Which state has the most self reliant homesteaders

[Kelly]

I have been doing alot of research and it seems that the places that have inexpensive land are missing water.
If it has water then the temps are to cold or to hot for a big garden....

it got me thinking which state has the most self reliant homes / homesteaders ??

This may help me (and others) start looking into which areas (states) are capable of being homesteaded on.

thanks in advance for the help.

[flatwater]

I can't tell you what it is , but I can tell you which state it's not and that's Washington state. because it's way to liberal. But with that said we do have some great land to homestead and a moderate temps and mostly enough water. And that's where you will find us conservatives.

[ldsparamedic]

As far as Arizona goes, we have pine forests in the northern part, but you can't hit water 2000' deep reliably. Here in the southwestern desert water is 20 feet +. We also have irrigation from the Colorado river. Yes it is hotter than Hades, but, you get a year round growing season. This is where the rich farmers live. They are putting produce in the ground currently, then wheat goes in, then either alfalfa, or corn goes in, lastly alfalfa, melons or cotton goes in, then produce starts again. There used to be table grape vineyards in Yuma county, but the producer died and his family stopped growing them. Don't forget the citrus industry in the state. We even grew peaches and our neighbor grows grapes, apples, apricots and peaches.
So you see, too hot is not all that bad. The only problem I see is if you are dependant on the power grid, it becomes dangerous when the power goes out in the summer unless you have an abdobe or other thick walled house to keep out the heat.

[PaulNKS]

I have been doing alot of research and it seems that the places that have inexpensive land are missing water.
If it has water then the temps are to cold or to hot for a big garden....

Kelly, I have to disagree with you. Here, we have inexpensive land, lots of water, and your choice of timber, pasture, crop, etc. For some reason people automatically assume that all of Kansas is flat, dry, and hot but, that is only the western half of the state.

Here we average over 42 inches of rain per year. There are numerous springs, ponds, creeks, etc. Depending on where you look, you can find good land for anywhere from $800 an acre to $30,000 per acre. That is dependent on how close to the cities you are. Here, where I'm at land prices are from about $800 or $900 to about $1800 per acre. Sometimes it can include buildings.... but for ag land with house and outbuildings, at auction, they auction the entire place by dollars per acre. The last one I was at had an old 2 story, 4 bedroom farmhouse on 80 acres, 2 ponds, hay, pasture, and timber... it was at auction and went for $105,500.

On the other hand, last summer 40 acres with half in timber and half in pasture went for $1150 an acre. It had 2 creeks and a spring.

Paul

[Kelly]

I can't tell you what it is , but I can tell you which state it's not and that's Washington state. because it's way to liberal. But with that said we do have some great land to homestead and a moderate temps and mostly enough water. And that's where you will find us conservatives.

thanks for the reply.
i am actually looking for IT work in spokane as it is one of the places that fit most of my criteria :)

[Kelly]

As far as Arizona goes, we have pine forests in the northern part, but you can't hit water 2000' deep reliably. Here in the southwestern desert water is 20 feet +. We also have irrigation from the Colorado river. Yes it is hotter than Hades, but, you get a year round growing season. This is where the rich farmers live. They are putting produce in the ground currently, then wheat goes in, then either alfalfa, or corn goes in, lastly alfalfa, melons or cotton goes in, then produce starts again. There used to be table grape vineyards in Yuma county, but the producer died and his family stopped growing them. Don't forget the citrus industry in the state. We even grew peaches and our neighbor grows grapes, apples, apricots and peaches.
So you see, too hot is not all that bad. The only problem I see is if you are dependant on the power grid, it becomes dangerous when the power goes out in the summer unless you have an abdobe or other thick walled house to keep out the heat.
i am actually from casa grande, so i know all about the desert southwest.
my main problem is water. as you said some times you have to go 2000 ft to hit water (my parents went 1800 and didnt hit anything)
a thick-walled home / underground home would take care of the 110+ temps in the summer...
if there was a reliable way to get your own water, the tucson area would be a good area for me :)


Kelly, I have to disagree with you. Here, we have inexpensive land, lots of water, and your choice of timber, pasture, crop, etc. For some reason people automatically assume that all of Kansas is flat, dry, and hot but, that is only the western half of the state.

Here we average over 42 inches of rain per year. There are numerous springs, ponds, creeks, etc. Depending on where you look, you can find good land for anywhere from $800 an acre to $30,000 per acre. That is dependent on how close to the cities you are. Here, where I'm at land prices are from about $800 or $900 to about $1800 per acre. Sometimes it can include buildings.... but for ag land with house and outbuildings, at auction, they auction the entire place by dollars per acre. The last one I was at had an old 2 story, 4 bedroom farmhouse on 80 acres, 2 ponds, hay, pasture, and timber... it was at auction and went for $105,500.

