Ansel Ploog and Justin Cote founded Flywheel Farm in Woodbury in 2013. Since early on, they have supplied fresh produce to Hunger Mountain Co-op. Today, they cultivate just under two acres of certified Vermont Organic produce—including broccolini, chard, scallions, snap peas, beans, spearmint, dandelion greens, lettuce, melons, peppers, and more—for Hunger Mountain Co-op, Buffalo Mountain Co-op, and their self-serve farm stand. 

The small farm is nestled between steep hills and overlooks Woodbury Lake (Sabin Pond). After recently purchasing the property, Ansel and Justin began restoring its historic barn with the help of a matching grant from the Vermont Preservation Trust. Once used only to store farm tools and supplies, the restored barn now creates new opportunities for the farm, including workshop space, employee gathering areas, clean storage areas, a root cellar, and an expanded farm store. They have also begun cultivating mushrooms in the surrounding forest and planting fruit and nut trees between fields, which are maintained with the help of a rotating flock of poultry that controls pests, builds soil fertility, and provides fresh eggs. 

Ansel and Justin began farming as apprentices through the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) at Goranson Farm in mid-coast Maine from 2009 to 2010. They then worked at Harlow Farm in Westminster and Littlewood Farm in Plainfield before founding Flywheel Farm. Along the way, they learned from hundreds of farmers within the region’s vibrant organic farming community. 

As the climate changes, Flywheel Farm has adopted practices that help reduce the impacts of flooding and other extreme weather. One strategy is to plant hedgerows that slow and absorb water rather than stop or divert it. This allows water to infiltrate the soil gradually, reducing erosion. Another strategy is minimizing bare soil by sowing perennial clover between beds and planting cover crops after harvest. These practices protect soil structure, keep the ground cool, and provide habitat for beneficial insects. 

Driven by the beauty, flavor, and nourishment of fresh, locally grown produce, Ansel and Justin’s favorite part of farming is working alongside both nature and people. They value kindness in every interaction—with customers, market partners, employees, fellow farmers, gardeners, and neighbors. Above all, they strive to respect and care for all life on the farm, from beetles and birds to people—and even the weeds in between.