How much land

sandave88 · #1 03/07/07, 07:59 AM

How much land is needed to be called a homestead? Hubby and I are debating as to whether or not to purchase the larger piece of land which is next to our four acres. I know more its better but is it feasible for four acres to be a homestead? What cant we do?

hillsidedigger · #2 03/07/07, 08:07 AM

4 acres of the right-land might be better than 400 acres of the wrong-land but the more right-land, the better.

Ramblin Wreck · #3 03/07/07, 08:22 AM

What hillsidedigger said. Of course, some land is made just to hold the world together, and it's kinda neat to look at (think Grand Canyon).

wy_white_wolf · #4 03/07/07, 08:26 AM

You might also want to check the tax and zoning laws in the area your looking at. Some places have minimum sizes to recieve tax advantages as homesteads or agriculture.

hengal · #5 03/07/07, 08:31 AM

Yes it is very feasible to have a homestead on 4 acres. As always, careful consideration and planning as to exactly what you would like from your land is of the upmost importance.
The book "The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It" by John Seymour lays this out very well. He gives examples and full picture layouts of homesteading on 5 acres or as little as 1 acre. It really is amazing what you can do if you plan. We currently have 3 acres and it suits us just fine. As a matter of fact, we have some wasted areas that are not in use - that will be changing this season. I'd recommend getting this book - its well worth it. Its full of information and step by step planning ideas. Just my 2 cents! Good luck in whatever you choose!

BamaSuzy · #6 03/07/07, 08:38 AM

We currently have about 15 acres but don't use but about half of it with the other half being "woods." (which we do get some firewood from!)....

But it all depends on what you plan to do with your land.

I've seen people who do more with one acre than others do with 100....best wishes!

uncle Will in In. · #7 03/07/07, 08:51 AM

Indiana gives a Homestead credit (deduction) on your property taxes if the house you live in is on the property. Acreage has nothing to do with it. If you own another house it doesn't get the deduction regardless of who lives in it.

electronrider · #8 03/07/07, 08:55 AM

Homesteading is a Qualitative term, not a quantitative term

You are a homesteader when you strive for self sufficiency, no matter how many acres you own.

Jan Doling · #9 03/07/07, 10:12 AM

I agree with elctronrider: Homesteading is in your heart and head....no matter how much or little land you have.

A real Homesteader could turn a postage stamp sized yard into a productive system.

arbutus · #10 03/07/07, 10:26 AM

???

A lot of vegetables and some fruit can be grown on 1/8 acre city lots ...within walking distance of a full time day job ... is that a homestead? Probably not according to a strict definition, but those activities ARE homesteading activities, and I'm sure there are some here who do exactly this. At the other end of the spectrum is a guy like my father in law who owns 20 acres of what used to be very productive cornfield, works at an engineering job during the day, has let box elder trees grow up all over his property, and wonders why there are ten thousand box elder bugs crawling all over everything in his house during the fall months, and just owns that much land so he can enjoy the peace and quiet in the evening.

To buy land just so you can call it a homestead seems foolish to me. Buy land for a purpose ... plant crops or an orchard, graze animals, hunt deer and turkeys, give the kids room to play, heck, just buy it for some elbow room between you and the neighbors, but don't buy it just so you can claim some dubious title of being a genuine homesteader because you own 14.3 or 143 acres.

Sincerely, and no offense intended, from a guy who works a day job in the city, and enjoys 5 acres, 1.5 of which are actively involved in homestead type activities (family, house, workshop, lawn, small garden, some chickens) and lets the other 3.5 acres of thick brush and mature forest go with little intervention.

sandave88 · #11 03/07/07, 12:18 PM

Yes I plan on gardening,composting,room for kids to play,place for dogs to run,chickens,goats,wood working and breathing room. Hubby works in the city as well and will have a commute of 90 minutes. It has always been in our hearts and we ended up in the city to care for my elderly mother you passed away last Christmas so I feel nothing is holding us back now. thanks for all your input.