Still Searching or Found your dream place?

[SpoonBread]

I've been searching for my little piece of heaven on earth for almost 5yrs. Granted most of those years I didn't have the money to buy it if I found it. :-/ Now With the market circling the bowl as I type this, I begin to wonder, how much longer am I going to have to wait before I find and can afford my piece of dirt?

I've been bouncing around from suburbs and neighborhoods in cities and towns ranging in size from 500,000 Pop. to about 10,000 pop. And to tell you the truth I'm getting pretty sick of it.
Growing up we moved around alot, In the past 5yrs I've moved approximately 8 times, and i don't know how many more moves I have in me. Now I've found my partner in crime, hopefully for life. We have a little one who just turned Two and all I can think is that I don't want to leave her as rootless as my parents left me. (or rather half of my parents). They got divorced when I was a wee tot and my mom and her new husband were the ones that drug us around everywhere, while my dad took over and ran is parents family farm.

This is where some tough decisions come in. I know that I don't last more than about a year or two in a city/suburb before I start going crazy. No matter how much I try to fight it, I know I'm country at heart. My fella on the other hand, hadn't even stepped foot on a farm before we got together. He still thinks he needs all the trappings of a big city close at hand. Though the idea of being "out in the middle of nowhere" scares the begeesus outta him, he's slowly coming around to the idea of compromising.

So I've been looking for land in my native area (Kentucky and Southern Indiana), as well as Colorado, where Darlings family lives. Though he would prefer to live in CO, the only places out there that we could afford that isn't suceptable to sprawl are really out in the middle of nowhere and look somewhat unhospitable to growing and living. I think KY and IN would be the best for homesteading and area to be in case of a SHTF senario. That and land is still afordable and close to civilization.

So I guess my questions to everyone are:
If you are still looking what are the problems you are facing?
And to those who have found their place, How did you find it and how long did it take you?
Also, what are your requirments for where you want to be?
How much land do you really need to be somwhat if not entirly self sustaning?

also, any families with children out there trying to homestead? What challenges do you face? How do you deal with finding the balance between what you want and what is "best" for your children? (socialization and schools)

Thoughts, questions, comments?

Spoonbread

[Southern_Gent]

I'm still looking, though I'm interested in the states of Kentucky and Missouri. While I like the idea of the Dakotas or Montana, they're just too dadburned far North. By the way, if you don't already know about it, here's an interesting website to aid in your search www.landandfarm.com.

As for the problem I'm facing, it's more along the lines of how do I transfer myself from working for a company to working on my homestead for myself? I'm writing business plans and figuring out finances, and while I've gained ground in finding what I want to do, I'm still a ways off from a final answer.

As for land requirements, at least 100 acres, as part of my plan does include raising cattle. Some of the land will go towards orchards, and if the land has ponds or some other source of fresh water, I may try my hand at aquaculture.

[SpoonBread]

yeah that's a pretty good one. Another one I use is wwww.landsofamerica.com

Were dealing with a similar issue. Though I stay at home with the little one, darling is the bread winner. And since he is in computer programing, he needs to be near a large city for a steady job. Though if we were able to find somewhere close enough for a reasonable commute, he could do that for a while then eventually go to working from home and doing contract programing jobs. He's just really hesitant to buy something, cause he's afraid we won't be happy or will want to move and will be stuck. He also wants to travel but that would be pretty hard to do if we've got a farm and critters to take care of. Were most likely not going to get into livestock too deep, so we wouldn't need alot of land. Since I would prolly doing alot of the farm work, I think 100 acres would be a little hard to manage for one person. Were thinking somewhere around 20-50 acres would suffice.

[SpoonBread]

I'm still looking, though I'm interested in the states of Kentucky and Missouri. While I like the idea of the Dakotas or Montana, they're just too dadburned far North.

Kentucky (like most other states) has alot of variety to it. There's hills, and the bluegrass (rolling cleared areas), forests, rivers. It's really a beautiful place. Is there a specific area your looking into? I've looked a little into Arkansas and Missouri but we decided it was too far from either of our families. pretty country though. My mom and stepfather moved from CO to get away from the yuppies and sprawl to Red Lodge MT, to "get away" and I looked around about it and the cost of a house let alone LAND is astronomical! It's the sort of place where for under $200,000 you can get a 700sqft shack in town lol.
MT is beautiful but unless you really want to be completely isolated you'll have to give your left foot for a wedge of land. And I agree, it's just too darn cold up that way.

