Van dwelling vs. Homesteading

[compassrose]

P.S.  This guy's selling land today at bank giveaway prices.  Lots in Virginia, North and South Carolina, etc., for approximately ten cents on the dollar.  http://www.landwatch.com/default.aspx?ct=D&pid=205003005&mltmid=23111
For those of you who're so inclined.

Be careful buying land in GA, TN & NC. Many (not all) of those "cheap" land deals have major problems. The link takes you to Murphy NC. I used to live (and own property) in neighbouring Macon County as well as just west of Chattanooga TN. Some pieces of land are so steep you can't stand on it. I'm not exaggerating. Some places you can't get a septic permit (stay away from Macon County because of this). Many places, you cannot get electric into the land as the cost is prohibitive (and why we never bought the beautiful place on Wayah Mountain with the stream, waterfall and CHEAP purchase price... 1980's solar was cheaper). Many places you would have to do some major work to get the logging "road" in decent enough shape to get into the place most of the year. Heavy equipment isn't cheap. We were always lucky in that we had farm tractors we could clear with or we could trade work. And last, make sure you can get a CLEAR title. ALWAYS do a title search and spend the money to get the land surveyed.
Life is hard in the Southern Appalachians. Wages are low. Outsiders drive the cost of living up. Opportunities are limited (as is internet). That said, I love that area. It is what I miss. I miss it raining for months at a time. I miss the fog that doesn't lift until noon (or not at all). I miss the green. I miss the changing of the leaves. I watch Last of the Mohicans when it gets really bad. I do not miss the winters. In the areas I lived in, it was mostly ice storms, sleet or wet snow. For that I want warmer coastal areas. I suggest before you buy a place, you go spend a winter in Chattanooga (friendly to the mobile lifestyle) to get an idea of the climate.

 

[rvpopeye]

Jesse
Have been reading some of your recent posts...........
Great attitude on life ! Sounds like you two would make great friends and even better neighbors !
Hope to meet ya someday.

 

[Brian_and_Jesse]

Jesse
Have been reading some of your recent posts...........
Great attitude on life ! Sounds like you two would make great friends and even better neighbors !
Hope to meet ya someday.

Thanks! Brian has been working for the past few days, so he hasn't had a chance to toss in his ten cents' worth yet. (He's off now! )

We're hoping to make it to one of the gathering places this winter, if only for December. We'll be on tour then, God Willing, but nothing much goes on in December for us, so we'd love to spend the holidays meeting and making friends with other 'homeless' (ROFL!) rollers. Maybe we can get all the musicians together and have a good old Christmas concert/singalong... or is that already on the docket?

Shalom,

Jess.

 

[Canine]

Forgot to say that I can't wait to get out of this homesteading thing! The wife has a list of projects that doesn't end, projects means money and that means working 14 hours a day to produce the money into the unforeseeable future.

Yep. Homesteading with animals is a 24/7 thing. Vandwelling or rving is no hassle compared to that. Minimal maintenance, next to no chores, nothing to slaughter or feed, no weather issues to speak of... I know which side I fall onto.

 

[compassrose]

Yep. It's the critters that keep you tied down. A garden can be set up to self water. It's not like the tomatoes are going to turn over their food/water jug and spill it all over.

One of my daughters wants to homestead. I figure that would be a good way of having a place to stay for a little bit. I can take care of the homestead while they take a vacation.

You know, that might be a good way of making $$ and getting a free place to stay for those with homestead experience. Homestead Caretaker business. Feed & Water (and help with a harvest if so desired) anywhere from a few days (min 4 days) to a month. People get hurt, ill, overwhelmed and want vacations. A little cash plus a place to hookup at.

 

[highdesertranger]

I have done the caretaker thing on gentlemen ranches(small ranches owned by people with money). take care of horses, dogs, cats, whatever. this usually pays pretty well especially with horses. people are funny with horses. I don't think there is such a thing as a garden that doesn't need constant maintenance climbing plants need to be tied up as they grow, weeds need hoeing, rabbits and such must be kept out, and even the best self water systems must be watched for failure. highdesertranger

 

[compassrose]

...I don't think there is such a thing as a garden that doesn't need constant maintenance climbing plants need to be tied up as they grow,  weeds need hoeing,  rabbits and such must be kept out,  and even the best self water systems must be watched for failure.  highdesertranger

Not true. I'm  "lazy" gardener and have had gardens that provided all veggies for the years meal. With no chicken to deal with, we could and did go for camping trip that would last for up to a week.

 

[Canine]

Don't understand all the complaints about a garden,WE live pn 12 acres and don,t have a problem with a garden.(we don,t have one) animals ,etc.lIf you live in a van,you don't have these issues.If you live on a homestead you don't have these issues unless you bring them on to yourself.