North Central PA Homesteading

[Parrothead]

Hello all. I am curious about the area East of Route 8, West of Route 287, and North of I-80. What is it like homesteading in this region? Any information on the growing season would be appreciated. And you hear rumors, but how bad is the crime in that area? I am looking for any input on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thanks!

[stef]

I can't give you any info on homesteading for that area, however, if you are referring anywhere along the Route 6 corridor, the landscape is beautiful up near the NY PA border.

The hills are high and large, with wide valleys in between. It is cold and snowy up there, but autumn is lovely.

There are many small towns all along there. In some cases their economy has been helped by tourism.

stef

[EarthSheltered]

I'm familiar with that area. Growing season is comparable to Zone 5, just add a week to the start date, if you are up in the mountain area. Crime is not bad, if you are far enough from Williamsport.

Lots and lots of State Forest, State Gamelands, and State Parks. Sproul, Tiadiagton, and Bald Eagle State Forest all come together in this area to make one big Forest. Perfect for hiking, biking, fishing, horsebackriding, etc.

I do know of several nice properties for sale in Clinton County, but don't want to insult anyone by posting about them here, so Private Message me if interested. Are you looking for just a couple of acres, or a small farm?

Jobs are mostly at Brodart, First Quality, Trucklite, and Avery. Unless you work for Penn DOT or the School District, or one of the Colleges in the area. Still some work at Woolrich, but I don't know how long that will last. I'm self employed as is DH, so I'm not the best person to ask on that one...

[Parrothead]

Thanks. Honestly, I haven't been to most of NC PA so any info is valuable about the seasons. I have lived in snow belts, so I am not afraid of a bad winter. I love being out in nature, so woods, lakes, and rivers are excellent. I enjoy kayaking and fishing so I am looking for a place offering those activities. I am not at all interested in medium sized cities, but being close to or in a good small town would be nice. I am only looking for a couple acres or less since I will be not be using the land to raise animals.

[seedspreader]

It's horrible... don't come.


(unless you're truly interested in homesteading/living the country life and don't mind dirt roads EVERYWHERE, slow Amish buggies, long drives to get to big box stores and dial up internet access and no direct route to anything.)

I find it funny that you've "rumors" about crime... Of course part of what you call "North Central" is really NW Pa. so maybe in "NC PA" they have a large crime rate??? Before I bought my house, it sat here empty for a few years... no one ever broke in and vandalized anything. I am from Ohio originally and lived near abandoned houses that were broken into and vandalized and burned down all the time.

If you're interested in a bunch of city amenities you won't find them here and you may have to drive for a "good paying job". I only drive 10 miles for mine, but it's not necessarily the norm.

[seedspreader]

Oh, and the area that you've basically outlined is called "The Wilds" if you want to research that. It's PA's advertising slogan... I guess because "The Sticks" was probably taken.

[seedspreader]

Originally Posted by Parrothead

Thanks. Honestly, I haven't been to most of NC PA so any info is valuable about the seasons. I have lived in snow belts, so I am not afraid of a bad winter. I love being out in nature, so woods, lakes, and rivers are excellent. I enjoy kayaking and fishing so I am looking for a place offering those activities. I am not at all interested in medium sized cities, but being close to or in a good small town would be nice. I am only looking for a couple acres or less since I will be not be using the land to raise animals.

Where did you live in the snow belt? I mean, there are snow belts and there are SNOW BELTS... depending on how far west (in your zone) and how far north you go... you could get serious snow (like we do)


This is NOVEMBER last year. (I've got some October snow pictures too if you look around the blog: http://themodernhomestead.com/Blog/?p=335

Just added to say, be aware that depending on where you land you could get hit daily with snow. Snow is measured in hundreds of inches a year here.

[Parrothead]

Originally Posted by seedspreader

(unless you're truly interested in homesteading/living the country life and don't mind dirt roads EVERYWHERE, slow Amish buggies, long drives to get to big box stores and dial up internet access and no direct route to anything.)

That sounds almost perfect.

Yes, I guess I am looking info on the PA Wilds area. I will need to take a look at the tourism website. Sounds like, depending on the area, a greenhouse is a necessity.

