2-10 Acres with existing house and utilities

Hey,

Just looking for some quick hits on what you guys would do. Looking to get 2-10 acres next year. Possibly more with existing house utilities etc. Close to city if we need something and schools etc.

So considering the following. Will have job/income and time to do with the land as I see fit...some money supplies etc.

What would you guys do first or as priority?

Would you buy and ATV or Tractor. Set up a rainwater collection system. Get some solar panels. Get some land ready for crops. Build a Greenhouse. Build a shop/outbuilding if not already there. Fencing around the property. Plant some trees...apple?

Just looking for your quick ideas. Temperate climate with cold winters....existing utilities...water won't be an issue. Lot's of Trees.

Thanks!

a reply to: amazing

What are your long term plans for the property?
That would make a difference on the direction I would go.

I this a bug out place if the shtf?
If so start with a bunker and storage.

Get a tractor big enough to do what you want it to do, 40 - 50 HP, a front end loader, box blade and post hole auger.

Put up a fence using hog wire or horse fencing. Depending on the size of the property, get goats; 2 donkeys and a mule. fence the whole property if possible or as much of it as you can. let the goats clear the land. The donkeys will take care of the goats and the mule will guard the place while yure not there.

Most of all, have fun!

a reply to: amazing

Uh, just off the top of my head, I"d have to ask.......are you really sure you want to be too close to a city? My rule of thumb in Texas is you need be at a minimum 1 or 2 counties removed from the nearest Urban area. And Urban schools may not actually be any better than the city schools; in fact they may be better! I take it both of you work but if that's not the case..........homeschool? With the resources available on the internet, that's become and increasingly popular alternative......its a lot safer! A lot of parents in my area, (and its very remote) are making money working solely on the internet which makes it possible to homeschool at the same time.

Never forget the hidden trap! Property taxes. The nearer you are to a city, the greater likeliehood your area will be annexed into the city which will then tax your property into oblivion.

Just some thoughts...........good luck.

a reply to: amazing

It depends upon where you are, and what your future plans for the place are.

If your going for the self-sufficient, or reasonably so, thing...a well is a good idea. Some areas, rain collection is a no-no.

As are solar panels, or so I recall reading somewhere...that may be apocryphal. But, whatever you decide, make sure you check your local ordinances, and comply with them. It could save you a lot of future issues.

Sounds like you are after off grid living, which will leave you little time for any other job? What experience do you have at raising crops or tending to livestock? Or are you talking a hobby farm?

It's too late to think crops this year, but you could prepare for next. Select your land with an eye for what you need to do on it. Less trees and plenty of cleared, level land with a way to get water to it is critical to feeding yourself. Cheap, available land is generally cheap and available because nobody else wants it if it's near a town of any size. Expect to pay more for land worth having. Otherwise you're just buying a giant millstone to carry around.

You can learn as you go providing you have enough money or income. You will need good general handyman skills and know how to maintain any equipment you have. You will need general knowledge in what crops to grow and how to care for them. You will need to know how to care for livestock and realize your vacation days are over unless you have someone who will do the work for you every day while you are gone. Livestock and crops chain you to the land.

I think the most important thing you can have is knowledge that comes from doing. You need to be committed since many lessons will be hard learned. I grew up that way and it's a good life, but it is labor intensive and you really need to know what you are doing or have a mentor willing to help you hands on.

a reply to: amazing

Move to Northern California. Buy land that is already set up with a well and or water collection and worked and prepared gardens. The Marijuana growers are giving up due to very low prices. They are selling their already set up parcels for pennies on the dollar. Grow your food in their rich soil old weed gardens

Youtube will teach you everything you want to know about creating more self sufficiency.

If that's your goal.

ATV/ Tractor isn't really necessary.

Aeroponic/aquaponic/hydroponics is much faster to get going with, and cheaper. ( year round system) If you got the space.

Fish and veggies.

You want solar ? Snip loads of how tos on the cheap.

Really depends.

a reply to: amazing

I’d say fencing first and then build some outbuildings. That way you have somewhere to lock up your tractor and whatever else you’re going to use that could get stolen.

Thanks guys!

