Where to live

A nice little place bordering Kruger National Park in South Africa. Since the DW would not allow that, where I'm at now will do.

I would like a minimum of 20 acres in the northern states (but not New England - there now and I want out!). The land must be reasonably priced, not like the megabucks a developer would pay. Trees, water, decent quality soil; my talents lean more towards animal husbandry but I would want to try to grow my own veggies, hay and grains too.

My primary goal would be self-sufficiency, be able to make what I need and a bit left over for local sales (got to get cash in somehow!). I'd want to pursue yarn-making (I knit and have trouble finding fine yarns for socks & other small projects due to cost and color issues) and carpentry too (took woodshop in HS and loved it!).

I'd like to run a team of horses instead of having a tractor, get the sort of implements a tractor would use but set up so it can be horse-drawn. A couple of dairy cows (probably Guernsey), a small herd of beef (Highland cows), maybe two pigs (leaning towards Duroc), a flock of sheep (Booroola strain Merinos), and a fair amount of poultry, not just chickens but ducks, geese & turkeys too. Rabbits for meat and fur. Not sure about goats, I like the idea of making real feta cheese but I've heard they can be mischievous if not outright difficult to deal with. Alternate breeding years on the larger stock, one year bred pure, second year bred towards meat, to keep down the number of animals I'd want to keep. lol Add to this a lot more dogs than you can keep in an apartment!

Anyway, since we're talking dream home fulfillment this is it for me.

Great Lakes. I'm not leaving. It is pretty awesome here.

No Jobs.
Was a combo of jobs going over seas and when the world crashed when Bush was still Pres.... a lot of good engineers were laid off back in 08.
Then these companies wanted to hire them back at mini wage, at 3 month contracts. No adult with a family can live on that. Add DH age,,,
Took him 15 months actively looking for a job, before he found one.
Way over in VA. Had to go where there was work.

Oregon is loosing good workers in droves....

But now with Congress not doing their jobs, DH is going to take a 20% pay cut, and with the prices of things here....... we will be worse off, than his 15 months of unemployment. sigh ~~
Makes me wish we just moved to the family farm in another area of Oregon, instead of coming here.
Ah well.....

DH is an Mill Standard/EMI/EMC Engineer.

If I had the money to advertise my Art and have it take off....
Would move back to Oregon. But sadly, I don't see that happening.

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Shari

as I said in WIHH's post.. I LOVE totally where I live..I live in North Central Lower Penninsula of Michigan. We have very little dangerous weather or poisonous critters or even plants. We have plenty of rain, sun, snow, and decent soil. I don't mind the winter rest if I can have enough food put up for the cold months. I love my paid for house and land and I can do whatever I want, put in any plants I want (except maybe bananas and citrus unless they are inside). If I want animals I can have them.
No one bothers us, there is hardly any crime in our area, the schools and shopping are good and the cost of living is fairly low. We have access to anything we could ever need. My needs are met. Sure sometimes my husband with his head injury makes life a bit difficult, but that is people ..not places..I love this PLACE.

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Brenda Groth
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

Oh I didn't say "I" didn't want to be here. I came from Oklahoma. I was born and raised in Texas. I have been offered places to live in several other states. So I have done my research on where is the best place to start a homestead. If you compare the taxes in each place, the price of land, and the growing seasons, Oklahoma really is the best one.
As for being in Minnesota, it is going to be a challenge to do the things I am used to doing as far as homesteading goes, but I am in it for the long haul. Besides, if Jackie Clay can do it, so can I!
And if at any time you feel like being helpful, maybe you can give me some advice on gardening here.

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ANDI in MN
Frozen, but still kickin'

Thanks WIHH!

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ANDI in MN
Frozen, but still kickin'