homesteading the San Luis valley, co (Denver, Trinidad: to rent, neighborhood, camp)

[Rainbow Demon]

As long as you have deeded water rights or a well with something other than "household use only" designation water should not be a concern on the whole here. Folks should just keep in mind that "cheap" land is DRY land here....no bones about it...and nobody is trying to be an "expert"....it's just a fact that all outsiders need to understand fully. In short, the WATER is more valuable than the LAND here in many instances.

And LOL at the "homesteading" motif. We see the wagon trains all the time here... (rolls eyes)

good luck folks

[rugrats2001]

Originally Posted by nschicken

Hello,after reading this forum I'm not sure if we will move to slv, we are with the other dreamers of buying cheap land. And building our own home, we are weary of the 5 acre lots in costilla we have found some 40 acre lots with artesion wells, our biggest concern is water, also we would love to visit, trade, and talk with any fellow homesteaders in the area as for all the negative responses who are you to be rude to newcomers just trying to get info of a place that some of you feel your experts on. Any who if you live or are currently building on land down here shoot me a email and we can visit nschicken8478@gmail.com thanks

Just keep in mind that having an 'artesian' well on your property doesn't mean that you own the water, nor is it a guarantee that it produces a usable amount of water, or doesn't go dry 11 months out of the year. If the land is cheap, you can be assured it is not a dependable well.

[Suzatlarge]

Originally Posted by kylissa

The property we are looking at has a well permit, but considering we have a giant amish built barn with hundreds of feet of gutter with collection barrels along with a well equipt RO system, we will be okay hauling the water for the aquaponics tanks in the back of our truck. I say naysayers don't mean a thing.

The Colorado General Assembly has killed a bill which would have legalized those collection barrels for rainwater.

There is a law on the books which might allow collection of some rainwater on residential property, if you meet all the criteria. Including that you use the water only for the same purpose for which your well is permitted.

[nschicken]

I welcome all the advice harsh or not. Yes I've seen and heard dozens upon dozens of property's abandoned down there. Just a shame ppl are blind and basically getting scammed into buying land and not knowing a lot about it. We have bought some land and are moving down there this week. We are looking forward to it. We are from Wyoming and the land water sand and cactus are the same. I hope to meet and talk with other ppl there to see how and what they have done. And demon rainbow roll your eyes all ya want I know the technical term to of homesteading isn't buying land and building but in today's age of thing there's not many places you can truly homestead. Now back to the nay saying shame on any one ppl are asking for help not looking for UN called for Rudeness

[Rainbow Demon]

Good luck chickens. I'll save the eye rolls from here on out til I see how well it all goes for you. Should be a piece of cake for such an experienced "homesteader" such as yourself. Just check/abide by the local codes and State water regulations and you'll be good to go. No problem!

I hope you got one of those properties with a lake like in the sales brochures.

[Linda_d]

Originally Posted by kylissa

Really interesting and relevant thread to my current life, since we grow tilapia aquaponics and are visiting and hopefully buying a plot in SLV. Right now we have a 22 acre farm in s. Iowa used for organic grains, gourds, gardens all around with cheap cheap water, a big pond, free range fowl, and tons of perennial herbs. We own a seed business growing organic o.p. seeds. We do a lot of wildcrafting and I am getting my fill of the plants here, the weeds are always out of control! So the low summer temps for outdoor tilapia tanks, and lack of giant (I mean the weeds here get over 9 feet tall everywhere), no weeds in raised beds, as well as the ability to fill gaps in my seed catalogue with desert and sandy growing plants are some of the reasons we are looking at grabbing up 2 sagey SLV 5acre properties for camping on strictly in the summer, to avoid the 120+ weather here, in spring and fall and winter we'd stay in IA, (and winter will be in an unknown place in the future in a warm climate z11ish). Some of my concerns, snakes scorpions and starving and thirsty animal attacks. All we really would want is a bit of brush cleared to put tanks and raised beds and our little caravan, if we got it cleared would barefoot walking be okay? Expensive to clear out a small driveway? Are there a lot of dust storms like sand flying in your face during summer?

This post doesn't make sense. First of all, which "here" is "here" because it seems like you're talking about both Iowa and SLV as being "here" at the same time:

• I am getting my fill of the plants here, the weeds are always out of control! So the low summer temps for outdoor tilapia tanks, and lack of giant (I mean the weeds here get over 9 feet tall everywhere), no weeds in raised beds

  and then

• we are looking at grabbing up 2 sagey SLV 5acre properties for camping on strictly in the summer, to avoid the 120+ weather here, in spring and fall and winter we'd stay in IA,

I'm confused because summer temps in southern Iowa don't get to 120 degrees very often if at all, even in heat waves, and if they did, why would you need to worry about the "low summer temps for outdoor tilapia tanks"?



What happens to your Iowa farm/business while you're "camping" in the SLV all summer? Are you planning on fish farming in the SLV?

[Colorado Rambler]

Originally Posted by Linda_d

This post doesn't make sense. First of all, which "here" is "here" because it seems like you're talking about both Iowa and SLV as being "here" at the same time:

• and then

I'm confused because summer temps in southern Iowa don't get to 120 degrees very often if at all, even in heat waves, and if they did, why would you need to worry about the "low summer temps for outdoor tilapia tanks"?



What happens to your Iowa farm/business while you're "camping" in the SLV all summer? Are you planning on fish farming in the SLV?

Oh, quit being so "mean"! As anyone who has been around the forum for a while knows, critisizing the SLV is like critisizing the Promised Land from the Bible. All replies to SLV threads should be upbeat and supportive, no matter how bizarre the ideas presented by the OP and/or other newbies. Reality simply is not part of the SLV paradigm. So all you dreamers who just purchased 5 acres of sage and saltrush at a "bargain" price, don't you worry. You can do whatever you want there. There are no building regulations, it always rains plenty for whatever crop or critter you're planning on growing there, and if you want to get rid of the saltbrush, just go to the crossroads where Road 12 and highway 142 meet at San Acacio at midnight. Bring a Santo of Smokey the Bear which you have carved yourself from the greasewood growing on your property and bury it on a moonless night. Then turn around 3 times and stamp your foot, and shout "Greasewood be gone! Sic transit gloria Mundi!" You'll be amazed at the results. Maybe.

[CosmicWizard]

CR wrote: Bring a Santo of Smokey the Bear which you have carved yourself from the greasewood growing on your property and bury it on a moonless night. Then turn around 3 times and stamp your foot, and shout "Greasewood be gone! Sic transit gloria Mundi!" You'll be amazed at the results. Maybe.

No MAYBE about it. This IS the way it is done!

[Mike from back east]

Burn her! She's a witch! She turned me into a newt!

[Colorado Rambler]

^^^
Nah, I think jazzlover did that right before he moved to Oklahoma. My specialty is pikas.