Evernest, Vermont

Here's why we do it: When I was younger and more carefree, I traveled around Europe with nothing much more than a backpack on my back and a Eurorail pass.  Backyard campgrounds were plentiful there, and cheap.  I have always found it to be disappointing that the US is not as amenable to backpack travelers.  Camping is often expensive, crowded, loud, and uncomfortable.  Sometimes campsite are located near to RV''s with noisy generators.  

Now I am in a position to share the wealth. In 2005, my husband and I bought a nearly 50 acre fixer-upper at the end of a dead-end road in rural Vermont. As a tribute to the old days and European ways, we decided to offer inexpensive, no thrills camping on our property for the backpacker on a budget. It turned out to help both parties, shoestring travelers and ourselves, providing money towards the yearly tax bill.

There is a bathroom in the barn.  (If the barn is being rented out you may use the downstairs bathroom of the house.) We also have a warm outdoor shower available in the garden in summer months.

Camping rates do not include use of kitchen so for meals you are on your own with that.  We do recommend keeping food items in the car or barn and not the tent - as not to attract bears into your outside bedroom.

Our property is at the end of a dead-end dirt road with many acres of undeveloped land surrounding it.  It is very hilly with streams, boulders, and trails.  The house  is situated in a hamlet of four farm-y houses.  It is fairly private and laid back,  You are not likely to encounter any one else if you wander away from the houses and into the woods.

What you will likely experience is a variety of soothing woods sounds which range from the hooting of owls to the chirping of frogs and the occasional distant howling of coyotes in the distance.  The coyotes, by the way, are actually small animals, on average about 30 lbs and are not going to come near you.)  

There are bears around but seeing one is about as rare as seeing a moose.  They are most likely to be seen in the fall when the apple trees and blueberry bushes are full of fruit.  Lemony (our dog) will likely inform us all if one should wander nearby.  They are unlikely to want to go near humans as they are black bears, the less aggressive cousins of the grizzleys.  

My family lives in the house and includes me, my husband, our young child, our dog Maggie, and our cats Trouble and Ziggity Zagglepuss.  We have  a variety of free-range chickens running around (none of which will hurt you.)

Please no campfires except in designated fire pits.