A few weeks ago we packed up our homesteading essentials and moved across country to Vermont to begin a new chapter of our lives.
To my regular readers, the ones that have followed our off the grid journey for the past five years, I know this sentence may seem shocking. In many ways, it has been hard for us to wrap our brains around: “We’re leaving a beautiful property with maturing fruit trees, wonderful neighbors, and very low expenses to move to a rental in a state with a high cost of living and start all over again?!?”
I’ll start by saying that the decision to move was incredibly difficult, as we love our home and adore living off the grid. But we are also very practical people who recognize when areas of our life need adjustment. We were entering a new phase of life with older children and it required a significant pivot.
As a life coach, I encourage my clients to think big picture before taking action on the details of their lives. The process starts with looking at your overall values and vision for the future, and making sure your life is aligned with your values. Brian and I approach our big life decisions in the same way – What is most important to us at this time in our life? What is working well and what is not working?
Our experience creating an off the grid homestead in Missouri was one of the most fulfilling, adventurous experiences of our life. Living without running water or electricity for months at a time (or years, in the case of running water) has made us incredibly flexible and resilient. Living in a tiny house with four people has made our family incredibly close-knit. Growing multiple businesses has given us freedom to work at home, sharing our passions with others. Living in an intentional neighborhood, we ended up with the gift of amazing neighbors, most of whom we did not know before we moved to Missouri, but came to love as family.
What ended up not working was related mostly to our kids, homeschooling, and imagining their future in our very rural area. Homeschooling is a beautiful form of education, one that we’ve really enjoyed, but it requires a significant commitment of time and energy. In the past, we co-homeschooled with our good friends, but when they left Missouri, our homeschooling support and our kids’ best friends left as well.
Brian and I saw the writing on the wall – we were barely able to keep our life in balance between living off the grid, homesteading, running multiple businesses, and homeschooling with the support of other parents. There was NO way we could continue meeting all of our family’s needs. Something had to give, and we did not feel good about giving our children’s education the short end of the stick.
We also had come to realize that while we loved the beauty of Missouri and deeply value our close neighbors, we yearned to once again live within driving distance of family and longtime friends, which meant moving back to the east or west coast.
So, a few years ago, we began to contemplate moving. Yup, a few years ago. We have never wavered in our clarity – we knew it was the right decision for our family at this stage of our lives – but where we should end up took some time and a lot of emotional energy.
We spent the summer in Vermont last year to feel it out. We shifted our thinking from homeschooling to school, applied to schools in Northern California, Oregon, and Vermont, and spent lots of time visiting towns and pondering the pros and cons. Ultimately, this spring we came back to Vermont for a three-day school visit and fell in love with a sweet little Waldorf school in the Montpelier area, which is where we ended up.
Finding a place to live was the next challenge – we are deeply committed to the homesteading lifestyle and wanted to make sure we could continue growing food and raising animals. At the same time, we knew we were not ready to look for land – we want to take time to get to know the region. I contacted everyone I had ever met in Vermont (literally) and asked if they knew of rentals on some acreage (Vermont is NOT an easy place to find an affordable rental, or any rental for that matter!). We ended up with the best possible situation – a gorgeous home on 57 acres with a landlady that is the most generous, flexible person imaginable. We have a few weeks of camping at a local campground until our rental is available, but it’s worth the wait.
So here we are. Sporting a brand new Vermont license and plates, figuring out the many details of a move. (Which bank? Who cuts your hair? Dentist? Doctor? Car repair?) Vermont is a beautiful place with so much to offer in terms of outdoor recreation, culture, and a homesteading lifestyle. We will rent the home in Vermont for the year and make sure that this is where we want to sink in our roots (because we’re ready for some root sinking after two enormous moves in 6 years!!) and we will continue to assess what is working and not working.
We will not be living off the grid this year. In fact, we’re not even living in a tiny house! We have bedrooms and bathrooms and flush toilets! And I couldn’t be happier.
I’m so excited to divert some of the energy that was required for day to day survival into new areas of homesteading. I can’t wait to tap maples, forage for local plants, continue my exploration of herbal medicine, stock up on storage crops for the root cellar, and bake tons of yummy food. We just got a shipment of 35 broiler chicks, and I’m looking forward to stocking the freezer with homegrown meat. So much homesteading goodness awaits.
As for our Missouri property? Several of our neighbors will continue to develop their homesteads into a Community Land Trust, which is a unique form of property stewardship, and our homestead will become a part of this newly forming Community Land Trust. It’s going to be a very exciting opportunity for the right family to take over stewardship of our beloved home, and when we are ready to begin the process of selling, I will share the details here.
