The local recipient of our Hops Not Hate contributions is Craftsbury Saplings, a community children’s center that serves the greater Craftsbury, Vt., area. Over the years, Hill Farmstead Brewery has focused most of its fundraising efforts towards the betterment and well-being of the children in our surrounding communities. From raffles during our Festival of Farmhouse Ales and bottle release registration fees to our taproom’s donation box, we have been privileged to raise well over $150,000 in the last five years alone, thanks in large part to the overwhelming generosity of our guests, attendees, and supporters.

Craftsbury Saplings is a non-profit community center that provides childcare and pre-k education to children ages 18 months to 5 years. Its primary goal is to connect children and families with the community and Vermont’s amazing natural world.

The organization’s working mission is to “provide childcare to families in the greater Craftsbury area, emphasizing community collaboration and exploration of the natural world. We value and nourish each child’s innate wisdom, guiding them toward lifelong learning.”

The program is play and nature-based, intergenerational, child-centered, and Montessori and community-inspired. Access to healthy local food—and its preparation—is a crucial component of the curriculum, paired with social justice principles. The Children’s Center is a hub for supporting and strengthening families in our immediate community and provides an exceptional, valuable service for our area’s children and families.
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This fall, Craftsbury Saplings will be adding a modular classroom at their site in East Craftsbury, which will allow them to serve more families, to improve programming, and to support the health and well-being of children, staff, and families by reducing indoor group sizes during this COVID time. They are currently seeking donations for this project and are grateful for any and all support!

We are grateful for their work and the opportunity to support their efforts through the sale of this beer. If you cannot visit us while the sale is ongoing, and you are so inclined, we encourage you to make a donation—large or small—to Craftsbury Saplings directly.