The Vermont Wild Kitchen returns with another in-person program on Sunday, April 14th! At this Franklin County event, we’ll be focusing on all things rabbit: how to raise them, how to hunt them, and finally how to cook them! We’ll start the day at Give a C.A.R.E Farmstead in Bakersfield where we’ll tour Erica Martel’s homestead and learn what’s involved in raising rabbits, and we’ll also hear from a local hunter with rabbit hunting experience. We’ll then move over to the Fairfield Community Center where we’ll get into the kitchen for a hands-on lesson with Erica Martel and Amanda Corey in preparing rabbit, and the various wild and foraged finds that are a good accompaniment to this deliciously versatile protein. The event will conclude with a shared meal and good conversation.

Erica Martel is a local high school science teacher with a passion to teach sustainable living. Her family started homesteading 15 years ago with just a kiddie pool for growing tomatoes in the driveway of their apartment and has since moved into a beautiful property where slowly things have been moving more towards self-sufficient living. She and her family own G.I.V.E. A. Care Homestead in Bakersfield where Erica taps maple trees and raises rabbits, chickens and ducks.

Amanda Corey is the owner of Lala's Lovely Lops rabbitry in East Fairfield where she lives with her family. Over the last 27 years, she has worked with 11 different rabbit breeds, raising them for pets or for shows. She has been foraging since she was a little girl learning what she can eat right from her backyard. Over the years, she has practiced and honed her foraging skills around mushrooms, wild greens, and berries. Amanda takes her foraging to the next step with canning and other preservation methods to save food for her family all year. 

The Vermont Wild Kitchen (VWK) is a collaboration between the VT Department of Fish & Wildlife and Rural Vermont. VWK demystifies the wild and cultivated foods that make up Vermont’s foodscape, and seeks to make all of these foods more accessible to more people. To keep up with the VWK, follow us on Facebook and join our email list.

This event is at capacity! Join the wait list below.

**RSVP / Wait List Special Note**
If you are adding multiple people from the same household, fill out only ONE form and provide names for other registrants in designated spot.

People from different households should fill out separate forms.

Questions? Email shelby@ruralvermont.org.