Well, he's just askin' (for it) . I'd like to see him get beat down by a woman ;) maybe even bent ova!

As another pointed out: The mine area is a place best left undisturbed.

I'll gladly accept you answer as being the correct one. And yes, a respirator is the proper face-pro

Having lived in that neck of the woods for nearly 20yrs I'd say avoid the area near the mine. There are other areas around that mtn that are interesting, including lowland vast trails (off #109) that are more than less scenic.

State of Maine has the same thing

Moved from VT to Bangor, ME

At least a dozen rec pot shops in town, another 1/2 dozen med shops;

Yeah, strange on that. I run three small humidifiers just to add some moisture

Scenic #182 in millbridge, maybe up #200 up toward Amherst.

$16.50/hr is not too bad, having health insurance would be nice but very few farms can offer that perk. 1/2 a (butchered) pig is generous, a fair amount of meat; if you like bacon:)

Whether you use a chemical t/x or not, the best thing is to be observant; checking for ticks upon coming indoors.

Only a small % of ticks are carriers and they must engorge before they deposit their infectious saliva (to keep wound open). It may take a tick over an hour wandering around before they find a place to bite and it takes more than a few hours to engorge.

I get using chemicals but even w/out there's not too much risk of infection for the overly cautious.

What's needed for a club with many members, some not so good, and what one person needs is vastly different.

Is it for centerfire rifles at 80-100yds or sidearms/pistols at 50'?

Could be that the property has a decent 10' outcropping on it.

Agree with joining a club though.

In addition to what everyone else said regarding a good berm/backstop , and being very four rules conscious, shoot suppressed if you can. Makes all the difference!

Most replies here are going to suggest embracing the suck and making the best of something (changing patterns) that you have no immediate control over. I agree. I'd also assert that there's damn little humankind can do to slow the churn over the next few decades; which is going to suck for coming generations, even if they have nothing to compare their world to besides pictures of the past.

That said, think small, make improvements where you can; they add up. Save the bees: encourage town-sponsored apiaries, planting wildflowers on town esplanades to attract/nourish them. Encourage town-sponsored advocacy against lawn pesticides to encourage earthworms, which are also disappearing. Its the little things in the foodchain that need protecting the most.

Protection from ticks? Let chickens and ginuea fowl free-range :)

Also, bear in mind that for every opportunity lost another is gained. Some parts of the State that were zone 5 will become zone 6 and more suited for horticulture; hardly a net-positive for what's lost but better than nothing.

> captive deer have been the primary spreader of CWD,

Hadn't considered that, my info was kinda stale.

> lamb is something we may be diversifying into

Good luck with that. Friends at Grayrock farm did sheep for decades; tough nut to crack if not at scale.

> doing a value added dairy product

Value-added and niche products are likely what's going to save or preserve small farmers; and (sadly) having local markets that can afford those higher prices. (Have you considered hemp?)

For the record, wife-n-me sold the homestead 1.5yrs ago and moved to Maine. Besides issues of age and the labor involved keeping a big(ish) place, the burden if anything happened to either one of us, ..., the COL just got too high to make sense staying.

My sister works a good sized dairy farm down near Castleton; they're organic and getting by, but the grind is real. You're a true VT farmer, whether inherited or of the 'gentleman' variety. Its a dying breed and is what's preserved that pastoral look which attracts so much tourism. Succession this next decade is going to be a challenge at best to stave off even more consolidation. Good luck in your endeavors!

> can’t separate weather from climate

I get that. And I was just homesteading, living off land; with chickens, rabbits, summer pigs.... You're on a whole other level, problems different from, say, a dairy farmer but in same boat as them (succession, COL, markets...). Good luck to you!

FWIW, since you're doing beef (angus?), maybe look into raising mini-deer; a few years back it looked kind of promising. Back in my advocacy days (dealing mostly with issues regarding high feed costs, low cull prices, difficulty finding help, succession...) I realized that VT does grass best; and pity that the 400K lamb carcas market from Boston-to-Baltimore was lost to the New Zealanders :(

Had a pitch to fix that but it was too much of a stretch.

I'm glad our convo got to this point because the way you put your original argument seemed to give short shrift to the new reality. That the odd weather day was unrelated; it is, insofar as it will only be odder.

I'd about given up on annuals completely and went perennials whereever possible. Ash is sad, hemlock too. Have you had/asked a forester to pay a visit, its free. Same with coop Xtension.

Horticulture-wise, If you have the space/ability/inclination ... I would suggest you get a beehive or two. Free-range guineas (or chickens) are a big plus too for aeration and killing ticks. I.E. think synergistic where able.

Good Luck!

> My biggest concern as someone who works and lives off the land is that slow increase allowing bugs and diseases to come in and effect our ecosystem

Any given 'past week' is about as significant to climate as one day is to your health over the course of the year.

Bugs, ya say? I had a homestead north of Jeff and its of great concern for sure. Bees and worms disappearing ... more ticks ... tomato and japanese beetles ... whether its my farm or orchards or hemp or any Ag industry, the new now is obvious.

All this is caused by a warming trend; that's going to continue for the next 50 years.

Including the 'exceptional' day mid-winter when its warmer than usual - its the 'usual' part thats going to be harder getting used to :)

> I literally have worked outside, every day, in Vermont, for the last thirty years.

