Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston, Vermont is a historic 571-acre property that has been in active cultivation since 1791—making it 234 years old—and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with 23 historic structures. The farm is renowned for growing 130-140 certified ecologically-grown heirloom apple varieties, one of the largest collections in the country, including rare cultivars like Calville Blanc D'Hiver, Roxbury Russet, and pink-fleshed Mountain Rose apples that reviewers describe as "bumpy, weird, delicious." Located on Kipling Road adjacent to Naulakha, the former Vermont estate where Nobel Prize-winning author Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book, Scott Farm also served as a filming location for the Academy Award-winning film "The Cider House Rules" (1998). Pick-your-own apple season runs from Labor Day weekend through October, with the farm market open August through Thanksgiving featuring heirloom apples at approximately $7-8 per pound for rare varieties, fresh-pressed cider, hard cider, wood-fired pizza at Pippin's Café, and Vermont artisan products. Earning a 4.9/5 rating on TripAdvisor with Travelers' Choice status, visitors can explore the scenic 1.25-mile loop trail, attend the annual Heirloom Apple Day festival, or book the Apple Barn wedding venue (starting at $4,500), and the farm also offers a Fall Fruit CSA with 12-week family shares around $200. The farm is a Certified B Corporation and Eco Certified orchard powered by solar panels, with EV charging available.
Dwight Miller Orchards is an extraordinary 8th-generation family farm in East Dummerston, Vermont, where the Miller family has been farming on the same land since the 1700s—longer than Vermont has been a state—making it one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the region. The certified organic orchard, transitioned to organic management in 1996, offers u-pick apples including Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, and Gala, plus organic peaches and blueberries, with accessible pricing of $7/half peck, $13/peck, and $22/half bushel with no admission fee. Earning a 4.8-star rating, the farm is operated by Read and Malah Miller and their children on a rustic hilltop property where visitors can explore the entire orchard, bring picnics, and enjoy classic New England scenery. The year-round farm store features their famous unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (described as "much-coveted" with probiotics), pure Vermont maple syrup from 8,000 taps, fresh-pressed cider, small-batch jams, homemade pickles, pasture-raised pork and eggs, and handmade farmhouse donuts on weekends. Despite a devastating fire in August 2025 that destroyed their packing house, the resilient Miller family reopened for the 2025 PYO season with community support. Located 15 minutes north of Brattleboro, their products are also available at the Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market and regional retailers.
Wild Carrot Farm is a unique horse-powered diversified farm in Brattleboro, Vermont, founded in 2010 by Caitlin Burlett and Jesse Kayan, who cultivate 42 acres using three Suffolk Punch draft horses named Phoebe, Polly, and Trixie for all farming operations. The farm grows an impressive 220+ varieties of vegetables—specializing in carrots with 10,000 bed feet of production—plus pastured pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, and eggs, all following organic practices where "crops are never sprayed and safe to eat right from the field." Their self-serve farm stand operates 365 days a year from 8 AM to 8 PM, offering vegetables, meat, eggs, maple syrup, honey, baked goods, cheese, gelato, and local products—making it a true year-round Vermont agritourism destination. Pick-your-own options include strawberries (sold by the quart), blueberries, and flowers during season, plus horse-drawn sleigh rides and hay rides by appointment. The 21-week summer CSA runs June through December with pricing on a sliding scale of approximately $590-$1,175, featuring a free-choice model where members select their own produce plus PYO options, with payment plans and EBT/SNAP accepted. Named after Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot) that glows in the moonlit fields, the farm features a children's playground, walking trails, and a community-focused atmosphere where CSA members often stay for over an hour.
