Building Community
. . . one green space at a time
Local musicians play at the Sunday Putney Farmers Market
Our Roots
We love open spaces. We love our community! And, we’re working hard to make sure everyone has a green space to play, garden, shop weekly for local crafts and healthy food, and enjoy fresh air in so many ways. Together with the Housing Trust, we strive to create a vibrant neighborhood and help keep the land happy and healthy.
Our journey began in June of 2020, as we collaborated with Windham & Windham Housing Trust to design a landscape that seamlessly integrates housing with open, green space for public enjoyment. Today, we proudly own our parcel and Windham and Windsor Housing Trust owns the adjacent property and has begun construction of mixed income housing. Meanwhile, at Green Commons of Vermont, we continue fundraising to keep the property thriving that has been home to the Garden and Market since 2010, ensuring a future where housing and open, green space can thrive together.
Join us and enjoy the adventure!
Our Team
Meet the passionate folks nurturing our community’s future!
Justin Bramhall
Director
Justin joined the Green Commons of Vermont board in January of 2024. He has been a board member of the Putney Farmers Market since 2020 and has served as the Chair since 2022. Justin is honored to be a part of GCVT mission to help secure land access for the farmers market, community gardens, and the greater Putney community.
Justin moved to Putney in 2019 in order to start his regenerative farm, Leaping Bear Farm. He is also the Property Manager of Sun Hill Farm. He grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania where his favorite thing to do was to play soccer. After moving to Arizona to study at Prescott College and continuing to live for 15 years, he moved back to the east coast after stumbling upon the unique position being offered at Sun Hill.
Justin cares deeply about building resiliency, whether it is with the surrounding community or within the soil. He has dedicated his focus in growing nutrient dense food in a way that also improves the environment. He strongly believes that this is the future of agriculture and is proud to be a part of the regenerative agriculture movement.
Justin is a life-long learner. He enjoys the thrills of fatherhood, being outside in nature, connecting with people, and listening to the best band in the world, Phish!”.
Alexis Doshas
Secretary
Alexis Doshas joined Green Commons of Vermont in August of 2020. She has called southern Vermont her home for the last 15 years and really can’t imagine herself anywhere else. A huge reason for that is community, food, and nature. Like many of us, she grows food, tends plants, stewards land, and communes with the green world. She has a background in horticulture and conservation and works with Native Plant Trust, the country’s oldest plant conservation organization. In addition, she runs Forest Garden Farm, a small scale medicinal herb farm and farmstand, specializing in native and locally adapted herbs.
Marisa Miller
Treasurer
Marissa joined Green Commons of Vermont in January of 2024.
Louise Garfield
President
Louise’s involvement on the Green Commons board began in 2020. She has contributed photographs, writings — especially for the complex application for IRS 501(c)(3) status–and volunteered for the many tasks relating to fundraising and Putney oversight of the land acquisition.
Tending two plots in the Putney Community Garden, she counts garlic, sunflowers, peppers, and raspberries among the fruits of her seasonal labor, sometimes joined by three grandchildren. Various artistic pursuits and travel to salt water, northern latitudes, and the Southwestern deserts round out a happy life in retirement, tuned to the seasons and circles of life.
She eagerly awaits the opportunity to “grow” the common. The addition of paths, sitting areas, native plants, and particularly the creation of play parklets for children, will expand opportunities for fun and community activities in a space with much agricultural history in the heart of Putney.