Savings Goal

Which part of CO/WY? That would "flavor" the responses to this question!

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

Within an hour of Denver or within an hour of Casper.

[QUOTE=gibbsgirl;7180787]please link or list these videos! I've only seen one. didn't even know there were others. Yippeege Ave

The Dick Proenneke movies are put out by Bob Swerer Productions. There is Alone in the Wilderness Part 2 and two more made by Bob and his son in Alaska. Dick Proenneke is in one of them. The other has homesteaders in Alaska in it too. Very interesting.

The address is
Bob Swerer Productions
2440 S. College Ave.
Fort Collins
Colorado, 80525

Tel. 1-800-737-0239

The other two movies are called Silence and Solitude and Alaska, off the Beaten Path.

[quote=jassytoo;7182451]thank you

I just exchanged a few emails with the real estate agent, the house in Texas will be for sale on August 27th. That's step one in our plan. Looks like things are starting to happen. It'll probably be quiet for a few months and then we're going to take a few trips in the spring to look at land. We might sneak out to CO/WY in the winter to have a look around, too.

If I were to look for land in Wyoming or Colorado, taking into consideration what you've said, I would look in the northeast corner of Wyoming. It gets more rain than the rest of the state. Wyoming is definitely hands off in terms of government, very much so if you expect paved/maintained/plowed roads. It is very much live and let live. The downside is that you will be that outsider, probably considered liberal or really crazy, for the next ten or twenty years. Let it be known that you lived in Alaska and that would help.

Crop sharing in that area is mostly grass, alfalfa or wheat. It would pay for taxes and a little more, but not much. If you look for any land in wyoming, make sure and ask about water and mineral rights.

It'd have to be within commuting distance to Casper. We're looking between Casper and Douglas if WY gets the nod. I've also been told to make sure none of the land is on the Alkali Flats??

You had clarified that while I was typing. within one hour of Casper? That's from Powder River to Douglas, Kaycee down to part of Casper Mountain, almost to Larimee. Aside from the mountain, it is all dry sagebrush and alkali flats. I'm not as familiar with the back side of Casper mountain, I think it gets a bit more rain.

If the area all around the spot you are considering is BLM or Forest Service land, consider why. It has historically been too dry to be worth owning. Water is second only to oil (Casper area) and coal (Gillette).

Within an hour of Denver? You have some of the same problems to the east, prime scenic speculation properties towards the west, all with the political shadow of Denver (which doesn't exactly represent the opinions of the rest of Colorado).

Can you work outside of Rapid City SD? They have a good little airport, about the same size as Casper. Or Billings MT has a good airport and has some possibilities within an hour, all with their own challenges.

I've heard (from a source whose reliability I can't quote) that the area between Casper and Douglas would be good as long as you can buy land on the river and try to get water rights. He seems to think there is a bit of a buffer between the river and the alkali flats.

Suppose a guy doesn't have a choice there, other than alkali flats - is this goal still attainable?

I also haven't ruled out a greenhouse and raised beds in any of these locations, at least until composting, worms, and soil amending can take over.

If you were able to find some ground along the river, it might work. But sit down for a cup of coffee with any of the land owners around any piece of ground you are considering and ask them how the water and ditch rights work for that specific ground works. Ask them how it waters. Most ground that is worthwhile is owned and not for sale. Someone might be willing to carve off a corner of ground and sell it to you, but it won't be the best.

I have a brother who was in wyoming and 100 yards from a major irrigation ditch. But unfortunately for him, he was on the uphill side and dry. Where there was water, they grew sugar beets. Where there wasn't, sagebrush droughted out.

So, my wife and I have been talking a lot about the future and the best way to approach this goal.

A bit of background - the nature of my work is going to have me in the field quite a bit over the next year or two. During this time, my wife and daughter will be moving back to NC to live with family. I will be in the field for several weeks at a time. When I have my days off, I'll fly back to NC to spend time with the family. However, situations may arise where I only get 2-3 days off OR I'm off for a week or two; but, I'll be on call, making it impossible to travel to NC to visit them without having to pay too much for a plane ticket to fly back at a moment's notice.

