land planning cosultant

[thedford]

I have been a subscriber to the magazine for a few years and have all the anthologies and cd's. The information is great. I bought 127 acres in Missouri about a year and a half ago, and plan on moving there in 7-8 years. I am looking for someone that could be a consultant, to help me set up the land. The land is pretty hilly with some flat spots and 2 creeks. I don't want to put any money into the land until I know where everything is going to go. I want to live a self sufficiency life style, and need to plan accordingly. I have drawn all kinds of plans myself but, realistically know I am just a city boy, and would like to pay someone for the help to set it up, as they know much more about it. I would need to know placement and size for the house, orchard, garden, pasture ponds, etc.. If anyone knows of of some that does this kind of thing I would really appreciate it, also recommendations on sizing solar, wind and hydro, along with specializing in small scale fish farming Thank you.

[thedford]

I just wanted to add that 98% of the land is currently wooded

[333]

Peace,

Congratulations it sounds wonderful and plenty of timber to help your treasury, perhaps your post would be better served in the building etc boards. As far as layout, find the best place to draw water and start from there, then perhaps search around for fair minded lumber folk who will clear your desired building lot in exchange for the lumber they will harvest. Just my 2 cents good luck .

333

[torenghout]

you have 7-8 years to learn, why pay someone?

[thedford]

Thanks a ton, all great advice. I am trying to find someone that I could go through to show the maps and the pictures of the land. I have too many questions I need to ask, and would drive everyone on this forum crazy asking them all. I have 2 spring fed creeks so I would imagine I could put the well anywhere. How many acres should the orchard be, how close to the creek so I could solar pump some water to irrigate, so the trees can grow until I move there. I want things to be ready and growing when I move and I know fruit and nut trees take time to mature. Is there such a company or person that does this sort consulting for a living? I'm sorry for posting it in the general section, like I said I am new. Feel free to move it there. Thanks again. I really need someone I could talk to in depth about everything, and cant find anywhere on line. I figured here would be a good place for direction. I plan on having allot of animals and doing some breeding of exotics. I would need someone to help lay this all out. I am sorry this is rambling on, but that is why I am looking for someone to go through so I don't have to do bother everyone.

[thedford]

I plan on doing most of the work myself and buying a portable sawmill for the lumber

[thedford]

Thanks, I just PM'ed you

[kawalekm]

Hi Thedford
I would tend to agree with others who say you don't have to hire someone to teach you all this. Your goals overall sound somewhat paralel to ours. In 2004 we bought our 52 acres, and have a five year plan for its development into a homestead. I started out by going to our public library and reading everything I could find on homesteading, rearing animals, home constructions, fruit trees, ect. The only assistance I payed money for was a lawyer to draw up the legal contracts for the land purchase.

I've accomplished quite a bit since we started. I agree with you that getting trees growing first is a priority. I've got 60 trees in the ground now, including apples, peaches, cherries, plums, apricots, almonds, pecans, walnuts, and chestnuts. I've built a roof for an unfinished cabin, and next I'll be installing the plumbing for running water inside the cabin. This is all learn as you go stuff! Later, I'll be installing my woodstove, solar hot water, and eventially a hybrid wind/solar electrical system. My single biggest resourse for getting things done is my public library. I've also collected hundreds of books that I've bought at yard sales and the flea market, most for just a dollar or two. I've used these books to plan my orchard, design my roof, and just about everything else I plan to do on the land.

I terms of planning, my best recommendation is to focus your attention on where your money is going to come from. Are you still planning on working or are you going to retire? Will you still be employed while working on the land, or will you use it to be self-employed? Well, what ever you do, you've got to take pictures and show us the results of your work!
Michael

[AlchemyAcres]

Excellent responses from everyone, highlighting the fact that goal setting is what's most important and the best place to start.
I've been a practitioner of a combination of holistic management and permaculture for several years.
Holistic management is a framework for decision making and goal setting.
Permaculture is more a design system needed to reach your goals in a sustainable way.

