Comments on: Wanna Buy a Homestead? Or Come Live on One?

By: Tayna Nesseth

Tayna Nesseth — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:17:59 +0000

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By: living roof construction

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By: Sharon Astyk

Sharon Astyk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:06:53 +0000

I agree with y’all that both are fairly expensive -my claim is not that “you should buy these” but because I know I have a wide range of readers, some of whom have more money and some less, some are looking for more conventional and some less, I’m doing a favor for several friends. That’s all. On the other hand, I do know people who living in very pricey areas think these are affordable. It all depends.

My homestead cost a heck of a lot less than either of these – but that comes at a price too in time and labor and money.

Most people are going to be living in housing not designed for the world we’re entering – that’s just a reality.

Misi, send me an email, because otherwise I’ll forget, but it might work!

Sharon

By: Chile

Chile — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:43:47 +0000

No thanks. We finally found our own little piece to buy…for a whole lot less money than either of those. Sure, it’s only an acre and has no outbuilding, garden, or livestock, but it has tons of potential. And there’s something exciting about starting practically from scratch to build your own doomstead. (Thank goodness it has a house. Did not want to start THAT much from scratch!)

By: Grandma Misi

Grandma Misi — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:14:21 +0000

So what about an intern CSA farmer, resident temporary grandma, roommate that can pay some rent and trade work for food and share some hugs with the kiddos? On a limited, internship basis as I have grandkids I don’t want to be away from for a long, extended period. But I’ve read the blog and lots of other places you write and would love the opportunity to learn more on a day-to-day basis. I feel that time is running out for leisurely learnin’ in the farmin’ department. How about a trade with my professional sign language skills with your homeschooled kids? I’d trade for all the goat experience I can get!!! Give me a buzz Sharon when you finish the book and have time…
Misi

By: Hazel

Hazel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:11:12 +0000

What a difference a few thousand miles makes…

I know there can be no direct comparison- difference in average wage, cost of living (although I suspect that is higher generally in the UK) etc, but here, as a sweeping generalisation, you can’t live off the land unless it is much larger acreage or it is free.

Out of interest, I found this 14 acre small holding for sale in Wales, where property is frequently cheaper than near the English cities. The house has 4 beds, but is need of modernisation.

http://www.smallholding-wales.co.uk/pengribyn-smallholding.php

£375,000 is equivalent to about $565,000….

Sharon did say property prices haven’t dropped much in her area. And it still sounds like a bargain from this side of the Atlantic!

Hazel near Oxford, UK

By: Stephen B

Stephen B — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:59:17 +0000

“It is almost a shame that the building on the property is so nice which makes the property too expensive… ”

That’s exactly the problem with many houses I’ve seen. Builders and buyers (and I’m not talking about Sharon’s friends here per se) have been putting so much emphasis on a big, expensive house and have been buying up lots of otherwise nice land to do it.

I’ve been looking at houses lately myself, though I doubt I’ll ever move from my present job as the kids/students there are just such a perfect fit for me. I still dream of living in a more rural area, never mind “preparations” demanding/not demanding it. I’d just like it.

Anyhow, after attending NOFA-NH this past weekend, I got to browsing real estate in central New Hampshire. I stumbled across some amazing real estate on and around Lake Winnipesaukee. Not that I’m in the market, but look at these *amazing* listings of over-the-top, trophy homes on the lake. Imagine the hair cut these are going to take:

http://www.newenglandmoves.com/viewDetails.nem?GLID=1011325739&selectTab=1&propertySearchType=8&associateSearchType=&cid=1562300

The RE taxes alone on that thing are $31,067 !!!

This broker has a whole collection of these things.

In a hundred years, this present era of huge oil-era homes cropping up around the lake will add a very interesting chapter to the already long history of different land uses around Winnipesaukee.

Speaking of which, this broker also has Kimball’s Castle for sale again. (I guess the plans for a hotel/bed breakfast fell through.) This property is a genuine castle set up on a high hill on the south shore of Winnipesaukee. It was built by a former tycoon of the Boston & Maine Railroad at the previous turn of the century. ….All yours for $995,000 It has 260 acres of conservation land that comes with it (It’s very hilly and rocky, except for the immediate area around the castle, so would-be farmers, you want to pass on this, trust me.)

http://www.newenglandmoves.com/viewDetails.nem?GLID=1012022545&selectTab=1&propertySearchType=8&associateSearchType=&cid=1564564

Of course, Kimball’s property more or less lasted because it’s all stone. Whether the other trophy homes would ever last 110 years given their wood-glass construction, I highly doubt it.

Wow, what an era we have lived through. People 200 years from now will absolutely be sure we were nuts!

By: Armando

Armando — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:27:38 +0000

I am afraid I have to concur with Auntiegrav.

Although gorgeous this property may be (it truly is splendid); full of neat, modern gadgetry and a nice piece of dirt, it is still a vinyl and wood shack hardly sustainable and maintainable in the Long Descend.
300k for 10acres is then a little steep for a poor farmer.

On another hand, Sharon’s philosophy is fairly well reflected on this property.
This house is remarkably close from Albany, and has a very good potential to feed it inhabitants by becoming a small subsistence farm.

It is almost a shame that the building on the property is so nice which makes the property too expensive… at least for me.

By: auntiegrav

auntiegrav — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:23:34 +0000

Thanks, Sharon. I love your writing almost always, but 300K for a house and 10 acres isn’t exactly “homesteading”. Sorry, but homesteading is something you do on land that you can pay for with the land itself (or the timber on it).
Yes, they are beautiful places, but hardly homesteads: Trophy Exurbs might be a better label.

By: MEA

MEA — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:29:06 +0000

How we came to Gleanings Farm

1) Sharon send us a map and a list of things to bring years ago

2) We lived in town, and Sharon’s seemed a good place to go

3) She always said family would be welcome

4) I’d read her blog for years — it wasn’t hard to find

5) Oh, that’s what this place is called — we just followed all the others, they seemed to know where they were going.