Hey, All Y'all! New from Idaho

[Becky]

(I was told by a native Texan that"Y'all" is singular, "All Y'All" is plural ;) . . . .

My husband and I are from Utah, moved to the Kooskia, Idaho area a couple of years ago--we've been floating around the area, researching alternative building and energy sources, and feel like now we're ready to do something about it. We just heard a couple of days ago about a family in this area who had homesteaded some land but couldn't make it, so were bugging out. After researching it (locating this site in the process) we found out that "homesteading" (the original meaning) is no longer available, but the "Desert Land Act" is still viable. So we are looking for anyone who has any information on this topic, as well as anyone who has had actually experience on anything to do with alternative building (straw bales, cob, earthship, papercrete, gabion, etc.) or energy (solar panels/ovens, water/steam power, rain water reclamation, rocket stoves, wood gas power, etc.) or other business opportunities/misc (native plant/herb gardening/marketing, making jewelry/windchimes, etc.). So far I've been impressed with this site, with just the few postings I've read . . . .

Becky

[humbug]

Hi Becky,

Welcome!

You have come to the right site. There are a lot of good people with good information and ideas here. I am in Nevada. Great solar and wind state. There is quite a bit of geothermal deposits around here also. I don't know anything about the desert land act. I think the days of any type of free land are gone, and it is getting harder and harder to find cheap land. Good luck as you pursue your dream of your own homestead. Keep us posted.

Hum

[333]

Peace,

Welcome and Enjoy,

333

[grandmajoy]

Welcome, I'm down here in S.E. Idaho in Ashton. I'm building a timber frame/strawbale house that is going to be off grid in Drummond about ten miles from here. Don't know if the desert land act is still in haven't checked on it. It would be blm land like in Owyhee co or Blackfoot or Duboise. I think that was what my Dad tried to do back in the 70's outside of Blackfoot. It was all sagebrush and he had to put a well in and have a house in five years. Couldn't find any water. So he wasn't able to do anything with it. Dad has since passed away and I don't know if Mom remembers what type of homesteading program that was.
Good luck and welcome to the forum

joy

[cap187]

I guess you can still get land under the Desert Land Act, but be prepared to spend $250K+ for developing irrigation.

Here is the BLM link:

http://www.blm.gov/nhp/landfacts/DesertLand.html

[DavidOH]

Welcome!

Never heard of that land act. ???
Mabye someone here has.

I hope it works for you.
Looking foward to hearing how it works out.
Stop in often and share with us. David

[Becky]

Thanks for making me feel welcome, guys (and gals). I've read about it costing upwards of $250K for an irrigation system to use the Desert Land Act, which is why I have also been researching rain water reclamation systems and growing native plants, especially those that require very little watering and yet may also provide a small source of income. Such as herbs (yarrow, oregon grape, elderberry, hawthorn, heal-all, chamomile, etc are native to this area), or miniature potted cactus plants (I've seen sites that sell these). Since we do have a small income via the internet (filling out BPO forms for a brother who is a realtor) we won't have to rely solely on what we get from the land as an income.

(I guess I should post these ramblings in a different place than the "Hello" spot, huh?. . . if I can figure out how to do that :).

Anyway, thanks a lot!

Becky