It'll pay to search for others practicing holistic management or permaculture in your area. We happen to have a couple local chapters here in PA.

http://www.holisticmanagement.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture

~Martin :)

[CarolAnn]

Thedford,
There are some free resources that you can find in your new area. One is the county extension agent!

One very good resource I found when building on my 20 acres in Arkansas was the nearest country grocery store. Go there. Buy a soda and a sandwich, which they will often make on the spot. Then chat and let it be known you want some good advice about your projects.

There are just TONS of retired guys who have forgotten more than we'll ever know - and they're often willing to share it for little or no cash! (Sometimes a dinner at a local diner will help, but often they're just glad to be helpful.)

I found a retired engineer from the Army Corps of Engineers who helped me design my earth shelter's concrete ceiling beams FREE - and he pointed me to others who knew other things I needed to find out.

A local school principal turned out to be an expert builder who poured my footings! A retired painter gave me all sorts of excellent advice about working with the local government types when I was getting permits.

[humbug]

I have to agree with everyone else. You are your own best consultant. Designing a homestead is a very personal process. Spending time camping on your land is one way to get the feel of how you want things to be.
Missouri is very beautiful. Many things will grow there. Consider your year round needs and Missouris' weather conditions. They tend to get a lot of rain, so check for areas on your property that may flood. Find out what growing zone you are in. This will determine what you will be able to grow.
I would reccomend reading The Self Sufficient Life and How To Live it by John Seymour. It has drawings of two example homesteads. One is five acres and one is a single acre.
Another good book is The Have More Plan.
There is a lot of good information out there on this forum and several others. Become informed.
Good luck and enjoy the process and know that you will make mistakes...everyone does...even consultants.

[thedford]

Thanks for all the information. I have that book by Seymour. Its the first step of placing the house that worries me. I can always move a pasture, chicken coop or garden, but I cant move the house once I start. The topography has me troubled. living on the hill would be great for a view and wind, and problems with flooding. That would put pretty far from the road, my wife isn't that much of country girl and my kids will have to take a bus to school, so I guess the wise thing would be to keep it near the road. Thanks to everyone, just talking about it is helping me out.

[CarolAnn]

I'm with Deberosa on this! Don't build next to the road if you can help it!

One of the worst mistakes that people make is to bring the suburbia (or even "urbia mentality!) with them to the country. One of your greatest assets is the gorgeous view that you've got - why stick your windows out on the street?!

Curve that drive way in and wind it around so you can see all the beauty that you now own, have privacy, and even safety - more than being on display for anyone who drives by.

When I was a kid, the rich guy in town bought the best (and only) sledding hill there was, perched his big old house on top of it, and then planted about a zillion trees around it. Now it's completely hidden except for the planned views that his landscaper left so they could look OUT in selected places. I understand it better now that I'm a grown up . . . but I STILL suspect part of his joy was in taking our sledding hill! ;) But the point is, it's much better to have the trees for a view!

You know, the house floors will probably be a level up from the slope, so you'll want to stand in the back of a pickup if you can, to pick out the perfect view from your best windows!

[Suzy]

I agree about not building near the road....we only have 15 acres but our house is way too near the roadway....

I would go ahead and get on my land as soon as possible in some sort of temporary housing and that way you will experience where you think the house should be, etc. etc. etc.

There's nothing better than getting out there and experimenting....I read once either in BWH or COUNTRYSIDE or somewhere, maybe an early MEN, about a couple who planned to build a home on a certain site of their land...

As they were still in the planning and saving stages they camped out on the land and discovered by sleeping in a tent on the proposed home site that it was all wrong for the actual house....by moving it just a little bit they were able to get all the natural sunlight they needed for heating but in a way tht they didn't "burn up" in the summer time.

They said they'd never have figured out all this if they hadn't been living there temporarily in the tent, at least part time!

Best wishes!

[TNDadx4]

Although, it's been said, I would have to agree that you should have enough time to learn on your own without a paid consultant being involved.

I believe that it would be beneficial for a lot of people here if you would post questions for people to answer. I for one, would love to see some of the questions and answers and that would be lost if you paid to have someone privately help you.

Best of luck with your land!