What's you homesteads biggest draw back?

[lostinthewoods]

Hello all.

I was thinking the other day and I was wondering what is the biggest thorn in your side around your homestead?

Around here I would have to think that it is the fact that our house is built of concrete blocks and is very difficult to heat. That would be the hardest thing to overcome in a SHTF scenario.

Next on the list would be the fact that we are grid tied, and the well isn't yet drilled.


etc..etc..etc.. :-/


any thoughts?
lost

[Baxtherin]

I would have to say our biggest drawback is our land itself. We only have 5 acres, and due to the ordinances (or whatever) we're only allowed to irrigate 1 acre. That means the other 4 acres are fairly useless except as a place to let our horses run around and graze a little. 8 horses would chomp the pasture down fast if they were left out on it all the time without being able to water it.
The other drawbacks we have here are being close to major metropolitan city, and grid tied with a well. I'm currently working on a plan to get a solar panel and pump to replace the pump that's currently in the well, but as always, money is the issue.
-Travis

[Deberosa]

Good question. Been thinking on it and while my place is certainly not perfect in every way there isn't much that can't be overcome. I think I find that because as my friend sends me links to new homesteads at lower and lower prices (the latest is 60 acres just outside of CHelan with a huge barn and small home for $159,000), there are still drawbacks to each one I look at also. They can also be overcome but all I would be doing is adding the risk of the cost of moving and starting over.

I would like to have a source of water other than a well and plan on putting in some rain catchment systems for that because there sure is lots of rain here. The house is small but it's sound and works fine.

Battling the soggy weather is a drawback here but everywhere else the lack of rain is an equal issue it seems...

Maybe the biggest drawback is distance from family. I am far out on the west coast on my own whereas my family is all in PA. Travel is getting more and more complicated especially over those distances. I think about that one alot but that's a long ways to move a homestead without risk.

[DM]

The number one thing i don't like about my homestead is the ------------------------> taxes!

There's not much else to complain about around here, it's not perfect, but it is a great place to live...

When i read on line about all the water, neighbor, weather, and a host of other problems folks have, i guess i shouldn't complain about the taxes.

DM 8)

[Deberosa]

I bet the taxes aren't that bad compared to other places too! Mine is over $2000 a year for my little place.

[Sevengin]

The biggest thing that I dislike about our place is no well water. There maybe water, but that is a big maybe.

[High_Desert]

Water also. I have two sources but neither are 100% controlled by me. I am on a private drinking water system and have irrigation rights for my pasture . The pasture is fed through a system of canals that deliver water to my storage pond 24/7 and then I pump out of it.

The private system has been reliable and the water is outstanding so not complaints as long as nothing goes wrong.

Water here is at about 900 feet, but there is a ton of lava rock to go through. I checked on it 10 years ago and was quoted 30K with no garrantees.

The good news is my storage pond is huge and I could sanatize that water for drinking if needed.

Best regards
HD

[oldie]

I would say the biggest problem here, other than income, is the lack of labor. The locals that are willing to work think they are worth $25. an hour, and thats just not in the budget.

[MooseToo]

worst problem on my place is the owner - he's ancient -

[wy0mn]

Water also.
No well, and there may never be! Was quoted $1G just to get the equipment on site, (last summer) then so much per foot, and no guarantees.
Will be using rain barrels, for the infrequent rain; and will probably find some crafty way to harvest snow...
Other than that I'll have to siphon the river 1/4mi away, in the dark. lol

[flatwater]

The worst day about anything on the homestead is better then the best day in town. Now with said I would have to say on this place the town is moving closer and closer. It's getting time to move further north.
Flatwater

[wy0mn]

Sorry Flat,
Wife & I took the last two vacancies in Wyoming or I'd invite you up here!

[Drawbar]

My biggest problem is actually the size. Its family land so I cannot sell, but at 1600 acres, it way to much to effectively manage. I know everyone says "if i had that much land I would..." but the truth is the logistics just aren't there.

Of that 1600 acres, only 100 is tillable, with another 12 in pasture. The rest is woods. Lets be honest, with 100 acres you can glean plenty of firewood and sell plenty of wood to the paper company, but after that, its hard to effectively manage.

I enjoy what I have, but its a lot of work, a whole lot of worry and so big in size that you really can't keep up with it. You can work sections and be pleased with the results, but its just too big to manage effectively.

[bookwormom]

too close to the freeway, we can hear it very loud when the weather changes. (right now you can't hear a thing). bad soil, hot weather, hilly, pernicious bugs, ticks, mites, only April and my legs are eaten up.
too much work for the two of us.

[12vman]

All of the little critters gotta wear sun glasses whem I wear my shorts outside.. ;D

[hardrock]

I was going to say water, but that's not all that critical to me.
Some folks say "If ya ain't got water, don't build."

I say "There's plenty of water!" "Falls right outta the sky every time it rains!" ;D

We've put up with a bad well here for so many years, hauling water just became a way of life.
Tired of that.....

In fact, I plan on sealing and backfilling the well and just be done with groundwater altogether.
In a farming community there's just too much field runoff and contamination to even concider the cost of drilling a new one.
Rural municipal water is out too. Once they attach, you can never get rid of them no matter how high they decide to set the "basic rate".

With 42" of average annual rainfall in our area, I should get by just fine with a direct burial poly cistern around 2500 gal. for potable water and about the same for the garden in the existing brick cistern/overflow.
Approx. 4800 sq.ft. of metal roof to collect from between the house/garage and the shop.
Basic household, average garden, maybe some critters...

Guess my biggest drawback is it ain't all finished yet! LOL!

[WRTN]

Trust me on this........check for idiot neighbors. They can ruin your life regardless of how much land you own. :-/

[tufhelp]

R O C K S ! ! !
We are in a river valley in Southern New Mexico and I guess the river has meandered for millennia. There are "river" rocks every where, fist to head sized mostly, all over and at most depths...

[bookwormom]

We are in a river valley in Southern New Mexico and I guess the river has meandered for millennia. There are "river" rocks every where, fist to head sized mostly, all over and at most depths...

wow, they cost big bucks here. half a ton costs around 80 bucks at the garden center near us. Of course we are in KY.

[Terri]

Zoning!

I am not ALLOWED a horse and a cow, and I would dearly love them!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LeatherneckPA]

Ummm,,,,the fact that I don't HAVE one yet? Have started looking though.

[WileyCoyote]

Well, on the one we just bought and are moving to in ten days:
Sand. The soil has to be amended or I will have to do raised beds which I really don't like.

On this one - ditto the ordinances against chickens, cows, horses, and even my gardens! Not to mention the heavy clay here that makes it hard to grow any root vegies. Trading the clay for sand - and the massive restrictions for none at all - seems like a decent gain!!!