Dhaurali Goats

Farm Story

Dhaurali Goats got its start on a former dairy farm that the Vermont Land Trust bought at auction and that was later renamed Pine Island Community Farm.

It was a place where first-generation Americans — including many who came to Vermont through refugee resettlement programs — could produce food, enjoy the land, and in some cases, reconnect to farming roots.

At various times, the farm was home to several businesses, in addition to hosting a huge community garden used by families from around the globe.

Dhaurali Goats fills a community need

Chuda and Gita spent nearly 20 years in a refugee camp in Nepal before resettling in Burlington in 2009.

In 2013, the Dhaurali family moved to the farm and started raising goats for meat.

Goat meat is part of the traditional cuisines of many first-generation Americans, but was hard to find fresh in Vermont. Most was imported from New Zealand, frozen, and quite expensive.

In Bhutan, where the Dhauralis are from, goat meat is used for everyday dishes, like curry and stews, and goats are roasted at celebrations.

Chuda and Gita now serve hundreds of customers a year. Customers pick out their goat, which is then slaughtered on the farm at a state-sanctioned slaughter facility that was built in 2018.

A dream of farm ownership comes true

In March of 2023, after nine years of leasing the land, Chuda and Gita bought the entire farm from VLT.

They also entered into a long-term lease with VLT for the land that is home to Pine Island Community Gardens. We will continue to run the seven-acre garden, which are used by more than 75 families from 10 countries.

The Dhauralis have dreams of expanding the business further. They are working towards a business model that includes processing meat into cuts, which would allow them to sell it in local stores and to restaurants and individual customers.