Homesteading in Ft. Meyers Florida area

[Laura Zone 10]

I am looking in the Ft. Meyers / Bonita Springs area to buy a home and begin for real homesteading.

I live in Zone 5 now, Mothers Day being the 'last frost date' and Mid October being the first hard freeze date.

I want to start compiling information on this area, when to grow, what to grow, soil types, etc. It would be better if someone who lives down that way could share personal experiences....but if I do not have that luxury, where do I begin gathering information so that homesteading will be a success...not a disaster!!

[smalltime]

http://floridagardener.com

I would spend some time in the area you are looking to buy in before purchasing anything. I have lived in the Tampa bay area my whole life and while it is beautiful, the people here are terribly nosey and unfriendly! I have caught neighbors 2 streets away in their tree with binoculars looking over my privacy fence just to have code enforcement come harass me over a few chickens, I caught the neighbor just the other day with a ladder propped up on his side of our fence looking at my rabbits, 20 minutes later my landlord called to say that the neighbor had called him to tell him we had rabbits LOL the people here are just terribly nosey. If I where staying in FL. I would look for property in North Central FL. where it is still country South FL. and the coastal counties are all newly weds and nearly dead's with nothing better to do then to make trouble for others who are doing nothing more than minding their own business!

[mnn2501]

Southern gardening is a whole different animal from northern gardening. You're going to have to learn all over again.
I learned in MN/WI then I had to relearn here in Texas. We still get something of a winter here, you won't in that part of FL.
-----
For 'smalltime' Sorry, but if you don't want neighbors reporting you you should probably not break the community rules, there are still plenty of rural areas in FL to do what you want to.

[smalltime]

Actually I'm not breaking any rules, we are allowed to have chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and such.. Doesn't stop the nosey people from trying to get you in trouble, but thank you for assuming that I'm doing something I shouldn't and defending those who would go so far out of their way as to climb a tree 2 blocks away to invade my privacy and cause me grief!

[frogmammy]

Originally Posted by smalltime

Actually I'm not breaking any rules, we are allowed to have chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and such.. Doesn't stop the nosey people from trying to get you in trouble, but thank you for assuming that I'm doing something I shouldn't and defending those who would go so far out of their way as to climb a tree 2 blocks away to invade my privacy and cause me grief!

Must have been one of the newelyweds, as the nearlydeads couldn't see that far.

Mon

[Harry Chickpea]

We lived in so FL for a number of years, and visited Ft. Myers regularly. Be aware that Lehigh has become a very dangerous place over the past years, so choose carefully. I commonly suggest to rent in an area for one year before purchasing, so that you get a feel for the area and what places are most attractive to you. Having six months or more to sit and wait and ponder can help you make a much better property decision.

Gardening in south FL is ROUGH. You would think it would be easy, but with no frost a lot of diseases and pests overwinter. The soil is sand and needs regular amending. Mulch and compost literally disappear. I used to pile lawn clippings and leaves 2 and 3 feet deep under an orange jasmine hedge, and within a few months they would be TOTALLY gone and the soil back to sand.

Nematodes are a constant. In addition to opossums there are the bane of any south Florida gardener - iguanas. They are big green eating machines that love to eat any flower or tasty plant. They can grow to mammoth proportions and with the gun ordinances in many areas you can't dispatch them with a 22 or even an air gun. I had to resort to a slingshot and marbles (silent). Oh yeah, some areas have giant rats as well.

Vegetable gardens just don't work well. Too small, too vulnerable, too hot, too much work. We did grow a bit of malabar spinach in earth boxes, and we had mango, and at various times oranges, grapefruit, papaya, bananas, pineapple, avocado, passionfruit. However, any citrus is now an iffy proposition because of greening and citrus canker, and papaya suffers from a pest fly to the point that bagging is needed. Bananas take a LOT of water and with water restrictions and the cost of municipal water are not a good idea. Mangos (Keet) are still good if you don't develop an allergy to them, and avocados (the big green ones, not the Hass) grow fine but are a weak tree in a storm.

Even if you have your own irrigation well, you will be restricted in its use.

Up to about twenty years ago, it was possible to have wonderful citrus and not worry about water and costs. Today I wouldn't even invest in a shovel to turn the soil down there. It just is not worth it. Those problems were only part of why we moved out of south Florida. No way would I attempt traditional homesteading or gardening there.

[smalltime]

Originally Posted by frogmammy

Must have been one of the newelyweds, as the nearlydeads couldn't see that far.

Mon

Hence the binoculars lol

[DryHeat]

I was born and raised in the Tampa area but haven't been there other than short visits since the early 70s. I'd agree with everything Harry said but would suggest that big iguanas are pretty good eatin'. White meat chicken and all that. Especially, I agree the soil in that area is simply white sand and leaches out amendments pretty quickly with the normal frequent rainfall. Google Earth is a *great* resource for early "explorations" in many areas. Zoom in on it to, say, US 41 east of Ft. Myers through Bonita Springs, grab the little pedestrian icon, plop it down in the road somewhere with open lot areas adjacent and take a look around in the street view. I just did and saw the typical barren white sand landscape I grew up with in Tampa... sparse lawn grass (doubtlessly riddled with sandspurs), reasonable large oaks and palms, but even right next to flowing water streams not exactly "lush" like in the SE north of Florida.

