Today’s Vermont: In the Midst of Winter

“Vermont is more than historic barns, grazing cows, resplendent fall foliage, farm-to-table food and craft beer; it is also mobile homes and mud bogs, black flies and broken cars, hard work and, for some, hard times.”

I chose to begin this February 2020 edition of Today’s Vermont with the above line from the State14 mission statement because it speaks to the multifaceted realities of life in the Green Mountain State. Truth is, many Vermonters have yet to share in the bubbly prosperity of recent years, and how folks experience Vermont has a lot to do with whether or not they have money to spend. 

Over the years I’ve noticed a curious dichotomy that seems to compound economic inequality in Vermont: This is a very affordable place for people who already have money, and prohibitively expensive for people who have debt. 

After all, the cost of living in Vermont depends a lot on income. I’m no economist, but as my income has fluctuated over the years I’ve learned that everything from health care to college tuition to Vermont property taxes gets cheaper the lower my income falls. Those with higher incomes pay higher bills, which seems quite fair and reasonable until you consider that some Vermonters are able to get by with low incomes because they have little or no debt - and sometimes significant wealth stashed away - while other people who report high incomes may actually have a negative net worth, and need to work extra hard just to stay current with their debts. 

It pays to be frugal, but in these days of frenetic economic growth, frugal living in Vermont can seem like just another luxury. 

The picture of wealth and poverty in today’s Vermont gets even fuzzier when you consider that Vermont remains wild and generous enough to sustain hardy souls who barely participate in the measurable economy, but who are creative, firmly rooted, and, yes, frugal, enough to occupy little niches of unconventional richness in the Green Mountain State. After all, Vermont’s social safety net is pretty strong, and Vermonters are steeped in a long tradition of rugged self-reliance counterbalanced by a shared commitment to the common good.

Indeed, for generations Vermonters have found ways to live well on little money. I think it’s dangerous to romanticize poverty, but equally important to honor people who manage to create full lives of grace and dignity with few luxuries to spare. Brett Ann Stanciu pulled this off with lyrical courage in her recent Christmas Story, published right here on State14 as part of the excellent Postcard From Hardwick series.

You can find a similar quality of reverence for Vermonters who lack material wealth in the work of State14 contributor Ben Hewitt, in the photos of Ethan Hubbard and in the words of David Budbill, whose opus Judevine is both a heart-wrenching love song to the town of Wolcott - and a book that angered enough of his neighbors to compel David to resign from the Wolcott School Board soon after its publication. 

One of the smartest, kindest, and most capable Vermonters I know, a logger and a farmer in his thirties who lives at the end of a long driveway off a dirt road, argues that with all the taxation and regulation in Vermont these days, you’re actually better off earning as little money as possible in the formal economy. In a sense, he’s not wrong. 

Money aside, though, I firmly believe that true prosperity depends on interdependence, not isolation. The Vermonters who came up with our state motto, Freedom and Unity, understood the value of interdependence, and the cultural resilience that flourishes in the sweet spot where personal liberty and neighborly compassion come together.

Interdependence is the theme of this year’s NOFA VT Winter Conference, the 38th annual conference held by the Vermont chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association. 

The NOFA Conference is always a big deal, and usually attracts Vermont’s entire Congressional delegation, along with hundreds of farmers and gardeners. This year, the Winter Conference will be held at the University of Vermont from February 15-17, over Valentine’s Day weekend. The program features a full day workshop on Indigenous Foodways, a panel discussion about catalyzing cultural change through agriculture, and no shortage of outstanding, fresh-cooked local food. Registration for the Winter Conference is open to the public now, and I hope to see you there!

Nothing injures our capacity for interdependence more than prejudice, and sadly Vermont has been the scene of hate crimes and other villainy in recent years, including racist incidents in the town of Stowe, a destination for many visitors. 

In the Summer/Fall issue of the Stowe Guide & Magazine, editor Grep Popa penned a note entitled “The Right Side of History” and reflected on the ugly history of discrimination in Stowe’s tourism industry. I can’t link directly to the article, but you can read it by flipping through an online version of the publication. The editor’s note is on page 12. When you finish the letter, flip to page 84 and read the feature article “The Valedictorian” by Julia Shipley, an outstanding profile of Opal Savoy, a transgender Vermonter who grew up on a dairy farm in Craftsbury.

As I’ve argued before in this column, combatting racism and bias and cultivating inclusivity and justice are important not just because they’re the right things to do, but also because diverse communities are healthier than communities afflicted with xenophobia. 

In Chittenden County, for example, hundreds of New Americans who arrived in Vermont as refugees are helping to alleviate an acute labor shortage, enabling local businesses to thrive. Meanwhile 65 miles south, in Rutland, backlash against a plan to welcome Syrian refugees ended up wounding a community that had seemed poised for an economic and cultural revival. 

Happily, welcoming newcomers to Vermont is a priority for Governor Phil Scott, a Republican whose call for more refugee resettlement in the annual Budget Address was greeted by a standing ovation in the legislative chamber. 

I’ve been spending a lot of time at the Vermont Statehouse in recent weeks, advocating for climate action and getting to know some of the players in Vermont politics. I find it incredibly gratifying to participate in the political process, observe the dance of advocacy and influence, and soak up the stately atmosphere. 

I love how our Statehouse is accessible and open - anyone can wander the halls, sit in on committee meetings, eavesdrop on conversations, approach legislators, and sip coffee in the Statehouse cafeteria. 

Even for those without a political agenda, the Statehouse is a fascinating place to explore, and so rather than closing out this column with my usual rundown of intriguing Vermont real estate listings, I’ll leave you with encouragement to visit The People’s House. Walk the halls. Chat with strangers. Listen and observe. Advocate for an issue that’s close to your heart. Share a story about your aspirations. 

In this brave little state, getting involved is as simple as showing up.

Do you have tips for frugal living in Vermont? Any juicy tidbits of political gossip overheard in Statehouse hallways? Other Vermonty ideas to share? Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #TodaysVermont, and thanks, as always, for reading.

Big thanks to Breezy Hill Marketing for sponsoring this column and helping us spread the word of Today’s Vermont. Read more about this friend of State14.