On the other hand, last summer 40 acres with half in timber and half in pasture went for $1150 an acre. It had 2 creeks and a spring.

Paul
you actually have me looking into kansas :)
my only problem is there isnt much work for me in the ares that are cheap/not flat.


thanks for the input everyone, please keep it coming.


maybe i should have asked what state/area is the easiest to homestead in?

[backlash]

thanks for the reply.
i am actually looking for IT work in spokane as it is one of the places that fit most of my criteria :)

Spokane has real winters.
Washington is a good place to live if you stay away from the big liberal areas.
Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia etc.
I moved from the wet side to the dry side and it is like a different state.
Of course we still are dominated by Democrat in Olympia and we always will be unless Seattle slides into Puget Sound.
Come on up and join us.
Unless you're a liberal. :D:D

backlash

[Kelly]

Unless you're a liberal.

<-- libertarian :D

[backlash]

<-- libertarian :D

Welcome friend :D

[Paddy]

Depending on where you look, you can find good land for anywhere from $800 an acre to $30,000 per acre. That is dependent on how close to the cities you are. Here, where I'm at land prices are from about $800 or $900 to about $1800 per acre.

Paul is pretty accurate here it seems:

http://www.trulia.com/property/1091528785-302-Y-Rd-Whiting-KS-66552

Nice price for 65 acres. I am pretty tempted.

[PaulNKS]

Paul is pretty accurate here it seems:

http://www.trulia.com/property/1091528785-302-Y-Rd-Whiting-KS-66552

Nice price for 65 acres. I am pretty tempted.


Holy cow! That's around the corner from me. I'm at the first intersection to the north at 270 Rd and Y Rd. That place isn't a bad place at all. Lot of turkey, deer, etc.

Paul

[PaulNKS]

I forgot to add that the price of that land seems a bit high for just pasture/hay in this area. But... Someone could probably offer less and get it.

Paul

[PaulNKS]

Well, I talked to the realtor. The map showing the location is wrong. The farm is actually about 4 miles north of where it is shown on the map.

The older man that owned it died just a few short years ago. The family split the house off and sold this 65 acres. The buyer went in and sheared the trees in the pasture and hay ground, just cleaning it up. Then he ran some new 5 strand barbed wire with steel posts for the pasture. The hay ground sits on the road and hasn't had fences replaced.

That place also has wood that would be good for a wood stove. There's probably enough to be renewable enough to not have to worry. The neighbors around there are all good people except for one neighbor to the south. But, there is good fence on that property line.

What else would you like to know? LOL

Paul

[Travis]

Pennsylvania has the most self reliant homesteaders in the United States. Ever hear of the Amish, if that's not self reliant I do not know what is.:D


For me if I was going to homestead I would stay in Oregon, I am in the Willamette valley and we have pretty mild weather. Yeah it snows a small bit. It gets down to the teens and yeah it may hit 100 in the summer but all in all the weather is nice. Land is pretty abundant and you can get lost fairly quickly if you want to. And water well it is everywhere. We have lots of farming here iirc we produce something like 80% of all the grass seed and at one time we where a major hop producer.

[Paddy]

Pennsylvania has the most self reliant homesteaders in the United States. Ever hear of the Amish, if that's not self reliant I do not know what is.:D

No kidding. My fiancé has been trying to learn how they do many things so that we can adapt their methods to our own plans.


For me if I was going to homestead I would stay in Oregon, I am in the Willamette valley and we have pretty mild weather.

The Willamette valley is a really pleasant place to live. We may move back there eventually; I lived there for a while. We still have not decided where to homestead. Looking through all the relevant information is time-consuming in this large of a nation.

[Paddy]

Well, I talked to the realtor. The map showing the location is wrong. The farm is actually about 4 miles north of where it is shown on the map.

Ah ha. That might explain why you were thinking the other location a bit overpriced. I bet that the actual parcel is worth more with the forested parts.


That place also has wood that would be good for a wood stove. There's probably enough to be renewable enough to not have to worry. The neighbors around there are all good people except for one neighbor to the south. But, there is good fence on that property line.

What else would you like to know? LOL

Paul

You make it sound rather attractive Paul. :)

[PaulNKS]

I know the place, and I knew the older man that had owned it.

Actually, in some areas, the wooded parcels bring much more than the pasture/hay. It's usually someone from the city buying hunting land. However, crop ground sells higher than timber or pasture/hay.

If I didn't have this place, it would be one that I would consider building on.

Paul