I've done some idle "what-if" homestead shopping around the US on Lands of America mostly, Zillow too for more residential-oriented tire-kicking, and also have to agree you'd be better off looking north of that area. Perhaps from Gainesville (U of F campus, with resources of a typical agricultural land-grant university) up into the easterly part of the Panhandle. There seemed to be quite a few rural "homestead" sorts of properties for sale in those areas, actually. Older cottages in need of TLC, mobile homes from busted up to well-maintained, sometimes established small pastures and garden sites, acres from 2-20 acres or so, sometimes suggested as hunting retreats. Get out 50 miles from the cities and the prices looked sensible, too... doubtless a lack of job prospects but if you intend raising a lot of your own food and have a pension or portable day job something might fit.

Here's a few links I saved from my looking around: http://www.landsofamerica.com/florid...ida/id/1124157 (already sold), http://www.landsofamerica.com/florid...ida/id/1389774 http://www.landsofamerica.com/florid...ida/id/1163488 http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/16...62742524_zpid/

It seemed to me that rural "horse country" in central Kentucky was priced reasonably, occurred to me maybe due to hobby farmers then support structure jobs leaving with higher horse maintenance costs over the last few years... if so, Florida around Ocala and Gainesville may also be having places hit the market with decent fencing and stables already in place.

[Harry Chickpea]

IIRC, Ocala "crashed" badly around 2008. Before then there were thoroughbred facilities in the surrounding area and prices were high. We had taken exploratory trips to the area in 2005 to see if it might be a place we wanted to move to. Soon after those trips the crime reports from up there began indicating enough problems that we crossed it off the list. My brother had a winter fishing camp in the area and he eventually gave it up due to crime.

[frogmammy]

Originally Posted by smalltime

Hence the binoculars lol

Mon

[Tacoma]

I have lived all my life in Florida. I left south Florida, Ft. Myers area over 30 years ago for a better quality of life, and moved to north Central Florida. I have gardens every year on my 10 acres and have found some things grow fine in our sandy soil and container gardening does best for many other vegetables. Around me are beautiful strawberry and blueberry U-Picks. I have an oragne, grapefruit, lemon, and lime tree in my yard doing fine. You have picked an area that I would never live in again, due mostly to the crowds of elder people- and I am a senior ! North Central Florida has lots of lakes and the St. Johns River for fishing. Our low temp this winter was in the 30's, till about noon and then into the 60's. Today is sunny and 75high, low at 52. I garden year round in my small greenhouse. There are many rural areas that have no restrictions on chickens, cows, etc. Many people on the acreage near me have goats, horses, alpaca, ostrich, and more. Feed stores are plenty, cost of living is lower in the north central areas and you can get to hospitals, airports, and shopping with no problems. I taught high school here and have now retired without having to learn a "second" language. South Florida is heavily Spanish speaking. It is good advise to rent and live in the area you are thinking of buying in. I always went to the local grocery store to see what kind of people live in the area first. I moved to this area, rented 3 months, before I bought my acreage and have no regrets. I live in a small town of under 3,000 but near 3 larger towns that I shop and work in. Spring seems to always be a time for "change". Wishing you much luck on your new adventure. I know others would not agree, but I will always want to live in Florida. I vacation in the mountains, only a days ride. Crime is everywhere nowadays, but less in rural areas. I am on the south end of the Ocala National Forest which also gives me places to enjoy like natural springs for swimming. I have my own deep well and thus no worry on water for growing or drinking. I also have a place for sale, 2 + acres and a mobile home just a mile from me, if anyone is interested.

[I_don't_know]

Do a good bit of research first. Most of the Pine trees here are now dying. The citrus groves are having trouble with greening and cancer.
Because the cities have been pumping water out of the ground as fast as they can the water table in some areas are takeing in salt water. It will get worse as more people move down from up north.
Cities grow and take in land and change the zoning on you. Don't laugh they have already done it.
I have lived her for 58 years. I will soon be moving to Tennessee. They say FL will sink into the ocean. If I am lucky and it happens in my life time you will find me at the FL/GA boarder near I75. Just look for the woman with the Pom Pom's!!!!!