[bee_pipes]

The big part is to do without. As SpoonBread said, some folks need to be ready to run to Lowe's or other box stores at a moment's notice. We live 45 minutes from the nearest Wal-Mart, an hour from Lowe's. We manage. It's kind of expensive getting started - you need to have a decent stockpile of nails, etc. We bought a sawmill so we can make our own lumber. We are near a community of Mennonites, I get ideas from looking at their places for simple, expedient construction. You have to change your frame of reference for the way you look at problems and solve them.

Don't know what to tell you, as far as business plans and such. But, the easiest way to earn a livlihood from your homestead is to reduce your monthly requirements. That means the vehicles are paid off, all loans are paid off and the only expenses you have are monthly bills (utilities, groceries, etc.) and a manageable mortgage payment. We were lucky. We worked like dogs to get the house in town paid off, then parlayed that into a piece of land with a house. Also, maybe instead of 100 acres, maybe 50 or 25? Instead of breeding livestock for mass sale, maybe specializing in rarer breeds that make more money on individual sales. I have noticed there are no local breeders of Kinders or Mini-Nubians for a few counties in any direction. Dexters are another breed that is not found in this part of the state. Both have lower requirements for range/graze, and rather than going for show quality pedigree, maybe a lower priced utility animal for folks looking to raise goats or cattle for consumption - not competition. Unregistered animals would keep your registered breeding stock safe... just a thought...

You can find unimproved land and live in a camper while building your house, but that means a lot of sacrifice - living off grid like that. The land will be cheaper without improvements, giving you a smaller mortgage, but you will have to be responsible for getting your own well and generating your own power. Not impossible, but requiring a lot more comittment than most folks have. You will also be looking at higher expenses - putting in that well, getting solar, batteries, inverter and charge controller. You may not have cell phone reception in the area - you will be cut off until you can get phone lines run.

We live in an area where land is cheap, the water table is high so wells are shallow, there is no coding ordinances that I'm aware of, the county government is not overly intrusive, and we're far back enough that nobody bothers us and I can build what I want on my property. Cost of living is cheap here, taxes are low, and each year you get better at finding bargains on food and goods. My wife is turning into a real pro at canning and we are getting better at preserving our food. The soil is for crap, but we are improving the garden with each passing year.

If you get into cattle or other livestock, you will have to run the gauntlet of regulations for food - NAIS, FDA all that crap. If you run a business, you will need to run a gauntlet of state and federal taxes and regulations. Most rural places have extremely limited employment prospects, high speed internet is not usually available so telecommuting is out. Medical claim transcription is a possibility - you receive a shipment of claims, transcribe them, then ship out the media. I don't know how much that's changed in the last few years - it may all be internet by now, requiring a highspeed hookup.

You can do it, you just have to want to bad enough. Hope I didn't pee on your parade - don't mean to discourage, just don't want to ignore the difficulties. Best of luck to you both - there's a place out there for you. The trick is to recognize the potential and a bargain without focusing attention on the shortcomings.

Regards,
Pat

[SpoonBread]

Thanks for the great advice Bee Pipe. In alot of ways were lucky in our financial situation. All of our vehicles are payed for, we have ZERO credit card debt, or any debt for that matter, with the exception of a student loan we will have paid off in less than 6mos. So we don't really have many burdens financially to hold us back. But we are also having to rebuild our savings. We live in town now but we try to live as simple as possible.

I would love nothing more than to sell off/ get rid of 90% of our stuff, move into a smaller place (currently living in 1100 sqst and it's more than we really need) or one laid out better, and live out in the country with no one to bug us and land to do as we please. I also despiratly miss having a garden. I feel like I ain't livin' unless I get my hands dirty on a regular basis. I would be so happy to like a simpler all be it rougher life. I'm just having a slow time of bringing my fella around to loving the idea, though he is making progress towards seeing the light. ;D

[Deberosa]

When we took the small farm course through the local conservation district a year ago they had a pretty good way to start in thinking about what you wanted/needed.

