Vermont

Flack Family Farm in Vermont Changes Hands | Seven Days

Published

2 years ago

August 21, 2024

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Flack Family Farm in Vermont Changes Hands | Seven Days

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Barbara Flack
Zach Brandau, a seasonal farmhand and Doug Flack during a previous harvest

Two rocking chairs rest angled toward each other on an east-facing porch, burnt sienna-colored sheepskins making their wooden slats inviting. A potted geranium sits below. A wind chime clinks gently overhead, and a patterned blanket draped over a cotton rope adds folk-art charm.

Flack Family Farm in Fairfield evokes a scene from a Wendell Berry novel — a portrait of pastoral bliss. The Berry vibes will deepen come September, when community volunteers arrive for the cabbage-chopping chaos of annual sauerkraut production.

I encountered this snapshot of rural life on a tour of the farm’s lacto-fermentation facility. Incidentally, it was also a tour of Doug and Barbara “Bobbie” Flack’s home, where the product is still made, though the business changed hands last October.

Doug, 82, started the organic, biodynamic farm in 1978, raising sheep and later adding raw milk and grass-fed beef. In the 1990s, he married Bobbie, now 74, and learned lactic acid fermentation techniques; he began selling cultured raw vegetables, sauerkraut and kimchi while she taught media arts at a local technical school and worked on the farm’s marketing. Now, after a 30-year run and a five-year transfer process, the Flacks have passed the baton to employees Zach Brandau, 47, and Julie Matranga, 44.

Currently, Flack Family Farm’s fermented products — sauerkraut, kimchi and a mix called the Pink Lady — are on shelves in 36 stores and served in three restaurants. Production has increased from 22 barrels annually in the 2000s to 100 barrels, or about 20 tons, today.

click to enlarge The crew planting cabbage - RACHEL STEARNS

Rachel Stearns
The crew planting cabbage

Cabbage, garlic, daikon radish and carrot crops spread across the farm’s 170 certified-organic acres, planted in small plots that rotate on a seven-year schedule to avoid overtaxing the soil and prevent pest and disease buildup. (This year’s cabbage patch, which contains 7,000 heads, is less than three-quarters of an acre.) Sheep and cows graze the fallow land, adding fertilizer and aeration, and the farm sells pasture-raised beef and lamb. Other areas are used to make organic hay for the animals.

Like most small farmers, Flack Family Farm’s new owners are juggling weighty and sometimes competing interests — including new requirements from the Vermont Department of Health, which reviewed their operation on the occasion of the business transfer. They also have to worry about being underfoot, literally: Their sauerkraut ferments in the basement of Doug and Bobbie’s farmhouse.

Still, Brandau and Matranga are determined to keep the business going. Fermenters gonna ferment.

The couple’s history with the Flacks began when they signed on separately as unpaid interns in the early 2000s. The two met and fell in love at the farm in 2005, when Brandau got Matranga’s attention by showing off an electric apple press. After a decade of pursuing other farm ventures and moving west to Bend, Ore., they returned in 2014 for the “pace of rural life” and a “connection to a food system,” Matranga said, adding, “I thought a lot about this farm and the dreams that got started back then.”

When Doug Flack suffered a stroke in 2019, Brandau became invaluable, leading both the vegetable and animal operations. (Matranga grazed the sheep and cows before leaving for a position at High Mowing Organic Seeds in Wolcott.) Doug recovered well and made it through another season, but a second stroke left him permanently unable to work.

“I think we always thought we would have more working-together time,” Matranga said.

Since then, Brandau and Matranga have embraced life in rural Vermont. They bought a house two miles from the Flacks’ and wove themselves into the fabric of the farm, taking on more responsibility and increasing production. They have contracted with distributor Pumpkin Village Foods to expand their reach into Chittenden, Addison and Lamoille counties and even to New York City.

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Zach Brandau and Karl Lucas tossing cabbages during a harvest - COURTESY

Courtesy
Zach Brandau and Karl Lucas tossing cabbages during a harvest

An artist-activist with a theater background, Brandau finds satisfaction in drawing up intensive grazing plans and in the rhythm of the seasons. He compared the short window of sauerkraut production to putting on a show, with a team of paid seasonal workers and rotating volunteers filling out the cast.