So have I. I think you perceive yourself as much the outlier as the rando warm days you cite to cling to a point that is obtusely incorrect. And try as others have to politely inform you why/how, you'd rather trust that perceptivity than take another look and re-consider that you're more wrong and everyone else is more right on this.

> just like the weather this past week has nothing to do with climate change.

This past week, one random day mid-winter.....

Every warm December for the past 10 years has to do with climate change, seen if you're not a juvi idiot.

Sure there's El Nino / La Nina years you could cite as examples of normal cycles; but even those have been affected.

I think you need to give posting a break and get outdoors more.

> misinformed hysteria is good if it leads ...

Hah, that's a good one. First, I really don't see hysterical people running around in their Dentons going all chicken little. Second, who's misinformed? That countdown clock wrong? Can't believe yer lyin' eyes?

I sincerely hope you're an old boomer cuz I doubt you'll make it through the churn that's coming. And I'm neither misinformed nor hysterical.

Today's weather is the same as every December for the past 10yrs; maybe going into Jan a few days is not common, but snow never really starts until after the new year and lasts a bit longer into April. Sure, there were random 60deg days in Feb, that's not rare. But for the past 10yrs, there's been a big change.

FWIW, climate change should be "brought up every single" season, winter included. Maybe not the goto cheeky comeback, better than 'woke' weather, i suppose.

Down-easters' (storms moving up from the southeast) used to reach Jay. My driveway would need a frontend loader to move the snow bank back twice/winter.

Now, those storms rarely make it north of Killington/#4. And, the jet stream blowing down from the northwest, one that used to make Montreal/Quebec warmer than Burlington/N.VT are now blowing further south into VT; colder with less precipitation.

And, IMO, this is just a taste of seasons to come, grow zones going up a notch, bug issues, lost resources. Though I appreciate spending less on cordwood and motrin, it comes with a sadface; knowing the impact it'll have on younger local natives.

2030's gonna make 2022 look good by comparison.

I'd second the Bangor/Brewer area. Very Central, more than less affordable, safe, it's probably as much job opportunity as you'll find anywhere but Portland.

Otherwise, expect a 30-40 minute commute if you're in the hinter parts.

Sounds like you're making good plans; 90% of roads are dirt and pothole-proof vehicles pay off, specially during mud season:)

Green Mountain Club should be up your alley if into hiking. The whole growing/veggies and animal husbandry thing is the next level if you're intending to actually homestead. Was just suggesting ways to meet/integrate that might be helpful.

Regarding dogs it appears you have a handle on that too; though I cannot stress E-collars (Garmin Sportdog Pro) highly enough, as they are a perfect way to communicate w/your pooch. Specially when they see 'squirrel' and go off on a mad chase. But to each their own.

Also, FWIW, local small taverns are cool too; specially if they hosts local musicians/bands. Also, was a time when VT had fantastic festivals - the reggae-fest for one. Tix were cheap, a don't miss event. That's kinda petered out, but be sure to check out Bread-n-Puppet events; worth a drive.

Stay green, stay toasty!

Well, living in a rural squat (5+ac) might be a great fit for you!

Southern VT (below rte#4) is getting tamed by relocates, less salty, more manicured. Northern VT (above rte#2, say #15 north) still maintains its 'quaintness' with more resolve. Anywhere above/between Jeff and Jay is nice, as are communities on the NH border by the reservoir (the SilvioConte region is also fun to explore).

I suggested doing what the locals do as a way to meet-n-greet with interests in common. Maybe join the GMClub, NOFA, ... Are you into bees? get a hive. Into raising summer pigs? Find a breeder nearby.... e.g. get some roots in the ground.

I did not mean off-roading when i said cruise dirt roads, just good AWD/FWD+tires. VT roads are 90% dirt - get a Gazetteer /Atlas and try to get lost :) That said, having a snow machine is balls-o-fun (when it snows). You might prefer a fat-tire E-bike over an ATV unless going for long rides (rail trail...)

Burn wood for heat! Get a good chain saw, buy 6-cord grapple loads@time, buck/split/stack 1yr in advance. Stacked/seasoned firewood is money in the bank.

Last point: if you're pooch is off leash (which i find desirable) the proper definition of 'trained' is 100% under command. I've raised and trained 4 ridgebacks and current blackMouth cur; take it from someone who's walking in said woods daily: your voice control will neither mitigate your liability nor will it re-assure anyone you may encounter w/a pet (specially if theirs is leashed).

Also, you have to use/raise your voice in the quiet of the woods, which is making noise; IMO bad form. Training to a remote device/hand signals/ dog whistle is more effective; I never raise my voice above a whisper w/my dogs. We have understanding and I can correct them immediately for not respecting it.

I keep a flexi/longlead as backup. But the e-collar is the only way to A) be in control (and nip any signs of agression in the bud), and B) have the controler be a visible sign to other dog owners that my pet is not 'at large'. There's a protocol I utilize encountering strangers to assuage apprehension of my pooch(s).

VT is dog friendly, but not particularly for unleashed pets. It raises hackles of their past bad experiences, and though the owners may be just as much at fault... it will always be your fault .

My dog(s) were trained to run along side my ride for 3-4 miles/day as their exercise program. Ending at a stream where they can dip and chill. They learned to run along side at 10-12mph, past houses and farms. That's how I met my neighbors :) Very well trained pooches make good impressions. I suggest you take the effort to do the same, the payoff is worth it.

Like someone in the Vermont thread noted: it's Bloomberg news