Looking for land - northern VT or NH

Hi! First post on Permies...here goes...

I am looking for 5-20ish acres of land in Vermont (Northeast Kingdom or surrounding counties) or New Hampshire (Grafton, Coos, or Carroll counties). If anyone has land for sale or knows anyone with land for sale, please let me know. I'm interested in purchasing direct from a landowner to avoid realtor's fees...cash deal. My plans are to establish a homestead with income opportunities from my wife's work-at-home graphic design business, plus income from the land (market garden, possibly poultry and eggs). Access to electricity and internet are needed since the design business will be the sole source of income until the garden comes online. A location relatively near a population center (example: within 30 minutes of St. Johnsbury) is preferred for business opportunities.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,
Have you had any luck yet? I'm planning a move to New Hampshire in the next couple of years, 2018 to be exact, and I'd love to milk you for info on the region. I'm thinking about an Intentional Community, but that's about as concrete as everything else. I've visited the NE regularly as a kid skiing, but never in the summer. I'd imagine it's fairly similar to Pennsylvania with the exception of having smaller government. Do you have any recommendations, I was thinking closer to a large town for the purpose of selling farm goods, but some areas simply don't like or want anything natural. Hope it all works out for you, take it easy.

Hi Josh,

I've looked at a bunch of properties but haven't moved on any of them yet. I'm constantly reevaluating my "mission" so to speak. While owning a farm/homestead is still very much a dream of mine (and I continue to save money for that purpose), I am hesitant to uproot my family to chase that dream without real farming experience. I've fallen back on the concept of "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" for the time being. In that vein, I have expanded my suburban vegetable garden to the point where I am offering CSA shares to a few participants. The hope here is to build farming experience, learn how to make money off the land, and see if this thing really captures my interest to the point where I'd want to make a living from it. Who knows...maybe my hyperlocal Connecticut CSA will blossom and I won’t have to leave my hometown to pursue my dream.

I'd recommend some research if you want to move to northern New England. As with any rural vs. urban situation, some areas are more receptive than others to the natural foods movement. To paint a broad (somewhat stereotypical) picture of the region, many citizens in the rural areas tend to be white, conservative, blue collar folks that frequently face economic struggles and may not have formal education past high school. High paying jobs are scarce. Cities and tourist hotspots embrace the natural food scene but that's because a more gentrified economic situation exists. So yes, northern NE is quite similar to PA in these respects.

Just out of curiosity, what draws you to northern NE as opposed to farming in PA?

Good ol' PA, my area (Altoona, 2hrs E of Pittsburgh) is a center point for retired coal miners, fraudulently disabled (not all, but most) rail road employees and a ton of drug dealers/addicts from the surrounding states (thanks government funded rehab clinic). As far as the rest of the state, it's beautiful, but not part of my goals. Too much government and taxation, I'm a fan of the goals behind the Free State Project. Hopefully I can help make a positive change in New Hampshire as a part of that movement.

I'm currently in Colorado in the military which will likely be until 2018 when I get out. The military life just isn't for me, not enough room for ingenuity and variety of work.

New Hampshire, beyond the Free State Project I love the North East, snow and mountains. Tennesse is an option for me because of my wife's family, but we'd really love to go North. Farming in the South is exponentially easier, but the culture and environment don't compare to that of NE.

Worst case scenario for me is a small country lot with a Mon-Fri doing IT for someone and hobby farming on the weekend. If I get my worst case, I'll still be tickled pink. My biggest reasons for wanting to farm to begin with is the healthier food and family not to mention, it's just plain fun.

I wish you the best of luck in your CSA.

Josh, your plan sounds great! I love northern New England and spend a lot of time there, so I understand your motivations to move there. I am not familiar with the Free State Project but I'll check it out. Good luck!

Hey I have a beautiful property for sale in Stark, NH http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3-Peaks-Dr-Stark-NH-03582/86750288_zpid/ and 25 acres of current use timberland in Dalton,NH feel free to contact me at cliffordvalueinvestor@gmail.com for more information

I have two lots for sale. one has a new (2013) house and barn, 6 tilled acres, and functional maple syrup business.
the other is a 14 acre building lot - 2 tilled - the rest in hay.
https://430west.wordpress.com