I guess the goal would be to semi self sufficient, growing some crops, possible horses etc. Country living, better for the family. Look into revenue streams possibly in the future. SHTF location but I realize that I've got some limitations with that being semi close to a city. Got to get out of the Big City though and always wanted some land. We'll both be working so income won't be a problem.

How hard is pouring your own concrete for shop foundation or homemade basketball court?

Forget the ATV, get a 70's Jeep CJ. It's infinitely more useful and the motor will require less work than an ATV

2-10 acres? What would I do?

1) Bomb Shelter- Dig down into my property and set up a bomb shelter. Air filtration, water storage, radiation shower, food pantry, the works.

2) Stone walls surrounding my property with solar panels fixed to them. Security + Off grid power.

3) Guns for protection.

4) Rain collection system.

5) Greenhouse. For plants that need help growing in your climate year round.

6) Above ground gardens. Big variety, I'd be growing all my own food.

7) Goats and chickens. Source of meat, milk and eggs. Maybe a coop and mini barn for them.

8) Bio-diesel converter. Take grease traps from restaurants and make my own fuel for diesel vehicles.

9) Tiny houses. I'd build a commune of tiny homes on my property for friends and family to work on and live.

Basically, I'd build my own self sustainable village. It'd make life much less stressful knowing that once I had things up and running, I'd rarely have to leave home and was ready for the stuff to hit the fan.

1) Bomb Shelter- Dig down into my property and set up a bomb shelter. Air filtration, water storage, radiation shower, food pantry, the works.

I get all tingly when someone says bunker.

If your gonna do it.

Do it right, and build a smart bunker like Sara from Eureka.

a reply to: amazing

I would find well water as deep as possible. That is first. I wouldnt buy the land without looking at the water table.

Once that is established I would build a 4 story deep foundation on a 1/4 acre piece of the land right in the middle, preferably on top of the access to the water source.

Build a small house over it and let a garden and grass cover the rest of the foundation.

If a hill or mountain is on the land, then nature built all you need, start carving.

Power generation to follow. Hydro electric if possible. Its quiet and cheap. Get some goats and cows. Chickens, lots of chickens. Plant corn and fruit trees. Hunt the raiders when they come nibbling.

Growing trees and building up your soil will take the longest unless it was already used for crops. Don't think you'll be clearing woods for fields - way more work than you can imagine. Drill a well and dig a pond if allowed, year round source of protein stocked with catfish and bass. First building should be a root cellar, doubles as a storm cellar and fallout shelter. Goats, chickens and a pair of mules. Tractors can be rented or borrowed, way too expensive for most to keep around if not farming full-time.

Find a parcel with some mature woods, tall pines if you want to build a cabin. Oak is best for firewood plus acorns draw wildlife. House site not visible from road is a plus if SHTF.

Get hand tools of every kind at flea markets , antique shops, yard sales.
Also 2 dozen pan traps and conibears.

When buying land it's critical to know if anyone owns water or mineral rights, timber rights or right of way through the land.

originally posted by: amazing
Hey,

Just looking for some quick hits on what you guys would do. Looking to get 2-10 acres next year. Possibly more with existing house utilities etc. Close to city if we need something and schools etc.

So considering the following. Will have job/income and time to do with the land as I see fit...some money supplies etc.

What would you guys do first or as priority?

Would you buy and ATV or Tractor. Set up a rainwater collection system. Get some solar panels. Get some land ready for crops. Build a Greenhouse. Build a shop/outbuilding if not already there. Fencing around the property. Plant some trees...apple?

Just looking for your quick ideas. Temperate climate with cold winters....existing utilities...water won't be an issue. Lot's of Trees.

Thanks!

Sounds like one of those Shockwave Flash puzzle games...

Would you buy and ATV or Tractor? [needs field and outhouse]
Set up a rainwater collection system. [initial purchases, saves money on water rates]
Get some solar panels. [initial purchase, saves money on electric rates]
Get some land ready for crops. [some overhead, needs crops and water]
Build a Greenhouse. [initial purchases, needs crop seeds, plant pots and water]
Build a shop/outbuilding if not already there. [initial purchase, will also need equipment]
Fencing around the property. [initial purchase]
Plant some trees...apple? [just requires seeds and water]

I'd got for the water and fencing first. Plant trees, then solar panels.

