Happy Vermont

Main Street in Jamaica: Small Town, Big Heart

On Main Street in the southern Vermont town of Jamaica, there’s an old inn that’s been part of the village for more than 200 years. Painted yellow with purple shutters, t

Grit, Gratitude and Ice Cream at Kiss the Cow Farm

At Kiss the Cow Farm in Barnard, Lisa and Randy Robar have built a life centered around hard work, sustainability, and a love for real food. The couple shares how it all

A Personal Touch at Good Hands Creamery in Windsor

Liz Bleakley traded her career in medicine for a new adventure: becoming an artisan cheesemaker in Windsor, Vermont.   In this episode of Happy Vermont, Liz shares how sh

Bringing a Vermont Dairy Farm Back to Life

Sheena Brown is a fourth-generation dairy farmer at Skyline Holsteins in Derby. Her great-grandfather bought this farm 81 years ago. As a child, she spent her days bottle

The Call of the Loon

In this episode of Happy Vermont, host Erica Houskeeper explores the story of the common loon's recovery in Vermont.   Inspired by a personal encounter with a loon call a

In Rochester, Books, Community, and Cats

Sandy Lincoln owns The Bookery in Rochester, a cozy small-town shop that focuses on antiquarian and used books.   It's also a place where visitors can slow down, browse,

In Sharon, a Beloved Music Center Looks to the Future

The Seven Stars Arts Center is one of those rare places that blends history, community, reinvention, and a touch of quirkiness. What began as a Baptist church later beca

The Magic of Maple Season in Vermont

Maple sugaring in Vermont is a tradition built on hard work, risk, and reward. When it comes to sugaring, the days are long, but the season is short. At Judd's Wayeeses

Vermont General Stores: Past, Present and Future

There’s a lot to love about Vermont general stores.  This episode includes an interview with Ben Doyle, the president of the Preservation Trust of Vermont in Montpelier.

Reviving a Town Hall in Townshend

Cory Ciklin and a group of volunteers are helping to bring the Townshend Town Hall and Opera House back to its former glory. https://happyvermont.com

Celebrating Brattleboro's Creative Spirit

This holiday season, windows on Brattleboro's Main Street and beyond are being decorated for the inaugural Festival of Miniatures.  Festival organizer Melany Kahn talks

Exploring Lost Ski Slopes in Underhill

Jamie Ide of Jericho spends a lot of time on the western side of Mount Mansfield—where you’ll find Underhill State Park and trails to hike to the top of Vermont’s highest

Turning a Beetlejuice Icon into an East Corinth Community Hub

Kendall Gendron's favorite movie is Beetlejuice. When the Seattle native met her future husband and discovered that his hometown was East Corinth—where the movie was fil

An Ode to Trees, Forests and Foliage

Mike Snyder is passionate about keeping Vermont forests healthy, especially in the face of climate change.  We met up on a wooded trail in Stowe to talk about the conseq

Vermont Fire Towers

At one time there were 38 fire towers in Vermont. Now there are fewer, but Vermont fire towers are more popular than ever. Luke O’Brien, a forest recreation specialist w

Treasure Digging on South Mountain in Bristol

South Mountain in Bristol is a legendary place.   Ethan Mitchell, a history and mathematics teacher, grew up in nearby New Haven. He’s a folklore enthusiast who has resea

Sculptures in the Wild at Vermont Rest Areas

Along Vermont’s interstates stand a unique collection of 16 abstract sculptures created by internationally renowned artists. more than 50 years ago. These sculptures wer

Food, Music & Community at Crossmolina Farm in West Corinth

Margaret Loftus is a former public defender.  She’s now a farmer. She and her husband Jonathan left Brooklyn for Vermont in 2006 in search of a better place to raise the

Vermont Ancient Roads

Host Erica Houskeeper talks with attorney Spencer Crispe of West Brattleboro and forester Norm Arseneault of Granville about why Vermont ancient roads still matter. Subs

Love, Loss and Ice Cream

Chris Wilcox is vice president of Wilcox Ice Cream in Sunderland. Chris was my first friend when my family moved to Vermont in 1979.  Not only were we friends, we were n