Co-Applicant / Spouse Name
Cynthia Terry
Please describe your past and/or present farming experience
I have experience growing and selling raspberries at local markets. I have also worked in greenhouses growing vegetable, herb and flower seedlings for many years. I have grown greens in cold frames throughout the Northeast winter. My wife and I ran an organic school garden program for 10 years at the local elementary school. The project was created, funded and maintained mostly by ourselves. We practiced perennial growing, seed saving, bio-intensive planting, permaculture growing, composting, harvesting rainwater to irrigate the garden, and taught children how to grow food and respect nature. I have designed, coordinated, and managed the garden, which included year round maintenance, designing and building garden structures, planting & harvest planning, growing seedlings in the greenhouse, seed saving, raising & utilizing chickens in the garden, and creating fund raising programs. My wife, who has worked in a variety of school settings for over 23 years, was the garden coordinator and ran the garden activities with the children. During COVID, she used the school garden as an outdoor nature education classroom. We have fully documented the entire process of starting, running and maintaining a school garden from scratch and hope to use what we've learned to help others set up a school, community or personal garden. I've done quite a bit of work and research on starting seeds in the greenhouse using different methods and have also developing my own as well.
Are you currently farming?
No
Are you interested in connecting with other farmers to explore collocation or collaborative farm ideas?
No
Counties being considered
Addison
Caledonia
Chittenden
Essex
Franklin
Grand Isle
Lamoille
Orange
Orleans
Rutland
Washington
Windham
Windsor
What is the primary agricultural enterprise you are considering?
Herbs
What other enterprises are you considering?
Apple/Fruit
Berries
Flowers
Goats
Grains
Greenhouse
Herbs
Maple Sugaring
Nursery
Poultry
Row Crops
Sheep
Vegetables
Woodlot
Total Acres Desired
10.0
Tillable Acres
5.0
Forested Acres
3.0
Acres in Pasture
2.0
Organic
Yes
Farm Structures Needed
Barn(s)
Farmhouse Needed
Yes
Which of the following arrangements are you considering?
Lease with Option to Buy
Owner-Financed Sale
Short-Term Lease
Standard Sale
Have you been qualified by a lending institution? (if applicable)
No
Are you interested in conserved farms?
Maybe (Please send me information)
Do you have a business plan? Please write an informative description of your vision & goals for your farming future.
We just sold our house in Connecticut that we lived in for 23 years. As of August 2023 are renting in Windsor County Vermont. The rental isn’t what we originally had expected (not enough space to grow or possibility to purchase in the future), but it’s a temporary place to stay while we continue our search for a house with land to farm (to either to rent, rent with option to buy, or to purchase). I run my own architectural design / furniture making business which I've operated for 29 years. I plan to continue running the business to generate additional income while we are building our farming business. I also have a line of DIY greenhouses that I've designed and sell plans for on the side, which I will continue to develop and sell. We plan on growing and selling organic and heirloom seedlings (grown in our greenhouses), as well as vegetables, flowers and herbs. We also plan on growing berries, and having fruit & nut trees with the intention of creating a homestead garden for our own use with extra to sell at local farmers markets. We would love to find a farm that has the opportunity for a roadside stand or an outbuilding that could be used to sell right from the farm. My wife is planning on operating a nature education center so if the property has an outbuilding that can be used as a classroom that would be helpful, but not necessary. I design and build furniture, greenhouses and outdoor structures, so workshop space would also be ideal. We have experience successfully growing on a smaller scale (1 acre) and running an organic school garden, and wish to expand our efforts to not only feed ourselves but to provide food for others as well. I am also interested in growing medicinal herbs and flowers and am currently working on my herbal certification.
We are not just looking for a farm, but a community to become an integral part of to supply nutritious, organic food and teach others to grow as well. We are both very passionate about growing healthy food, natural living, connecting with nature, and preserving the land. We wish to create a farm, a homestead and an oasis in nature to spend the next chapter of our lives. We have been dreaming about living and farming in Vermont ever since we got married in Arlington 30 years ago. We are looking for a quite and peaceful place where we can connect with nature and put into practice everything we’ve learned over the years. We are looking for that special place where we can put down roots and call our home. After owning a home for 23 years we are now feeling a bit unsettled, but are taking the winter to rest and regroup, work on our farm business plan, research different areas of Vermont and get to know other communities with the intention of start our farming endeavor in the spring. We originally wanted to purchase property but after renting and having it not turn out to be what we expected, we are open to renting for a year or two to see if it is a right fit for everyone with the option to purchase in the future.