Young man new to the forums and in need of guidance

Mkwas343 · #1 09/30/11, 01:33 PM

Hello all,
My name is Mike and this is my first post on this site. I am currently looking into purchasing some land in central/northern Wisconsin or the UP of Michigan and could use all the advice from you experianced folk as I can get. The purchase of land is not a problem for me since I was wise/luckey enough to stash my cash away and make a few wise investments. I have been living and working in the BWCA in northern Mn for five years and am looking to set down some roots, a place to call my own and return home to.

My first problem is obviously the acuisition of land. I would like something with water/electric avalibility. I have the ability to cut in my own road and set up a plumbing/pump system but I am unsure if this is legal. Also I intend to construct my own hand hewn log cabin. Are there any issues pertaining to local building codes that I am going to need to look into? What issues have any of you run into as far as a starter trailer on property while the permanent structure is under construction. I am also torn between the fact that I am unsure if I should secure a job in an area and then look for land or if I should find my acreage and then look for work.

I also have a green thumb and am interested in mycology. What are the best initial steps for setting up some raised bed gardens and composting? I was thinking redworm cultivation for faster compost turn over time. Also any thoughts on small livestock? I was thinking of chickens, bee's, and rabbits ("tell me how its gunna be with the rabbits George."). Anything I need to look out for there? Any other advice you all could give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time and consideration,
Mike

Danaus29 · #2 09/30/11, 02:44 PM

My advise would be to look for work then buy your land.
Building codes, check with the local areas in each place you are thinking of buying. Also check your state and local laws regarding livestock. Nothing worse than buying a property then finding out that you can't use it for what you wanted.
My indoor redworm composting attempts failed miserably. My compost bins are 1) a circle of wire fence in which I throw weeds and newspaper and cardboard and 2) a regular plastic compost bin in which I throw kitchen scraps and leaves. I just let the stuff set and rot though. My best advise on composting would be to buy Compost This Book.
There is a very good book titled Barnyard In Your Back Yard with excellent advise for small critters and some miniature large critters. Read all you can bout it before jumping in. If you jump without looking you could end up in big trouble. The learning curve is horrid. Read what others have learned and how they have done it, then you can try your own experiments to find what works best for you.
If you plan on starting your own seedlings for your garden your best investment is a good seed starting system of shelves and lights.

luv2farm · #3 09/30/11, 03:16 PM

No real advice, as I know nothing about that area! But, welcome to the boards. There are LOTS of smart folks here!

Capt Quirk · #4 09/30/11, 03:26 PM

I think it was Countryside magazine, I saw ads for plots near Escanaba, real good prices, solar homes, all set to go. If I could take winters, I'd go for it.

#5 09/30/11, 03:45 PM

Check the state, county, and township building codes and ordinances for restrictions on what you want to do before you buy. Is there leagle access? Get a title search. Leins and/or covenants?

Water is the first concern. You won't usually have water piped in unless you live in a town with all their regulations. You will most likely have to put in a well. Check with the neighbors and local well drillers to find out how good the water is, how fast it flows, and how deep it is. The well driller won't tell you if you can drive a sandpoint and get good water because this is a do-it-yourself project. The neighbors will know. Is the soil deep enough that you can bury your water lines and septic far enough down to get below the frost line?

Septic is next. Have the land perk tested before you buy it. The soil has to absorb the liquid sewage fast enough for a septic to work. Check the water table to see if it's so high you have to put in a raised mound septic system. They cost more and need electricity. Some jurisdictions require that a septic system be professionally installed, some that it be professionally designed, and some you can do yourself.

Electricity is found by the road. If you have 3 miles of logging trail as a driveway, you have to pay big bucks to have electricity run to the property. The further your house is from the road the more it is giong to cost you to run electricity.

Some trees are nice. They can provide you with firewood. Look for evergreen trees north and northwest of your building site to provide a wind break in winter. How many will you have to remove to have room for the house, a garden, and critters?

Is the land high or swamp? Swamp hatches a hoard of mosquitoes and there are enough of them already. Swamp is only good for raising alligators and you would have to bring them inside in the winter.

What growing zone are you in? Where you are proposing locating, the growing season is short and some things won't do well. If you are expecting to feed yourself by putting in an orchard and garden you have to take this into account.

A log cabin probably has a really bad resale value.

Why would you want to move out of God's country and become a cheese head or a upper?

Maura · #6 09/30/11, 06:05 PM

Are you aware that the UP is known for nine months of winter and three months of bad skiiing?

In Michigan, there are some things you can do if building your own home, other things must be done by a professional. You can run wire yourself, for instance, and install plumbing pipe. An electrician will have to hook up. Do you have any experience building a building? It's not as easy as you think to keep things square. Before building a house, build an outbuilding first. You may find you need help. I disagree on a log cabin not being resellable. It would have to be up to code which is going to make it more saleable than an old cottage. But, while designing keep in mind that you may wish to sell it down the road.

Do you know what the unemployment rate is in the UP? I'd look for work first, buy land later. And you'd better like cool weather. And mosquitoes.

You can compost very fast without worms as long as you have the proper ratio of green to brown and it is constantly moving/aerating. Red worms will die in the winter, but you could use them indoors.

FarmboyBill · #7 09/30/11, 06:36 PM

Without telling us how much you intend to spend per acre, What amenities you want to be on it. How much wooded, how much cleared, how hilly u willing to live with. How big a farm you looking for, Were kinda in the dark here.