[Helena]

We live in north central PA very near Corning, NY. It is zone 5 and this year we have received a lot of rain and hot weather.WE are near the fingers lakes of NY state and that has a lot to do with our weather. That is a very nice area to look into homesteading too and especially farther north towards Buffalo, NY area. Not a very good gardening season at least for us anyways. We have lived and homesteaded in this area for the last 30 years and our girls were 11 and 13 when we came here. The schools are fine but I am sure they have their problems as we haven't been involved with them for many years. Crime is in our area but we personally haven't noticed any in our town and our doors are never locked and most of the time the keys are left in the truck. Foolish..perhaps but if a neighbor needs to borrow the truck it's available for them if we are not home. Small towns are nice in many ways as we all know each other but you need not get "cozy" with the neighbors to call on them anytime to have them help you if you do need their help. The door swings both ways there are we or you should and are available to them as neighbors if they are in need too. We do have the usual Wal Mart stores and a lot of the Mom and Pop stores are now gone the last few years because of the bigger stores moving in buy you still have that small town feeling. We have a few prisons and hospitals, small companies and Corning glass company near us for employment. We have enjoyed living here for these many years raising our goats and animals, garden and using wood totally for cooking and heating in this old farm house . If you have a trade or profession of course jobs will be easier for you to find. We live on a dirt road with a few neighbors on our 3 mile road. The mail delivery person waves each day when they pass the house and you know each car that goes up and down the road and who is in it. I can't say things haven't changed over these many years but it is a very quiet simple way of life and we wouldn't change it for anything or move anywhere else. Don't expect to to find big city entertainment or big paying jobs and all the city activities and please..!!!!..do not bring any of that with you or try to live as if you were still in the city..or act as if you know more than most country people ..be yourself and you will be accepted and well liked and accepted in any community. I would say pick a spot and move..you can always move back to where you came..but I'm sure if you find a place you will find it reasonable in price..you will have to search as city prices are creeping up to us in the mountains but there are still reasonable land and houses to find if you don't expect everything you are leaving behind in your city life. Come and visit this area and I'm sure you will be please. Good Luck !!

[RandB]

Seedspreader -

I have never heard it called "the Wilds" - that is kind of neat. What I HAVE heard it called, (in the Phila area) is,
Pennsyltucky - it refers to everything between Philly and Pittsburgh.
Personally, I love the area from what I have seen of it. If we ever have to leave here, that is the area I would look in, since it would put us mid-way between our families. I just hope there is still some inexpensive real estate there.

[seedspreader]

Originally Posted by RandB

Seedspreader -

I have never heard it called "the Wilds" - that is kind of neat. What I HAVE heard it called, (in the Phila area) is,
Pennsyltucky - it refers to everything between Philly and Pittsburgh.
Personally, I love the area from what I have seen of it. If we ever have to leave here, that is the area I would look in, since it would put us mid-way between our families. I just hope there is still some inexpensive real estate there.

There should be plenty of Real Estate around by the time you get here. Most of the counties in this area have experienced negative growth for the past half century.

So many of the young people around here don't know what they have and feel the call for the more upscale, hip and economically viable areas.

Almost any country area faces that, but throw in tough winters and you've got the makings for a senior snow bird exit also.

So, yeah, head on up this way. We'll get you settled in.

[stef]

Originally Posted by seedspreader

There should be plenty of Real Estate around by the time you get here. Most of the counties in this area have experienced negative growth for the past half century.

So many of the young people around here don't know what they have and feel the call for the more upscale, hip and economically viable areas.

Almost any country area faces that, but throw in tough winters and you've got the makings for a senior snow bird exit also.

So, yeah, head on up this way. We'll get you settled in.

And yet, these are the very qualities that draw some back to the area, like the Swallows back to Capistrano. The verdant hills, the fishing streams, the hunting, the change of seasons. Places where the night is still quiet.

My ex came from the area. He could have gotten a high paying job anywhere, but his soul had its roots in the country.

The big toughie is finding work.

