About
Ledgenear
Building on Generations of Hard Work
Ledgenear Farm is a hilltop homestead in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, with roots stretching back to the 1850s. This hardscrabble but beautiful land has sustained multiple generations through field crops, sheep herding, dairy farming, and the timeless art of maple syrup production. Today, our 250 acres of mixed maple woods, softwoods, hay fields, and pasture continue that legacy—but with a modern twist.
Coming Home to Start Again
James Coe was born and raised right here on this farm, growing up with cows and maple syrup production as part of daily life. After meeting Nella in college, they headed west to Portland, Oregon, where they spent a dozen years building an architecture firm. But Vermont called them home.
In 2009, James and Nella returned with their children Isabella and Jude, ready to reinvent what it means to be a working farm in the 21st century. "We took it from the last generation and reinvented it," Nella explains. "We diversified."
Diversifying to Survive and Thrive
The reality of modern farming is simple: you can't survive on just one thing anymore. "The reality is that with milk, you're not going to make any money," James notes. So they've built something new while honoring what came before.
Today, Ledgenear Farm encompasses:
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Maple production from approximately 1,000 taps (expanding to 3,000)
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Grass-fed beef cattle grazing on restored pastures
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Farm stay accommodations in historic buildings
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Lavender cultivation in their new greenhouse
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Alpaca farming for premium wool
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An active architecture firm woven into farm life
Building for the Next Generation
What drives James and Nella isn't just preserving the past—it's creating a sustainable future. "We know that our apple trees are not going to benefit us, but they will for the next generation," James reflects. Their children, now in college in Boston, are already talking about coming back to continue the farm's evolution.
"Even though they're teenagers and they can't wait to get away, they're like, 'Oh my God, this is so nice,'" Nella laughs. "They see themselves coming back."
A Community Hub
Beyond producing maple syrup and grass-fed beef, Ledgenear Farm has become a gathering place for the Northeast Kingdom community. Local young people find summer work and mentorship here, while neighbors stop by regularly for farm-fresh eggs and conversation.
James and Nella have woven their architecture practice into farm life, designing projects that support neighbors and the regional food economy. It's a modern model of how working farms can anchor rural communities—proving that with creativity and commitment, Vermont's agricultural heritage continues to evolve and thrive.
The Work Continues
From the restored 1850s sugar house where they fire up their wood-burning evaporator each spring, to the new cabins they're building for visitors and the lavender greenhouse that reflects Vermont's changing climate, Ledgenear Farm is constantly evolving. Every project, every season, every guest adds another chapter to a story that began over 170 years ago.
"The story is not over," James and Nella say. "We welcome you to continue to follow the next chapter of Ledgenear Farm's story and see how we grow."
Come experience the past, present, and future of Vermont farming at Ledgenear Farm—where tradition meets innovation, and every visit supports a working landscape that's been cultivated for generations.