Kentucky vs. Tennessee

Like TN, KY is a very wide, but not particularly tall, state. As such, weather conditions will vary greatly depending on what part of the state you are in. Even within climates are their 'micro climates'. Where I am at severe weather tends to go north, south, east or west of us.

Being able to discharge a firearm is likely more related to neighbors.

Shooting is a way of life here. Pretty much three seasons here: Planting season, harvest season and hunting season. Everything else fits in and around those three. The local paper advertises concealed carry classes every week. Avg rain ~ 42 ", summers mid to upper 90's. Avg winter ~ low 20's day, might make single digits at night. Avg. mind you. Can remember those -20 winters a few years back. Figure zone 5 or 6 for planting.

Actually looking for land by planting zone isn't a bad method. It identifies areas within a state with different climate patterns.

that's true, ken. this end of the state, near the national park, is very rain forest-y. we're really good at growing fungi. during dog days, anything that sits still over 24 hours is covered with a layer of moss.

We are really liking what we are seeing east of Lexington. There are a lot of land tracts available in the 20-40 acres range that we are looking for. It's quite a bit north compared to Nashville. The worst winter I remember when I lived there was -16 and it was pretty bad. Wasn't unbearable, but mind you, often wouldn't be high on the list. But, planting and growing is of great concern.

Any idea on building permits and such? Is KY friendly to people building their own home. My goal is to contract the septic, well, main electrical, and probably the basement foundation. Everything else I will be building myself. Is KY permit happy and inspection nosy?

I was able to get my own plumbling and electrical permits, provided I was the owner of the house, lived in it for x # of years after the work, paid the fees, inpections, ect. Since I don't do heating work (yet!) I did contract that out. I was also able to submit my own drawings to the planning commision, file for, and present my case for a variance. Be nice to the inspector, have the site clean and the work done to the local code. I found the most important tool to have prior to and inspection was a broom. Goes a long way showing you give a ---- about your jobsite.