About Windy Acorn Farm
Windy Acorn Farm is an evolving agroforestry farm on the slopes of Woodbury Mountain, Vermont.
Rooted in our northern forest, we’re cultivating perennial abundance—trees, fruits, nuts, and more—grown in harmony with the land. Inspired by our Scandinavian heritage, we’re building a place where good food, nature, and community come together season after season.
Who We Are
Charlotte Rosendahl
Charlotte is the main farmer at Windy Acorn Farm — doing just about everything from planting trees to managing the day-to-day work that keeps a small farm running.
She grew up in Denmark, where the forest meets the sea, and came to the U.S. as an exchange student while completing her Master’s degree in Agronomy - and she’s been here almost ever since.
Charlotte earned her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, focusing on the remediation of soils contaminated by pesticide spills. Her love of soil began with a single class in college — and turned into a lifelong commitment to rebuilding soil health through biology and ecology.
In 2009, she moved to Vermont to teach Sustainable Agriculture at Sterling College, offering a range of courses, including her all-time favorite, Soil Science. Over time, she found herself missing a deeper connection to the forest. Through her work with colleagues at Sterling, she discovered agroforestry — a bridge between science, farming, and the woods she grew up loving.
After years in academia, Charlotte decided it was time to put those teachings into practice. Today, she farms full-time at Windy Acorn Farm, where trees, soil, and community grow side by side.
Charlotte Rosendahl
Co-Owner, Windy Acorn Farm
Julius, Eliot and Ted (co- owner)
Ted, Julius, and Eliot
The rest of the family — Ted, Julius, and Eliot — all help keep the farm moving forward in their own ways.
Ted brings steady support, clear thinking, and the practical skills that make new projects possible. His building and problem-solving abilities keep the farm’s infrastructure strong and the day-to-day running smoothly.
Julius brings determination and curiosity to every project. He has a knack for understanding how things work and doesn’t give up until the job is done. His enthusiasm shines brightest when a new (or new-to-us) piece of equipment arrives on the farm — he’s always ready to learn it, fix it, or make it better.
Eliot loves working in the forest and takes pride in every task, from felling trees to managing the Christmas tree coppice. He brings focus, energy, and a willingness to tackle hard work head-on — qualities that keep the woodland side of the farm thriving.
Why We Farm
Windy Acorn Farm is guided by the belief that the forest and the field belong together.
We draw inspiration from northern woodlands and Scandinavian traditions, tending the land with patience, curiosity, and care.
Every tree we plant and every aebleskiver we make is part of the same intention: to grow with the forest, to work with nature rather than against it, and to create a place where good food, wild beauty, and community can thrive together — season after season.
How it all began
Windy Acorn Farm rests on 70 acres along the slopes of Woodbury Mountain, part of the traditional and unsurrendered homeland of the Abenaki people. We hold deep respect for this history, knowing that our work here is one chapter in a much longer story of people and land.
The land we now call Windy Acorn Farm has been farmed for generations. We don’t know every detail, but the earliest pieces we’ve gathered begin in the 1920s, when it was part of the Horace Green Farm. The stone walls scattered through the woods suggest that what is now forest may once have been open pasture or field.
In 1926 the land, then part of a larger tract, was sold to the Hall brothers- whose family still owns parcels on the mountain. Local lore says they once owned nearly all of Woodbury Mountain. In 1964, a 70-acre portion was sold to the Miller family, marking the first time the boundaries resembled what they are today. The Hall brothers kept timber rights, and it’s possible our white pine stand was planted during that period.
In 1968, John Ahrens purchased the land and began planting the Christmas tree stands we now steward. John, originally from Connecticut, managed several Christmas tree farms in both states. He held a Ph.D. in plant sciences and worked with some of the earliest herbicide technologies - an era when conventional Christmas tree production was changing rapidly. In 1996, the Ahrens family built a second home here, and in 2001 they donated the development rights to the Vermont Land Trust for one dollar, ensuring this land would remain conserved.
Sadly, John Ahrens passed away in 2012 before we got to meet him. His family continued to care for the property until we purchased it in 2016. A Christmas tree external contract remained in place until 2021, when we took on full stewardship and began the transition to our regenerative coppicing system.
Since then, we’ve been working toward our long-term vision:
To cultivate perennial abundance while caring for the land, the soil, the forest, and the community around us.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that farming can strengthen ecosystems rather than diminish them - growing food, medicine, and traditions in a way that supports birds, insects, water, soil, and people.
Because we focus on perennials, our establishment phase is slow and thoughtful. Trees, shrubs, and forest botanicals take time to grow into themselves. But they are also resilient, climate-ready, and deeply nourishing—exactly the kind of farming we believe in.
We hope you’ll return in the coming years for berries, fruits, and nuts - whether you pick them in the fields and forest edges, or enjoy them in Scandinavian-inspired treats and small-batch wellness products. Everything we grow and make is meant to reflect this place and our heritage: grounded, vibrant, and strong… much like the Viking stories we grew up with.