Our time is approaching!

[amygrimis]

For those of you who picked up stakes and moved out to the country, where did you start? We are from the north (pac nw and midwest), but currently live in the desert. Living with family after getting out of the Army while we waited for disability, etc and now we are ready to get going. So, we are searching the country for land and, unless we find something with a house we fill fits us, we'll be building ... something. We will be starting with a month or so of travelling this summer. Hopefully culminating with a land purchase.

Once you found your spot, however that happened, what did you start with? Garden will be number one for us, even if that just means planning out where it will be. As far as animals, I think chickens will be first. We want sheep or goats, horses ... that might be it. But, we want to get some crops in first.

Doesn't feel real ... probably won't until summer!

[biggkidd]

First let me wish you luck. One of the first things you want to get done is planting long harvest items; fruit trees, grape vines, anything that takes years to start producing. All long term stuff needs to get started right away so you can reap the rewards soonest.

Larry
A World Away

[April]

There are a bunch of things that we did that had to be done over because they just weren't in the right place. I wish we had taken a year or so to get to know the land before we jumped right in. I put some trees in frostier areas and put wood storage where it gets kind of swampy in winter - stuff like that.

If I were starting over I'd just wait and watch and take notes for a bit. Takes some pressure off too!

[Wolf mom]

Yuppers - As April said, take your time to know the lay of the land.

Lists are good:
"What I want": (Before you buy) water, long growing season, good soil (I just heard parts of the midwest land has skyrocketed in price) How much land can I take care of? Age (disability) is important as to how close to town & hospitals you want to be, taxes, etc. After you've done that - prioritize as you will probably not get everything.

then take your time to get to know your land before you plunge in as so many do.

I decided I was tired of paying half a house payment boarding my horses. My bottom line was living where I could saddle up after work & ride without having to haul them someplace. Found a great 5 acres, with well, bordered on two sides by the national forest. Bought it - then found I had poor soil, short growing season & elk that love young green fruit trees and now, going into winter, wood is selling for $200 a cord. As I age, now with no horses, living closer to town would be nicer. And trying to sell it is just out of the question with the market the way it is. The kicker is, there's an area close by that has everything I could want if I just had taken my time to do my homework.

I love challenges & the quiet, so I'm really not grumbling and do feel blessed, just trying to show you that taking your time really pays off in more ways than are evident on first blush.

[simi-steading]

My wife and I are in the middle of doing this..

We live just outside DC, and bought a place in WV... We couldn't just up and move because we have a lease we're in until July next year..

That's a good thing though... because we are working on the house now getting it fixed up ready to move into..

We plan to quit our jobs the end of May next year and take a couple months moving everything (5 hours away with a 14 foot trailer.. multiple trips) and taking time to get the house cleaned up to turn back over to the LL..

We've found it's probably best we do it this way too.. It's given us time to meet people from the new area, get to know what is around, and get tips on looking for a job in the area..

That is you big issue.. What are you going to be doing for a living? How are you going to make your money? A homestead will not pay your bills.. I know you said you'll have disability coming in, but it will it cover all your bills? Will it cover your taxes?

If you end up building a house, where will you live during the time it's being built? If you have to travel, how far are you willing to travel between your home and your new property? We've found that 5 hours is our limit.. We wishe we were withing three hours of the property, but at least we're far from people where we are..

I know you are already talking gardens and animals and such, but you need to take things slow.. figure out what your bills are.. find out who much free time you will have between your jobs if you have one.. Gardens and livestock can be a full time job as it is...

A lot of city people dream about living in the country, but they find out it's not as cheap as they thought, and it's not as care free as they thought.. It can be a tough life.. depending on a lot of variables. This is why you want to take thing ssssslllooooowwww.... Get to know your land.. get to know your neighbors.. get to know your local feed stores...

My wife and I each had lived in the country a big chunk of our lives, but ended up in the city, and are sick of it.. We're heading back to the country, but we know we'll be working much harder for a lot less money... We keep questioning our sanity, but we know we've been happier with very little compared to what we have now..

Give us some more details about your abilities and experiences.. You spoke of disabilities, will this be anything you will have to work around?

Let me warn you too, if you think you have a big enough pile of money to make this kind of jump.. stop and make that pile bigger... Our adventure has cost us an easily three times what we had expected so far... At least we are still working and making enough to just afford to keep working on this dream of getting back out of the city... All kinds of things you never thought about or expected will crop up.. We knew better.. we've lived in the country a lot.. but when you go at it as a homestead instead of just living in the country, it takes on a different kind of hue...

