Our story
John and Hannah Doyle come to diversified farming with a diversified set of skills.
Hannah gathered skills and knowledge working on many other farms in New England as both a laborer and manager. She has also worked for UVM Extension as an agricultural researcher and outreach professional, as well as in a food safety support role. Hannah has an extensive background in Vermont agriculture, having worked for many diversified farms and as an agricultural researcher and outreach professional in agronomy and food safety. She grew up in a homesteading family in central Vermont and knew from an early age that she wanted to produce good, sustainable food. She learned the ropes on farms in ME, NH, and VT, working long days in the field, managing a crew, and overseeing washpack and high tunnel production. She works on Boneyard Farm on a daily basis, wrangling kids, veggies, and logistics.
John, a fence builder and jack-of-all-trades, embraced farming and land stewardship hand-in-hand. His environmental ethics and determination fuel our farm hustle. Off-farm, John owns and operates Mansfield Fence, installing agricultural and residential fences across Northern Vermont. In his remaining hours, he manages our grass-based livestock and is the builder, fixer, and Chief of Infrastructure at Boneyard Farm. John takes pride in taking care of the land and our animals—and in raising good food, sharing it with others, and cooking delicious meals from our farm’s harvest.
Boneyard Farm began on ten rocky farmstead acres in Bakersfield, where we improved the land and tested our concept. We outgrew the property and sought a place where we could dive into farming and land stewardship in a bigger way. In March 2021, we bought our Fletcher farm. The 180-acre property, once farmed as a conventional dairy, includes pasture, hayland, and mixed forest. With the help of the Vermont Land Trust, the farm is forever conserved. We are grateful for the opportunity to increase food production for our community and steward this beautiful piece of land for future generations. Our sons Reuben and Dimitri, and our dog Badger, are always with us along the way. We’re glad to share the highs and lows of farming with our children and raise them with a deep connection to the land.
Cheesy romance
Hannah and John met in 2008 while they were each hiking the Long Trail end-to-end. John was hiking south, and Hannah was hiking north, when they bumped into each other at Taylor Lodge, just south of Mt Mansfield, on the summer solstice. After lots of conversation and one fun-filled day off the trail in Underhill, John turned on his heels and followed Hannah north to Canada. Many adventures, a few homesteads, and six years later, they married on the summit of Mansfield, John hiking south with groomsmen and Hannah—you guessed it— hiking north. That oh-so-special marriage spot is visible from Boneyard Farm, as well as the little notch where they met. Their boys were born in 2018 and 2021.
Jen W.
“Boneyard Farm has catapulted myself and my family into learning about all that our local farms have to offer. We have tried new foods, new recipes, and taken on a new mentality about sourcing food because of Hannah. She is approachable, knowledgeable, and shares so much about her work. I am so grateful!”
Liz S.