“You get this tight-knit crew. And it’s two months of that intense flow of energy and life. Then it’s over, and you take it all down — set over; run is over,” he said. “All the barrels are in the basement, and you finally get that breather.”

While Doug’s production-season ensemble was entirely friends and community volunteers, Brandau and Matranga employ one year-round and one extended-season farmhand, plus a handful of temporary workers in September and October. Volunteers are still important to the farm’s ethos, the new owners said, and all are welcome to help with tasks such as cleaning and shredding vegetables while learning about the fermentation process and sharing meals.

A college buddy of Matranga’s, Jessica Smith, 44, recalled by phone what the volunteer experience meant to her. Now a program coordinator at the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, Smith was a “burnt-out social worker” in 2016, when she first found herself prepping veggies at Flack. “What I really like about volunteering, maybe also after being in a pretty overwhelming professional setting, was, I just get to focus on one thing at a time,” she said. “My job is cleaning these carrots or this daikon — I’m not thinking about anything else.”

Smith also found the farm-fresh food and communal lunches “very impactful.” “When I spent that first fall on production, I was like, ‘I want this to be my home; this is the community I want to be a part of.’ And the farm really feels like it’s a hub, it’s the center point,” she said.

The past and present farmers think of each other as family. “They’re the elder part of our family structure,” Brandau said of Doug and Bobbie. “We love each other like family,” Matranga added, “and we also have our differences that we’re trying to communicate and work through and still share space.”

Those differences account for the protracted nature of the business transfer, for which the parties enlisted the help of Burlington’s Intervale Center and its partner, the Vermont Forest & Farm Viability Program.

Perhaps the least troubling issue was the physical space. The Intervale Center helped split the assets so that Brandau and Matranga could buy the business and a small portion of land that contains barns for the animals, while the Flacks retain the home they built. A stone’s throw from the main barnyard, it contains the farm’s production facility (a tented patio used as an outdoor kitchen) and a basement room for fermenting, storage and packaging.

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Julie Matranga and Zach Brandau in the cabbage patch - RACHEL STEARNS

Rachel Stearns
Julie Matranga and Zach Brandau in the cabbage patch

The Flacks enjoy their proximity to the action. “It’s great for food, camaraderie, friendships, stimulation — and it’s fun,” Doug said.

But bucolic farmland is expensive. The difficulty of the transition lay in distributing the financial burden fairly between the founders with a vision and the successors with a dream.

“We had so many conversations, and people wanted so many different things,” Matranga said, adding that it was clear “that this business could not continue to support multiple households. It was a really hard process for the four of us to come to consensus, but we did, I think because we all want to see this land continue to be in farming.”

Matranga declined to give the purchase price but noted that she and Brandau “paid as much as we could pay” for the business and 36 acres of land, financed with a bank loan and a personal loan from the Flacks. Bobbie said her teacher’s pension allowed them to arrive at a number that was affordable for the new owners.

These days, Bobbie has art in a gallery in St. Albans and is developing new business ventures: selling medicinal plants from her garden, such as Solomon’s seal and echinacea, and launching a camping/farm stay experience, complete with farm tours. She said Doug is doing all the reading he never had time for while farming.

On the farm, Brandau still heads the vegetable and animal programs. Besides being the primary caregiver for their 6-year-old daughter, Simone, Matranga deals with the administration and accounting. “I can handle looking at the finances without going into a tailspin,” she said lightly. She also helps Brandau with the grazing strategy, leads the packaging team, makes deliveries within northern Vermont and prepares meals for the crew. She teased the future possibilities of an on-farm store, farm dinners and bringing “really good coffee” to rural Vermont.

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Flack Family Farm products at City Market - RACHEL STEARNS

Rachel Stearns
Flack Family Farm products at City Market

After touring the farm, the basement fermentation facility and the sauerkraut-prep space, I headed out to the cabbage patch. The only volunteer for the day, I worked alongside Brandau, Matranga and their two hired farmhands, Brian Doucette and Nate Brigham.

