Anyone Near Harrodsburg, KY?

IndyGardenGal · #1 11/13/13, 11:00 AM

What can you tell me about the area? The area we live in now is not as homesteading friendly, and DH loved when he was in KY during his time in the Army. We've found some nice looking properties near Harrodsburg, but wanted to get some insight from folks in the area.

SFM in KY · #2 11/14/13, 08:20 AM

We are about 50 miles south of Harrodsburg and it is a more 'rural' area than Harrodsburg so I'm not sure how much help my information will be. I suspect, being much closer to Lexington, many areas around Harrodsburg will be 'bedroom communities' for people who actually work in Lexington and commute. This will definitely have an impact on just how 'homestead friendly' that specific area will be.

Where we live (Pulaski County) ... and being 20 miles from a 'city' big enough to have halfway decent employment opportunities, we still have quite a number of working city people ... working in town, pretty much city mentality, but living in the country ... on 1 to 5 acres and also a lot of retirees. This far from a major urban area however, there are still actual working farms and working farm people, also some 'small farm/homestead' people as well.

I think there is a bit more tolerance/understanding of that lifestyle here to some extent, possibly because there are a number of Amish/ Mennonite communities so the lifestyle isn't completely strange to many locals.

IndyGardenGal · #3 11/14/13, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFM in KY

We are about 50 miles south of Harrodsburg and it is a more 'rural' area than Harrodsburg so I'm not sure how much help my information will be. I suspect, being much closer to Lexington, many areas around Harrodsburg will be 'bedroom communities' for people who actually work in Lexington and commute. This will definitely have an impact on just how 'homestead friendly' that specific area will be.

Where we live (Pulaski County) ... and being 20 miles from a 'city' big enough to have halfway decent employment opportunities, we still have quite a number of working city people ... working in town, pretty much city mentality, but living in the country ... on 1 to 5 acres and also a lot of retirees. This far from a major urban area however, there are still actual working farms and working farm people, also some 'small farm/homestead' people as well.

I think there is a bit more tolerance/understanding of that lifestyle here to some extent, possibly because there are a number of Amish/ Mennonite communities so the lifestyle isn't completely strange to many locals.

We want to find a more rural area, especially an area with reasonable hay ground. Also, a but worried about being "outsiders" moving into a community. Although, we feel like outsiders where we are now, even though we grew up here. Growing your own food and worrying less about material things isn't the norm here.

EastTNFarmer · #4 11/14/13, 09:19 AM

I have very little personal knowledge (I’m in East TN). My late wife and I spent a few days at the Beaumont Inn and visited Shaker Village around the late ‘90s. We loved the area and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back for another visit. I don’t know what you’ve found on-line to date, or if you are considering Mercer County or Harrodsburg Proper. I have noticed that their tourist commission site touts “agritourism” which at least appears promising to your search?
This may help, if you haven’t done so yet: http://www.mercercounty.ky.gov/
Check out the zoning ordinance (bottom right), particularly starting on page 19.
Here’s an interesting piece from nearby but not in the same county: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/03/1...les-dream.html
Good Luck!!

TRAILRIDER · #5 11/14/13, 09:46 AM

Yes, I live about 25 miles away. Further out in the country. Harrodsburg is a beautiful area. Most people commute to Lex to work. In my opinion this is the ideal place to live. Land can be found cheap, (in my area zoning is easy or non existent), there is work if you look for it and are flexible, wages are not high but the cost of living is very reasonable. Electricity (if you're on the grid) is cheap, water bills are low. The weather is mild. We have winter, yes (and I love winter) but we have wonderful springs, mild summers and beautiful autumns. We might have one snow storm or an ice storm, but by mid March everyone is tilling up ground. I believe the last frost date is April 10th here. A lot of people start early then cover plants, or start some indoors. Feed prices/hay prices are okay, and growing your own is an option. We have 10 acres and keep 5 for hay. Most years we will get 17 - 20 round bales in the spring time with out putting on any lime or fertilizer. This year we had plenty of rain and had a second cutting. We got 21 bales in the spring and 24 in the fall. (I have hay in every availbale barn/shed.)
The people here are very friendy. Everyone waves, even if they don't know you : ) I was surprised when I was driving around looking for property 10 years ago to find that children walking down the road would stop and wave at us : )
I cannot say enough about the area. if you have questions PM me and I'll try to help. The only thing I would change about where I live is, I would like to live further out of civilization. But that is not possible right now anyway, as I have to commute to work. I work in Nicholasville which is a smallish town 10 miles south of Lexington.
Good luck in your search and if you do move down here we will have to get together!

