Primitive living

nature71 · #1 10/21/07, 08:05 PM

I have been thinking of moving off grid to a secluded area. I am interested in purchasing some cheap acreage. I am looking for a place where I can be almost 100% self sufficient. A good place to grow my own vegetables, animal feed, raise chickens, maybe a goat or two. I do not want to live with extreme heat or cold. A place where this basic lifestyle would be tolerated and legal. Any Ideas?

damoc · #2 10/21/07, 08:16 PM

Coastal areas of Washington State are inexpensive PLENTY OF RAINFALL but
no real extremes of heat and cold just watch out for tsunami danger zones.

Wildwood Flower · #3 10/21/07, 08:49 PM

Cheap acreage is all over the place here in Oklahoma. And they don't seem to care too much what you do with a place--judging from some of my neighbors.

#4 10/21/07, 09:21 PM

100 % self-sufficient, huh! I take it you must be single and no kids?

I dream someday of being 100 % self-sufficient but I would have to give up my wife and children to accomplish that. But my dreams would be a little different then most peoples way of self sufficientsy. Chickens would probably be about the only barn animal I would raise. Mostly for the eggs and some meat. But most of my meat would come from the wild. Deer, fish, wild rabbits, squirrels, and I would try a few animals that I haven't tried before. I would grow the majority of my own vegetables and harvest wild plants, mushrooms, nuts, fruits, and berries. Sell extras for cash. I would dehydrate and can most of my foods and do away with the freezer and would only have a very small refrigerator. Would probably go to bed when it got dark instead of staying up late.

I don't think I would need a whole lot of money if I was by myself. Therefore I would probably drive a school bus for the local school district and mow lawns throughout the summer. Process a few deer for people in the winter time and do some trapping for the fur market.

But as long as I am married and have growing children, then it's mainly just a dream as they are very expensive.

Beeman · #5 10/22/07, 07:14 AM

Mexico

hillsidedigger · #6 10/22/07, 08:07 AM

Land good-enough to provide for self-sufficiency (for crops and animals plus not being too cold or hot) is in short supply and where available is generally fairly expensive because there is a high demand for such places.

Silvercreek Farmer · #7 10/22/07, 08:20 AM

Relatively inexpensive land with moderate weather can be had in many states in the southern and mid US, just look as far away from cities as possible, the more remote, the less expensive it is, generally.

FarmboyBill · #8 10/22/07, 05:58 PM

Well, land you can grow animal grain crops is going to cost you a grand an acre min, unless you buy 500 acres. BUT, how are you going to afford fertilizer, feed, gas, oil, machinery, animals, buildings to keep your grain hay animals, tools, machinery, ect????? If you dont have an income steady to afford all these things when you need them, and you dont live within 40 miles of a job to support this steady income. You wont last no time,

Old Vet · #9 10/22/07, 06:04 PM

How many people are we talking about? I doubt that anyone can be 100% self sufentent. You will need to raise all the best of crops and harvest them by yourself and make things like coffee tea sugar and spin your own cloth and make all kinds of things like axes and shovels and hoes to work the guarden with. I doubt that anybody has the know how to do this.

If you want to try to be mostly self sufentent then you have a chance. Just find what you like in the way of weather and look for a nice spot and buy that and have a go at it. I would only sugest that you do this by increnment and not loose the goal of becoming mostley self sufencent.

Of course if you are realy rich and want to just try to live on your own just make a choise and then have a go at it.

marvella · #10 10/22/07, 06:09 PM

success depends on how much experience you already have.

Alice In TX/MO · #11 10/22/07, 07:32 PM

We had some friends in south central Texas who were almost self sufficient. I think they bought coffee and flour. Acreage would run you about $2500/acre, if you can find it far enough from a metro area that it's not a baby boomer retreat.

nature71 · #12 10/22/07, 09:38 PM

Wow! I posted here not really expecting any real advise. However, I got some good answers, Thanks! I am reallizing that 100% self sufficiancy is probably just a dream, but 75% or so is might be achievable. I think the most valueble tool that would require some income is the internet, since there is a wealth of knowledge that you cannot find anywhere else.

Mel- · #13 10/23/07, 12:09 AM

I would look at ky or iowa. it seems both have climate and land to be as self supportive as possible. and cheaper land and property taxes.

I know ky and tenn have counties where you can build and live as you please, no buildling or septic codes. doesn't matter how cheap you find land here, you can't do that in indiana anywhere.minimum building sizes and outhouses illegal.

but being off grid and animals would be easy to do anywhere. just don't ever have the electricity turned on and move to an area that allows animals. THAT is pretty easy to find anywhere.

the cheap acreage (and cheap property taxes) is what is going to be hard to find

Spinner · #14 10/23/07, 12:18 AM

I think Oklahoma is about the most tax friendly state you can find. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but the good news is that winter is usually only a couple of weeks long. Summer lasts quite a while, but if you can stand the heat it could be the perfect place for you.

pancho · #15 10/23/07, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinner

I think Oklahoma is about the most tax friendly state you can find. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but the good news is that winter is usually only a couple of weeks long. Summer lasts quite a while, but if you can stand the heat it could be the perfect place for you.

Oklahoma also has some of the cheapest land prices in the U.S. In may places there is no zoning laws and people are free to do almost anything they want on their own land. Still places there that do not have electric power anywhere near them.

crafty2002 · #16 10/23/07, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nature71

I have been thinking of moving off grid to a secluded area. I am interested in purchasing some cheap acreage. I am looking for a place where I can be almost 100% self sufficient. A good place to grow my own vegetables, animal feed, raise chickens, maybe a goat or two. I do not want to live with extreme heat or cold. A place where this basic lifestyle would be tolerated and legal. Any Ideas?

If you're interested in a partner to split the cost of the land and find something good, let me know. But I have got to have a creek.
Dennis

rileyjo · #17 10/23/07, 11:28 AM

I have to put in my pitch for Northern Ontario. A nice parcel just went on market up from me. 100 acres at $700/acre. 30 acres in hay, the rest is good bush with trails and a decent stream. We are zoned here at 5b and yes, we have winter but its not unreasonable.

Don't live here if you need a Walmart because the nearest is 2 hours away. There is only one stoplight and every business is owned by the person who runs it. There's 12,000 people and 24,000 deer on this island.

hyenas · #18 10/23/07, 02:11 PM

Southern Oklahoma. You can find land for about 100/acre. Neighbors won't think you're too weird (they're bound to be a little odd themselves). The only problem with this is that there are very few jobs to be had, and it's a good bet that a local will get them before you. Unless you have a CDIB card, then you're set.

farmmaid · #19 10/23/07, 02:48 PM

The most valuable tool is your mind...Joan

Mel- · #20 10/23/07, 06:24 PM

isn't it hard to immigrate to canada, though? I am pretty sure I read they had a point system that you had to attain to immigrate and if you were over a certain age or didn't have a college degree it was next to impossible unless you were sponsored (and people seem to think the usa is picky about it's immigrants!).