Before we could plant, we used our fingers to make holes in the six- to eight-inch-thick hay mulch, clearing six-inch circles and putting large rocks aside in neat piles, like eggs in a nest. The hay mulch prickled my bare knees, and the sun heated my skin, but clouds drifting lazily across the azure sky provided some respite. Tucking the baby cabbages in their craters was immensely satisfying, and the afternoon passed pleasantly in the patch, but I was happy enough to head home when the day’s 600 plants were securely in the dirt.

I was free to go, but the work of a true farmer is never done. Brandau and Matranga’s first season as owners has been as rocky as that mountain soil. The Department of Health is requiring changes to the outdoor space where the farmers have prepared their ferments for the past 30 years.

Less than a month from go-time, the couple have been granted approval to use the space once they enclose it with mesh screens and obtain a wastewater permit. (The latter is still pending a visit from an engineer.) Matranga said they plan to make their ferments as usual, even if it means renting a commercial kitchen.

Wendell Berry would be disappointed. But the sheepskin-laden rocking chairs will be waiting on the Flacks’ porch, come what may.

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Vermont

9 Cost-Effective Towns In New England For Retirees

Published

8 hours ago

March 7, 2026

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9 Cost-Effective Towns In New England For Retirees

New England has long attracted tourists and seniors alike with its rocky Atlantic coastal views and its distinctive old-timey streets, from historic seaports to classic riverside mill towns. For seniors looking to settle down on the East Coast, the region is also home to several affordable towns that balance savings and classic charm. Mystic, Connecticut, delivers quintessential coastal living on the Mystic River, anchored by the Mystic Seaport Museum and waterfront dining. And Pittsfield, in Massachusetts, offers a cozy mountain vibe in the Berkshires, with easy access to Pittsfield State Forest and the Colonial Theatre.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Located in the heart of the Berkshires, Pittsfield is one of western Massachusetts’ more cost-effective choices for retirees who want mountain scenery without Boston-area price tags. Day-to-day expenses can feel more manageable compared to many other New England communities, and Pittsfield’s typical home value hovers around $378,000, keeping homeownership within reach for more budgets.

The Berkshire Mountains provide some of Pittsfield’s most appealing views and outdoor recreation. Pittsfield State Forest features miles of trails, scenic picnic areas, and access to Berry Pond, the highest natural body of water in Massachusetts. Back in town, residents can keep things lively with cultural attractions like the Berkshire Museum and the Colonial Theatre, which hosts concerts, performances, and special events throughout the year.

For an easy way to stay active, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a local favorite. This scenic path runs alongside lakes and wetlands, giving retirees a peaceful place to walk or bike while soaking in classic Berkshire views.

Berlin, New Hampshire

Named one of 2024’s “10 Best Places to Retire in New Hampshire” by NewHomeSource, Berlin is renowned for its affordability. The overall cost of living here is 21% lower than the US average and 26% below New Hampshire’s. But Berlin’s standout way to save is its housing costs—Zillow’s typical home value sits around $243,000, a figure that helps explain why Berlin remains a budget-friendly New England pick.

Along with classic small-town attractions like the North Country Bowling Center, Berlin’s natural surroundings anchor the community. Main Street runs parallel to the Androscoggin River, meaning after-dinner views are a regular delight at spots like Fagin’s Pub and River’s Edge Takeout. With the addition of Berlin’s new 3,200-foot Riverwalk, residents can stay active while enjoying the sights of this beautiful waterway.

A few miles from downtown Berlin will bring you to another outdoor haven. Jericho Mountain State Park is Berlin’s top attraction in every season, with miles of trails for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling. This rugged park also has tons of scenic overlooks, picnic spots, and a swimming beach to enjoy in the summertime.

North Adams, Massachusetts

North Adams, Massachusetts, is another budget-friendly town for seniors seeking affordable housing. North Adams also offers an overall cost of living 25% below the Massachusetts average, meaning there are plenty of ways to embrace an affordable lifestyle.

