Four Springs Farm and Campground

70 acres

Property Owner:

Farmer or farm family

Contact Name:

Jinny Hardy Cleland

Property Location:

776 Gee Hill Road, Royalton, Vermont
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The Land

Total number of acres available with this property:

70.0

Total acres available for agriculture:

35.0

Acres of forested land:

30.0

Acres of cropland or tillable land:

3.0

Acres of pasture:

25.0

Other open and/or non-farmable land:

Streams and springs divide the open land into sections for crops or pasture as well as fruit production. There are a few wet areas including some mid-field wails. Campground sites and cabins are strategically located to use non-productive corners. Certain areas are left open for guest use and lawns.

Quality of land:

Most of the farm has clay sub-soils with good moisture holding top soils. The entire farm has been mowed regularly with a range of fertility. Several pasture areas are quite fertile. Drainages are valuable as stream control and enhance the beauty and diversity of the property. The entire open property has been managed organically and certified at one time. Widespread fruit production both wild and cultivated has been undertaken in the past 18 years. The 25 acres of woodlot is under management and the farm is part of the Current Use program and a NRCS grant.

Farm Information

Water sources present:

Available

Water sources details:

The farm is spring-fed with five streams and two strong springs one of which gravity-feeds the farm buildings. The pubic facilities are supplied by a delicious drilled well with 30 gallon/min. capacity.

Barns and sheds:

Available

Farmer housing:

None available

Farmer housing details:

The present housing is the owner's farmhouse, plus an off-grid house some distance into the woods and temporary seasonal housing for farm workers or guests. An excellent location is available for partners to put up a home. Arrangements for temporary housing can be discussed.

Equipment and machinery:

Available

Equipment and machinery details:

Two John Deere farm tractors with multiple implements are old but still in seasonal use. Plow, harrow, tiller, mower, row rake and grading blade are available attachments. A lawn tractor with good wagons is valuable for many activities. No haying equipment is included.

Farm infrastructure details:

A farm structure with some shop area was built in the 1990s. It is mostly available for some livestock and has good storage areas. A shed has recently been adapted for goats or other small animal housing. Mobile buildings are in use for pasturing poultry. Two 1100 sq ft greenhouses are in operation. The campground facilities are not listed.

Tenure Arrangement

Tenure arrangement:

Property for sale

Other

Property for sale:

The owner wishes to take on partners who would buy into half the value of the property and campground and then manage them together. The value of the property and business has not been determined at this posting.

Additional Information

The landowner believes that sustainablity of ag-based businesses depends upon having more that one person or family living on and using the land.  Multi-generations is preferable.  It is now a great time to bring in a second owner to this farm. One strong advantage is that there is an on-going viable business, the agritourism piece, along with agricultural possibilities. The current business was established here in 2001.

The property is a beautiful west-facing hillside farm in central Vermont with ample land for more than the current operations which are plant central with only a small amount of poultry production.  Education, both the passive element that the campground facilities provide and organized school group programs, along with value-added products produced in the 10 year old farmhouse kitchen are the principle businesses.  Spring greenhouse production is also ongoing.  Homestead level raising of meat, vegetables, and maple make use of a small amount of the land.

Since the need is for partners instead of an outright purchase it will be important to set up a working relationship to discover the right fit between potential owners and the current landowner. The ideal co-owners will be able to purchase half the value of the farm and campground and also build a house to live in.  

Please check out the farm website for more information about the business:  fourspringsfarm.com