Shane Steffens from Knee Deep Farm explains how garlic is dried and stored for future use.
A different adventure explores historic Enosburg Falls, the heart of Vermont’s dairy industry and selfproclaimed “Dairy Capital of the World.” The walk follows the Missisquoi Rail Trail, an old railroad bed that has been converted into a recreation path stretching from St. Albans to Richford. The trail winds through the agricultural landscape and the views are postcardperfect. The Missisquoi River meanders alongside the trail and majestic Jay Peak punctuates the fields of corn and hay. After a gentle two mile walk, a working dairy farm with goats, cows and chickens comes into sight. This is Boston Post Dairy, an award winning cheese-making facility and store. The owners, Robert and Gisele Gervais, have been farming with their 15 children since 1962 and bought Boston Post Dairy with four of their daughters in 2007. At the dairy, it’s decision time: should you try the goat cheese or the cow cheese? Maybe a little of both. “Seeing a milking and cheese making operation was great,” says guide Martha Gamble. “The tour offered us a chance to look at the cheese cellars and see the processing of cheese, which was really interesting. I learned something about cheese making every time we toured!” Smugglers’ guest Charles Ferrera recalled the visit to the Boston Post Dairy as his favorite part of the Vermont Autumn Walking Experience. “The cheese was great and the people seemed to really enjoy what they were doing,” Ferrera said. Ferrera, who is from Florida,
praises the program saying “I had never been to New England or Vermont before and this was a great way to experience the local countryside and people.” What else might you do on your Vermont Autumn Walking Experience vacation? In addition to guided foliage walking tours, “Nature photography, a tour of a winery, wild mushroom hunting and learning how to play pickleball,” responds Gamble. Smugglers’ walking tour guide Laird McDowell adds, “Another unique experience is walking on the famous Stowe Recreation Path,” with its beautiful views of the mountains, farm land, and quaint Stowe Village. A trip to pick apples at a local orchard, an evening walk through lantern lit woods, a massage class and a culinary class are part of the many activities offered. The Vermont Autumn Walking Experience gives everyone who enjoys the experience a connection to the land, people, communities, culture and food that are unique to this part of the state. This is authentic Vermont. Linda Blasch is a Program Coordinator in Smugglers’ Activities Department. On any given day she can be found walking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, running, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or downhill skiing. She lives in the Jeffersonville area with her husband Chad, 2 year old daughter Juniper, and their two dogs.
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