I should add that Harrodsburg is one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) settlements in KY. There are beautiful historic homes and towns here. Those homes and farms will cost you a small fortune (KY fortune not Calif fortune.) But out in the boonies where I live you can still find places cheap. My 10 acres, house and barn was 94,000 ten years ago. There are a lot more bargains right now though.

IndyGardenGal · #6 11/14/13, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRAILRIDER

Yes, I live about 25 miles away. Further out in the country. Harrodsburg is a beautiful area. Most people commute to Lex to work. In my opinion this is the ideal place to live. Land can be found cheap, (in my area zoning is easy or non existent), there is work if you look for it and are flexible, wages are not high but the cost of living is very reasonable. Electricity (if you're on the grid) is cheap, water bills are low. The weather is mild. We have winter, yes (and I love winter) but we have wonderful springs, mild summers and beautiful autumns. We might have one snow storm or an ice storm, but by mid March everyone is tilling up ground. I believe the last frost date is April 10th here. A lot of people start early then cover plants, or start some indoors. Feed prices/hay prices are okay, and growing your own is an option. We have 10 acres and keep 5 for hay. Most years we will get 17 - 20 round bales in the spring time with out putting on any lime or fertilizer. This year we had plenty of rain and had a second cutting. We got 21 bales in the spring and 24 in the fall. (I have hay in every availbale barn/shed.)
The people here are very friendy. Everyone waves, even if they don't know you : ) I was surprised when I was driving around looking for property 10 years ago to find that children walking down the road would stop and wave at us : )
I cannot say enough about the area. if you have questions PM me and I'll try to help. The only thing I would change about where I live is, I would like to live further out of civilization. But that is not possible right now anyway, as I have to commute to work. I work in Nicholasville which is a smallish town 10 miles south of Lexington.
Good luck in your search and if you do move down here we will have to get together!

I should add that Harrodsburg is one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) settlements in KY. There are beautiful historic homes and towns here. Those homes and farms will cost you a small fortune (KY fortune not Calif fortune.) But out in the boonies where I live you can still find places cheap. My 10 acres, house and barn was 94,000 ten years ago. There are a lot more bargains right now though.

Sent you a PM!

soulsurvivor · #7 11/14/13, 04:47 PM

Hi and I'm about 30 miles from Harrodsburg, 5 miles outside of Lebanon. Of course it takes about an hour to drive to Harrodsburg because of all the 2 lane roads between here and there, but it's a nice scenic drive. Right now you have to watch out for deer jumping on the highway in front of you. DH is driving tonight from Bardstown and number one concern is deer collision.

DH and I have lived here in Marion County all our lives and can't imagine living anywhere else. Kentucky has been home to most of our families for several generations now and hope that tradition continues. I take great pride that we live in the prettiest state in the Union.

I wish you great success in finding your homestead here.

Rose1317 · #8 11/15/13, 07:31 AM

We lived in Berea, about an hour east of Harrodsburg. Of course my favorite place on earth is Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, outside Harrodsburg. Ky people were very friendly, DH worked at Berea college, which has a Sustainable Ag Farm operated by the students, and a nice farmers market. Very pleasant place to live. Plus you get KTV, all three versions, we learned a lot about KY heritage and culture from just the programs on those channels. Some of the prettiest areas between there and Harrodsburg (takes an hour but it's not that far mileage-wise) are around Paint Lick and Lancaster.
Good luck, it's beautiful down there.

Ohio Rusty · #9 11/15/13, 07:49 AM

Although I don't live in Ky .... I do visit Harrodsburg and Ft. Boonesboro several times a year as a re-enactor. It is truly beautiful country. If I didn't live on Ohio, the areas of Kentucky around Lexington or Winchester would be my first choice. A friend of mine is currently building an 18th century log structure near Harrodsburg as place the public can visit and get educated as to the early history of Harrodsburg.

Ohio Rusty ><>

krische1012 · #10 11/16/13, 08:43 AM

We just relocated from Harrodsburg to TN for my husband's job (still have a farm to sell in a great community if you are shopping

) I really loved living there. The people were great, I was very involved in the Homemaker's club. Would not have moved if it weren't for the job! Feel free to PM with any questions!