Thank you for being a part of this wild ride and for sharing in our excitement for the next part of our homesteading adventure!
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As a new subscriber, I would like to say “Welcome to Vermont”! I live in Cambridge, up near Smugglers Notch, and flirt around the edges of homesteading. Hope you like it here!
Also, welcome to Melissa!
Thank you so much! What a beautiful place you call home!
So much excitement for you guys! I love the butterflies that new adventures and the start of a new adventure brings. Good luck at the start of this next chapter. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for you and your family in your new home.
Thank you! I really appreciate your support and enthusiasm! It’s an adventure, for sure!
It’s so funny that the first thing you say is “moving to a state with a higher cost of living”, because we are getting ready to move to Vermont because it will be a LOWER cost of living. Of course, anything is lower than CA!
I look forward to hearing more of your journey, as I’m sure it will save me much time! Any leads on health insurance? We’ll lose ours when my husband quits his job…..
I hear you, Melissa! We really thought about moving back to the west coast, particularly northern California, because we have so many dear friends up and down the coast. But we couldn’t imagine ever being able to purchase land again in CA, and that made us too sad. Where in Vermont are you thinking? If you come out this way, be sure to let me know!
Oh, and as for health insurance, we filled out the application at Vermont Health Connect (Vermont’s marketplace) and we were eligible for subsidies, thank goodness. That was a huge support to us, as we’re both self-employed. Feel free to email me if you want more details!
Hey guys, best of luck. You get to enjoy the foliage, so bonus.
Thank you! And love to all of you!
It’s true! The fall foliage will be beautiful, I’m sure! We’re looking forward to the snow too with opportunities for skiing and snowshoeing, but we’ll see how long that enthusiasm lasts 🙂
Send a mailing address and I will catch you up on some things in my life with a letter. Be well, Ed
Teri! I am so excited for you! I have been following for a whil you know and what a shock! So happy for you guys though! And a little ‘jelly’. Can’t wait to continue on with your new venture! xoxo Bobbi
Thank you Bobbi! I tend to keep things a bit private here, until I’m ready to share them with the world, so I imagine that it is a shock, although for us, it’s been 2+ years of discernment! But we’re enjoying life in Vermont so far!
Good luck guys! Hope it all works out.
Miriam and Tal
Thank you Miriam and Tal! You’re another inspiration for us, as people who really lived their vision and held their family in the center of their priorities!
Good luck, Teri!
Finding a good education/school is so important for children AND their parents, I can completely agree with your decision. In fact, we made a similar decision recently and are moving close to a small Steinerschool up here in Belgium. I am looking forward reading all of your adventures!
Congratulations, Marijke! What an exciting change for you as well! I’m so pleased with the Waldorf school that we found (that’s what they call them here in the states). It’s such a nurturing and beautiful place. I hope you experience the same!
What a brave, honest, and inspiring move you’ve made Teri — good luck with your new life in Vermont 🙂
Thank you Tanya! Best of luck with your move as well!!
I am a newer subscriber from a recent homesteading summit and also a Vermonter so “welcome!”. While I am a Vermont “city dweller” and do not have aims to lead an off-the grid lifestyle. I enjoy the opportunities to have the best of both worlds by working to lower my environmental footprint and support local farms/businesses as much as I can for my needs. Enjoy your move. I look forward to hearing about your journey in our state.
Thank you Amanda! Vermont is such a great place to live in the city and actively participate in the homesteading lifestyle! If you have any Vermont must-sees, please feel free to send suggestions my way! We love being outdoors, hiking, eating good food, and camping!
You will love Vermont! We have lived in Vermont for over twenty years! However we are now making a cross country move to WA to be closer to our grown children and grandchildren. Like you we have planned this move for the last two years. In two weeks our adventure begins! Look forward to reading about your adventures in Vermont!
How exciting for you! We lived in the Pacific Northwest for many years and love it.Best of luck with your new home!
Hi Teri, congratulations on the move and best wishes for this exciting new chapter in your lives! It’s not an easy thing to do – look forward to keep following your inspiring adventure
Thanks so much, Martin! I really appreciate your kind words!
Hi Teri,I like your story,your move cross country,you did good,me still in Milwaukee at apt,stink,my move find home,want try rent to own,country home little land,out of city,garden hunt,live off land,my move info mover,Im a lone,want to keep my stuff,got a old 4×4 truck Dodge Dakota,bud rusty,old bud,get SS,retired check pay bills,medicare if trump don,t cut all,I have to find out How other states pay retired people,Im 62 Oct 63 got sick & ok,now fix cancer,fix is killer,have trouble after,hold head high not going to die,old rocker,take care,I will keep looking,pc hope you get this,like your Happy family.Jeff Schwersinske
Best wishes to you, Jeff and thank you for your support!
