In the 1960s, Vermont’s saw an influx of people moving from other states to “get back to the land”. Some of it was counter-culture, but a lot of it was really just people moving to small farmsteads and satisfying very precise goals.
That’s happening again, but for different reasons. Today, we’re seeing more and more buyers who are looking for enough land to have a decent-sized garden, maybe some livestock, and certainly chickens. I’m not sure whether to call these Vermont hobby farms, or small-scale agriculture, or, maybe it’s still called getting back to the land.
Whatever it’s called, it works for a lot of people. They grow their own food, they reconnect with the land, with the seasons, and with the weather. People have realized that even just a few acres of usable land can allow that connection. More ambitious small farmers could do very well with 80 or even 100 acres with good pasture, perhaps a woodlot, and maybe a sugaring operation.
When I talk with people in Central Vermont who are going back to the land, I find out it’s usually done for personal satisfaction. They like knowing exactly where their food comes from, and they like that they’re doing timeless work that also preserves Vermont’s working landscape. They go into these small-scale farms with their eyes open about the work that’s involved. And they love it. It’s satisfying.
Comments (3)Subscribe to CommentsComment