Green Mountain Orchards in Putney, Vermont is one of the state's largest and oldest apple orchards, family-operated since 1914 by four generations of the Darrow family across 800 acres with over 125 acres of apple production and nearly 18 acres of blueberries. This beloved Vermont u-pick destination earns a 4.9-star rating from 174 reviewers and a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice award, with visitors praising it as "the best place for pick-your-own" with a non-commercialized, authentic family farm atmosphere. Pick-your-own options include blueberries (mid-July through September), peaches (August), apples (late August through October), pumpkins, and Christmas trees, with apple bag prices ranging from $9-$30 depending on size and season. The on-site bakery produces what reviewers call "sinfully delicious" apple cider donuts, homemade apple pies, and legendary blueberry buckle described as "mind-melting," alongside fresh-pressed unpasteurized cider made only from tree-picked fruit. Beyond fruit picking, this agritourism gem offers horse-drawn wagon rides, sleigh rides (winter), farm animals, hiking trails, snowshoeing, and stunning Vermont mountain views perfect for fall foliage photography. The orchard uses Integrated Pest Management (low-spray) practices with one certified organic blueberry field, and operates Wednesday-Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
The Pumpkin Patch at The Putney Place is an early childhood education center founded by Katy Emond, who's been part of the Putney community for 40 years and holds a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with over 16 years of teaching experience. She opened the doors on September 1, 2023 in the former Putney Inn Restaurant building to help address Vermont's childcare crisis (where average costs top $26k annually per family, which is honestly absurd). The center has grown from just 3 enrolled children on opening day to 43 children from 39 families as of October 2024, with a licensed capacity of 59 students. Three programs run here: The Pumpkin Patch daycare for early childhood education, The Putney Clubhouse youth center for tweens ages 11-15, and aftercare programs serving families from Putney, Dummerston, Brattleboro, Westminster, and Bellows Falls. Tuition runs $250 weekly for 1-2 days or $450 weekly for 3-5 days, plus a $150 registration fee and $150 deposit. Full-time enrollment includes a 9-hour day with breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks provided through USDA meal programs. The co-op model brings in parents and community members alongside highly qualified teachers for multi-generational learning, which you don't see much anymore. On-site you'll find The Sweet Spot Café operating Monday through Saturday 7:00 AM-2:00 PM as a grab-and-go spot where all proceeds support the childcare center and community programs. They also host community events like the annual Spookfest fundraiser featuring trunk-or-treat, haunted walks, and family activities.
Pleasant Valley Trees has been in the Horst family for over a century, ever since Fritz and Bena Horst came over from Germany back in 1891. That's not a typo. More than 100 years of growing things on Vermont soil in Bennington. They started offering choose-and-cut Christmas trees in the early 1950s (so 70+ years of families tramping through snowy fields), and right now owner Barry Horst keeps about 30,000 trees growing across 80 acres, planting 2,000 to 3,000 fresh ones every year to keep the rotation going. You can cut your own or grab a pre-cut Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, or Canaan Fir. Trees under 10 feet run $55, over 10 feet go for $70, and they'll haul it out and wrap it up for free. The Holiday Gift Barn sells Vermont-made goodies like natural wreaths, garland, kissing balls, and pure Vermont maple syrup for that authentic Vermont Christmas tree farm experience. Open daily 9 AM to 4 PM (fields close at 3:45 so don't cut it close), running from after Thanksgiving through mid-December. The Four Chimneys Inn has been a customer since 2005, which tells you something about consistency. Located at 313 Pleasant Valley Road with panoramic Green Mountain views that honestly make the whole trip worth it. Call Barry at (802) 442-9071 or email bhorst@comcast.net to check tree availability and seasonal hours. Fair warning: there aren't many reviews on Yelp, Google, or TripAdvisor, but this southern Vermont agritourism destination handles both retail and wholesale operations. The farm's scale and century-long family legacy make it one of the larger Christmas tree operations in the Bennington area for anyone wanting an authentic seasonal u-pick experience.
Someday Farm in East Dorset, Vermont is a pioneering third-generation family farm that has been on family land since the 1930s, and in 1984 became Vermont's first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, helping launch the local food movement in the state. Owner Scout Proft, described as "the Alice Waters of the East Coast," was named Vermont Sustainable Farm of the Year in 2006 and received NOFA-VT's Jack Cook "Farmer of the Year" Award in 2014 for her four decades of sustainable farming innovation. The 120-acre diversified operation grows over 100 varieties of organic vegetables and fruits including strawberries, raspberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and pumpkins, while also raising 700 laying hens, 1,500 pheasants, 1,500 roasting chickens, and 500 turkeys annually. Their unique free-choice CSA model ($250-$700+ annually, 5% early bird discount) caps membership at 100 shareholders to maintain personal relationships, with 24/7 access to the "Someday Share Shed" via key code. The farm focuses on education, hosting school group tours and training young farmers for over 20 years, with a state-inspected poultry processing facility on-site. Due to safety considerations, Someday Farm operates primarily as a CSA and farm stand rather than a drop-in agritourism destination—farm tours available by appointment only.
