Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Over 30 Years
What is your primary product or service?
We are one of the largest seed companies in the U.S offering our products both in our retail location and through our yearly catalog and website. We only offer exclusive hand packed proven mixtures and premium wildflower seed for over 250 individual wild perennial and annual flowers. We are actually the largest wildflower seed center in the Northeast. Whether you wish to plant a patch of Black-eyed Susans or a whole acre of a wildflower mixture, we are always available to help! Our wildflower mixtures have been designed and refined based on working with hundreds of thousands of customers for over 30 years, both expert and beginning gardeners. Our seed comes from within the United States with warehouses across the country. All of our Wildflower Seed products are open-pollinated, GMO and chemical free, just as nature intended! Our flower Bulbs, both spring and fall, are premium, high quality product imported directly from the most respected grower in Holland. Perennials, Berries, Ornamental Grasses, Bare roots, Rhizomes etc. come from a partnership we have launched with a U.S perennial grower in business for decades known for their outstanding quality. We have a strong commitment to providing you only the healthiest and vigorous plant stock. We will only be offering superior quality plants and bare roots including items from the Proven Winners ® line along with a huge selection of other award winning varieties. Our premium stock is grown mostly in the United States and guaranteed for health and size. If you are looking for a plant source you can trust to help you create a beautiful, easy to maintain garden, you've come to the right place! Our Vegetable and Herb seeds are from one of the oldest and most respected companies in the U.S and are all non-GMO, chemical free and open pollinated, suitable for organic home gardens. Our gifts are not only unique but hand selected each year. Our prices are unbeatable for the quality products that we provide. We are always having great deals as well, so be sure to check it out!
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
We take great pride in providing top level customer service, superior products and knowledge. Our experience sets us apart. The owners, Chris and Diana, have over 25 years of experience in all levels of the garden world! Chris is both French and American, originally living part time in Marseille, France and the U.S. In France he grew up surrounded by poppy and sunflower fields and in the U.S worked on his families farms in the Midwest. He quickly became fascinated and started wildflower gardening at the age of 12. Diana, a native Vermonter, spent numerous years in South America where she helped introduce wildflowers to insure the survival of beneficial insects and wildlife. She has also worked extensively on many other large restoration/reclamation projects. Gardening is her passion! Both are hands-on owners, so call today and they just might be the one who answers to take your order, address your questions or assist you with your wildflower area planning! We encourage you to contact us with any questions or requests for advice. We want you to have the garden or meadow of your dreams! You can contact us toll free at 855.846-9453, Local 802-425-3641 or by e-mail to vermontwildflowerfarm@yahoo.com
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
The ‘Wildest’ Guarantee in the Business
Fresh, top quality, tested seed, bulb & plant products are what we sell, along with lots of other goodies. All of our wildflower seed products are 100% PURE SEED of the highest quality and germination, no fillers, grass, inert matter or weed seed. Our seeds are also GMO-FREE, Open-Pollinated and Chemical Free! Our Bulb & Plant products are superior quality & must meet our high standards. All of our other products are hand chosen with care. If for any reason your Vermont Wildflower Farm seed/bulb/plant does not grow, please contact us to discuss a replacement/refund. You & those who receive any of Vermont Wildflower Farm's products must be WILD about them, or we'll make it right with either a replacement or a full refund - whichever you prefer. Please e-mail or call us to discuss your situation in the event you are not totally wild about the product or results.
SAFE SEED PLEDGE
My Alt Tag
Our Pledge to You: "Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative.
We pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.
The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities."
This document was developed by the Council for Responsible Genetics. It represents, in general, the option of many ethical seed companies as they respond to farmers' and gardeners' very real concerns. For more information please contact: The Safe Seed Initiative 5 Upland Road, Suite 3, Cambridge, MA, USA, 02140
PESTICIDES & NEONICOTINOID
When we state our products are ‘chemical free’ we mean it and this includes Neonicotinoids. What is that, you ask? Neonicotinoids are systemic pesticides that will kill the very pollinators you’re trying to attract to your wildlife garden!
This systemic pesticide is absorbed into all parts of the plant: leaves, flowers, pollen, and nectar which means that any catepillar feeding on that plant, any butterfly sipping nectar, or any native bee collecting pollen are often killed simply by visiting plants treated with neonicontinoids.
