The 10th Annual Trek to Taste—a celebration of local food and local trails—is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, Vermont. This free family event is co-sponsored by more than 30 area organizations and is one of the most popular events in the Upper Valley with over 500 people in attendance.
This year’s Trek will feature some familiar elements and introduce some new ones as well. Guided hikes will begin at the Forest Center at 10:30 a.m. Walkers of all ages are invited to join knowledgeable area guides for treks to the park’s Horse Shed Meadow (1/4mile), the Nordic Hut (1 mile) and Mount Tom’s South Peak Summit (2 miles).
Five “hubs” of activities will draw visitors through the park’s amazing trail system. Under the big tent at the Forest Center, visitors will find the Upper Valley Farm to School Network showcase, organized by Vital Communities. Area school teams will exhibit exciting projects related to local food and farms, and provide tasty food samples. Student presenters will share fruit and vegetable juices made from local ingredients, a presentation about their expanded gardens and storage crops, and how they created a cooking class for preschoolers.
ArtisTree is joining the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) at the terminus of the shortest hike, to the park’s Horse Shed Meadow, to feature kid-friendly activities including a visit with a live raptor, art activities and a smoothie bike!
The Woodstock High School and Middle School Farm to School program is preparing wood-fired pizza at the Nordic Hut, using many locally sourced ingredients cooked in the Park’s own mobile wood-fired oven. You will also find various lawn games to play as you nibble on your pizza.
Sustainable Woodstock is gathering gourmet food from area farms and establishments, providing well-deserved tastes by hikers who make it to the Summit of Mount Tom. Many activities, such as making walking sticks and a local Valley Quest guided by Vital Communities staff, will be organized for trekkers young and old. The day includes music by the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra and an ice cream social sponsored by the Billings Park Commission with homemade ice cream from the Woodstock Creamery. Learn more about this fun and tasty day at trektotaste.info.