Affordability shows up most clearly in the local housing market, where the typical home value in the North Adams area is around $247,000—often far less than what you’ll find in many parts of the state. While some affordable small towns are labeled “boring” for their lack of attractions and activities, that could not be further from the truth in North Adams. This “Museum Town” made the top 10 list of “2024 Best Places to Retire in Berkshire County” by Niche, with users noting the town’s art scene and culture. Highlights include the Berkshire Art Museum and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

As the home of the Massachusetts College Of Liberal Arts, students and retirees alike are equally enthralled by the area’s natural landscape. Places like Natural Bridge State Park take the spotlight, offering a chance to see the only natural white marble bridge in all of North America. North Adams also serves as a gateway to a wealth of other picturesque landscapes and recreational opportunities. Whether boating at Windsor Lake, hiking the Hoosac Range Reserve, or taking the Cascades Trail for views of a 40-foot waterfall, natural beauty is around every corner.

Greenfield, Massachusetts

Another cost-effective Massachusetts option is Greenfield, a welcoming Franklin County town with around 18,000 residents. Compared to many communities in eastern Massachusetts, housing here is generally more affordable, while the overall cost of living often lands below the state average. For retirees who want a relaxed pace of life with scenic surroundings, Greenfield is an appealing place to call home.

Greenfield sits near the meeting point of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers, giving the area easy access to water views and outdoor recreation. Energy Park, one of the community’s beloved green spaces, offers gardens, walking paths, and seasonal events. A short drive away, the Mohawk Trail—one of New England’s classic scenic routes—winds through mountain overlooks, forests, and charming small towns.

That mix of scenery and value is part of the draw, especially with Greenfield’s typical home value landing around $324,000—often a gentler entry point than many Massachusetts markets. Nature lovers will also appreciate nearby Poet’s Seat Tower, where a short hike leads to panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley. Combined with farmers markets, local arts, and quick access to western Massachusetts’ hills, Greenfield offers retirees a budget-friendly home base with plenty of scenery.

Mystic, Connecticut

For another highly-rated retirement town, we can look to the charming community of Mystic, Connecticut. Niche rated this historic seaport village the #1 “Best Place to Retire in Connecticut” in 2024, applauding its attractions and coastal beauty. While housing is a bit more expensive here, the cost of living helps balance this out a bit, at 5% lower than the Connecticut average. Plus, with crime rates significantly below the national average, many are willing to spend a little more for increased peace of mind.

Similar to North Adams, Mystic boasts a variety of galleries and museums, such as the Mystic Museum of Art and the Denison Homestead Museum. Its shining attraction, however, is the Mystic Seaport Museum, the largest maritime museum in the country. With its remarkable collection of artifacts and a recreated seaport village, visitors can truly envision what life was like for 19th-century coastal New Englanders. For seniors interested in learning new skills, the museum also offers “See Classes” like Adult Beginner Sailing, Open Hearth Cooking, and Coopering for Beginners.

There are also plenty of ways to get out on the Mystic River in this namesake community. Whether boarding a Mystic River Cruise or docking your vessel at the Mystic Downtown Marina, boating is like breathing in this river town. And while prices can vary by neighborhood, the broader Mystic-area typical home value is around $400,000, reflecting the premium many retirees pay for that waterfront lifestyle.

Torrington, Connecticut

Around two hours inland will bring us to Torrington, one of the most comfortable places to retire in Connecticut. Torrington offers a similar cost of living as Mystic, around 5% below the state average. With crime rates well below the state average, the similarities continue. However, the two towns differ in housing prices, with Torrington being the more affordable of the two. In fact, Torrington’s typical home value is about $287,000, making it an especially appealing option for retirees watching their budget.

In addition to historic and cultural attractions like the Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum and Warner Theater, Torrington is famous for its state parks. Sunny Brook State Park is the more laid-back of the two, offering a blend of easy to moderate trails. The park’s senior-friendly paths take hikers through serene woodlands along the East Branch Naugatuck River. Similarly, Burr Pond State Park offers a tranquil escape with access to Burr Pond. The namesake centerpiece, an 85-acre manmade lake, is perfect for swimming, boating, and fishing. Locals can also enjoy scenic strolls along the 2.5-mile Walcott Trail, which traces the pond’s borders.