Wildwood Berry Farm is a 4-acre pesticide-free u-pick blueberry and raspberry farm in East Dorset, Vermont, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Rick and Brenda Travers for at least 9+ years. The pick-your-own blueberry farm features approximately 2,000 blueberry bushes and 1,000 raspberry bushes across 8-10 different varieties strategically planted for continuous ripening throughout the 6-week season from early July to late August, with u-pick blueberries priced at $3.50 per pound (cash only). Open daily 9 AM to 5:30 PM during berry picking season, the farm posts daily picking conditions on Facebook and their answering machine at (802) 362-9805 to help visitors plan trips based on current field conditions and berry ripeness. Beyond fresh berry picking, Wildwood Berry Farm's on-site store offers homemade jams and soaps, honey from farm hives, maple syrup from property trees, "world famous" fresh fruit popsicles (frequently praised in reviews), salsa, and dark chocolate truffles. Customer reviews consistently award the farm a 96% recommendation rate on Facebook (40 reviews) and rank it #2 of 4 attractions in East Dorset on TripAdvisor, with visitors praising the well-maintained grounds, bushes loaded with berries, friendly owners, spectacular Vermont mountain views, clean facilities including porta-potties and picnic areas, and reasonable pricing. The farm demonstrates strong community involvement through annual charitable partnerships with the Be Brave for Life Foundation, donating 50 cents per pound on designated days (raising over $3,000), and hosting educational workshops with UVM Extension and Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association on blueberry plant health and pollinators. Located 6 miles north of Manchester at 2977 Mad Tom Road down a well-maintained dirt road, the farm offers school tours, group reservations, and a dog-friendly environment with bear photo opportunities. Rick Travers, featured in the Rutland Herald, emphasizes simple preparations that highlight the fruit's natural flavor, stating "When you're talking fresh fruit, simpler is better," reflecting the farm's commitment to quality pesticide-free berries grown in Vermont mountain air. Contact wildwoodberryfarm@gmail.com or check their active social media (Facebook, Instagram @wildwoodberryfarm) for current picking conditions before visiting this family-friendly agritourism destination perfect for creating lasting summer memories.
Mad Tom Orchard in East Dorset, Vermont is the quintessential Vermont apple picking experience, earning a 4.8/5 star rating on TripAdvisor, ranking #1 of things to do in East Dorset, and being named one of the "8 Most Beautiful Apple Orchards in New England" by New England magazine. Originally planted in 1940 by the Parsons family and lovingly restored starting in 1999 by current owners Tom and Sylvia Smith, the orchard features some original 80+ year-old McIntosh and Cortland trees alongside 1,200 newer plantings across 8 productive acres. Visitors can pick from 14 apple varieties—including Honeycrisp, Gala, Macoun, Fuji, and Northern Spy—in bags starting at just $6, making it one of the most affordable u-pick destinations in the region. The charming red barn farm store offers fresh apple cider, homemade cider donuts on weekends, maple syrup, and pre-picked apples, all set against stunning Green Mountain views that reviewers describe as "so perfect it seems hand drawn." Open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM during September through mid-October, this dog-friendly orchard provides little red wagons, picking poles, real bathrooms, and a welcoming atmosphere where "the focus is 100% on apples"—no bouncy castles or gimmicks. The farm uses sustainable, herbicide-free growing practices and welcomes picnickers and field trips.
Mt. Anthony Tree Farms is the largest producer of Christmas trees in southern Vermont, with over 60,000 Fraser and Balsam fir trees in production across locations in North Pownal and Bennington, operated by the Horst family who have been farming Vermont land since 1897. The family planted their first Christmas trees in 1972, and has now grown over 250,000 trees across more than 50 years in the choose-and-cut Christmas tree business. The cut-your-own location at 3583 VT-346 in North Pownal—formerly the beloved Rudd's Tree Farm that was "a longtime favorite for Berkshire residents"—features flat, easily accessible terrain with any-size trees priced at $75 including tax, hand saws and netting provided. Open Friday through Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM after Thanksgiving through mid-December (with special pre-Thanksgiving weekend hours), this dog-friendly Vermont Christmas tree farm offers the authentic experience of selecting and cutting your own fresh tree directly from the field. Now in its third generation under owners Jim and Julie Horst, with fourth-generation involvement from children Fritz and Jessica, the operation focuses primarily on Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir trees in the 6-9 foot range, grown using careful soil management and annual shearing for premium quality. Jim Horst also serves as executive director of the New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association, bringing decades of expertise to this family tradition.
