Any Georgia Homesteaders?

suehi25 · #1 01/10/05, 01:24 PM

Are there any Georgia Homestearders or wannabees out there? If so, what part of Georgia and how is homesteading or trying to move into that homesteading direction. Any comment about this would be helpful. Specifically, land purchasing. What would be the best part of the state to homestead.

sancraft · #2 01/10/05, 02:04 PM

I live in GA. My first homestead was in Fairburn, SW of Atlanta, Fayette County. They have started building up that area too much now. I jsut bought roughly 20 acres in NE GA, outside of Augusta and Athens, in Washington, GA, Wilkes County. As far as gardening goes, you have a tremendously long growing season. The summers are hot and humid and the winters are mild. But with the hot, humid days comes the bugs, but that's everywhere. I organically gardened and most years, I managed to get plenty in spike of the insects. The people of friendly and there is work here. The schools are not too good however, but I homeschool my girls, so that's not an issue. Property taxes aren't too bad. Anything close to Atlanta is very, very high. But if you get 2 hours outside of the city, land prices are much more reasonable.

suehi25 · #3 01/10/05, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sancraft

I live in GA. My first homestead was in Fairburn, SW of Atlanta, Fayette County. They have started building up that area too much now. I jsut bought roughly 20 acres in NE GA, outside of Augusta and Athens, in Washington, GA, Wilkes County. As far as gardening goes, you have a tremendously long growing season. The summers are hot and humid and the winters are mild. But with the hot, humid days comes the bugs, but that's everywhere. I organically gardened and most years, I managed to get plenty in spike of the insects. The people of friendly and there is work here. The schools are not too good however, but I homeschool my girls, so that's not an issue. Property taxes aren't too bad. Anything close to Atlanta is very, very high. But if you get 2 hours outside of the city, land prices are much more reasonable.

You are not that far from me. I live in Commerce Georgia, going torwards the toccoa mountain area. I would love to keep in touch with you about homesteading and any other tips. I have a four year old and a one month old. I am planning on homeschooling. What type of heating source are you considering for your home. Is your home going to be more modern or old fashioned in the way of heating, cooking, etc. I hope these are not to many questions, It is just that I hear so many goods things going on in other states but not much homesteading information in Georgia.

sidepasser · #4 01/10/05, 06:10 PM

HI,

I live in LaGrange, 70 miles south of Atlanta. I have a 32 acre farm and am living in a coverted stable. I am also pursuing building a new house, but no bank around here seems to know how to deal with someone having more than an acre of land...spent 2 hours today in the bank and although was told I qualify for a building loan...I would have to split my property up as the land would be worth more than the house. Or I could build a more expensive house, like two people NEED more than 2,000 square feet...sorry but no way.

That is one problem I have found living here. If it isn't in a subdivision or on an acre or less, banks have problems. I was actually asked what I needed a 3200 square foot barn for if I was building a house??? uhm horses, maybe?

Other than the sorry state of the schools and bankers who are residentially minded, it's not a bad place to live. Low taxes, people are nice and not nosy but helpful, and prices are fairly low unless you live near Hot 'lanta.

Further south you go, the less jobs, the less good paying jobs and the more agricultural areas are available. Land runs anywhere from 1,000 up depending on the area and access to jobs, hospitals, etc.

I hate the summers, but love the winters here. I haven't burned a stick of wood in the last week except one night just to take the chill off the house.

Bugs are prevalent, so are coyotes down here and fleas and ticks are just plagues in the summer, so I spend lots of dips and frontline.

Not too bad a place to live if you can get far enough out, most of the folks I know that used to farm in GA., now are farming in Alabama where taxes and land are much cheaper.

Glad to meet you,
Sidepasser