An additional contribution from a sponsor has further lowered the price to one that should provide a modest rate of return from the land under careful management. A covenant will allow VFF to repurchase the land, if it is ever offered for sale, at a price that could similarly yield a return. This makes the parcel perpetually affordable to community members who need a return on their investment. 

 The underlying rights—including rights to cut firewood, harvest timber, hike, hunt, camp, etc.--will be sold to the Little Hogback Community Forest LLC, comprising 16 area residents. Each member will own a share in the LLC and receive returns from the various products of the forest. Members can use their share of those products themselves or they can receive a return from the sale.

Because of meticulous management geared toward the long term, the land should be more valuable as the forest grows older. We expect the members to receive about the same return on their investment that they would get if the money were in the bank. But, we also expect them to have the satisfaction of knowing their piece of the earth is well cared for, and to enjoy the land.

Little Hogback Community Forest will be managed according to Vermont Family Forests’ (VFF) principles, under the direction of a forester. This will not only protect forest health; it will also provide low-cost FSC certification and allow the LLC to be an active partner in VFF collaborative marketing opportunities. The sixteen shares to be sold will cost less than $3000 and half of the shares are reserved for community members whose incomes are below the county median. VFF will set up a revolving loan fund to help lower-income community members with their investment.