The Farmers

Rachel Nevitt

Rachel was eight years old when she and her best friend decided they wanted to grow their own food. Without help from family (other than transportation to the store for seed) the two girls cleared some land and successfully grew corn, tomatoes, peas and beans for both their families. This love of growing has remained a constant in her life even as she has developed many different careers and interests. After college she worked on a few small-scale farms in Maine as well as on the largest organic farm in the northeast (Harlow Farms.) She taught cultural history and sustainability on the farm at Alton Jones, (the University of Rhode Island’s environmental education center.) She has either worked on a farm or managed her own garden every year since graduating from college. For six years prior to joining David on Full Moon Farm she was a member of the Tommy Thompson Community Garden in the Intervale where she grew and preserved 40% of her annual food needs. In 2000 she joined David and helped push him (like he needs pushing) in new directions and sizes. Her careful artist’s eye brings added beauty to Full Moon Farm’s fields, bouquets, labels, website and farm-stand.

In 2012 Rachel became debilitated from a handful of TBDs (tick-borne diseases,) that had gone undiagnosed for more than a decade. She is much better now but still struggles with long-term symptoms. To help prevent others from becoming as sick as she was, she has become an advocate for TBD information and research. Click on the video to learn more.

David Zuckerman

David comes from a family where daily work is no stranger. He spent his summers growing up in Virginia on his mother’s farm where there was no shortage of work to do: cutting down hazardous trees, clearing pasture, fixing fence-line, chopping firewood, repairing stonewalls and general construction/upkeep. It was his summers in beef cattle country that inspired his interest in farming and cemented his need for physical work. He farmed for other people for 5 years (in South Hero, Fairfax and Shoreham,) before starting his own farm in Burlington’s Intervale.

David is well respected around the state for his service, most recently as Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor, (2016-2020, and 2022- current) but also, prior to that as a State legislator (1996-2010, serving two terms as the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee,) State Senator, (2012-2016, serving as the vice-chair of the Agriculture Committee as well as a member of the Education Committee,) the county Farm Bureau (2000-present,) the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee (Federal Farm Bureau 2002-2004,) and the Burlington Electric Light Commission (1994-1997.)

David is a frequent guest speaker at UVM and CCV (Community College of Vermont) in courses ranging from environmental studies to social work and political science. As a member of the Vermont Legislature’s minority Progressive Party caucus, David was able to accomplish things in the Statehouse that many representatives from the larger parties can not. He is the only third-party person ever to serve as a Chair of any committee in any state legislature and he is the only legislator to ever craft and pass a bill restricting the sale of genetically modified seeds. It is David’s unique abilities to listen, to reflect and to negotiate respectfully, that make him a great team player and accomplished community member.