Is there inexpensive farmland left in SoCal for small hobby farm? Not in AV? (Santa Clarita: homes)

[kingbulldog]

Anyone know of any inexpensive acreage left for a small weekend ranch or hobby farm in LA or OC? Nice grassland/vinyards, a few trees. Nothing too dry. Hopefully close to civilization.

I am hesitant in the Antelope Valley 'cause let's face it. It's desert. And I've been reading online about city officers raiding homes and harassing the residents in the Western part of the AV for keeping tractors out in plain view on their own properties.

[smh1]

Have you tried Moorpark and the surrounding areas. I think you are looking south, but that area of Ventura county is adjacent to L.A.(off the 118) and almost filled with groves-avacado etc. Both proffessional and little ranchettes of a few acres.

[kbat]

You might try Anza or Aguanga (foothills of the San Jacinto mountains, in between Idyllwild and Temecula). Both places are high desert/grasslands and get occasional hard freezes in the winter, but unless you're growing citrus or avocado trees you can rely on a greenhouse or row covers to protect your more tender stuff. IIRC, Aguanga sits at roughly 3,000 feet elevation and Anza sits at 3,500 feet. Both are probably at cold hardiness zone 8 and get very warm in the summer.

[Clarks]

I am hesitant in the Antelope Valley 'cause let's face it. It's desert. And I've been reading online about city officers raiding homes and harassing the residents in the Western part of the AV for keeping tractors out in plain view on their own properties.

Don't live in a city.. What is your projected crop? Desert lands can be very fertile, your biggest problem is going to be water.

If it is usable farmland, it is probably farmed. You will save your self big problems by buying an existing farm.

[kingbulldog]

Originally Posted by Clarks

Don't live in a city.. What is your projected crop? Desert lands can be very fertile, your biggest problem is going to be water.

If it is usable farmland, it is probably farmed. You will save your self big problems by buying an existing farm.

Aparently cops from Santa Clarita and Lancaster are raiding the rural homes somewhere near Neenach and Fairmont. They aren't cities. Hell I don't even think their towns.

I'll still be living near LB for work and headed to my hobby farm on weekends. Ill have a caretaker on my land. I'd like a handful of goats or cows, a few horses, most likely chickens and grow several types of vegs. Two small homes, one for my family and one for the caretaker. However, this will be over several years. We'll start small of course.

[Bluesmama]

KBAT and Clarks gave you good advice. I also suggest the Coachella Valley, which is deeper into the east side of Southern California. It's beautiful.

Did you also post this thread in the Rural Living Forum?

[kingbulldog]

Originally Posted by Bluesbabe

KBAT and Clarks gave you good advice. I also suggest the Coachella Valley, which is deeper into the east side of Southern California. It's beautiful.

Did you also post this thread in the Rural Living Forum?

I'll be looking into those areas as well. Didn't realize there was a Rural Living Forum. I will repost there. Thanks.

[Clarks]

Aparently cops from Santa Clarita and Lancaster are raiding the rural homes somewhere near Neenach and Fairmont. They aren't cities. Hell I don't even think their towns.

I'll still be living near LB for work and headed to my hobby farm on weekends. Ill have a caretaker on my land. I'd like a handful of goats or cows, a few horses, most likely chickens and grow several types of vegs. Two small homes, one for my family and one for the caretaker. However, this will be over several years. We'll start small of course.

You want what used to be part of the "back to the land" movement. I think the desert extremes of climate may not be in your best interest. I do not know SoCal that well so cannot be too specific. But I would look in the hill country around the Cleveland National Forest area. Small towns, or what used to be small towns, like Ramona.

Here is a website for you, and a magazine well worth subscribing too, and finding old old copies of. Organic Gardening, Modern Homesteading, Renewable Energy, Green Homes, Do it Yourself – MOTHER EARTH NEWS

[Fontucky]

You're hogtying yourself with the following requirements:

LA/OC
Inexpensive
Not too dry

You can do inexpensive (of course, I don't how you define that word) and not too dry, but you'll have to drop the LA/OC part. And the "close to civilization part", quite possibly.

You can do inexpensive and LA County, but then the dry part kicks in.

You can forget OC altogether.

[BRinSM]

i have distant relatives who own a small family farm just outside of redlands. they bought undeveloped land maybe 5 years ago or so and have a successful farm and sell to local families and restaurants.