Page "Helen and Scott Nearing" Paragraph 11

The Nearings saw opportunity for the cooperative development of the lumber industry ( and other industries ) in their Vermont valley.

Ultimately, while they considered their original Vermont-homestead project to be successful in providing a livelihood, as well as contact with nature and enjoyment of life, they felt frustrated by an extreme local household independence — which they felt contrasted unfavorably with the reality in many rural parts of Europe.

Their valley neighbors in Vermont, the Nearings wrote, “… looked upon cooperative enterprise as the first step toward super-imposed discipline and coercion.

They were suspicious of organized methods and planning.

They would have none of it .” For this reason — in addition to the fact that Scott disliked the development of a ski resort at Stratton Mountain, and the mindset of cityfolk who patronized it — the Nearings moved on to another rural place, Cape Rosier, Maine.