Summary: First a little background on myself and my wife, and our reasons for wanting to move away from the city and to the country. Although I grew up technically in the suburbs, I spent every spare moment thinking of a way I could stay with my grandparents on their farm. I loved the country as a child, even with a lot of chores. My wife grew up on a large working farm in North Dakota, so we are both country people trapped in the city. You may be saying, "Well, all that is fine and dandy, but why do you want so badly to get back to the country"? There are a multitude of reasons, but the main reasons are: Away from City Attitudes Noise & Pollution Lack of control over my own home (CCR's, Homeowners Associations, etc) My goal in finding a small homestead in the country for my family is once again, multiple: Be as self sufficient as possible Grow my own food - as much as possible( detailed discussions will be on my Growing Your Grub podcast Water conservation" - Rain Water capture Explore Solar Energy Learn needed skills - carpentry, preserving, gardening, livestock, beekeeping I also plan to contribute to the Rural community I will do this by sharing what I already know - computers, wi-fi, writing, internet, photography, video Help with extra produce Join Farmers market How To Find Your Own Perfect Homestead Looking for land. What is your goal in finding your country home? Do you just want a place in the country, or do you plan on growing any of your own food? What about livestock? Do you plan on raising any animals for food? Where do you want to live at? Do you want changing seasons? What about winter and snowfall? Or do you prefer milder climates with longer growing seasons? Once you decide on the type of climate you want to live in, here in North America, you can begin to search for the state or province you prefer to live in. This will be an important decision so don't be tempted to rush through it. One way you can begin your research is right there on the internet. There are a lot of online real estate web sites that specialize in rural and country property. An example of the type of website you can find to help you locate your country property is http:\\www.Landandfarm.com Once you find a potential property that interests you, there are several things you need to look for before you move ahead. Water - Is there a Well, or will you need City Water Soil? Perform a Soil Test - Know what the soil will support Slope - will you need to work on a hillside? Does it drain well? Sun - How much sun is available for growing food? Is it wooded or field? What percentage is each? County Zones - Be sure the property is zoned for doing what you want to do Local Codes and regulations - Make sure there are no prohibitions against your proposed activity The “Have More Plan” - Storey Publishing http://www.amazon.com/Have-More-Plan-Ed-Robinson/dp/0882660241/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287324121&sr=8-1 Interesting Blogs http://newlifeonahomestead.com/ Basic Homesteading Blog http://anaustinhomestead.blogspot.com/ Homesteading http://www.simplelivingmedia.com/ Simple Living - varios topics