Neonicotinoids affect the central nervous system of insects resulting in paralysis and death, which is surely not the goal if you are trying to attract them, assist them by planting wildflower seeds or perennial plants! Rest assured, we value the creation around us and all of the pollinators and wildlife that your gardens may bring. Our flower seeds and plant products are free of all detrimental pesticides so you can be confident you are planting GMO-FREE, Open-Pollinated and Chemical free seeds and plants when you buy from us! For more information see below:
All Wildflower Seed Products – No Pesticides or Chemicals Used in Any of the Production Fields nor are seeds ever treated with any type of chemical
Plant Plugs and Bare Roots – No Pesticides Used in Production Fields nor are any of our Plant Products Treated with Chemicals After Harvest
Flower Bulbs – No Pesticides Used On Bulbs
Grasses – Our Supplier of Grasses Uses an Integrated Pest Management Approach and is well aware of the damage Pesticides/Neonicotinoids can do. There is a very limited use on some grass species production fields of which is presently being phased out. We don’t sell those particular species of grasses here at the farm.
Veggies & Herbs - No Pesticides or Chemicals Used in Any of the Production Fields nor are seeds ever treated with any type of chemical
NOTE: Current research from the Scientific Beekeeping points to several possible contributing factors for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) including: pesticides (particulary those of the neonicotinoid class), infections with mites, malnutrition, various pathogens, genetic factors, immunodeficiency, loss of habitat, stress of cross country shipment of beehives, winter loss due to cold, changing beekeeping practices, and /or a combination of factors. We encourage you to read articles at scientificbeekeeping.com for a balanced review of these issues. It may be that chemicals are responsible and it may turn out they are not. In any case, we believe natural is better and we want to keep our bees and other pollinators healthy so here at the Vermont Wildflower Farm we will keep doing everything possible to insure our products are chemical free.
Our goal is to have an accessible, easy to navigate and interesting website. We work very hard to maintain our reputation as a leading source for gardeners and garden products. We also want you to have fun and enjoy your online experience with us. For shoppers and non-shoppers alike, we hope you will find this website to be full of top quality products as well as being fun, interesting, relaxing and educational. We strive to be different from the rest, so we would never create your typical boring and traditionally generic website. We encourage you to visit often. We want you to use our website to shop as well as to relax, unwind after a long day by browsing our photo galleries and other articles or fun pages. We hope our website is also used as an educational tool in classrooms, for conferences, by garden clubs etc. Our information is from years of experience as experts in this field. Our photography is beautiful and award winning. So, have at it and have fun!! We always appreciate suggestions, feedback or any comments you may have. Just e-mail us at vermontwildflowerfarm@yahoo.com
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We have a brick and mortar store as well as an online presence. We plan to move to a larger location in the near future with more acreage. We plan on adding event venues, picking gardens and education experiences.
Provide detailed directions to your location
We are located directly on US Route 7, between Burlington and Middlebury, in Vermont's scenic Champlain Valley. From the South, coming up Route 7 through MA and VT. After passing through the village of Middlebury, you’ll find
us approximately 20 miles ahead on your left, as you enter the Town of Charlotte, VT.
From the South, via Interstate 89. Take I-89 North until you reach the Burlington Exits. Exit toward the town of Shelburne and you will be on Route 7 South. We are on your right approximately 10 miles from the Interstate Exit, just 5 miles south of Shelburne Village.
From the North, via Interstate 89. For our Canadian visitors and others travelling from the north, take Interstate 89 South to the Shelburne Exit (part of the Burlington complex), enter Route 7, and travel south for about 10 miles. (See above.)
From the West, through New York State. You may reach us from New York State two ways. Enter Vermont on US Rt4 at FairHaven, VT and travel north on Rt 7 to Charlotte, or take the Essex, NY ferry across Lake Champlain. It is a very scenic 15 minute ferry ride, the dock is just 10 minutes from the Wildflower Farm. Simply exit the boat, follow the signs to Route 7, and turn right. We are about 500 ft. ahead on your right.
What type of payments do you accept?
We accept Cash, Check, Visa, MC, American Express, Discover and Paypal
Which areas do you service?
Our service is nationwide included all states of the U.S.A and Canada
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Chris and Diana Borie
What are your hours of operation?
CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS YEAR ROUND
Monday through Friday (5 days a week) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
WEBSITE (Ordering & Shipping)
24/7 YEAR ROUND www.vermontwildflowerfarm.com
EMAIL vermontwildflowerfarm@yahoo.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
MAILING ADDRESS PO BOX 96 CHARLOTTE, VT 05445
PHONE (802) 425-3641 Toll Free: 1-855-8GO-WILD (846-9453)
STREET LOCATION 3488 ETHAN ALLEN HIGHWAY CHARLOTTE, VT, 05445
RETAIL STORE LOCATION
Open Mid-May to Mid- September - Monday through Friday 10am - 4pm
GARDENS
Open Mid-May to Mid-September - Monday through Friday 10am - 3:30pm
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
That they built the garden of their dreams with our products and our service is un-matchable!!
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.