Central Falls, Rhode Island

While the cost of living in Rhode Island is generally expensive compared to other states, you can still find affordable gems like Central Falls. Redfin (a real estate brokerage company) named this Rhode Island town the first of “10 Most Affordable Places to Live in Rhode Island in 2024.” A 3% lower cost of living compared to the Rhode Island average might not seem like much at first glance, but the savings add up.

Housing is where the difference really starts to show, and Central Falls’ typical home value sits around $371,000—often lower than many nearby Rhode Island markets while still keeping you close to Providence. As of 2024, NewHomeSource rated Central Falls #1 on their list of “The Best Places to Retire in Rhode Island.” Citing its “proximity to major cities” as a main perk, Central Falls residents have access to big-city attractions and healthcare facilities, like the Rhode Island Hospital in nearby Providence. For retirees looking to enjoy a gateway to urban centers without fully embracing life in the city, this Rhode Island town is the perfect in-between.

Along with Providence attractions like the Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Providence Performing Arts Center, Central Falls offers countless small-town attractions for the perfect mix of lifestyles. Jenks Park is a charming local park in the center of town, ideal for your everyday dose of fresh air and footsteps. For a water-based adventure, Explorer River Tours is another popular Central Falls attraction, allowing locals to explore the Blackstone River and its scenic tributaries.

Newport, Vermont

For retirees seeking a small-town atmosphere with friendly locals and simple luxuries, consider the top-rated town of Newport. Its setting on the eastern shore of Lake Memphremagog gives the town a more out-of-the-way feel, resulting in a close-knit community. For introverted retirees, this means local attractions like the Newport Bike Path, MAC Center for the Arts, and Tavern on the Hill can be enjoyed at a tranquil pace.

With a cost of living 13% lower than the Vermont average and 12% lower than the US average, this means more of your savings can go toward leisure at Newport’s breathtaking reservoir. At 27 miles long, Lake Memphremagog is a beloved swimming, sailing, and fishing destination in the warmer months. Memphremagog Trails, on the other hand, can be enjoyed year-round. In the winter, these walking trails transform to snowshoe paths, granting stunning views of the lake in every season.

Another reason Newport stays on the “cost-effective” list is its housing: the town’s typical home value is around $247,000, leaving more room in the budget for lake days and weekend getaways. Locals can also appreciate the waters aboard a Northern Star Lake Cruise, listed as the #1 Outdoor Activity in Newport by TripAdvisor in 2024. The cruise is considered an international experience since three-quarters of Lake Memphremagog is in Quebec, Canada. For retirees who love to travel, Newport is also just a few hours from Quebec’s top cities: Montreal and Quebec City.

Montpelier, Vermont

About an hour and a half south of Newport, Montpelier is a quintessential New England town beloved by seniors. As of the 2023 census, over 23% of its 7,991 locals are 65 and older, and it is easy to see why so many choose to retire here. With crime rates 7% lower than the national average, peace of mind is just one of the many reasons to call Montpelier home. In addition to homes being more affordable than the Vermont average, residents can enjoy the cost of living 6% lower than the national average and 7% lower than that of the rest of Vermont.

These affordable prices are even more remarkable when you consider Montepelier is the capital of Vermont. This means there is plenty to see and do here, from visiting the Vermont State House to touring the Vermont Historical Society Museum. Art and culture are also ingrained in the Montpelier lifestyle at places like the Lost Nation Theater and Artisans Hand Craft Gallery.

The town’s location in the Green Mountains along the Winooski River means outdoor recreation is equally popular. Green spaces like Hubbard Park take the spotlight, offering something to do in every season. With a scenic pond, countless picnic zones, and over 7 miles of hiking and skiing trails, this 200-acre park is the perfect daily escape—especially appealing for retirees who don’t mind that Montpelier’s typical home value is closer to $403,000 in exchange for capital-city amenities in a small-town setting.

Lewiston, Maine

Turning our attention to Maine, Lewiston stands out as one of the larger communities on this list, yet it still embraces that small-town atmosphere New England is famous for. Despite having just under 39,000 residents, the town remains close-knit by hosting a range of festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Of these, the Liberty Festival, Great Falls Balloon Festival, BrewFest, Holiday at the Plaza, and Riverfest are the most popular.

