Homesteading in the UP?

[Jamie]

Here is the quick story. Husband lost his job, no other prospects in our local area. Having to sell our home, either shortsale or forclosure. 1 car we financed is now repoed. We are selling everything and looking to start over somewhere. We are looking for inexpensive land. Cheap means you don't have to make much to survive. Husband can find work but it would take him away for spurts of time( not good for family life) So, my question is this or rather these:

1. Would you consider homesteading in the UP? I know its depressed and it could get worse.
2. Would you put your homestead dream aside for a couple of years and just move from job to job saving money?
3. If not the UP, where are some good areas with really low prices, with the ability to grow food, raise animals and hunt,fish, trap etc.

Thanks for your time today!

[LeatherneckPA]

McKean County PA is pretty economically depressed, but land seems to average $1000 or less per acre. Hunting and fishing are excellent in that area.

[Winston_Smith]

I'm guessing you're already living in MI? If so you know how tough it is to find work in the lower peninsula, but I'll tell you that the UP will be much tougher yet. The UP is beautiful country and I love going there when I can but I don't know if living there would be for me. If you're intent on staying in MI the NW part of the lower peninsula has great farmland, good hunting, and real estate prices are dropping every day.

People tend to romanticize living in the UP much the same way some do Alaska. The reality usually doesn't meet up to expectations. Just curious where in the UP are you looking?

[DM]

Here is the quick story. Husband lost his job, no other prospects in our local area. Having to sell our home, either shortsale or forclosure. 1 car we financed is now repoed. We are selling everything and looking to start over somewhere. We are looking for inexpensive land. *Cheap means you don't have to make much to survive. *Husband can find work but it would take him away for spurts of time( not good for family life) So, my question is this or rather these:

1. Would you consider homesteading in the UP? I know its depressed and it could get worse.
2. Would you put your homestead dream aside for a couple of years and just move from job to job saving money?
3. If not the UP, where are some good areas with really low prices, with the ability to grow food, raise animals and hunt,fish, trap etc.

Thanks for your time today!

Without a question #2.

[Jamie]

Thanks for the responses. We actually live in Southern Oregon right now. We are looking at Ontonogan. We are still tossing around ideas, areas and jobs.

[Winston_Smith]

Right on Superior huh? That's quite a climate change from S. Oregon. I love Copper Harbor- the Keweenaw peninsula has some of the best mountain bike trails around. It is somewhat desolate though. What drew you to this neck of the woods in the first place?

[Jamie]

We have some friends up that way, starting a community. It is a huge change from us down in Oregon. We have talked of Alaska also, really we would be open to any of the northern states. But that area has a draw from our friendship.

[swedishfish]

I know the area very well. there is some work to be had depending on your skill set. Teaching of course, power companies, indian casinos. The winters are real up there especially on that side of the superior state.

No area is really booming up there, but Marquette is probably the best job city due to the university and large health system there. University jobs are nice if you can get one. Lots of variety, good people, and generally better job security.
For that matter there is also a very good community college in Escanaba.

[leera]

Wihtout a doubt,I would agree with DM....

The UP can be a harsh place to live.

IF I were going to go that route,I would first stay where I am and buy the property,only moving up there once I owned the land free and clear.(I'm in MI too by the way)

I would save and pay cash as I went to make sure that what I had was mine and no one oculd take it away should I become ill or suddenly jobless.

Income up there,unless you're lucky,is seasonal at best.......The majority of the UP's income is from tourism.

A fairly large portion of the year round population is on welfare,due to the seasonal incomes.

While you're toying around with ideas,sit down and make a plan....what do you need in acreage? How much $$$ will you need to make to be able to live comfortably?

Do you have any experience at homesteading already? Take the time while you're saving for your property to learn as much as you can about the things you want to be able to do....

Raising livestock,gardening,home canning and preserving food,basic plumbing and electrical knowledge is good too.

This is what my DH and I have been working on while we've paid down our debts,so that when we do get our land,we will have the knowledge and skills to build our homestead to way we want it to be.

[Jamie]

Great advice from all of you, thank you. Hubby had an interview the other day on the phone. He is a sr. systems engineer. Not many prospects up that way, we know. We already live on a farm, have just under 8 acres. we garden, can, had livestock( sold it to get ready to move), have experience in plumbing, electical and home repair and simple building. We already homeschool our children, cloth diaper and are very into hunting, drying, butchering and processing our own meat. We are waiting to hear on that job, but are also looking at other positions to begin saving for land. I appreciate your responses.

[Catalpa]

One more thing to think about: much of the land in the UP is not suitable for farming. So depending on what you want to do on your homestead, it might be a factor. It would be difficult to have much acreage in hay, for example, and it might take some time and trouble to build up the soil for a large garden.

[High_Desert]

I was stationed up there for two years at KI Sawyer AFB. Pretty country, no mountains, and more snow than I have ever seen in my life. Seems to me it would be tough on livestock and gardens.

Marquette was a nice town. Folks up there keep to themselves, I never felt welcome like I did at other bases.

HD

[bill_in_in]

The UP would be tough. Short growing seasons. Mostly sand for soil. Heating is a major concern. Ontonogan has some fairly heavy snowfall from lake effect if memory serves correctly. Fuel prices tend to be 15 to 25 cents higher a gallon and some other products as well.

Its got a lot of good points though. I considered Dickinson Co. myself but employment is tough unless you can telecommute, and that can be iffy in some areas...

[redlandnwoods789]

a good place to settle down and do all those things would be okanogan or wenatchee area in wa.state where you can still grow crops,trap animals, hunt,fish. on your other question do point 2 then number one.

[Jamie]

Thanks again everyone. THe interview up there didn't pan out... actually the 20 something interviewer had a lack of common courtesy and didn't bother to call us either way. I guess that is generation X for you.
It looks like hubby will have a contract opp. in Omaha. Guess I should ask about this over on the NE board.

Thanks again,