First take assessment of the skills and resources you have available to you (experience with livestock, plants, electrical/mechanical, etc. etc.)
Then take stock of what it is you enjoy doing because if you don't enjoy the enterprises you take on on the homestead you create you will fail at it!
From that look at enterprises that fit in and find the gaps in your knowledge skills that need to be filled.

If you choose not to do livestock that greatly reduces the amount of land you need. I agree that if you want to be front to back self sufficient you are talking 50 acres, but are you going to move to an impossible place and probably wait years to have the funds to accomplish it or look for smaller acreage closer in that you can use. I have 4.5 acres and it mostly keeps me out of trouble plus I can have a few head of livestock for personal use, just won't be making a living off of it unless I find some exotic expensive breed to grow. I am not that into livestock though, more interested in gardening and have lots of space for that. More land would be nice, but this simply is not all that bad. I have high speed internet for my telecommuting (I alsoprogram computers) and we are relatively close to shopping (half hour drive).

You are young - deciding on a halfway point for the interim may not be a bad idea. For us - starting over is simply too complex so we are most likely staying put unless the market drastically changes.

Good luck - it's not a science that's for sure and each person needs to find that mix that works for them.

Debbie

[SpoonBread]

Well I grew up with grandparents and a father who farmed and when I was young I helped out alot, though that was several years ago. When it comes to farm living skills I like to say I don't know alot about anything, but I know a little about practically everything. lol.
I'm familiar with:
caring for hogs, cattle, horses, chicken, rabbits
Pretty competent with Growing vegetables
I also have worked with my dad on some building projects
Also familiar with harvesting, canning, and freezing veggies
And a long time ago I learned to kill and clean rabbits and Chickens.

I think Deberosa that you are right about compromising and finding smaller parcels closer to income. I know it will probubly be a while before he is ready to settle on a piece of property that we want, but I will keep looking, and something will surely come around...
But one thing that drives me nuts is trying to find land like that that isn't in a freaking subdivision or burdened with mind numbing covenants and restrictions!! >:(

The only stuff I don't like to do is cooking and house work, but luckily my fella loves cooking. :)

A long time ago I heard an old Shaker saying that I have taken to heart

"Hands to work, hearts to god"

I think that doing simple honest hard work is one of the greatest ways to serve and honor god, the earth, and your fellow man.

[flatwater]

We found ours but it took a year to find it. We had the money just couldn't quite find the right place untill we were shown this 20 acre parcel on top of a mountain. My wife and I both love it. I just wish Washington state wasn't so darn liberal.
Flatwater

[Southern_Gent]

A few more comments, based upon the forum responses thus far:

If you're not adverse to satellite broadband, you can have that form of high-speed internet anywhere in the US. *There are drawbacks, such as a cost of $35 to $60 per month depending on which company you use. *I believe you have to front the money for the equipment as well, another few hundred dollars. *Plus, when there are heavy clouds overhead, say during a down pour, it will affect your reception. *

Next, regarding powering the homestead, depending on what's available, there may be more options than solar. *If there is a steady source of wind, then wind power becomes and option. *A steadyflowing creek or spring can also allow for a water-powered turbine. A good website on differing ways to power the homestead can be found at www.homepower.com.

Finally, SpoonBread, you're in a similar predicament to me. You're a country girl and your husband is a city boy. *Well I'm a country boy and my wife is a city girl. *I can understand what you're going through in that regard.

[LeatherneckPA]

We have a similar problem. While I get to retire this August, DW has to work until Sept of 2016. So we have to find land that is commutable for her and far enough out there for me.

There is wonderful land available just outside the limits of commutability for only a little over $1000 an acre. Around here, land is over $10,000 an acre or more.

And while I think we could probably make a pretty good go of it on just my pension and the farm, she doesn't want to throw away 18 years worth of eligibility. I suppose it is important to her (at least right now) to get her own pension. In the meantime I am still looking.

Going [i]sans livestock[/b] is not an option for either of us, as that is the main reason for getting a farm in the first place.