CHOOSING A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY - WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND WHAT TO AVOID

I watch most of your videos, but rarely leave a comment. This video definitely requires one. I find most of your videos very informative, this one especially so. I'd been considering buying some land sometime in the not so distant future, and hadn't considered all the things you discussed here. This has given me the opportunity to form a much better plan than I originally had. Thank you for all the information. Love your videos to.

Thank you for this list. Most of this I knew, but trying to explain it all to my husband without a clear list can be difficult. I wish this was a journey we were starting in our 20’s but that didn’t happen. Now our kids are grown with their own lives and kids of their own. We are in our 50’s and finally ready to do this!

I would love to see a chat on companion planting, reducing disease and crop rotation. Getting into the nitty gritty of what plants do what (on main crops for times sake). Geoff Lawton talks about how rotation isn’t necessary with companions and well built soil. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

THE MOST informative video on this topic I've seen. Many other channels make videos of this topic, but this was the most comprehensive. I would also add some advice about checking out the neighbors. Every state has a public Real Property database that allows you to look up the names of the neighbors around you. And most states have a public Judiciary Case Search database that allows you to look up people by name and county. Research your potential neighbors. My brother-in-law found a property he liked and looked up all the neighbors. Come to find out, the potential neighbor behind him had taken every neighbor to court multiple times and was a real nuisance. He learned that was why the house was on the market. He passed on that property!

We are almost exactly at year 2 of our 10 acre raw land purchase here in hill country Texas. You are exactly right... time .... it takes time to cut down, shape and mold the property into what you want. Especially being rookies..., but, you do learn and grow confidence along the way ... we are midway through the home build- the exciting part. I’m sure building infrastructure for the farming and growing won’t be as intimidating when we get to that phase... I just bough a couple hundred dollars worth of books... but also..... I’m 46, husband is 50.... we won’t need to grow much to feed only us unless our children decide to live near or on the land.... so, I’m tempted to ask... why are we doing this?!?!!... it honestly seemed like the right thing to do before the CV-19 chaos happened .... they say food shortages, but... I don’t know. I just know I love the property/ the house / we don’t ‘need’ to homestead, but I think I’d love the lifestyle. We don’t live on property yet (actually prepping our current home to put up for sale) ... Husband is an airline pilot. He’s gone a lot and I think I’ll love having something to do for the rest of my life.... I bought Joel S. Books on making income off the land ... so maybe after a little while... and skills learned... maybe the timing of all this will make more sense to me... I really do stop and ask... what in the blank blank am I doing!!! but, because of how much work has been put into this ‘project’ lifestyle change... it’s exactly- exactly ... overwhelmingly beautiful and perfect and beyond dreams or expectations- I’m so grateful... it’s just a LOT of work and a lot of learning... Ps... worked two years by myself cutting cedar, laying logs on a hill for ‘’maybe one day’ needed erosion control ... well, we finally had a hard deluge and.... I got to see the work in action... the soil just laid right into my built up beaver dams I strung along the hills.... 😊. I couldn’t believe I was happy, even giddy the next day checking on the property for damage to see the dirt just settle in... I couldn’t believe it worked... truly couldn’t... seems like a small victory to rejoice over, but it was huge to me... and my ambitions for the property.. Anyway, good video. All good things to consider... Thank you Ps..... building from scratch ....it’s worth it... IF you have forethought or educate yourself enough to make good decisions... or pray a lot .. a lot .. for wisdom ...when ignorant 🌷Kelli

You guys did an AMAZING job covering all of areas one needs to watch for when buying a homestead. We just recently bought ours and while there are so many pluses to what we got (old farmhouse with land, fence, pasture, woods, water, barn and outbuildings) there is a TON of work to be done on the house and we unfortunately have neighbors with hunting dogs who very rarely take a break from barking, howling, and yelping. Even though we have land separating us it is still quite a racket and kills the peace when you want to just enjoy nature. I don't understand how one can keep dogs penned up and barking constantly. I'd go mad!

I'm really glad my son Layne Thomas gets to be spending time with y'all! I know y'all will teach him quite a bit and I truly appreciate it

We have some raw land in Virginia near our son and DIL. We plan to start out living in an RV (we've traveled and lived in an RV before for 3 years, this way we automatically have appliances, furniture to live in while we get started). This way getting the house started will give us a more relaxed pace and we can really figure out what will be best and what we really want, but we can still get started on working our land right away. We will be starting with rotational grazing pasture cows/sheep/pigs/chickens Joel Salatin style. Then after the house is built we still have an RV we can use for fun/family. Right now there are already cows on the property, our neighbor is using our pasture and keeping the fencing/pasture maintained for now.

we live on 5.6 acres of ROCKS!!! so we've built our garden up (raised Beds)... brought in tons of free chipped wood and have built up a nice big plot of 10 3x12 beds with room for 1 more.... excellent video and no if I had to do over I would choose better soil... some rock's are good, but we literally have no top soil..

i bought the place where i live right now without ever having come into the state and i am excellently pleased. Neither did i know anyone here or even if there were any likeminded people. i moved here because it is my fervent belief that YHWH wanted me here. i moved from eastern North Carolina to southern Missouri. Different crops, different ground types different everything and i couldn’t be more pleased.

I'd LOVE a video on making cheddar cheese wheels. Is there as different process with raw milk vs store bought if I can't source raw? Thanks for all your sharing. Stephanie

Hi guys!! I’ve been doing my research on starting my own homestead farm. When I found you guys I had no idea you were in Idaho! That’s my primary focus in my land search. Question, I am a single woman and almost 40. I’ve never run a homestead before. I was wondering if there are any groups in Northern Idaho where I might be able to get connected? Thank you for all of your wonderful experience!

I loved this episode. I would add to check zoning, building permit requirements, deed restrictions, HOA restrictions, wet land restrictions, animal restrictions, and and other land use restrictions before you buy. Here in the North East of the US you can run into layers of restrictions that vary from town to town let alone county and state level. We did a lot of research into these restrictions and we are happy with our 2.5 acre home. I know many people in my state that bought a home or land to homestead or open a home based business and found they legally couldn't or the cost was to high to get exemptions to do it.

Great video, great comprehensive advice. Bless you for being so thoughtful and giving.

This video has been so helpful! Thank you for sharing your experience and insight!

Thank you so much for putting this video together. My family and I are thinking about getting some land and this is super helpful and informative. You guys put out amazing content

You guys put put some quality information that I appreciate very much. Most informative show!

Thank you for a really very informative video. I am a very recent subscriber, and I love not only the subject matters, but the down to earth manner of delivery.

Very helpful video. Potatoes in containers grow fabulously. It’s a great solution for rocky soil. I’ve done that in a very small garden and got a very good crop. In fact, I think I prefer containers and layering over planting in the ground.

I am new to your channel and subscribed right away. I love the way you broke up the time line at he bottom of the video with subject titles. I didn't know that could be done. Thank you. Very considerate! Love the lists too. Thanks Robin!