What are some of the best states for homesteading?

lawguy · #41 07/29/12, 08:27 AM

Maine has my vote as well. My wife and I spent years looking for properties with the most bang for the buck in the NH/ME area, and finally settled in ME. We are far enough out there, yet still close to the lakes/cities/ocean/mountains all in one area.

The winters are good, very quiet and pretty. Good cold winters kill nasty critters and keep things in check.

nobrabbit · #42 07/29/12, 08:55 AM

Kentucky still has inexpensive land, is not very governed in the rural areas, normally has 4 nice seasons and average rainfall. Of course with this crazy weather all bets are off for the future!

andabigmac · #43 07/29/12, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrabus

I'm in love! That would be perfect for me! Of course, I'd certainly get myself into trouble there, but it would be worth it. And yeah, I saw there was absolutely no water. I would have to wonder about how deep the well would have to be, or even if you could drill one.

Water, if any, is usually so deep here that it's cost prohibitive to drill a well. There is too much rock. Most people dig holding ponds at the base of any hills where a wash is for their cattle and any irrigation needs and then have water trucked in for culinary use. If you wanted to be a total recluse you could filter the pond water. I'm not sure how far the San Rafael river is from there. There are a lot of washes that would provide some serious flash flood entertainment in the spring and fall though. This area is close to where they filmed the Planet Vulcan scenes in the last Star Trek. Edward Abbey discusses this area too in a few of his books like, Desert Solitaire and The Monkey Wrench Gang. The wind blows constantly there too. You will never be able to get all of that red sand out of your teeth.

unregistered168043 · #44 07/29/12, 09:20 AM

I think New York is one of the best places to homestead. I'm not talking about anywhere near the city, of course. But the finger lakes region, adirondack region, the outskirts near cooperstown and some of the counties bordering pennsylvania. Land is CHEAP, property taxes aren't too bad by northeast standards, it very rural, remote, and there's some good land to be had. Old farms gone fallow with old fields and ect..

Like someone already said, the bigger the piece you buy, the cheaper you get per acre. If you buy 5-10 acres anywhere you are going to pay alot per acre. Better to save up and go for 20-40 acres, not only for the price but because you will want more as time goes by. A couple acres can seem pretty small, and for a bit more money and a bit more time you might get 15...now you're in the game.

Raven12 · #45 07/29/12, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darntootin

I think New York is one of the best places to homestead. I'm not talking about anywhere near the city, of course. But the finger lakes region, adirondack region, the outskirts near cooperstown and some of the counties bordering pennsylvania. Land is CHEAP, property taxes aren't too bad by northeast standards, it very rural, remote, and there's some good land to be had. Old farms gone fallow with old fields and ect..

Like someone already said, the bigger the piece you buy, the cheaper you get per acre. If you buy 5-10 acres anywhere you are going to pay alot per acre. Better to save up and go for 20-40 acres, not only for the price but because you will want more as time goes by. A couple acres can seem pretty small, and for a bit more money and a bit more time you might get 15...now you're in the game.

People hear New York and think the entire state is a concrete jungle. It is one of the most beautiful states in the country.

jassytoo · #46 07/29/12, 01:54 PM

Property taxes are certainly something you have to consider when buying land.Cheap land isn't any good to you if the taxes are out of sight.

Terrabus · #47 07/29/12, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nobrabbit

Kentucky still has inexpensive land, is not very governed in the rural areas, normally has 4 nice seasons and average rainfall. Of course with this crazy weather all bets are off for the future!

When you say, "not very governed", do you mean lack of infrastructure or do you mean Wild West? I know there are areas of New Mexico where you are the law and that's it.

bruce2288 · #48 07/29/12, 06:09 PM

You folks know that one of the most common drought definitions is based on % of normal rainfall? So talking about a drought between one region and another do not alway equate. One classification is 40% short on rainfall. So compare a similar drought between PWN with normal of say 40 inches to Rawlins Wyo with a normal of say 10. 40% short in PWN year total 24 inches, Rawlins 6 inches. Quite a difference.

bruce2288 · #49 07/29/12, 06:15 PM

Lawguy Your comment made me remember a conversation with an older lady in Flin Flon Manitoba. She was complain about the insects damageing the trees, saying the winter have just been too mild for the last couple of years. When asked how mild. She replied heck it only got to -25 or so last winter, we need some good -40 to kill these bugs.

