The Campfire Trail: November 10 - DIY Homestead - Where And How Do You Start? (Part 3)

November 10, 2022

Day 405 of the Adventure

Land purchase is a part of the discussion today. I think that the subject can easily be divided into a couple of segments. One is the mechanics of the purchase, but the other is the selection process. I have a bit of a soft spot for folks who struggle with having enough resources to make a purchase. I know the feeling because I was there once and there was no one who could guide me through the process. For this reason, we simply had to learn, make mistakes and make do with what was available to us. With that said, I think that addressing some options regarding how much land is adequate and what price ranges are appropriate.

There is nothing wrong with sitting down and creating a wish list of your dream property. In fact, I encourage that as part of the process you go through during planning. Assuming that you have access to resources for the purchase of your dream property, there really is no issue other than defining and finding the right place. For everyone who has little or no resources, it's a much more complex and frustrating proposition. Again, it was a first-hand experience of ours (my wife and I) as well. One solution is to keep your dream alive but perhaps divide it into a couple of stages. A stage one, which would possibly include a smaller footprint, and then a stage two ultimate step. We began our self-sufficient journey long before we made the move to a dedicated homestead property. It was more "urban" in nature. Not inner city urban, but more like small-town urban. Most of the practices we engaged in were gardening, food preservation, alternative energy and a little bit of livestock. I read books and other publications related to the ability of developing a self-sufficient life on a small-scale homestead. In fact, there are books dedicated to doing so on an acre or less, even as small as a quarter acre. A quarter of an acre is only 104 feet by 104 feet if you're wondering. Why is this important?

In our region as with many others I'm sure, there are small communities where property values are still reasonable. In fact, we are within an hour or two driving distance from several small towns where building lots can still be had for as low as $2,000. Of course, a building lot by itself does not account for shelter, water and energy sources without adding them to it. However, it is the first ingredient in a functional homestead or self-sufficient property. Obviously, there are usually more potential restrictions associated with this type of option, however they don't necessarily need to be deal breakers. In smaller communities, fewer restrictions are typically common. Even then, while some places are very strict, others are not. I lived in a community, for example, that would not allow a residential dwelling to be built under 1,000 square feet. Yet, with the proper approach, there was a variance process that would allow for smaller homes. The same was true for mobile homes and campers. A mobile home was not permitted (including RV's) but a temporary RV permit could be had with the appropriate application and approval. With land prices being what they are, an affordable starting option may be needed even though it doesn't feel like it's the "Life-Long" destination. Another way of viewing this "first step" idea is how it can help with asset accumulation for trading up later. Starting with a smaller and inexpensive property can get your foot in the door. After that, any and all improvements to it will increase its value and marketability in the future. Our very first home was not very adequate at all for even small-scale self-sufficiency. However, we did our best on it to make it a desirable property. After a few years, we sold it and bought something about twice the size which included better garden area, a big garage, a shop and much greater potential. Again, a few years and many improvements later, it was sold making a way to something even better. If a "small beginning" is what it takes to get the process going, then embrace it as part of the journey and get started. (To Be Continued)

Carry On

Part 1 Link

Part 2 Link

Adventure Quote: Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin - Zechariah 4:10 - New Living Translation

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