The White River Valley Herald

Chelsea’s Small Businesses Cope with Covid-19



Lisa Davis of Sweet Doe Dairy bottle feeds a newborn kid at the Chelsea farm this week. (Provided)

Lisa Davis of Sweet Doe Dairy bottle feeds a newborn kid at the Chelsea farm this week. (Provided)

Vermont Governor Phil Scott issued a “stay home, stay safe” order on March 24. In order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 disease, there are now restrictions on all unnecessary activities outside the home. These orders, in effect until April 15, could be extended or shortened as needed.

Chelsea, with a population of about 1,250, is hunkered down for the duration, and local businesses are responding and adapting to the governor’s orders.

Will’s Store is now open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. A delivery service has been organized for some Chelsea customers, powered by nine volunteers.

“We are considering offering curbside and home delivery only, which would likely be for five days a week,” said Will Gilman, proprietor. “I’m trying to balance the needs of my community with the health of my employees.”

Chelsea Pizzahouse and Deli and its gas pump are open, but could not be reached by phone Tuesday.

Both Main Street Styles Hair Salon and Dave’s Barbershop are closed, and their phone message machines note that barbershops and beauty salons are closed, statewide.

Dave’s Barbershop’s message to callers says, “Yes, this really sucks. But, it’s best to stay home and be safe.”

“Things have certainly slowed down,” said Wayland Childs, proprietor of WRC Automotive. “We’re still open, of course, but we’re experiencing less business due to the greater part of the population staying home.”

Childs has made changes due to the virus.

“We now have a cleaner, more streamlined pick-up and drop-off procedure,” he explained.

Robert Button, proprietor of Button’s Store said, “I’ve shortened my hours a little bit because there are less people out and about.

“I’ve sold product to out-of-town people who maybe couldn’t get it elsewhere,” he continued. “The whole agricultural business has been in a long decline, period.”

Food Security’

Chicken Wiggle Farm reports they’ve been getting a significant amount more calls about baby chicks and about whole chickens.

“It’s been like a panic-buy thing,” said Steve Thomas. “We’re not going to get anymore chicks for a while. We do have a lot more coming in, but everything is all reserved now.”

Chicken Wiggle Farm is rationing eggs in the farm stand, and they’ve made some procedural changes at the stand: One person at a time, only touch what you want to buy, and they now accept Paypal and Venmo. They are also trying to clean after each person shops.

“I’ve talked to other local farmers, and it’s nice because people seem to be reevaluating where their food comes from, and supporting the local suppliers more,” Thomas noted.

“We have normally gone to Norwich Farmer’s Market in winter, but that was officially cancelled, so we’ve lost that as a retail outlet,” reported Misha Johnson of Free Verse Farm and Apothecary. “We have seen a large uptick in orders from our website, both local and national.”

Johnson said he is “seeing more sales in herbal remedies that support the respiratory health and immune system, and also in teas for stress and anxiety.”

The farm, like others in the state, gets emails, from the state, the Vermont Agriculture Agency, and from NOFA, with updates on best practices for small farmers during this time of coronavirus.

Even before the current crisis, Free Verse Farm was very conscious of cleanliness, Johnson noted. The farm is now using every advised precaution.

Sweet Doe Dairy

Sweet Doe Dairy has instituted a new service where customers can pick up orders from the farm, and have the order brought to the car.

“It’s a comfort food for many, and a source of great joy in a crisis,” said Lisa Davis, about her goat milk gelato.

Davis has noted an up-tick in pick-up orders, but also says the spring trade shows that she counts on to generate new business ahead of the summer season have been cancelled.

“Things are very uncertain.” she said, adding that so far, the only thing that seems to be in short supply are nitrile gloves.

Davis went on to say, “Oddly, we have seen an increase in livestock sales. People are thinking about raising animals and having more food security.”

It is her hope, Davis said, that “this crisis will lead to a more robust local food system. That could be a positive outcome from all this.”

Amanda Mallan, proprietor of the Hubble Shire Farm Bed and Breakfast said, “I have completely shut the business down. I’ve discouraged my clients from New York from coming to Vermont. I just want to be safe and comply with the governor’s orders. We will re-open when the time is right.”

Mallan added, “I am extremely grateful to the community in Chelsea for all the resources that we can provide to one another safely.”

Sugaring Alone

We usually have visitors when we are boiling, but not this year,” reported Kana Johnson of Johnson Family Sugarhouse. “Business has definitely slowed down.”

Johnson stated the family business usually provides fresh homemade doughnuts and sells about $1,200-1,500 of syrup during the Vermont Maple

Sugar Open House Weekend. The weekend, which was supposed to be March 21-22, was cancelled, statewide.

The Johnsons are selling syrup: “We’ve encouraged our customers on our Facebook page to notify us in advance, and we will drop off at curbside.”

The weather is cooperating and production is pretty decent this year, Johnson said, adding, “We miss our customers, but we are trying to keep our family safe.”