Apple Orchard House

An appropriate architectural fit was key to revitalizing this land trust farm while maintaining its link to the community. In its hay day it was a working farm with an apple orchard, a pasture for grazing sheep and a maple syrup producing forest.

Under the land trust, any new construction was limited to a one-acre area with a buildable footprint of only 1800sf. But as a trust site, the farm provided the surrounding community with open access to the trails that wove all through it. Indeed, the farm has become known locally as a “community park.”

Seeing their role more as land stewards than property owners, the new young owners – well versed in sustainable design and organic farming – embraced the challenge of bringing the farm’s resources back to life.

This house is part of a phased plan: a garage with an apartment on top, serving as a temporary home until the family grows and finances allow construction of the main house. Despite its modest scale, the design draws inspiration from local vernacular and sustainable building traditions. A timber frame structure, intricately joined with mostly wooden pegs, rises atop a partially below-grade concrete garage. Shiplap and layered lumber sheathing, along with thick insulation throughout, create a comfortable, energy-efficient envelope. The exterior is finished with a combination of natural oils and Shou Sugi Ban-treated siding, protecting the home while celebrating the warmth of wood.

Every design choice reinforces the owners’ values. Natural ventilation, a high-performance heat recovery system, and a multi-zone heat pump ensure indoor air quality and thermal comfort. The house is all-electric, powered by a rooftop solar array that meets the energy needs of both home and electric car. Careful material selection – low- and no-VOC paints, natural oils and waxes – creates a healthy interior free from stale air or toxic emissions. Even construction was planned to minimize waste, producing only what could fit in the bed of a small pickup truck.

The residence now nestles within the ranks of the apple trees in the freshly pruned orchard. A newly planted organic garden produces fresh vegetables. Cows graze again in the pasture and local hikers trek through the newly managed forest.

This project has received recognition from Efficiency Vermont, achieving the High Performance Home certification.

But its greatest success lies in meeting the owners’ vision: a healthy, efficient, and sustainable home that nurtures both people and the land. As the owner reflects, “We can’t believe how lucky we are to wake up here every day.”