Thought I'd share my impressions on this place I visited last Sunday. I went and helped this guy in the potter's guild flatten a piece of ground to accept a floating slab foundation for a pottery kiln (actually as many as 3-4 kilns, plus other stuff- 16'x32'). Put in a good day with the shovel etc.
He had the most beautiful property I ever saw. His driveway was maybe as long as 1/4 mile through woods, past field and a small swamp area- all his. As you drive up- there are these cool handmade ceramic "houses" that were made by his former students along the way. The main property was a valleyish meadow with other patches of grassy areas and a large garden. Big thick piled stone walls were expertly crafted. There are trellises made of trees from the property just peeled of bark, and lots of lilacs and fruit tree plantings (lilac is the state flower- every farm has them here). He sees all manner of local wildlife migrate through his yard on a daily basis- including deer, turkey, black bear, moose, and the occasional bobcat. he said there a couple miles by maybe a few miles of basically unbroken woods and fields there. Much of his land he's somehow put into a conservation easement as a wildlife corridor, which probably greatly helps on taxes.
The house was small, but 2 story and very-very nice, natural wood, with a cement floor. One side was built against a hill with a root cellar accesible through a door to the kitchen, and the other side of the house was dominated by an attached greenhouse. He heats the whole house for the year in NH on less than 2 cord of wood! The studio is a separate building of similar construction with big picture windows to let in lots of sun. The furniture is all wooden antique or handmade from just logs from the property and there's art and pottery of all sorts throughout- most gifted from friends and students through the years (I recognized several potters just by style-an impressive collection).
He's completely off the grid and has been since he moved to the property in the 70's. (just happens that power never made it out there, so he didn't pay to have it put in. This house has solar tricity and hot water, but he says that he could do with another panel that he cannot afford for tricity. He is what I'd term "functionally poor" - living within his means by controling his lifestyle. To visit, however- it's so tidy and incredibly thought out- there's no impression of want. I think he's happy as hell and has friends that drop by on a regular basis. Signs going up his driveway forbid hunting (hey- his choice), but tell you to stop and visit the woods there.
Anyway- I have cell pics that I'd post of it, but can't figure that out so well (and my cell takes poor pics since my wife ran it over with my car). I'll figure that out. I was pretty inspired- seeing it done so well for so long. I don't know what that property would go for now, or what the taxes would be. Got to wait for my ship to come in and would still have to compromise for the sake of the wife. (roughing it for her is not knowing where the closest Banana Republic is).
He had the most beautiful property I ever saw. His driveway was maybe as long as 1/4 mile through woods, past field and a small swamp area- all his. As you drive up- there are these cool handmade ceramic "houses" that were made by his former students along the way. The main property was a valleyish meadow with other patches of grassy areas and a large garden. Big thick piled stone walls were expertly crafted. There are trellises made of trees from the property just peeled of bark, and lots of lilacs and fruit tree plantings (lilac is the state flower- every farm has them here). He sees all manner of local wildlife migrate through his yard on a daily basis- including deer, turkey, black bear, moose, and the occasional bobcat. he said there a couple miles by maybe a few miles of basically unbroken woods and fields there. Much of his land he's somehow put into a conservation easement as a wildlife corridor, which probably greatly helps on taxes.
The house was small, but 2 story and very-very nice, natural wood, with a cement floor. One side was built against a hill with a root cellar accesible through a door to the kitchen, and the other side of the house was dominated by an attached greenhouse. He heats the whole house for the year in NH on less than 2 cord of wood! The studio is a separate building of similar construction with big picture windows to let in lots of sun. The furniture is all wooden antique or handmade from just logs from the property and there's art and pottery of all sorts throughout- most gifted from friends and students through the years (I recognized several potters just by style-an impressive collection).
He's completely off the grid and has been since he moved to the property in the 70's. (just happens that power never made it out there, so he didn't pay to have it put in. This house has solar tricity and hot water, but he says that he could do with another panel that he cannot afford for tricity. He is what I'd term "functionally poor" - living within his means by controling his lifestyle. To visit, however- it's so tidy and incredibly thought out- there's no impression of want. I think he's happy as hell and has friends that drop by on a regular basis. Signs going up his driveway forbid hunting (hey- his choice), but tell you to stop and visit the woods there.
Anyway- I have cell pics that I'd post of it, but can't figure that out so well (and my cell takes poor pics since my wife ran it over with my car). I'll figure that out. I was pretty inspired- seeing it done so well for so long. I don't know what that property would go for now, or what the taxes would be. Got to wait for my ship to come in and would still have to compromise for the sake of the wife. (roughing it for her is not knowing where the closest Banana Republic is).