[amygrimis]

Thanks for all of the tips/info! Good points and reminders about going slow and getting the long term things in first. My husband is from a much more country way of life than I was, but I did grow up in Wisconsin and we had a pretty big garden for living in a city. We also spent 6 months in the middle of nowhere during the harshest part of the year (yes, there are spots with harsh winters in AZ lol - maybe not 60 below or anything, but we got to the teens for a long while). 6 months isn't a long time, of course, but it gave me a decent idea of what my days will be like, the work needed, finances, etc. Also had horses, bunnies and a few acres. It will be a lot more work than we have now, but it's also work we enjoy.

As for disabilities, they are mental and he has severe anxiety around people. Middle of nowhere, with his family and animals gives him peace. So, I'll get him to work hard LOL We don't want to live in this area, though, who knows what will happen when we start to buy! Trees ... and grass. Those are two of our biggest wants for our home, can't get that in most places here.

As far as money, we're planning to buy land with cash and come close to building with cash. We're fairly resourceful and my father-in-law has building experience. The talk tonight was that we might attempt an earthbag house or a strawbale ... was just reading about cob homes. We would probably try and build a cob pizza oven or something on a small scale here and see how that goes. I know what we have coming in as income and a decent idea of what we can afford to at least start with. We have an RV, so we could live in that if it was short term, otherwise rent somewhere close. Sure, I have my moments when I like granite counter tops, but mostly I'm happy cooking over the fire. I'm not in a rush, at least I won't feel like it once we have land.

I'm sure lots of unexpected things will pop up, but that's what planning is for ... and where adventure comes in!

Wolf mom, we often had elk stomping through our front yard. We'd hear the snow crunching, some stomping and our horses would start chattering. I always thought for sure I would go out before dawn and run smack into one!

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by amygrimis

Thanks for all of the tips/info! Good points and reminders about going slow and getting the long term things in first. My husband is from a much more country way of life than I was, but I did grow up in Wisconsin and we had a pretty big garden for living in a city. We also spent 6 months in the middle of nowhere during the harshest part of the year (yes, there are spots with harsh winters in AZ lol - maybe not 60 below or anything, but we got to the teens for a long while). 6 months isn't a long time, of course, but it gave me a decent idea of what my days will be like, the work needed, finances, etc. Also had horses, bunnies and a few acres. It will be a lot more work than we have now, but it's also work we enjoy.

As for disabilities, they are mental and he has severe anxiety around people. Middle of nowhere, with his family and animals gives him peace. So, I'll get him to work hard LOL We don't want to live in this area, though, who knows what will happen when we start to buy! Trees ... and grass. Those are two of our biggest wants for our home, can't get that in most places here.

As far as money, we're planning to buy land with cash and come close to building with cash. We're fairly resourceful and my father-in-law has building experience. The talk tonight was that we might attempt an earthbag house or a strawbale ... was just reading about cob homes. We would probably try and build a cob pizza oven or something on a small scale here and see how that goes. I know what we have coming in as income and a decent idea of what we can afford to at least start with. We have an RV, so we could live in that if it was short term, otherwise rent somewhere close. Sure, I have my moments when I like granite counter tops, but mostly I'm happy cooking over the fire. I'm not in a rush, at least I won't feel like it once we have land.

I'm sure lots of unexpected things will pop up, but that's what planning is for ... and where adventure comes in!

Wolf mom, we often had elk stomping through our front yard. We'd hear the snow crunching, some stomping and our horses would start chattering. I always thought for sure I would go out before dawn and run smack into one!

From what you say here, it sounds like the skills you both learned earlier will come back to you whenever you get started. I think you might be pleased with SW MI, and maybe you could PM me or Callieslamb for some pointers when you get ready.(She had a post earlier about a place close to her that was for sale) We have a few weeks of Fall left, and then comes hibernation....but Spring will be close behind.

Judging the soil and water table situation here can be tricky, but no matter where you go looking, I suggest you buy a good posthole digger(you will use it a lot later) so you can dig down in several spots to know your soil before you buy. Unless you plan to get day jobs in town, your soil will become your bank account.

Second, and becoming of almost equal importance is your water supply. Michigan still has lots of water, but anywhere you go if you can't plan for dry weather, you, your crops, and your animals could go thirsty.

In Michigan, the township is the government body in charge of zoning and building codes(except septic, which is county), and nearly all townships have adopted national codes. Many, like mine, have hired specialty companies to do the permitting and inspecting. I have no problems with the building codes, but you may find them frustrating if you want to do strawbale, cob building, or any other kind of building that might be considered unconventional.

We have plenty of deer to contend with, but no elk. Lots of turkeys, a few coyotes, and one bald eagle. And this AM, one great horned owl, taking care of the pesky chipmonks and ground squirrels before they nest in my garage. (And a few wimpy Wolverines,,,,)

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

geo

[Funbowhunter]

If you are thinking of moving to MN please let me know. I will see what I can find for you. How many acres?