Kentucky question

[Farmerga]

Hello all,

My wife and I are planning to pay off our current house, sell it, and move to Kentucky in the next couple of years. Does anybody know how friendly the laws are for sustainable farmers in Kentucky? We plan to produce Pasture raised pork, poultry, and beef.

http://www.dostersheritagefarm.com

[KY Doug]

I would think the answer to your question would depend on where in Kentucky you were planning relocate. Local laws and zoning would differ from county to county. Here in most of Eastern Kentucky, things are pretty farmer friendly.

Doug

[Stephen in SOKY]

You shouldn't be bothered if you sell on the hoof. Like anywhere else, finished meats will have to go through a USDA facility. There is a USDA poultry processor here in Bowling Green http://www.aboutssenterprises.com/ that's the only one I'm aware of in Kentucky.

[Farmerga]

Thanks,

We were thinking about South Central Kentucky somewhere around the Cumberland County area.


http://www.dostersheritagefarm.com

[ronbre]

the area my friend lives in Kentucky the people aren't very friendly..they had lost their land to a land grab when the caves were made national park, and they hate outsiders..so good luck..she has her property up for sale as she is so lonely, and has an adopted adult girl with downesyndrome, i feel so bad for her she is such a wonderful gal.

[SFM in KY]

I live in south/southeast KY ... about halfway between Lexington and the TN line. The area is relatively farm/livestock oriented. Lots of farmer's markets, small livestock auction yards, lots of feed stores/greenhouses, etc and a lot of small farmers.

My "feeling" is that you would need to be reasonably close to an urban area for significant sales of "organic/pasture raised" meat to be successful but I'm not sure just how big the urban area would have to be ... or just how close. If you located close to the TN line, you might to either Nashville or Knoxville ... depending on east or west ... otherwise you'd need to be fairly close, I think, to either Louisville or Lexington and that would certainly bring up the land prices. I just don't know if the smaller urban Kentucky areas would provide enough of a market or not.

People moving to Kentucky from other areas seem to have different impressions of the people, whether friendly or not. I grew up in a rural western area, so I'm used to the reasonably pleasant/helpful but not particularly friendly attitudes and find that to be somewhat the case here. My husband fits in reasonably well as he is involved with the VFW and has a good rapport with the local farmers since he is one of those people that can "fix anything".

My interests are very much still those of a westerner, livestock and outside farm work and my only "inside" interests are art and books. I do not have much in common with any of the local women as it is rare for the farm women here to actually work outside with the livestock or in the field. Socializing here is, to a great extent, based on family or church. We have no family here at all and do not attend church, so our actual social interaction with local people is extremely limited.

[luvrulz]

I moved to Ky from Florida and live in Metcalfe County. They are very friendly and adaptable here. I joined Homemakers, and we got involved with different things here in the community. We will always be outsiders but as far as being friendly and helpful towards farmers, yes, they are. But different counties are different. We have gotten state money for expanding and building up our business.... Cumberland County might be more beef or dairy related.... It might be ok, do you know someone in Cumberland County??

[soulsurvivor]

I'm in Marion County, exact center of Ky, and I've lived here my entire life, other than a few years in Richmond to attend college many moons ago.

I love the southeast part of Ky and it's beautiful country down that direction. I used to work for Head Start and both Cumberland and Clinton counties were in my service area, so I got to work with people from Burkesville and Albany. Nicest people ever and since I'm now retired, I miss not traveling there and seeing them.

You'll be close to the TN line and Wolf Creek Dam, and I think you would want to check out the trade markets in Nashville, TN, since those are maybe the nearest metropolis types of markets.

There's a thing here in Ky called the CSA, Community Supported Agriculture. It's got a central group in Cumberland County that meets on a regular basis to secure homegrown organic foods for paying members. Or they did. I haven't kept up with them since retiring 2 years ago. Here's some online links that explain it better than I can:
http://www.duo-county.com/~otherworld/story/
http://www.greenpeople.org/listing/O...food-23140.cfm

[Sawmill Jim]

Graves Co KY in the south west part joins Tn . Tn has no income tax but if you are retired Ky has exempt or reduced tax on primary residence . Neighbor has his place for sale looks like a park big pond with deck and a island in it and 15 acres of ground . In that area if you M Y O B everyone else will but at the same time will go out of their way to help you if you just ask or if they think you need help sometimes . Fellow near here raises about three acre truck patch and gives most of it to neighbors

Stephen there is a huge chicken plant in Hickory Ky and Tyson has one just across the line in Tn at Union City Tn . That whole are is up to the arm pits in cluckers

Forgot no tax on food in Ky but Tn has cheaper licence plates on the border is the place to be

[Becka]

I grew up there and have lots of friends and family there that I visit on a regular basis. It's a beautiful area and great for farming, if you don't mind the clay soil. Most folks have been there for generations and it will take a while to really fit in--like 15 years. They're good folks, but don't take kindly to outsiders coming in and trying to change or make fun of how they've always done things. A few things you should know:

1. Over the last several years, there has been a huge increase in Mexicans coming in. I do not mean to sound racist, but there appears to be an increase in drugs, teen pregnancy, and fatal drunk-driving accidents as a direct result. This has been a source of irritation to the long-time locals. Some are very racist, and some are just plain disgusted at the rise in social problems. Cumberland county is more diverse and a bit more welcoming of non-whites than Clinton county.

2. The economy has taken it's toll on many families and they might not take kindly to outsiders coming in and taking any available jobs when so many are out of work.

3. Overall, people are god-fearing even if it's only one day a week. If you're a far-left liberal, you might not feel very welcome.

4. Everybody smokes, and I do mean everybody. If you have breathing problems, you'll run into trouble in most public places.

5. If you mind your own business, work hard, and steer clear of political discussion, you'll probably do ok, just realize it will take a while to build friendships and trust.

[Farmerga]

Thanks all.

It sounds like my kind of place. Sounds like the Georgia of my childhood.

http://www.dostersheritagefarm.com

[Beeman]

http://www.oregondec.org/CSPSC/004c-LexingtonHerald.pdf

I'd look into things like this first.

[Sawmill Jim]

Originally Posted by Beeman

http://www.oregondec.org/CSPSC/004c-LexingtonHerald.pdf

I'd look into things like this first.

Is there a State that is exempt from stupid ,lawless people