In the spring of 1777, My Great Grandfather (many times over) Samual, settled a fertile, wooded piece of land in the lower Champlain Valley, of what is now Vermont. Here many of my ancestors were raised.

Although my father was able to take most of the remaining farm into the family in the 1980s, one small 13 acre woodlot had remained in another family’s possession since Brig. General George Stannard's Father was just a kid, playing in these woods.

Acting mostly on faith and dreams, my father, wife, and I have purchased back this land and have begun the process of settling here ourselves.

The spruce and pine have been purchased from Adirondack Loggers, and is at the small family run saw mill near the land.

The crew of builders has been assembled.

The home has been brainstormed about by everyone in the family, and designed by “Big Ed” our great friend and builder.

In the coming Month I will move my family of five out of our overpriced carriage house apartment in the village. We will spend our spring, summer, and fall in a Cabela’s wall tent next to my family’s camp.

If our land perks and is approved to build…..I will spend 15 hour days, building a 3 story, passive solar/solar, wood radiant floor heated, “sugar shack” for my family.

I will update on all our positive news for months to come. I hope I can inspire others to kick the rent and oil habit and follow the faith of our fathers, into the American Dream!