Putney Commons

Putney Commons (www.putneycommonsvt.com) is a small, owner developed, intentional community located in Putney, Vermont. Six homes were completed in 2009, and a seventh was built in 2014. Our eighth and ninth dwellings were completed in 2022 and 2023.

The 9 units are surrounded by field, garden, hills and woods. We are currently a community of 12 individuals and are open to families, couples, and single persons of all ages. We share a vision for being good stewards of the land and supporting one another in living greener and healthier lifestyles.

The six original houses were built in two clusters of three semi-detached homes. They are single-story, on slabs, have no attics, are super-insulated and boast a Five Plus Star Energy rating. They range from 1100 to 1475 sq. ft. and are clustered on the north end of a 3.5 acre field. Each has a garage with a small storage unit. The seventh home stands alone.

Interior designs vary greatly, based on owner-designed preferences. Five homes have photo voltaic panels; one household has a share in a local solar farm.

Members meet monthly to discuss business and living concerns. We make decisions by consensus. We have no common house and eat independently, but we enjoy sharing pot luck dinners and occasional work days. Our $275 monthly owner’s association fee covers common element expenses, e.g., mowing, plowing, sanding, trash, insurance, land maintenance and an operating reserve fund. Homeowners are financially responsible for repair and maintenance to the exterior and interior of their units. Legally we are a condominium association.

Our 11.4 acres of land are secluded and private; they include fields, woodlands, a bit of Sacketts Brook, a common fenced-in vegetable garden with individual plots available to interested members and several neighbors, and walking trails. Amazingly, we are also right in the heart of Putney village, across the street from the post office and behind the first row of houses. We are within easy walking distance to the many community events and services offered in and around downtown Putney.  Putney also has a familty medical practice, a post office, two banks, a town library, a food coop and general store, gas station/auto repair, as well as a rich variety of arts and cultural institutions.

Our nearest neighbor is the Putney Community Center, which houses a community foodshelf. A seasonal farmers’ market is within walking distance of the town center, and there are restaurants /eateries within half a mile. Nearby, the Connecticut River and Putney Mountain offer hikers, bikers, rowers, kayakers, and swimmers many opportunities for enjoyment. Putney has three private schools and Landmark College, as well as a strong public elementary school. Many community-based events are held throughout the year, including a village-wide community supper held on the second Friday of each month.

We are located ten miles north of Brattleboro just half a mile from I-91, exit 4.