Faded Red

Growing up in Vermont, farms have been a natural part of the landscape, but they are becoming an endangered species.  Every year more small family farms go out of business.  Over the last few years, I've noticed the leftover barns from these farms falling into disrepair.  These old, crumbling, faded red buildings are incredibly beautiful and nostalgic.  (John Brickels, a VT artist, does wonderful interpretations of these forms).  I decided that, the next time I went home, I wanted to capture these disappearing barns.  My first subject was to be a massive dairy barn in my town at the intersection of two freeways.  But when I got there, it had been demolished.  There was almost no trace of it having ever been there.  It was still there the last time I had driven by, two months earlier.  I then headed home and, on the way, passed this sign (above).  It was another small farm on my street that had gone under.

This barn, directly across the street from the for sale sign, has always inspired me.  It has been out of commission since I moved to this street, and has become more and more bedraggled each year.  It looks especially old in the fall, surrounded by withering grasses and trees.

The next few posts will focus on specific types of farms that represent the future of farming in Vermont.