Farmhouse Restoration Project
Critical, Community Infrastructure
The area that is modern-day Stoddard was originally granted to Col. Samson Stoddard and twenty-four others under the name of Limerick and was incorporated on November 4, 1774, under its present name, given in honor of Colonel Stoddard. Pitcher Mountain gets its name from the Pitcher family, who settled in this area in the late 1700s. Farming the land has been ongoing ever since. The farm is known for the addition of Highland Cattle in the 1970’s.
Jim and Mary Faulkner began purchasing timberlands in New Hampshire in 1937. They would eventually acquire 11,500 acres of continual land which ultimately was put into conservation. The Faulkner Family also allowed for public use of the many hiking trails and legendary blueberry patches.
Dr. James M. Faulkner's Pitcher Mountain Farm introduced this pure breed to New England in the 1970s, sparking growing interest in Highlanders throughout New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. “Like our hardy forefathers, these long-haired, long-horned Highlanders thrive on rough forage and the rigors of Stoddard's winter winds and summer.” Annual Report, Town of Stoddard 1979
The Farmer Family of Yankee Farmer’s Market has continued the tradition of raising Highlanders on the property. Pitcher Mountain Farm is also home to the Abenaki herd of buffalo, part of the tribe’s food security program, managed by Yankee Farmer’s Market with the support of Holistic Roots.
A Place to Promote Our Mission.
Holistic Roots envisions several ways in which restoration of the farmhouse would greatly improve our ability to develop our mission of inspiring healthier communities by promoting sustainable agriculture and individual wellness through experiential living and learning. A useable farmhouse allows us to host seminars, research, and long-term educational and wellness opportunities. We envision the following:
Indoor classroom space,
Incorporation of a commercial-grade kitchen,
Housing for long-term interns, fellows, researchers, instructors, or volunteers, or for students of multi-day seminars,
Office space.
Access to the public.
Restoration of the Pitcher Mountain Farmhouse infrastructure also allows for greater public access. Simply having useable bathrooms and a commercial kitchen open the public use options greatly. Holistic Roots envisions hosting farmers markets, allowing for public access to the property for family reunions, weddings, and other smaller gatherings.
In need of significant restoration.
Our vision for the farmhouse is to restore it to the level that it deserves. It is a beacon of beauty and should be just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. It should be a place where the community can come and enjoy all it’s offerings. A place where workshops can be held for adults, students and kids and farm stays are enjoyed with the rustic yet elegant surroundings. It is currently configured as a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom but to truly do it justice, it would need significant input throughout the whole house to restore the beauty it once represented. The sun porch has been converted into two small office spaces. The barns are in working condition.