Can anyone tell me about northern NY?

JWK · #1 09/27/08, 04:22 PM

We live in central NY right now and are wondering what it's like up in the northern area, specifically northern Franklin county. I'm talking about the area that is rolling foothills of the Adirondacks to the flats of the St. Lawrence basin. We live in steep, rocky hills now and will gladly sacrifice the scenic views for flatter land with decent hardwood.

I'm wondering about climate: How hard/cold the winters are, when the vegetables are planted outside (around here it is Memorial Day weekend), what the soil types are, etc. I've seen a few listings that lead me to believe acreage is less expensive up there. We would be in a retirement situation so jobs are not an issue.

I have done a search on the net and have not really come up with any good information. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. If anyone can tell me anything or lead me to some links, I would appreciate it.

TIA

John

Tiffin · #2 09/27/08, 05:33 PM

We live in central NY also and can't imagine going any further north. Hopefully, someone will jump in and give you some more insight, but I'm thinking colder, more snow and I would have thought more hills. Where we are is a rolling type land but it has acres of corn and grass and pasture. We garden but also have trails for ATV's and snowmobiles. Hardwoods, yes: maple, oak, ash. The Adirondacks I consider to have a lot of pine, but I could be wrong. Your right about prices though. I think the further north you go the cheaper the property because of the terrain.

suitcase_sally · #3 09/27/08, 05:35 PM

http://www.city-data.com/city/New-York.html

minnikin1 · #4 09/27/08, 06:23 PM

Hi. I have lived in Clinton and Essex counties, though it's been quite a few years.
Northern NY is considerably colder than the central region, and the winter hangs on a bit longer.

There are a couple of homesteading books written about life in that region.
One was about Almanzo Wilder - of Little House fame...
The details about the other one escape me right now. I remember the writer had a pet crow and there was an long bit about maple syrup making and jack wax with pickles... Anyone know it?

tiogacounty · #5 09/27/08, 06:42 PM

Over the last 75 years most of the family, on my mother's side, slowly migrated away from there. Mostly due to the continuously floundering economy, and the weather. My uncle spent his entire adult life looking forward to retiring and returning to the Ogdensburg area, to get back to the seaway, and the life he though he missed while raising a family in PA. He didn't last long before returning to PA. Somehow in his misty eyed memories, he apparently glossed over the fact that living in northern NY is one miserable, windy, cold existance for a lot of the year.

heather · #6 09/27/08, 06:45 PM

I remember "the flats"
I have one word for you.....ICE
There is nothing to stop the wind & it just blows across the snow & everything is covered with a sheet of ice
brrrr

RonM · #7 09/27/08, 07:19 PM

I used to snowmobile in Old Forge and Malone and it was bitter cold , couldnt wait to get out of there. Nice in the Summer, Lake Placid is one beautiful city and Schroon Lake , but not in the winter.....

blufford · #8 09/27/08, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minnikin1

Hi. I have lived in Clinton and Essex counties, though it's been quite a few years.
Northern NY is considerably colder than the central region, and the winter hangs on a bit longer.

There are a couple of homesteading books written about life in that region.
One was about Almanzo Wilder - of Little House fame...
The details about the other one escape me right now. I remember the writer had a pet crow and there was an long bit about maple syrup making and jack wax with pickles... Anyone know it?

Maybe this?

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Food-Serv.../dp/0967877407

minnikin1 · #9 09/28/08, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blufford

Maybe this?

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Food-Serv.../dp/0967877407

The one I read was one the country living genre - a series of essays about living in --- neck of the woods...

The book you found looks really interesting though! I'm going to order it.

BDB · #10 09/28/08, 09:30 AM

the winters are not that bad there they get way more snow down towards oswego from the lakes the property is a lot cheaper there because theres no jobs that pay anything there they just closed the GM power plant in massena lots of jobs lost there I wish there where more jobs there I would go back the people there are a lot more friendly than here in new england my place in franklin county has sandy soil there are a lot of tall trees around my place so the winds not to bad I know theres other areas that are windy

suitcase_sally · #11 09/28/08, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDB

the winters are not that bad there they get way more snow down towards oswego from the lakes the property is a lot cheaper there because theres no jobs that pay anything there they just closed the GM power plant in massena lots of jobs lost there I wish there where more jobs there I would go back the people there are a lot more friendly than here in new england my place in franklin county has sandy soil there are a lot of tall trees around my place so the winds not to bad I know theres other areas that are windy

One giant, long, never ending sentence. Makes my head hurt to try and understand it. dot dot dot dot

BDB · #12 09/28/08, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

One giant, long, never ending sentence. Makes my head hurt to try and understand it. dot dot dot dot

Sorry......... For ........Your .......Headache..........Next .......time........I........Will.....Try.....and.. ......Be ......More......Perfect......Like................. YOU

NickyBlade · #13 09/28/08, 01:54 PM

Ft Drum is up there... we're planning to buy our homestead in that area. Definitely more bang for your buck the further north you go. I have a love hate relationship with snow and cold. I used to hate it, but now that I've been living in summer for almost a year it's weird not having changing seasons.

