travel planning and emphasizes customer service. He used a Justice Forward Fund loan to provide working capital and to cover purchases of laptops, printers and phones. The loan creates one job and five part-time jobs.
Steinmetz, Burlington
Brian and Ruth Steinmetz came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund to help finance their start up real estate and interior design business. Brian is a licensed Vermont realtor, and Ruth, a New American and native of Kenya, has worked extensively in design. Their business will offer wrapround real estate and design services, with a focus on New American clients looking to buy a home in Vermont. They used a Justice Forward Fund loan to pay for marketing, equipment and fit-up of their home/office space. The loan creates two jobs, with two more jobs anticipated. steinmetz-vt.com
Threading Beauty Studio, Burlington
Threading Beauty Studio beauty salon, owned and operated by Nepali émigré Doma Thapa, is a full-service salon specializing in eyebrow threading. The business currently has a five-star Google customer rating. Doma came to VCLF for a Justice Forward Fund loan to help finance the purchase of a former salon’s business assets including its customer list. The loan preserves three jobs. domathapaltd.com
Vermont Kitchen/Nutty Life, Woodstock
Since 2018, Nutty Life has been manufacturing almond, cashew, oat, coconut and hemp milks made from ethically grown nuts and sweetened with Vermont maple syrup. Planning to increase capacity and focus on higher volume bulk and wholesale orders, they located two commercial units ideal for their purposes, and approached VCLF to help finance the purchase. The loan preserves two jobs. nutty-life.com
Walnut Hill Farm, Pawlet
Walnut Hill Farm, VCLF borrowers since 2015, raises and sells pigs for processing into charcuterie; they also raise a variety of fresh produce.They used a new VCLF loan to finance repairs to their pigs barn, the expansion of their heirloom corn operation and to purchase some new equipment. The loan preserves three jobs, plus additional seasonal positions. walnuthillfarmvt.com