RuffusWI · #50 07/29/12, 07:07 PM

How come Wisconsin has not been mentioned? If you can handle snow, Northern WI has cheap taxes,good land and wildlife.

Dusky Beauty · #51 07/29/12, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuffusWI

How come Wisconsin has not been mentioned? If you can handle snow, Northern WI has cheap taxes,good land and wildlife.

Because the political climate is scary. Re: heritage pigs for one example.

Terrabus · #52 07/29/12, 08:43 PM

Yes, there are some nice pieces in Northern Wisconsin. But finding one you can farm on is a whole other challenge.

no1butcherman · #53 07/29/12, 10:28 PM

Louisiana, hands down!

boundarybunnyco · #54 07/29/12, 10:39 PM

I vote for Idaho. Not southern Idaho, because (for me) it is too hot and dry. Northern Idaho has four nice seasons, and land can be found for good prices. We have a ten acre farm, but are going to sell and buy ten farther out. We found a guy who sold it to us for 30k. We can grow cherries, apples, nuts, pears, just about anything. Winters can be a bit cold and snowy up here, but then summers can be hot as well. We get two, sometimes three good cuttings from our hayfield. We live at the bottom of a mountain where we can get firewood, huckleberries, wild mushrooms, and hunt deer, elk, bear, grouse, etc.

cindilu · #55 08/11/12, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusky Beauty

I'd throw rural washington out there-- the seasons in the pac NW are very mild winters and summers, have a lot of rain and easily farmable. Douglas county in Oregon is the cheapest "good" land (surrounding Roseburg) but the rest of the green part of the state through Eugene to Portland and hours around it is quite spendy. The dry half of the state is probably too dry for you.

I hear Missouri is pretty free from restrictions, and is fairly green but subject to drought.

You wouldn't think it, but my little spot in Arizona may not get a lot of rain, but we have underground lakes and incredible farming if you can irrigate-- so keep in mind that there may be more than face value in many places you'll see.

I live in Roseburg Oregon and am looking for land to go off the grid as well. Land here is NOT cheap at least from my stand point. I do know some pieces in this area if you are serious about looking here. Send me a Pm if that is the case. I am wanting off the grid as well, but am looking more towards Klamath Falls, Chiloquin Bonanza area as there is dirt chap land over there.

julieq · #56 08/11/12, 07:20 PM

Southern Idaho, unless you like heavy snow, then northern Idaho. Affordable land and housing, property taxes aren't bad at all, gun laws are great and if you want to raise livestock we have fairly cheap, very high quality hay.

Due to the heavy Mormon influence and less heavy Mennonite population here in southern Idaho, food storage is encouraged, and thus we can find canning jars and equipment, bulk foods, long term storage cans and buckets, etc. locally year round.

Drawbacks are extreme heat in the summer and it's very cold in the winter. We've seen temps here at -10 a few years back. But then we don't have problems with parasites with the livestock, nor do we have as many garden bugs to contend with due to the ground freezing every year. And even though we've got a shorter growing season, gardens produce really well around here in these hot summer months!

ET1 SS · #57 08/11/12, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julieq

Southern Idaho, unless ...

That is a scary lot of radiation, to live around.

No way.

bignugly · #58 08/11/12, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VERN in IL

In Southern Illinois it's easy to find undeveloped land in 1-2 acre parcels, you can divide the land all you want. We do NOT have homesteading exemptions, most is not under RETARDED zoning restrictions, we are NOT tax friendly, unless you are 65 or older....

(the circuit breaker program) or if you prefer: "The Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act."

Illinois is one of the worst states to retire in because of taxes.

The circuit breaker was rescinded by Gov Quinn last month. It no longer exists for tax med assistance.

julieq · #59 08/11/12, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET1 SS

That is a scary lot of radiation, to live around.

No way.

??? I'm really OK with it as I keep my tinfoil hat on at all times!

tinknal · #60 08/11/12, 08:44 PM

Besides total rainfall consider soil type. My clay loam can withstand a lot more drought than the sandy soil just a few miles away.