Chixarecute · #8 09/30/11, 08:46 PM

I"m in NE WI near Iron Mountain MI. Just rezoned to 4, it was 3. Killing frosts as late as mid June, and as early as mid August, in the same year. Soil isn't as good here as in the central or southern part of WI. Soil can range from silty sand to red clay. North of us, rocks and swamp to Lake Superior. Economy is not great, so line up the job first. Rent a while first, get to know the area. Zoning varies greatly. In WI, a master plumber does the work. Unless you know one well, you won't have one sign off on your work. Poultry and rabbits are great homestead animals. The bees will have to be fenced or the bears will take out your hives. Deer are plentiful, and love gardens and orchards. Fence those in, too. Coyotes, red fox, and wolves make the rounds. Fence in your poultry and rabbits. Mosquitoes can be rough if it is a wet year. (Fence them out.) We've been dry here since 1986.

Mkwas343 · #9 09/30/11, 09:02 PM

Well I sure do appreciate all the replies and info you have all contributed. It seems that all of you are wondering a bit about me and my abilities so I will tell you a bit about myself and experience. I will try to keep it brief.

I am a 25 year old college educated wilderness guide. I have my major in soil science and a minor in hydrology from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. I have been working on the Gunflint Trail in the BWCA in northern MN for five years now. I have been on too many wilderness camping/hiking trips to count for periods of 3 days to 6 weeks. In the winter I work over in Ely as a dog musher/camp maintenance man. I have extensive construction experience and have assisted other folks I know up here in cabin construction and repair. I also do part time work at a few of the resorts in Northern MN as a roofer/plumber/carpenter and a bit of general maintenance. So as for the questions relating to my competence and winter survival skills I am extremely confident.

Personally I have always been a bit of a loner. Sure I have some real good friends all over but no one I always NEED to be around. I have been working seasonal jobs with new friends for years now and have spent many winters alone in the northern most climes of Mn so the Wisconsin/UP winters will be no problem.

As for amenities all I need is electricity and water. I can work the rest out myself. When it comes to water I would prefer open surface water that I could get to with a pump and then treatment system. I do inted to eventual do substantial rainwater reclamation but to start I would like something easily accessible. The land itself should be heavily wooded preferably with red pine. I forgot to mention I clear trail and remove problem trees on the side in the winter, so I am comfortable with a saw. I would like higher land, hilly isnt too big an issue but I donut want something that is unfarmable. My ideal plot would be 10-30 acres.

As you all can see I am aware of my choice in location and well suited to it, my skills and work ethic are well honed. I more or less would like some info on logistics. How to type of info when it comes to finding, purchasing, and starting work on a piece of land.

Mkwas343 · #10 10/01/11, 08:01 AM

Well I sure do appreciate all the replies and info you have all contributed. It seems that all of you are wondering a bit about me and my abilities so I will tell you a bit about myself and experience. I will try to keep it brief.

I am a 25 year old college educated wilderness guide. I have my major in soil science and a minor in hydrology from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. I have been working on the Gunflint Trail in the BWCA in northern MN for five years now. I have been on too many wilderness camping/hiking trips to count for periods of 3 days to 6 weeks. In the winter I work over in Ely as a dog musher/camp maintenance man. I have extensive construction experience and have assisted other folks I know up here in cabin construction and repair. I also do part time work at a few of the resorts in Northern MN as a roofer/plumber/carpenter and a bit of general maintenance. So as for the questions relating to my competence and winter survival skills I am extremely confident.

Personally I have always been a bit of a loner. Sure I have some real good friends all over but no one I always NEED to be around. I have been working seasonal jobs with new friends for years now and have spent many winters alone in the northern most climes of Mn so the Wisconsin/UP winters will be no problem.

As for amenities all I need is electricity and water. I can work the rest out myself. When it comes to water I would prefer open surface water that I could get to with a pump and then treatment system. I do inted to eventual do substantial rainwater reclamation but to start I would like something easily accessible. The land itself should be heavily wooded preferably with red pine. I forgot to mention I clear trail and remove problem trees on the side in the winter, so I am comfortable with a saw. I would like higher land, hilly isnt too big an issue but I donut want something that is unfarmable. My ideal plot would be 10-30 acres.

As you all can see I am aware of my choice in location and well suited to it, my skills and work ethic are well honed. I more or less would like some info on logistics. How to type of info when it comes to finding, purchasing, and starting work on a piece of land.

geo in mi · #11 10/01/11, 08:26 AM

Welcome to the forum. Unless you have a certificate for your job skills(Registered nurse, EMT, Reg Pharmacist, CPA, Master Electrician, HVAC, etc, etc, etc,) it is doubtful in this economic climate that you will just "get" a job. Only place where that's happening is in the Dakota shale range where fracking is going gangbusters. In the area that you are proposing to go, the jobs may not be that available, and you will be competing with the locals, who will be head and shoulders above you since they have family and community ties. You know, Ted's nephew, the local football hero, the kid who hunted with us for the last ten years.............SO, I know this is really outside the box, but since you have some capital to invest---I would suggest you take a fall color tour and visit several medium sized towns(well, they're all medium sized or smaller up there) and note which ones have a good morning flow of traffic of people going to work.........

Then find a vacant store building in that flow--with good parking, and............learn how to make good coffee and donuts!

Okay, so folks laugh.......but, there's your job and there's your network. Things will come your way from there......

geo

Wolf mom · #12 10/01/11, 11:40 AM

Welcome - sounds like you have a lot to contribute!

I'd refer you to the HT gardening & propagation forum - also to the RE forum.

As far as local info - contact your county co-operative extension services for local info on soil and most basic information you'll need to start gardening.

Building codes? Aside from the UBC (uniform building codes) again go to your county. They'll have everything you need.

One thing I'd like to caution you about - if you build, you need to think about if you ever decide to sell - (never say never) Homes that aren't built to code have a harder time getting financing.