Lewiston’s location on the beautiful Androscoggin River (one of the longest rivers in Maine) means gorgeous scenes are always within reach. Whether strolling the Lewiston-Auburn Greenway Trails or taking a short drive to Androscoggin Riverlands State Park, this powerful waterway is one of Lewiston’s best features.

Affordability, however, is perhaps the very best part of calling Lewiston home. Living here will save you around 9% compared to the US average and 6% compared to elsewhere in Maine, and Lewiston’s typical home value is around $286,000—often leaving more of your nest egg for travel, hobbies, and a packed local events calendar. Adding to the allure, Lewiston locals also have access to a great range of healthcare facilities, including the Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

Bangor, Maine

Located about two hours from Lewiston, Bangor is a hospitable town with an eclectic range of attractions. Nights on the town can be spent enjoying Vegas-style slots and live entertainment at the Hollywood Casino, while art enthusiasts may prefer visiting the Penobscot Theatre Company and Zillman Art Museum. Bangor’s other local museums are equally enticing, including the Cole Land Transportation Museum and Maine Discovery Museum.

For nature lovers and retirees looking to stay in shape, Bangor offers a fantastic variety of outdoor recreation areas. The town’s proximity to the Penobscot River makes strolls on the Penobscot River Walkway a great way to get your steps in. For a change of pace, the Orono Bog Boardwalk and Bangor City Forest are beautiful alternatives.

Given its diverse range of attractions and local healthcare facilities like St. Joseph Hospital and Northern Light Emergency Care, some assume that living in this casino town would come with a hefty price tag. In reality, Bangor residents pay 14% less than the national cost of living and 12% less than Maine’s—and with a typical home value around $274,000, it’s easier to keep monthly costs predictable.

Why Retire In These New England Towns?

Whether you are currently retired or nearing your golden years, deciding where to buy your final forever home can feel overwhelming, especially if you are on a budget. But if you are someone who loves the quintessential charms of New England, there are plenty of affordable towns to consider. Whether choosing the region for its down-to-earth locals, safe communities, rich history, or breathtaking landscapes, these nine cost-effective towns have it all. From Mystic’s historic seaport to Lewiston’s fabulous festivals, retiring in New England may be peaceful, but it is never dull.

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Vermont

House committee requests Vermont Medicaid fraud data

Published

21 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

House committee requests Vermont Medicaid fraud data

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A Congressional committee has requested documentation from Vermont on possible fraud, waste, and abuse in the state’s Medicaid program. It comes as the Trump administration last week announced a “war on fraud” in the program that provides public health insurance for low-income people.

The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce wants Vermont to provide documentation by March 17 showing the state has a plan in place to identify and address fraud.

Lawmakers cited recent fraud investigations and convictions in Vermont as concerning, and noted that Medicaid costs in the state are rising despite declining enrollment.

Jill Mazza Olson with the Vermont Agency of Human Services said the state intends to respond. “We take fraud, waste, and abuse really seriously. It sounds like Congress is taking it seriously. We know that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services take it seriously. And it is really a multi-pronged approach. So, oversight is part of what Congress does. And we are looking forward to responding to that,” she said.

Vermont is one of 10 states nationwide asked to provide data and information to the committee. Some targeted Democratic state officials have decried the Republican administration’s moves as politically motivated and potentially disastrous for the millions of people who rely on the program.

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Vermont

Girls Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week winner powered by Delta Dental

Published

1 day ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Girls Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week winner powered by Delta Dental

The votes have been tallied and the girls winner of the Vermont Varsity Insider Athlete of the Week powered by Delta Dental is … Callie Spaulding of Windsor basketball.

Spaulding collected 51.55% of the 43,310 total votes cast in the girls contest. The junior was nominated after helping Windsor advance to the Division III semifinals for the 10th consecutive year with double-digit outings in a pair of playoff contests. Spaulding chipped in 10 points and three assists during the playdowns and was one of four Yellow Jackets to score double digits (11 points) in their quarterfinal victory over Enosburg.

The online voting at burlingtonfreepress.com began Monday, March 2, and closed at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.

Check burlingtonfreepress.com for the next ballot, which will be published on Monday, March 9.