Blood Mountain Collaborative

37 acres

Property Owner:

Farmer or farm family

Contact Name:

Katharina and Glenn Mack

Property Location:

405 Dow Road, Washington, Vermont
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The Land

Total number of acres available with this property:

37.0

Total acres available for agriculture:

15.0

Acres of forested land:

30.0

Acres of cropland or tillable land:

2.0

Acres of pasture:

7.0

Other open and/or non-farmable land:

Arrangements were just renewed with a neighbor for a good sized pasture. Other arrangements have been made, in the past, for additional pasture, hay fields, and row crops.

Quality of land:

South facing, mostly well drained, sandy loam. No chemicals have been applied for at least 40 years. Untended for many years, we are re-clearing portions. There is a long south facing strip on hillside, that could lend itself for dug-in green houses, grapes, etc.

Farm Information

Water sources present:

Available

Water sources details:

Two streams on the property, a pond, and several springs. Additionally, there are two undeveloped natural pond sites

Barns and sheds:

Available

Farmer housing:

Available

Farmer housing details:

There are two houses on the property. Presently, we live in the newer one and rent out the other, known as the "Red House." The Red House overlooks a garage and barn. It is on the grid and has 2 bedrooms, 1 & 1/2 baths, a sunny kitchen dining room, as well as a "bonus" room. Propane back-up heater, primarily heated with wood.

Equipment and machinery:

Available

Equipment and machinery details:

Various saws and hand tools.

Farm infrastructure details:

Small barn for four to six large animals and some little ones (calves, goats, etc), with sufficient hay storage. A small pole shed. Garage by the red house. Additional barn/garage 1/3 mile away on the town maintained road. Also a sauna building (where we lived for two winters).

Tenure Arrangement

Tenure arrangement:

Property for rent

Other

Property for rent:

Long term lease and/or Lease to own

Additional Information

Overlooking the White Mountains in the distance, our land is tucked into the ridge line of what is known as either Michigan Hill or Blood Mountain. Bordering us to the East are 1,700 acres of forest owned by a timber company. We are 1/3 of a mile up a class 4 road. Electricity was brought as far as the "Red House" and barn about 25 years ago. We still use solar panels, though, on the new house (that we live in).

We have been using Highland cattle in areas we are clearing and are going back to a team of (work/ride/drive) horses this spring. We would like to build one or more green houses dug into the South facing hillside, as well as add to the fruit trees, berry bushes and grapes.

Since the Elms and Butternuts are long gone, and Ash, along with Beech, are on their way out, our forest is primarily Maple. We are introducing Oaks, Chestnuts and other hardwoods. Still, 12-15 acres of Maple are South facing and potentially a good sugar bush. Not being fans of endless maple sugar lines in the woods, we'd like to work it with trunklines and dump stations. Another project!

Additionally, there is a plethora of wild herbs (Mullein, St John's Wort, etc). We like the idea of putting up a solar drying shed and harvesting some of these.   

The Blood Mountain Collaborative is still in its infancy, a feature film was produced, a cd recorded, and an outdoor kitchen is being constructed, etc.

When the kids were young, we cleared some areas and built the "Red House," garage and barn. During that period, we generally kept a few animals: goats for milking, meat calves and pigs, etc. Mostly, though, either a single or a team of horses for working in the woods, which was the primary source of income then. Over the years, various arrangments were made with neighbors for use of additional hay fields, pasture and commercial gardens.

Then for a couple of decades, work out West took precedence and the land was left untended. Since returning full time, we built the new house, put in a number of fruit trees and berry bushes, 50 grape vines, started re-clearing land and planted various hardwood trees in forest areas (oaks, walnuts, chestnuts, etc).