The Atrophy of the New England Farm
The New England landscape contains the remains of many family farms, orchards are found in the woods and cellar holes and dilapidated sugar houses lay under the brush.
Evidence of what was once a prevalent farming lifestyle is slowly being destroyed by encroaching urban sprawled and housing communities. The New England country side is dotted with the remains of many family farms: cellar holes, 'wild' orchards, stone walls that corral nothing, seemingly random remnants of farming equipment found deep in the woods, family cemeteries, millponds without their damns, flooded quarries and more.
I would like to travel around New England examining what is left of the New England farm before these signs are forever destroyed by a changing landscape. Barns are collapsing everyday, walls are dismantled and bulldozed. At one time the state of Vermont was 80% farmland and 20% forest. Now the forest is 80%, or it was 20 years. Now bedroom communities are springing up and families are selling off farmland.
I would like to document at least several different seasons, spring and fall and maybe in some winter. There is sorrow and glory to be found with what remains and I wish to make photographs that amplify these scenes. Travel, interviews and surveyor's records will help me find the best plots. With permission I might even have to spend a few nights in a tent and camp while waiting for the light and the weather to agree.
18 Comments
Yup. I grew up in Vermont, but I have been away for a few years so I think it will help give me a fresh perspective. I will check out your project. Thanks!
Sounds good, Vermont is a wonderful place.
Also just so you know, you can even vote for yourself...
I'm born in Maine, living in exile. My ancestors farmed Maine from 1643 until my father left in 1956. I still have many, many relatives there. My vote is my gift to you. Good luck!
HI,like it..i studied up there you got my vote...please check out mine too
This would be a beautiful project. Best of luck. Voted. Let me know what you think of my idea too.
I've seen your work and it's beautiful -- you would do a gorgeous job on this.
I wonder if, in addition to documenting what is lost or fading, you might also show what is pushing up through the cracks, so to speak, in new urban farming?
I have a similar idea, I live in the east also, their are more broken down farms here than working ones, all the small operations are now gone, so much wasted, empty fields, barns, sitting and overgrown. you have my vote
This is a really cool idea, I voted for you, please check out mine and return the vote, good luck! it's such a shame that the traditional American farm is going by the wayside.
I'd love to see this made into a book. I voted for you and hope you check out my idea as well and give it a vote if you like it.
Wish there was a way here to contact each other.
I can imagine you'll spend a lot of time with the Amish. Good pics. Voted for you. Feel free to return the favor and vote for my project on Zimbabwe.
Hi! I am from Old Lyme, CT and always wondered about these places, these ruins. Simply beautiful idea!
Holy cow, shout out to Old Lyme! I am originally from Bozrah, 2 towns over. Southern CT is a BEAUTIFUL place to shoot. Original story to tell! Got my vote. If you like mine, perhaps you can return the vote?
Great idea! Good luck and I look forward to seeing your pictures.
I voted for you!.... please return the favor! thanks!
Your idea sounds good, the judges will like yours if you reach the final.
the judges are mostly documentary photographers which is not to my favour.. coz my project is conceptual. I really believe in my project but i don't think it'll do well with the judges.
anyway.. good luck
Great idea, check out mine and vote for me if you like it. Its about poverty and society in 3rd world countries and how they are controlled, devastated by their governments and western industrialized nations.
Are you a new england native? I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life. Voted.
Check out my project on innovation and technology as change for the developing world and my portfolio here: http://maclellanimages.com/blog1/galleries/