Depending on where you are going to live. Separate the parcel into 2. The house and the smallest amount of land that is needed. Then the rest can be taxed as vacant land.

Depending on the size, a fence would be the last thing I would do. Fences and walls are Uber expensive.

You can do a mix of geothermal and solar

originally posted by: amazing
Thanks guys!

I guess the goal would be to semi self sufficient, growing some crops, possible horses etc. Country living, better for the family. Look into revenue streams possibly in the future. SHTF location but I realize that I've got some limitations with that being semi close to a city. Got to get out of the Big City though and always wanted some land. We'll both be working so income won't be a problem.

How hard is pouring your own concrete for shop foundation or homemade basketball court?

Anything you do with concrete is very hard work. What state are you considering? Weather and elevation need to be considered for crops and livestock. Is the ground water safe? Lots of questions with little info.

So my viewpoint is more about sustainability/sufficiency than hoarding supplies for Ragnorak.

You can think of each type of food production as a "system."

I would get one food producing system functional immediately, and add more as things come on line and begin to work together.

I'd start with chickens.

Eggers take less attention than a house pet. I'd probably start with 4 hens per human family member. Build a coop for that many chickens, and start working on a chicken tractor. Figure out how much land you can move the tractor across. If the coop can be towed once a year, you can use the land under it for next year's garden-- free fertilizer. I'd leave them in the coop only in bad weather. The rest of the time they'd be prepping your row crop/garden land. It probably takes a full round of the year to figure out how exactly your'e going to run them. But once you've gotten started it's time to add other systems.

Instead of buying feed for your chickens, I'd look to growing your own feed. The trick is to get cheap or free seed. I've used buckwheat that was a grade below what could legally be sold. Someone wanted to dump it to clean out their granary. I planted it, and most of it didn't come up (it was an arid area). But what did was chicken feed. And I didn't bother harvesting it--just ran the chickens over it and quit paying for scratch. depending on where you live and what you can get for cheap (or free!), you might look at corn or sorghum as better feed. The one quality about buckwheat that outshone every other feed source was that it was paid for!

Chickens and a feed crop won't take up hardly any of your spare time. You need a hobby. Get ready for row crops, or build a greenhouse. Then I'd ad probably pigs and then milk goats. But thats just me. But look at what you get.

Chickens give you eggs, chickens soup, and fertilizer

Pigs give you bacon, ham, sausage, fertilizer, and roto-tiller service. Seriously, they will kill anything smaller than an established oak tree. And they'll fell oaks if you give them time....

Goats give you cabrito, milk, butter, cheese and manure.

In your spare time, you can add other systems that won't take much effort after you start them. This summer I've started a raspberry patch and a currant patch. If they don't work, I'll just turn out my chicken tractors or my portable pigsty to fix things. But you could add a fish pond, a woodlot, etc. It just depends on your interests and goals.

Start with one or two systems, and add more once you live there and develop a routine.

I wouldn't start with a tractor or other heavy equipment. On 10 acres, you'll use those things for a solid month. Then they will sit back in the barn for months, depreciating. Rent for the 2 months. Then get a couple of Missouri mules or a nag you can break to a cart.

You don't need a hay bailer for less than 10 acres. You don't need a bale stacker or some such. You need a nag who will stop and go, gee and haw when you tell her. Then you mow (or scythe!) the hay, fork it out to dry by hand, then come by with your girl and her cart, and gather it into a barn by the cartload. It won't take more than a couple of days, and will not cost you a penny in gas.

a reply to: amazing

I'm not sure by the way you worded it, but do you have a specific lot in mind or just a general area?

If you know the lot and the layout start drawing up plans. I would suggest a tractor as the first piece of equipment. If you have deer in your area a fence needs to be at least 8ft high, or they can easily jump it and eat all fruit tree you plan. If water won't be an issue i'd do the rainwater last. I would plant trees and get things going before you decide on how big of a greenhouse you need. Have you done this before, there are greenhouses that range from tiny to factory size. It all depends on your intended purpose, same for shop/outbuilding.