It’s good to hear your thoughts and optimism on the move, Teri.
We’re thinking about you guys.
Thanks Heather. In an ideal world, we’d all be neighbors, of course, but for now, we’ll just have to have lots of meaningful visits 🙂
Dear Teri, I have been following your blog from the very begining all the way across the ocean, from Croatia :). I love your pleasant and informative writting, never dwelling into too much private detail, always very supportive and encouraging. But I remember reading maybe two years ago in one of your blog posts that you are experiencing some difficulties in organization of homeschooling for your children and the first thing I thought was “they will have to move”. 🙂 We too are family of four going through a major life change, move across the country, change of schools, lifestyle and everything, it has been incredibly tense and full of stress but I could not be happier about the decision! And it is our second major move in last five years also! I think it requires significant courage to analyse ones present life situation and rearrange your family’s mathematics to suit everybodies equasions, especially children’s and then take steps to actually put it into action! No matter what everybody else may think or wish. I have no doubt that you will succeed in Vermont or anywhere else as you are a hard working family and I wish you all the best. I am looking forward to news from Vermont now! Regards from Croatia, Daniela
You are very perceptive, Daniela! That was indeed a big part of the realization that we needed to make a change. Major life changes are big, as you know, but I do believe that we’re making a great decision. I am glad to hear that your transition is going well as well!
Thank you for sharing, I admire your adventuresome spirit Many times we tried to leave here and never could. We went to a phycic one time and she shook her head and said “I keep seeing you in your own back yard ” We home schooled my son with no local support and had little support from the local community too . Still no regrets . My husband died 8 years ago and the kids have flown the nest .. The homestead is a comfort but also difficult alone .. there are many like me out there .
I know a little about moving. I just moved in December 2016 after 40 yrs at the same address. I’m still unpacking! Life is better in a single floor home. I’ve journied through life learning about spiritual healing, herbal medicines, and clean simple living without excess. I can suggest a book I enjoy and still pick up for referencing. “Earthways” by Mary Summer Rain. You may enjoy it as well. I believe you will love Vermont. I’ve done some living and loving in Vermont. Some pretty special memories. You can’t go wrong with Ben & Jerry’s, King Arthur Flour, and Gesine Prada’s Home Baking School. And groomed snowmobile trails for miles! I wish you every success. ~Dee
Thank you, Dee! And congratulations on making your big move! I can’t even imagine 40 years at the same address. Thank you for the book recommendation as well!
Wow, what an interesting experience to have! I’m glad that your homestead is a comfort for you, and you are absolutely right – I hear from women homesteading alone all the time. Very strong women, I should add!
You are such a beautiful person. I am so inspired every time I read anything you write- thank you for documenting your journeys!
Much love to your family!
-Kymber
Kymber, thank you so much for being here and reading! I so appreciate your kindness.
I know this must have been very difficult,but you are doing the best for your family Good Luck !!
Thank you, Carolyn! Now that we’re almost on the other side of moving, it feels a lot better!!
I really want to stay on your mailing list if you continue to blog. I’m happy that in your heart of hearts, you guys are making the decisions you need to for your family and can still do a modified form of steading until it all works out for you. Heads up.
Mark Gray, following with lots of interest
Mark, we will absolutely be blogging and sharing so many different aspects of homesteading. I”m excited to focus on some of the areas that I didn’t have enough time or energy for in the past few years. High on the priority list is raising more food!
Good luck and many blessings on your new home I myself was born into a family we lived with no running water toilet or electricity transport was all by foot we walked 10 miles to school everyday rain or sunshine I never used electric til I leave home and joined n the army. Tough love but I loved it.
That sounds like quite the childhood!! It really becomes a wonderful norm. I know my children love being outdoors in nature and as “wild” as possible!
Sounds like you made the right decision for your family. Putting your children first will bless you later. Thank you for the inspiration you are to all of us.
Thank you Burt! I feel really good about where we ended up and trust that it will work out as it should!
Teri you rent a farm,Home,think that,s what Grate Grand Ma did did in Waushara.co then to Berlin Wi Im from,Waushara.co is good land cost,to much, pine & oak love call it my hunt,public hunting land,Im looking for rent to own little land,You were doing to much,me have to find health care,me troubles ears,they see can fix,cant hear,retired health,try get fix,here? life is running,Teri take care you & family,me on pc & tv.Jeff Schwersinske