Patty0315 · #14 09/28/08, 03:37 PM

I am 10 mins from Ft Drum ...20 mins from Canada . yes are winters can be longer , colder and more snow but who cares ??? If we have to have winter I want snow ! We do not have poisonous bugs or snakes. There is alot of things to do all seasons. Land and like minded folks . I am a Ct transplant and you could not pay me to go back.

Patty

Use Less · #15 09/28/08, 06:54 PM

Folks who live there have gotten used to it. Summer, which is more or less on the 4th of July, and autumn, which ends around September 27th, are beautiful. There is no spring, it's called Black Fly&Mosquito season... Sorry. We owned a house beyond Malone, NY, for a while but did not live there winters. Some years there is not so much snow, but it gets very cold. Gardening is problematic. Much of the soil is very sandy & somewhat acidic. The growing season w/o a greenhouse is pretty short. There is not much work. Many people try to make a living on tourism, but winter sports have been pretty thin lately. Ski areas closed, and not enough snow for snowmobilers. The best land and house sites are on water, and they are $$$$ and have been bought up by wealthy outlanders. Everything inside the Blueline is strictly regulated. Not to say if I had the $$ I wouldn't love a place around Blue Mountain, Raquette or Long Lake, but not to live year-round. Sue

mwhit · #16 09/28/08, 07:33 PM

Oh... you are all so wrong. My area of NNY does not have poor soil. We don't have flats either. I'm almost an hour north of Patty.

I'd look into St. Lawrence County if I were you-- I'm in the foothills here and I love it.

We usually plant on Memorial Day. Our temps run maybe 10º colder than CNY and we get a little more snow, but I'm far enough inland so I don't get a lot of "lake effect" snow like the Oswego area.
http://www.slcmls.com/
http://www.slcfarms.com/home.html
http://www.co.st-lawrence.ny.us/slcpo/index.html

adkpete · #17 09/28/08, 07:55 PM

As us natives say: 10 months of winter and 2 months of bad snowshoeing

Jennifer L. · #18 09/28/08, 08:54 PM

I'm on the shore of Lake Ontario in Jefferson County--same county as Ft. Drum--maybe 45 minutes from Patty. I'm north of the snow belt for the most part, and where I am the low in winter temps has been no more than -12ºF reached for one or two nights a year. When I was a kid it was colder, but the last five years or so the majority of winter nights are above 0ºF. And like Patty says, no poisonous snakes, etc.

My garden goes in anytime from late April for peas, beets, onions to late May for tomatoes and less hardy stuff. Lots of years you can plant in mid May. So if you'd like northern NYS that isn't quite as far north as you're thinking about, Jefferson County isn't bad, either.

As far as just looking at winter cold, that's the great excuse for getting into the house after chores and holeing up all day with the fire, a good book, and something simmering on the stove. If you live where the weather is easier in the winter, what's your excuse for goofing off?

Good luck on the homestead hunt.

Jennifer

nbone · #19 09/28/08, 10:34 PM

I am about 50-60 mins east of Malone right up tight in the corner of state, across the lake too VT. and last exit off I-87 before entering Canada. Obviously, if you cant take prolonged periods of cold weather, this area will really wear you down it the winter. Its really only Jan 1st through March that are tough, its cold Nov Dec, but its the season, and the holidays, actually pretty fitting for Christmas season, but by the end of Feb, you have had just about all you can take. This may sound weird, but I think the weather effects people like it does plants, Spring never felt so good as it does after you have been in deep freeze for a few months! Evertything comes back too life, projects begin, gardens go in,etc..We actually have really good rich black soil,I lived in Fl for 10 yrs, seemed like endless summer, kinda, no real seasons. and that soil was really bad, at least where I was. Central FL, Ocala.Lands still pretty cheap here,but jobs are scarce,not alot of convenience, but its home for Me.Adjusting too this area from CNY I dont think would be that big a deal, from the south of the country, different story.Way below zero, with a stiff west wind is a brutal way too start the day, Frozen pipes, cars not starting... so glad Feb is a short month! I want a FL property for Jan/Feb.oh too dream..

Patty0315 · #20 09/29/08, 02:09 PM

1 big plus is we usually have enough rain to make 2 good cuts of hay and a nice garden. Some years can be hard ...but who does not have a hard year now and then ? We can grow almost anything . Soil can range from sandy , loomy or clay..just depends on were you are .

We do get to -30 sometimes but not for long ...its also a dry cold so it does not feel so bad.

We do not have bad black flies or skeeters...no more so than other places I lived. Now if you have swamp land near bye thats another story.

I would suggest visiting all 4 seasons...yes we have 4

Patty