Our Heritage

Above: We are a Composite of All of the Generations Before US.  Enjoy pearls of wisdom from Lydia Clemmons Senior and a short slideshow of some of the family photos.



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​Jack and Lydia Clemmons’ parents and grandparents were among the millions of African-American families who moved from the rural South to the urban mid-West and Western United States during the two Great Migrations in US history.  Their families' histories prior to life in the rural South have not yet been well documented, as is the case with many African-American families. We do know that Jack's grandfather came from Martinique.

The story of how Jack and Lydia Clemmons eventually wound up in Vermont in the early 1960's, transformed the farm into a beautiful estate through hard work and frugal living, built an extraordinary life together, and raised a family in Vermont is a fascinating chapter in the rich history of African-Americans in Vermont and across the nation.   

Our Heritage programs include:
  • multi-cultural exchanges and learning opportunities around African-American and African farming, the arts, health and healing sciences;
  • lectures, presentations, and exhibits by African-American and African scholars, artists, and farmers; 
  • meetings, and social gatherings celebrating African-American and African heritage and historic events.

​The Clemmons Family Farm is proud to be one of the official 22 cultural and historic landmark sites of Vermont's African-American Heritage Trail.