Any homesteaders in Vermont?

[Gwynyvyr]

Wondering if there are any folks here homesteading in Vermont? I am looking in Orleans County, although the counties close by might be okay.
Trying to get an idea of the land costs, general attitude towards *back to the land* type folks, building codes and the like.

[Mr.B]

Any land within 35 miles of White River Junction, Vermont is going to cost you a good amount of money. Mostly because of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, about? 18years ago this area was considered a hillbilly backwoods dump then the Medical center was built and the rest is history... >:(

Up north around Burlington is about the same because of the large amount of Colleges up there.

I found my little house on this web site, I live in Windsor, Vermont about 15 miles away from White River Junction.

http://www.nneren.com/detailed.php?state=vt

[Gwynyvyr]

Thanks!

[documania]

My husband and I live in Vermont, and though we have a rural home and 11 acres, we are not homesteading. It's my dream, but not a reality.

Regardless, to give you some overview:

As Mr. B suggested, there are areas to avoid owing to higher land costs. Not only the central/southern Connecticut River valley, but also near any ski areas, or the greater Burlington area. And most land with a good view has been snapped up by the second-homers or has been occupied by natives for generations, and if available costs quite the premium.

The cheapest land is in the Northeast Kingdom. There are pockets spread around the state with good deals, as well, but you've really got to look. Most of the flat farmland is in the Lake Champlain Valley. Most of the state is hilly or downright mountainous, and winters can be severe almost everywhere. If not severe, then just looooooong.

There's an embedded culture that's open to the homesteading mentality, although it is not the dominant culture. That said, the state in general -- and certainly compared to many other states -- is friendly to individualists of all types, especially artists and home businesses. There is a growing subculture of alternative/small/organic family farming, localvores, etc. The state is exceptionally "green" compared to others, and seeks to position itself in a leadership position for sustainable development over the next decades (though that will take some doing).

The best part of Vermont is its small population. This allows many quality-of-life opportunities not available elsewhere. Conversely, many of the support services are weak, and job opportunities very limited. How well you fare here will depend on what you're seeking and what you bring with you.

Over 10 years, we've been impressed with how good the customer service is at normally nightmare institutions like motor vehicle, phone, and utility. Medical services run hot and cold, as far as we can tell. But political scenes remain accessible to the little person, and small groups can be taken seriously in the state legislature. The Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, for example, is a growing force powered by a terrific group of entrepreneurs and sustainable-development visionaries. Several cohousing communities have established themselves in Vermont, too.

Regarding building codes and zoning, things are still quite liberal (or behind the times, depending on your viewpoint) compared to many -- if not most -- other states, but tightening up all the time. Property taxes are high in proportion to income, since there's so little industry in the state. Other essentials like fuel are also disporportionately high.

Internet is still spotty but there's a drive from top government level to get the state fully cabled and wired and all that. I enjoy the unusual combination of living well outside a village and nowhere near a substantial town yet having high-speed DSL.

We moved here from metro Connecticut expecting a 30% drop in income to match a 30% drop in cost of living. Instead, we got a 50% drop in income and 20-30% drop in cost of living. And we don't live in one of the pricey areas. A local farmer said, when we moved in, "Welcome to Vermont! I hope you want to stay here, because you won't be able to afford moving back out."

So evaluate your complete equation with care. It's a wonderful place to live on many levels, but if you get into trouble, it's mighty hard to straighten things back out.
People here are like people everywhere: lots of nice ones; a percentage of crap; majority muddling along in the middle. There is, however, a surviving rural ethic in many quarters, and you can end up with a fine small community and wonderful neighbors.

You could also end up a pariah.

Note that Vermont is something like #1 or #2 of the 50 states with the whitest population. If this means something to you, keep it in mind.

I would like, someday, to hook up with a few other folks, pool resources, and homestead together. My circle of family and friends has provided no candidates. Perhaps of there are other Vermonters on the forum we might be able to brainstorm with . . . ?

[Mr.B]

As mentioned above, about building codes. In my town I visited the local town hall to ask about building regulations & codes for installing a pellet stove, renovating my bathroom, and making my attic space into a livable area, the town clerk just gave me a wave of her hand and said “don’t *worry about it” a little backwoods I suppose I did have a qualified buddy install the pellet stove though.

A growing subculture of alternative/small/organic family farming this has become pretty popular with allot of people I grew up with I’m only 30 years old. I have 2 friends that lived it up in a barn for most of a year while working a small farm and the land for another buddies mother.

There are a lot of Micro breweries up here also, a good amount of towns also have farmers markets, CO-OP food stores, lots of Mom& Pop type places.

I have a friend that lived of the grid up in Corinth Vermont, my Uncle also has a hunting camp up there it’s a very nice area. You could check out the Bradford Vermont area for land. But like stated above lots of people from out of this area are dropping $400K plus to own a Vermont Vacation farm house that they use twice a year. It’s pretty sad.

I grew up in this area, right on the boarder of Vermont & New Hampshire. Even I will fess up that most the people around here are a little cold sometimes. There’s and old saying around here “New Englanders are as cold as the weather”. I just thing that people around here are a little mistrustful at first.

One of my favorite things to say to someone that moved here from out of New England when there complaining about the weather is “You know what they say about New England?, if you don’t like the weather, move back to where you came from” I only say this to someone I know, and I say it with a smile on my face also so….


Car pooling seems pretty popular around my area. Lots of park and rides car pooling places. Public transportation is pretty terrible, but has improved over the years that’s in my area.




It’s a nice area. I’m not leaving this place!


-B