October 2020

When we scheduled this quick trip through Vermont, we weren’t thinking about fall foliage. We planned to reconnect with dear friends now living in Burlington, and then continue south. It was a serendipity that we found ourselves viewing one of the best foliage seasons in recent memory. The weather was unseasonably warm, too – the icing on this unexpected cake.

Grand Isle, VT

We crossed into Vermont via the ferry from Plattsburgh, NY to Grand Isle, VT. Grand Isle is an island in Lake Champlain. The island bills itself as a “great place to get away from it all,” and it is, in part, because there isn’t a lot going on here. With an extensive stretch of Lake Champlain shoreline, the State Park is Vermont’s most frequently visited.

Fishing and swimming are the big draws. Their camping season ends mid-October, so we were coming in as things were winding down. The campground was fine for us, though, and the Shore Road was good for breezy biking.

On our second afternoon, a drenching rainstorm came in across the lake. While the locals were grateful for much-needed rain, it left our spirits pretty soggy. So, we used it as an excuse to seek out a local pizza place. We had a surprisingly tasty pizza, with good regional brews, at McKee’s Island Pub and Pizza.

The next morning, we exited the island via Route 2 and made the short drive to our friends’ home in Burlington. We had a lovely lunch and spent some time catching up. It was their first time seeing the van, and I’ll bet they’re still wondering how we manage in our tiny house. (No bookshelves?…no workshop?) We’ve been careful about visiting folks. Lots of safe distancing and no hugs. We look forward to the time when we can be more relaxed and not flinch and pull back when we mistakenly move in for a hug. Hopefully – on our next visit.

We continued on our trip later that afternoon and stayed at a Harvest Hosts site in Waterbury Center, VT.

Cold Hollow Cider Mill

This is one of those places that fits an autumn afternoon perfectly. For folks with kids, it checks off all the “fall outing” boxes: an antique cider press in action; fragrant, hot cider donuts being made right before your eyes; shelves loaded with jams, sauces, baked goodies, maple syrup, and souvenirs, along with pumpkins, cornstalks, and fall decorations.

Oh, and… there’s The Apple Core café on the property featuring deli fare and hard ciders.

We parked the van, got settled in, cruised the retail operation, and then went to the café for a flight of hard ciders. Really liked Trust Fun and Soul Shifter.

Squeezing Out a New Kind of Juice

I wish I had penned this phrase, but it came from an article in the Stowe Reporter. When we parked our van, we saw the “solar orchard” behind the cidery.

All 26 panels were tilted facing west, to capture the last rays of the day. When we got up the next morning, we saw that, with little more than a soft hum, all the panels had turned and were now facing east. A mowed path wound around the field, so I took my coffee cup and headed out for an exploratory walk.

I’d never seen the working mechanism of a large, tracking solar panel up close. These panels are the size of movie screens…well almost.

This was obviously installed at considerable expense and effort, and I was curious. Later in the day, while John was driving, I went on the internet and did some research on this particular field.

Paul Brown, the cider mill’s owner, is very interested in sustainability. Even though the cider press uses nineteenth century methods, the process and the cidery’s business is a heavy energy user. Brown wanted to use solar to offset the 300 kilowatts they used yearly, but the cost of the installation was prohibitive. In stepped All Earth Renewables, a Waterbury-based firm that puts together solar tax equity investment funds for large investors. They bundle smaller projects, and then sell shares in the fund.

The group the mill is part of is called Green Lantern Capital Solar Fund II. Brown’s part of the contract includes a 25-year easement for the use of the field and an offset in his electric bill. He also has the opportunity to purchase the solar field after a certain length of time. The solar field produces 150 kilowatts of electricity yearly. In a recent press release, Brown says the field is offsetting 60% of their energy use.

When John and I moved from Vermont in the 1980s, solar energy was trying to gain traction. There were a lot of naysayers. It’ll never work. Too expensive. Vermont weather isn’t right. What a waste of pasture…

At Cold Hollow Cider Mill, we were pleased to see a success story fostered by creative partnerships and technological advances. (And there’s still room under the panels for grazing sheep…just sayin’)