Buying our homestead!

[MaxsFox]

I can hardly believe it's finally happening!  My partner and I found a beautiful piece of property that's perfect for us, and we're going to view it next Saturday the 27th.  If it looks as good in person, we'll be making an offer.  There's already a cabin on it, so we can move in as soon as our lease is up here.  That's not until next June, but that gives us a lot of time to pull the place together so it's ready for us and our future livestock.

I've also posted about this in my group on the Spirituality board, but I know you ladies will really understand where I'm coming from with my nervousness and excitement.  Please send us whatever prayers and good wishes you can so this will work out in our favor!

Also, are any of you in the Olean/Portville, NY area?  That's where our (hopeful) future land is.

[JamieCatheryn]

Congrats! How exciting, sounds like you're really taking steps in living your dream. Tell us about the place and your plans?

[MaxsFox]

Many plans, but none too solid yet.   We're not going to be entirely self-sufficient (at least not for a long time), but we want to produce nearly all of our own food, and have some things to market.  I work in health care and want to continue on to nursing school, so we'll have an income to help us start up.

It's 12.2 acres in rural NY.  The small cabin is in great condition, but needs to be expanded and have a composting toilet added (currently there's an outhouse) and water needs to be piped from the spring-fed pond to the house.  There's no electricity, but eventually we'll be adding enough solar for some minimal power.  It has a fireplace at the moment, which we'll immediately be converting to a wood burning cookstove.

The plans:  We're buying right away but won't be moving in until next year.  I plan to put in some berry bushes as soon as I can, and possibly fruit and nut trees once I do some reseach on them.  Vegetables and herbs will go in next spring.  Max will be building me a smokehouse and wood-fired dehydrator, probably this fall.  We're planning to start using it as a hunting camp asap, and hopefully will have some meat to smoke this year.  Next year we'll bring in the chickens.  If that all goes smoothly, we might start bringing in the yaks next fall - just a few, for personal milk, meat, and fiber.  There's a possibility of some small-scale beekeeping as well, but I need to research that a bit more.

That's the basic plan.  A little of this and a little of that, so we can supply our own needs.

[BeckyBird]

Wonderful plan! You are almost there!!

I see you are from the Baltimore area. Pardon me if I'm out of line, but I can imagine why you would like to move! I'm originally from Md, south of the DC metro area. It's tough. Visited Baltimore several times, and I did not like it there either. Lots of people in Md, all crowded together, bad traffic, overall cranky attitudes, etc. That was my experience, and that's why we moved to the country as fast as we could!

Your homestead sounds like a dream come true, and I am very happy for you. When you finally move out there, it might feel like you are on a permanent vacation. That's how we feel at our place. Yes, homesteads are lots of work, but if you enjoy manual labor, and the rewards from hard work, then you will be truly happy.

Enjoy your new adventure!

[Katrinaquerida]

Congratulations! I live in Chautauqua Co, NY so I am familiar with the Olean area, its just beautiful!

[woodsymom]

I am from about 50 miles north of Olean. It is very beautiful down there. I know you are going to love it. We have a camp in Hinsdale, which is about 5 miles north of Olean. Good luck! If you do use it as a hunting camp this fall, you will need to get your game licenses' in order asap.

We live rurally too. We raise chickens (layers) and the only red meat we eat is what my husband gets hunting. Best of luck!

[MaxsFox]

I'm glad to hear it's a nice area.  I've never been out that way, so I'm hoping we'll like not just the land, but the whole area.  And yes, Baltimore is not a nice place, and we can't wait to get out of it.

Woodsymom, is there some reason why we need to step on get our licenses?  Is it difficult to get them in that NY?

[woodsymom]

That area is prime hunting area (i.e. a lot of hunting camps)and there are only so many tags allotted for each area. Licenses have already gone on sale starting Aug. 15th. Big game archery starts Oct. 15th (which seems like a long way off, but not really). Here is the link to more info for the NYS Department of Conservation. Good luck!!

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html

[CrunchyJess]

So how was it? Did you get to go view the property?