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Stories about Vermont places you love, told by the people who live here. Visit www.happyvermont.com.
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Along the Canadian border in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is Lake Wallace, a small international lake in Canaan. There’s an area known as the slash–a treeless zone of land–that runs along the entire US-Canadian border. You can see the slash from the southeastern shore of Lake Wallace, where Jackson’s Lodge is located.
Jackson’s Lodge is a family-owned vacation spot that’s been in the Jackson family since the 1950s. Gloria Jackson purchased the lodge and cabins from her parents in the 1980s. One of the cabins at Jackson's Lodge is located less than a dozen feet from the Canadian border. In the summer, you can swim, paddle or go boating into Canada, as long as you don’t set foot on Canadian land.
Gloria grew up in Canaan and worked at Jackson’s Lodge in the summers as a child. She now runs the business with her partner, Mark Leveillee.
Learn more at www.jacksonslodgevt.net
Visit www.happyvermont.com for stories and podcast episodes.
Friday Jul 08, 2022
Friday Jul 08, 2022
If you’ve ever visited the Dene Farm at Hildene in Manchester or driven by a small farm in Vermont, perhaps you've come across some unusual black and white cattle that look a bit different from Holsteins or Jerseys.
These beautiful, speckled creatures are Randall Lineback cattle. Randalls originated decades ago on a farm owned by Samuel Randall and his son Everett in Sunderland.
When Everett Randall died in the 1980s, the cattle were sold to other farms, where they lived in less-than-ideal conditions and nearly disappeared. Today, the cattle are considered critically endangered.
But efforts to protect and preserve Randall Linebacks are well underway and making progress. Cynthia Creech rescued the breed in 1987—when only about 15 Randalls were left in existence. Together with farmers Phil and Dianne Lang, Cynthia Creech started the Randall Cattle Registry in 2001.
Kim Pinsonneault, who works at the Dene Farm at Hildene and lives at the original Randall farm in Sunderland, now maintains the Randall Cattle registry.
Host Erica Houskeeper spent some time in southern Vermont meeting with a few Randall Lineback owners, including Kim Pinsonneault and Michelle Porter, to find out what makes these cattle so special.
https://hildene.org/visiting/estate/dene_farm
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Basin Harbor along Lake Champlain is a family-owned resort that’s been around since the 1880s. The resort has weathered the Great Depression, wars, pandemics, and recessions, and through it all managed to thrive.
Descendant Sarah Morris grew up at Basin Harbor, where she made lifelong friends and developed a strong work ethic under the guidance of her parents, Pennie Beach and the late Peter Morris. Now a fifth-generation host at the resort, Sarah can be found helping guests in the dining room, answering questions in the main lobby, and everything in between.
As the resort gears up for another busy season, Sarah reflects on her time at Basin Harbor, what the future holds, and what she loves most about the place she calls home.
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
Inside Erskine’s Grain & Garden, a fixture in Chester since 1952, customers will find flower seeds, chicken feed, farm tools, and everything in between.
The store, started by the Erskine family, is now owned by Janessa Purney and her husband, Burleigh Sunflower.
The building, located in Chester Depot, is a reason alone to visit. With its creaky floors and sliding wooden doors overlooking the railroad tracks, Erskine’s is one of the more quirky, old-time grain and garden stores you’ll find in Vermont.
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
April’s Maple in the small town of Canaan is located on the Canadian border in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. April Lemay grew up in Canaan, left home for college, and worked in the corporate world before deciding to return to her hometown. She now owns and operates April's Maple, a Vermont maple farm and cafe along Route 114.
"I was anything but a farmer. I always thought I was destined to live in Boston or New York or somewhere a little less remote or rural," she says. "But the land was calling me back, and I didn't even realize it."
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
In Vermont's Champlain Islands, where the land is flat and surrounded by water, ice fishing is a big deal this time of year. For Vermonter Bruce Batchelder, ice fishing has been an important part of his life for as long as he can remember.
A former educator and school administrator, Bruce and his wife Joanne have owned Holiday Harbor Lodge in North Hero for the past 16 years.
On a recent mid-February weekend, Bruce was particularly busy hosting a group of ice fishing enthusiasts for the 42nd annual Islands Ice Fishing Derby in northern Vermont.
In this episode of Happy Vermont, Bruce talks about what he loves most about this traditional sport that has deep roots in Vermont.
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Town meeting has been the basic system of governance for Vermont towns since the 1760s. But participation has been on the decline for several decades.
Former Governor Jim Douglas talks about the importance of town meeting, and shares why he is worried that this powerful local tradition might fade away.
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Duncan Murdoch, a former actor, is a certified nature and forest therapy guide. He started forest bathing workshops in Central Park before returning to his home state of Vermont in 2015.
Forest bathing, which first originated in Japan, is a research-based practice for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural areas.
In this episode, Duncan talks about leaving acting behind, the beauty of nature, and how being a forest therapy guide changed his life.
Learn more about Duncan: https://natureconnectionguide.com or visit www.happyvermont.com
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Monday Nov 29, 2021
Russell Farm in Starksboro has been in the Christmas tree business for 40 years. Located off Route 116 in Addison County, the family-owned former dairy farm is where locals and visitors flock to every November and December to cut their own Christmas trees.
A visit to Russell Farm includes a horse-drawn wagon ride, hot chocolate, homemade cookies, and lots of holiday cheer.
Host Erica Houskeeper talks with Russell Farm owner Dave Russell and his grandson Brandon about Christmas trees, the importance of tradition, and the future of the farm.
Learn more at www.happyvermont.com
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Host Erica Houskeeper returned to her home state of Vermont in November 2006. In this episode, she shares some of her favorite areas of Vermont and talks about a few places she's come across and fallen in love with in recent years.
You can find more Vermont stories by Erica on www.happyvermont.com.