This spring, Toad Hall Flowers will relocate from Main Street to a larger space in the lower level of Marble Works, nestled in Printers Alley with a scenic view of Otter Creek. With a strong commitment to community engagement and sustainability, Toad Hall Flowers has become much more than just a typical flower shop.
The shop offers not only beautiful floral arrangements but also promotes eco-friendly practices throughout the Middlebury community. Owner and founder of Toad Hall Flowers Peter Cousineau is thrilled about the upcoming move and the newest additions to his business.
“The hope is to have outdoor café tables and also to obtain a beer and wine license to serve drinks to customers,” Cousineau said in an interview with The Campus. “I can see the vision — like you’re in a garden, sipping wine and then afterward heading to Flatbread for dinner.”
Originally from Colorado and Upstate New York, Cousineau relocated to Vermont in the late 1990s after the 1998 ice storm that struck regions from his latter home-state to central Maine. With the help of a friend, he established himself in the area and, in 2010, founded Four Pillars Farm — an organic vegetable farm in Whiting, Vt. situated between the towns of Cornwall and Shoreham — which he ran for a decade.
“I decided to take a break in 2019,” Cousineau said. “Then in 2021, I turned one of the small houses I had been using as a wash-and-pack area for the vegetable farm into guest suites. Now, I have two of them, which I call Four Pillars Farmstead.”
Cousineau’s expertise in landscaping and design plays a significant role in creating memorable experiences for his guests. Rather than arranging perennials in traditional rows, he designs dynamic, visually captivating landscapes that leave a lasting impression on those staying in the suites surrounding the flower farm.
This dedication to thoughtful, sustainable design extends to Cousineau’s work as a florist.
“There is a whole movement for sustainable floristry,” Cousineau said. “Like a lot of industries, there is a dirty side, and floristry is no exception to that, so we do not use any of the traditional flower foam.”
Last summer, he decided to take his flowers beyond the farm and into the community. By chance, the florist had driven through the Middlebury Summer Market on his way home. It piqued his interest and he got permission from the Better Middlebury Partnership, the civic organization that runs the market, to sell flowers there.
After his experience at the market, Cousineau began considering opening a flower shop in town.
“The response was overwhelmingly positive in the summer market,” Cousineau said. “However, I was unsure how people would feel about the flowers in town.”
To test the waters, he entered a three-month subletting agreement with the jewelry store Elli Parr, taking over their space on Main Street. This temporary arrangement marked the beginning of Toad Hall Flowers.
“I was still gauging with how people felt about the flowers,” Cousineau said. “But the response has been great, absolutely fantastic. I keep hearing people say you’re the talk of the town, and I never really expected it!”
However, the new small-business owner said that the Main Street space doesn’t quite fit Toad Hall’s needs.
“I need a bigger space, and there are a few infrastructure things that I need like a big sink with water, which is why Toad Hall will be moving to the Marbleworks space,” he said.
In addition to its floristry services, Toad Hall Flowers is hosting weekly Saturday workshops throughout January, inviting community members to learn how to create their own terrariums. This popular hands-on activity is something Cousineau plans to expand at the new Marbleworks location, which will have a dedicated section for customers to design their own house plants and terrariums.
Until Jan. 31, Toad Hall Flowers will remain in its current space on Main Street, open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mandy Berghela '26 (she/her) is a Managing Editor.
Mandy has previously served as the Senior Local Editor, a Local Section Editor and Staff Writer. She is majoring in Political Science with a minor in History. She is the Co-President for the Southeast Asian Society and an intern with the Conflict Transformation Collaborative. Last summer, Mandy interned with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and participated in the Bloomberg Journalism Diversity Program.