That said, we were trying to figure out the best thing for me to do during the aforementioned scenarios. I don't want to rent an apartment because I genuinely dislike giving my money to someone else, especially if I'd be paying for months on end and rarely using it. I don't want to stay in hotels because, again, I think that's paying too much for something unnecessary.

So, I've decided that I'm going to carry along some camping gear with me (I'll be traveling in my truck) and during these days off, I'll seek out various national forests or state parks nearby and spend my days off camping. The job is based out of Oklahoma City, so anywhere within a few hours should suffice.

The reason I bring this here: as many have pointed out, there will be a steep learning curve associated with our decision to live off of the land and change to a homesteading lifestyle. I'm wondering if anyone within a few hours of OKC might allow me to trade free labor (and money, if needed) for room & board and the beginning of a homesteading education one can only learn through actually doing it. I'm literally interested in every aspect of the lifestyle, especially the topics like humanure, alternative energy sources, animal husbandry, slaughtering and butchering, beekeeping, preservation of goods, etc.

I know it's a lot to ask; but, I figure if there is anyone in the country willing to help in a situation like this, it's a likeminded individual. Plus, free-labor is always nice. Also, I drive a 3/4 ton diesel pickup truck which could be used for work in said arrangement.

In order to refrain from further derailment, please contact me via PM if you're interested in helping me out and sharing some of your knowledge with me.

Thanks to the few people who have contacted me, so far, I really appreciate it.

It looks like after having spoken with some of the people in OK that I may need to expand my search a little bit. So, you know my situation, if you'd be willing to help and think you're within a reasonable driving distance from OKC (I'm told that I'll be working within a 250 mile radius of OKC) and wouldn't mind helping out, shoot me a PM. I'd love to have the opportunity to trade work for knowledge.

Ok, I'm going to try to breathe some life back into this thread...



Since it seems like those who have done it before strongly suggest working for a bit while I make the transition, I ask this:

Would you consider getting a loan on the property if you were planning to work for a few more years and just pay it off in a year or two in order to get on the property and start getting the education? Or, hold out for those extra years in order to buy it outright the first time?

In other words, move on the property within the next 12-18 months and take a note on it but start living there, getting the education/experience and try to pay it off within 5 years.

Or, work for 3-4 years and buy it outright and start fresh at that time?

House in TX is on the market, decided to keep the house in Alaska a little longer. Family is safely moved to NC. I'm finishing up some work in Scotland and I start in my new job at the middle of this month. I've got someone lined up to teach me the ins and outs of this lifestyle during my days off when I can't make it to NC. The ball is rolling in the right direction. I'm certainly looking forward to the next few years!

I personally would buy the property first with a loan and pay it off in a few years over buying it outright in several years. This way you are on the property sooner and can start small while getting to know your land. Also, if something were to arise, like an unexpected expense, you still have your regular income to cover the mortgage and can just adjust your time frame for paying it off. Just my opinion...

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I jumped off the world back in 76... got married to a woman who had 3 kids, 13, 12, and 8, sold my house in Kalifornia, loaded up the truck and headed out looking for my place in this world. I wound up spending that winter (the most miserable winter of my life) in northern Indiana. The following spring I loaded up a different truck, and moved to south central Ky, wife, 3 kids, 3 sorry useless horses, (slightly better than the wife, the horses did provide a source of nitrogen for the compost pile), 4 goats and a pretty good dog. I had 600 bucks in my pocket. Here it is 2014.... four homesteads, two wives, a bunch of goats and cows, along with umpteen numbers of chickens and another boy raised later.... and I am still where I love it... south central Kentucky! Would I change anything if I had to do it all over? Just the first two wives and horses... which I eventually did.

One things for sure and certain... homesteading is a bit like starting a family... if you wait till you can afford it.... you wont ever get there. Just jump in, and yeah, there will be mistakes along the way, but you cant ever learn to swim in a wash basin.

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain