Greg Gerdel

“As a Montpelier resident since 1982, I have been a member of the Co-op and a consistent patron since shortly thereafter. Prior to my career with the Vermont Department of Tourism and the Vermont Film Bureau, I had worked in the food and hospitality industry in the Mad River Valley: manager of the Warren Store, the Bag End Bakery and Wine Celler, and waiter at Chez Henri – with a side job teaching cross country skiing at Ole’s XC. 

After a stint as one of the early editors of The Bridge in 1993, I returned to the board of directors of the Capital Region Community Media LLC since 2018, and am a regularly contributing writer. Throughout, I have been committed to the importance of community to a peaceful and successful human society. I bring a diverse experience with outdoor recreation, the arts, community organization, and environmental values.

I graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in Philosophy and did graduate work in Philosophy of Education at NYU before moving to Vermont, where I became involved with the Natural Organic Farming Association (NOFA). Bag End was likely the first organic bakery in Vermont. My engagement with the Montpelier community has included coaching a lot of soccer and the MHS Nordic Ski Team for 17 seasons and participating in the current neighborhood network effort.

The top priority is to facilitate local, organic food production and to educate members, customers, and the community at large about the importance and urgency of this transition. 

A related educational challenge is to reenvision our lifestyle and convenience choices in a more sustainable, less environmentally destructive way. We need to find a strategy with government to provide affordable housing for the Co-op’s staff and customers.”