Personal Letter From Founder
My own personal England / New England Countryside Connection traces back to1978 when I settled with friends in rural Dorset to compile my research for the British portion of my book, Cooking Inn Style: A Collection of Country Inn Recipes from England, Ireland, Wales and New England. I was born in Connecticut and am fortunate to have travelled extensively. From my first visit to England I knew that I had truly come home. As often happens, life intervenes and carefully constructed plans are altered. In Dorset, I met my husband Alan, an Englishman who had dreamed of living and working in America.
We married in 1979 and have lived between the two countries, for twenty-seven of them with our daughter, Morgan. I have learned firsthand that Connections are vital to successfully fulfilling one's dreams and aspirations. Merging our cultures I discovered that I was able to benefit individuals in rural communities wherever we have lived. Countryside Connection combines that expertise and experience in the most rewarding way possible ~ I am proud of our success in advising small enterprises in both countries how to work together locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to thrive and prosper.
It all began with a cookbook combining the two countries, then representing artists and craftspeople from England and promoting and selling their work in America. In gathering material for both endeavours, my life was enriched by the people I met and the bonds that were formed along the way ~ innkeepers, farm producers, professional artists and women at home or on their farms who crafted exquisite hand sewn and knitted items. Others used their country knowledge and skills to seek out unique antique and collectible items for me to take back to clients in America.
Our frequent moves and supportive family members who are more settled have combined to enable us to become part of countryside communities in Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Yorkshire as well as Vermont, Massachusetts and California. "Home Sweet Home" has been applied to places as varied as a converted milk parlour, a former 18th Century Mill, a New England Style Village in a small seaside town in California and one year living aboard a sailboat.
In 1999, we left Hampshire and purchased an 1803 Farmhouse on fifteen acres in Southern Vermont. It became our business and our home when we opened Beckwood Pond Country Inn: "An English Inn in the Vermont Countryside". Our six years there were wonderful ones. Morgan spent her gap year and summers working on two local farms and in the kitchens of "The Common Ground" a legendary local vegetarian farm restaurant formed by a cooperative in the 1960s and still supported by the entire community. She attended Vassar College graduating with honours and still found time to help us create beautiful gardens and build a Cob Cottage on our property. She then graduated from University College London with an MA and along with numerous other jobs she is an important and integral part of Countryside Connection.
In working closely with other innkeepers, farmers, restaurant and business owners, local artists, schools and colleges Alan, Morgan and I found great joy and mutual benefit, personally and professionally. Their testimonials attest to the way in which we all grew and prospered from mutual support and referrals. It has been my sincere desire to share that knowledge in England and throughout New England creating opportunities for communication and networking between rural businesses in Britain, our Founding Members in Vermont and throughout America. There are so many common experiences and concerns and the direct exchanges between our members, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, as well as those shared in our Monthly Members' Newsletter are already reaping great rewards and helping individuals and their businesses since our website first went online in April 2007 .
"Thank you for allowing us to play a part in your wonderful and important new venture. As we worked so closely together in the past, it was great to hear from you now that you have returned to England. You are someone who knows and values the importance of helping businesses in the communites and respect the need for us to all pull together in promoting one another to form a support network that benefits us all. I feel certain that the small business owners who work with you in England will enjoy the same success and benefits as all of us have in Vermont. I am very pleased to know that you are continuing to share your beliefs and values; small businesses and producers must support one another!"
Mark Conde, Max's Restaurant
The goals of Countryside Connection reflect the very best of rural life and its people. We hope you will Join Us in working together to support the offerings country living and businesses have to offer.