Tell me about Michigan (Northern and U.P.)

vonschlick · #1 05/31/14, 03:01 PM

My wife and I are looking to relocate to Northern Michigan or the U.P. to start a semi self-sufficient Homestead in the next couple of years. Can anyone point out some good areas to start looking at? We will both be retired so jobs are not an issue.

Shayanna · #2 05/31/14, 11:38 PM

Manton! Or general tc area is definitely the best. We are friendly, land is cheap, and people don't think twice about you butchering chickens in the yard.

Riverdale · #3 06/02/14, 05:13 AM

Eastern Charlevoix County is still fairly inexpensive (east of US131). Otsego County (other than close to Gaylord) isn't too bad either.

In both cases (they do border on each other), the soil is kinda sandy, and the growing season will handle 85-90 day corn.

Riverdale · #4 06/02/14, 05:14 AM

And be ready for snow. Like trunk deep to a TALL elephant snow

ronbre · #5 06/02/14, 12:52 PM

I live between Manton and Lake City in Missaukee county, North Central Lower Penninsula, and I love love love it..we are on high enough ground so we get no flooding, and there are hardly ever even small tornados here, no hurricanes, seldom ever fires, and no earthquakes..

we are in zone 5 or some 4b growing areas and can grow most fruits and vegetables here, lot of lovely homesteaders around willing to share.

housing is still really cheap in this area..most homes running under $100K and some under $50K..although they are beginning to move much more quickly now.

if you are rural there are very few regulations, water is pure in most areas but check.
Good schools and hospitals in our area and shopping centers, larger ones are about 40 to 50 miles apart..so generally within a short driving distance for like lumber yards, etc..20 miles or so.We did have our worst winter in history this year..so not much good to say about that..but it was unusual..summers run 70's to 90..for highs and can have a freak frost.

lots of fishing and hunting, ground is generally fertile..our area has a really low cost of living, but if you go touristy areas like Traverse city costs go up.

for properties go to northern michigan craigslist..or check with local real estate, but craigslist has the "lower cost" alternatives..without the rea estate agent fees.

there is a lovely home just east of us but it has a LONG driveway which can be nasty in wet or winter weather..stout realty..has a great view up on a rise. about a dozen homes sold in the past year on our road..some had been for sale for 5 or more years.

beeshurt · #6 06/02/14, 03:42 PM

I'm here in the U.P. A friend who resided down by Whitehall/Montegue area of the lower peninsula relocated up here as well. I purchased my place 10 years ago -- have 10 acres on a creek (so am considered waterfront), have a 1200 sq ft house with full finished basement, 1 car garage and a large polebarn of 35x50 with 4 different levels so have a lot of room there. I am located in the center of the U.P. (both horizontally and vertically). My friend lives in Trenary. The Luce County area (such as Newberry) has a lot of wet weather and is more snowbelt. Keewenaw and Houghton areas are also snow areas. Escanaba is known as the "banana belt of the U.P." I grow a very productive garden every year as well as does my friend. Last year alone, I canned 54 quarts of green beans, ate a lot of fresh green beans and froze packages of green beans as well. I grow a lot of tomatoes, green peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, beets, potatoes, bicolor corn, watermelon, canteloupe, onions and there's probably a lot more that I've forgotten. Lots of wild berries up here as well as growing berries. I would recommend visiting the area. Land is very cheap -- my place was $74,000. My friend purchased 20 acres (not on water) for $75,000.

vonschlick · #7 06/04/14, 01:38 AM

Thanks for the help. Keep it coming. The More I can find out the better.

Rustaholic · #8 06/04/14, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonschlick

Thanks for the help. Keep it coming. The More I can find out the better.

I will second everything Brenda wrote.
I am very near Traverse City but I have several friends close to where she is.

Shayanna · #9 06/04/14, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustaholic

I will second everything Brenda wrote.
I am very near Traverse City but I have several friends close to where she is.

Agreed! I think we need some sort of get together for us HT people. Breakfast at the North Side anyone?

Rustaholic · #10 06/04/14, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayanna

Agreed! I think we need some sort of get together for us HT people. Breakfast at the North Side anyone?

Seems like Michigan farmer told me several years ago about a Northern Lower Michigan HT meet. I have know him for many years.
Shayanna, Where in the North Side? What is the North Side?

Shayanna · #11 06/04/14, 06:39 AM

The north side is a restaurant in Manton and it probably has the best breakfast for miles. An entire meal is pretty cheap and we'll see you for a week.

Shayanna · #12 06/04/14, 06:39 AM

Will feed**

Jim-mi · #13 06/04/14, 08:46 AM

I am betwixt Fudgy city (Travers C) and another summer/over run berg Gaylord. Sure like my acreage here, but the tourists are nothing but a pain in the arce during the summer.
"Michfarmer" was refering to the Mich Homesteader group. We have had a fun summer camp out near Grayling MI...
"Nappy" posts here on HT . . . I'll give her a shout and see if she will PM you all.
"Kazahleeah" sometimes posts here on HT . . she is the head ding-dong of the Mich. group. . . she is over on the sunrise side of the state.
We do need some new blood in the Mich H. bunch..............

Michele of MI · #14 06/04/14, 03:01 PM

As someone who lives in the Traverse city area, I would look somewhere else. Too many city types here. I grew up here, and it has gotten a lot less friendly in the past ten years or so. The traffic is a nightmare. It took me 30 minutes to get to the library today, and it's only two miles! On the other hand, I have a suburban lot that I would be willing to sell, and the neighbors are chicken friendly...

ronbre · #15 06/05/14, 11:33 AM

Shay they do a get together, I've never been able to make it there though..there is a Michigan Homesteading forum you might be able to get on, I don't have the address on this computer though..may be someone will fill it in for me

NorthwoodsMike · #16 06/06/14, 01:48 PM

I'm in the U.P. near Kenton. Haven't had a garden yet-still setting up. Land is really cheap, but the growing season is short. I'm still going for it!

Riverdale · #17 06/08/14, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim-mi

I am betwixt Fudgy city (Travers C) and another summer/over run berg Gaylord. Sure like my acreage here, but the tourists are nothing but a pain in the arce during the summer.
"Michfarmer" was refering to the Mich Homesteader group. We have had a fun summer camp out near Grayling MI...
"Nappy" posts here on HT . . . I'll give her a shout and see if she will PM you all.
"Kazahleeah" sometimes posts here on HT . . she is the head ding-dong of the Mich. group. . . she is over on the sunrise side of the state.
We do need some new blood in the Mich H. bunch..............

http://michiganhomesteaders.proboards.com/

Hope to do at least a 'driveby' at the get together this year. Depends on when feetsball practice starts!

Riverdale · #18 06/08/14, 08:02 AM

Of course here in the middle of the Mitten, some property is cheaper. I missed out on 10 (cleared) acres with a house, 2 stall garage (older, maybe 24x24), with a small barn for 18K. It needed about 5K to get it liveable.

Decent farm ground (loamy sand to loam) and all fenced in.

Kstornado11 · #19 09/19/14, 08:52 PM

Does anyone have pictures of the landscape up there? MI is one of the areas my family is considering relocating to...

Tricky Grama · #20 09/20/14, 06:34 AM

It's COLD up there.