Missisquoi Valley Farm
City girl, country boy
Pauline and Jacques Couture grew up on neighboring dairy farms in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom region, but Pauline was determined to become a “city girl,” and headed off to Burlington to work after she finished high school. Jacques, on the other hand, always knew farming was for him: “As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved the woods and nature, the cattle, the fields. I really connect with nature. From my earliest memories, I always wanted to be a farmer.”
Shipping sweetness
The Coutures raised six children on the farm and found they missed the hustle and bustle when all were grown so they opened a cozy bed and breakfast. The couple also runs a very busy maple products business, making candy from scratch on site and shipping out Vermont sweetness around the world via their website. They are leaders in the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association and were named 2014 outstanding sugar makers of the year.
Hug an innkeeper
Their guests stay in rooms filled with family antiques and Pauline’s beautiful handmade quilts. She cooks up big breakfasts of farm-fresh eggs, pancakes, waffles and maybe her quick maple-cinnamon rolls, happy to see the kitchen table full again “It’s just fun to have guests from all over the world,” she says. “You don’t hug the lady behind the counter at the Hampton Inn.”
You can stay with the Coutures, and savor the sweetness on offer at Missisquoi farm. Can’t make it to the Coutures for a farm stay? Taste the farm life with this quick maple-sweetened breakfast recipe from Pauline Couture. How do French-Canadians celebrate at the end of each year? Read about some delicious traditions the Coutures grew up with.