[Whisperwindkat]

No way would I look to homestead down there. We have a house in North Port, about an hour and a half north of Ft. Myers. The soil is sand, sand and more sand. Like Harry chickpea said you can amend all you want and it just turns to sand in a few days. Then there is the fact that the sand on the coast tends to be salty, because the air is salty. Pests are terrible, forget being organic. Then like someone else said, there are not many down that way that would be friendly to your way of life. No winter gets old, it is one of the reasons that I moved back to Alabama. I missed having seasons. I lived in Boca Grande for awhile and the landlord said I could grow a garden. I thought since there were some citrus trees and tropicals that I would have a great garden in a sunny back corner of the yard. I couldn't hardly keep anything alive and worked my tail off trying to keep it alive. I gave up. The traffic royally stinks, especially in the winter when all the snowbirds are down. Used to take me an hour and a half to get to work in the winter vs. 20 minutes in the summer. If you want rural and to be left alone and to have similar minded folks around then look and north central or central Florida. Dad lived in Lake Wales and I spent summers there with him. Lots of cattlemen and rural areas where people still believe you should be able to do as you wish on your own property. Father in law lives in Ocala and out around Dunnellon is very rural, mostly farms. Nice area out that way.

[luvrulz]

No way - lived there for 30 years. Too much sand, the land costs are astronomical, tourist season impacts everything you do in the winter. Limited 'real' trees. A lot of protected land and you can't do squat. Need I go on? Only flowers that grow are hibiscus and holly.... Nah, you can have it. Sold out and moved to Kentucky! LOL

[BigM]

Look for the book "Florida Gardening Month to Month" by Nixon Smiley. It tells you what to do when and what can be planted when. I've found it to be a tremendous help!

[Laura Zone 10]

Thank you thank you thank you so much.

[light rain]

Good luck wherever you wind up! In our family we/I would call this a gooney adventure and full of new life experiences.

Two things not mentioned were home owners insurance and taxes. They will be 2 of your most costly outlays in your older years. I have a friend near Tampa and I was shocked what she pays for home insurance. Some of her friends have none and that scares me.

In our area, if we had bought more acreage when we moved to so. WI we could have really reduced our property tax. It was low 20+ years ago but has more than tripled during that time. Also look at what the difference of being over 65 yrs. old and/or being disabled can do to your property tax. In some areas it makes no difference and in others it does. Anyway, God bless and dream, but with your eyes wide open!

[WadeFisher]

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

I am looking in the Ft. Meyers / Bonita Springs area to buy a home and begin for real homesteading.

I live in Zone 5 now, Mothers Day being the 'last frost date' and Mid October being the first hard freeze date.

I want to start compiling information on this area, when to grow, what to grow, soil types, etc. It would be better if someone who lives down that way could share personal experiences....but if I do not have that luxury, where do I begin gathering information so that homesteading will be a success...not a disaster!!

I have to say something not for or against just a fact because I deal with agricultural companys that work in this area.
You can grow GREAT crops of many items. I supply pollination service to this area and keep my honey bee's for honey in this area. It's all about knowing how to work with it. The frosts are almost none. Which allows for insect populations that are to be dealt with. But this allows you to grow through the winter. It is actually easier than growing in the summer. Not far from Ft. Meyers is one of the nations top vegitable producing regions. The fields use to be all through Ft Meyers and Bonita before development has taken alot of the land. 100's of 1000's of acres of produce and cattle permeate this area so if THEY can do it, then YOU can do it.
But..... I wouldn't pick the area just because of the over development. I hate trafic! But if something is drawing you there. Go for it.

I have been keeping honey bee's on a commercail scale in this area for 20 years now.

Make sure you have some honey bee's in your plan. It is one of the best places in the nation for honey bee's.
You can keep a garden all winter, with a little care. You will have to provide drainage in the summer because of the rain and you will have to irrigate in the winter because it is dry. MOST of the soil is sand based so you will need to spoon feed nutrients. You can make the best tomatoes, cuk's, zuc's, cabbage, strawberry's, spagetti squash, WATER MELLON heaven. I've seen all of these in great numbers right where you are talking about. You can grow bananna's and Mangos!!!! these grow almost on thier own in the right setting. You will have to fight the predatory insects. If going organic it will be difficult. If you are not opposed to limited use of chemical help it will be much easier.

Only choose livestock that can take the heat! Summer is brutal. A little reasearch by breed will show you which to choose. Get some chickens. there is a bounty of insects. My friend from there always had chickens roaming around and alway had eggs up the gazoo.

Man kind has colonized all most every environment on earth and grown what he needs. South Florida is a bounty compared to many areas. You just have to work with mother nature not against her.

[WadeFisher]

Originally Posted by light rain

Two things not mentioned were home owners insurance and taxes. They will be 2 of your most costly outlays in your older years. I have a friend near Tampa and I was shocked what she pays for home insurance. Some of her friends have none and that scares me.

Insurance is high for a reason. The area is prone to bad tropical storms.

TAXES are not!
Higher real estate tax's but NO state income tax
Good for some , maybe not for others.

[johng]

I've lived in North Fl all my life and if I could live anywhere else in the State the only places I would even consider would be Central Florida, or NW Florida. I would not want to live in South Fl. its nice to visit but, would not want to live there.