Sustainable Compromises: A Yurt, a Straw Bale House, and Ecological Living

3. Where I Live

13 3 Where I Live Knowing we would have flush toilets meant that wherever we built our new house, the land would have to accommodate a septic system and its leach field. We also wanted land that was close to town so that we could easily get to stores, the theater, the library , and the hospital. The problem was that we couldn’t afford land that was very close, yet we wanted to reduce our dependency on our car. We drew a ten-mile radius around the town and decided we would try to find a place within that area. We picked ten miles hoping that we could find land that was affordable yet close enough that we could sometimes ride our bicycles to town. Using those requirements as a start, we began to develop a list of rules for a house site. In addition to being within our budget, no more than ten miles from town, and able to accommodate a septic system, the place had to have good southern exposure, be close to good roads, and have enough space for a large vegetable garden. Even though Vermont is known for its calendar-quality views, it wasn’t very important to us that the house site have a good view. We also didn’t care about how few or many acres, only about how useable and affordable any potential land might be. Over the course of about a year, we looked at several pieces of land. We found a few that came close to what we wanted. We vis- 14 Where I Live ited those over and over again trying to determine if they would work for us. We kept looking at a thirteen-acre plot that had the distinction of being the cheapest land within ten miles of town. It had good southern exposure, as well as other advantages, but it had one major flaw: it was on a hillside so steep that putting in a driveway was going to cost a mint. We nicknamed it the Heliport because we joked that we would need a chopper to access our house site. One Sunday we drove out to the Heliport for another look. We inspected the woods. They were mostly softwoods, spruce and white pine, but with a good smattering of hardwoods mixed in. They would make a sufficient woodlot for fuel. We climbed up the slope and found the remnants of a small cabin near its peak. The spot was level enough for a building site but would require a long, steep drive. We made our way down the slope until we found another site that was somewhat lower. We climbed down the hill and stood at the bottom. We studied the hillside, trying to visualize how a drive might snake its way up to the site, when we heard someone call out. “You really interested in that land?” We turned. A stocky man with a pleasant face was making his way up the road. “My name’s Alan Fogg,” he said. “My wife and I live just over there.” He pointed. Through the woods, we could see his house. “Are you guys interested in that land?” “We are,” I answered. He nodded. “I’ll sell you this adjoining land for the same price. It’s not as many acres, but it’s better land.” He described the boundaries of the property. I left Linda chitchatting with him and took off into the woods, following his description of the property’s boundaries. With every step, it became clearer that we had found our land. I discovered at least three decent house sites. I could tell that the woodlot was much better 15 Where I Live here. Good, long-burning fuels like maple, beech, and oak grew on a gradual, south-facing slope. There was plenty of room for a garden. It was close enough to town. There was only one unanswered question. “I have to be sure we can put in a septic,” I said when I got back. Alan Fogg smiled. “Oh, you’ll be able to put in a septic.” “If I can . . .” I stuck out my hand, “then you’ve got a deal.” We shook. Linda spoke slowly, as if coming out of a dream. She looked at me. “Did we just buy some land?” On the drive home I assured her this was the right place. Because we knew what we...