But, I believe if the Lord tells you to go somewhere He makes a way, doesn't He?

stef

[seedspreader]

Originally Posted by Stef

And yet, these are the very qualities that draw some back to the area, like the Swallows back to Capistrano. The verdant hills, the fishing streams, the hunting, the change of seasons. Places where the night is still quiet.

My ex came from the area. He could have gotten a high paying job anywhere, but his soul had its roots in the country.

The big toughie is finding work.

But, I believe if the Lord tells you to go somewhere He makes a way, doesn't He?

stef

He has for us!

I get a kick walking out the back patio and looking down in the valley, late at night and seeing everyone asleep/lights out by 10:00 pm. I love it. The way it is... I hope the folks that come will love it the same way.

[Parrothead]

Originally Posted by Helena

Don't expect to to find big city entertainment or big paying jobs and all the city activities and please..!!!!..do not bring any of that with you or try to live as if you were still in the city..or act as if you know more than most country people ..be yourself and you will be accepted and well liked and accepted in any community.

I grew up in rural areas so I know what to expect. Don't worry I don't want to change a thing.

[Parrothead]

Originally Posted by Stef

And yet, these are the very qualities that draw some back to the area, like the Swallows back to Capistrano.

Ha! Love that! I would say that was what happened to me. I had to work out the restlessness inside for a couple decades. I am not one of those Country Posers. I never realized what I really wanted or made me happy until recently.

[Deb862]

We were thinking about nPA also but were wondering if the "gas rush" has ruined the area? We're in NY and really can no longer buy in central NY because of this, not to mention what will happen environmentally. We have assumed the same thing is happening in regards to real estate over the border in PA as well but is this true? Generally nowadays any decent property/farm for sale in central NY has a gas lease attached to it, including all the state land.

[Parrothead]

Originally Posted by Deb862

We were thinking about nPA also but were wondering if the "gas rush" has ruined the area? We're in NY and really can no longer buy in central NY because of this, not to mention what will happen environmentally. We have assumed the same thing is happening in regards to real estate over the border in PA as well but is this true? Generally nowadays any decent property/farm for sale in central NY has a gas lease attached to it, including all the state land.

Depends on what part of PA, but you have to be careful about mineral and logging rights/leases as well.

[laughaha]

The only way that the "gas rush" has affected us is that you can't buy land WITH the mineral rights. Everyone is still selling at the same prices, just not the mineral rights. lol

I love it up here in "the wilds". There is room to breathe, air that you can actually breathe, lots of wildlife and native plants. Crime isn't much unless you are stupid and don't lock your doors, oh, and get a big dog. The typical criminals are bored teenagers looking for prescription pain killers (not typically addicts). They are easily swayed by large dogs. lol

There are lots of bear and coyotes and raccoons, but if you keep your area tidy you shouldn't have any problems with them. You are much more likely to have problems with animals than with criminals. Tioga County (PA) has the lowest population of methheads than any of the surrounding counties (we had 1 drug bust about 4 years ago for meth).

There are about 100 people for each available job. Hope you are independently wealthy or very very frugal, lol. Lots of people around here drive semi's for a living.

Lots of people are not homesteaders and will give away all the fruit on their trees. Gardening is great, zone 5. This year has been cold and wet and my tomatoes are not doing hardly anything, but the zuchini is WAY happy. lol Good year for black plastic around the tomatoes.......last year the plastic fried them but I digress....

I love it here and won't move anywhere else (except maybe to Alaska but hubby won't agree).

[roachhill]

I don't know where you are but we never lock our doors. My Grandparents farmhouse doesn't even have locks never did. Important note Potter Co. always gets much more snow than Tioga Co. not sure why so decide if you like the snow. You just missed a chance my neighbor just sold his place. It was only 300 acres but you could probably have found enough room for a house. If you want to go land shopping I would recommend going for a drive and taking a look. No amount of info beats being there. If you have a camper you could park in my yard and camp for a few days while you shop I don't mind.

[roachhill]

My Aunt tells me it's not like the old days "it's getting so bad you can't hardly leave the keys in the ignition anymore" but if you've lived anyplace else deciding whether it's safe enough to leave the keys in the ignition is still pretty good.