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Yes, we have Tractor Supply in Missouri. There is also a Missouri based farm/home chain called Orschlen. Their website isn't the best but the stores have more than Tractor Supply, IMO. Not all locations are created equal. Orscheln Farm and Home
This soil survey tool may give you a little better idea of what you may be facing in regard to soil types in certain areas: Web Soil Survey - Home
My original thought was to try to hit the bullseye between Springfield and Branson on the practical idea that the two cities would have more options as a vendor, and for an EMT (and our kids in 10-15 yrs)-- but pickins are slim on the land searches. In theory, we could live off of any emergency room or ambulance company that will have him-- so it's not like our options are really limited.
I've really focused my searches on the SW (can't put my finger on it, but I like the fault line in the east side less than I like tornado alley for some reason.)
Our plan is to drive out there probably next feb, weather permitting (should give us a glance at winter, no?) And do a loop of probable places and see what speaks to us. We can't get away now for a couple reasons... 1.)hubsters class schedule, and 2.) I'm raising baby poultry in the spare bathtub. 5 now and another dozen on the way in august.... <_<
At a glance it looks like we will take the 40 through Oklahoma City, From there I'm thinking we'll hit Joplin by way of the 44, and meander to Springfield and a good radius around it. From there I don't really know the best way to go. I think the first trip should be dedicated to road tripping through as much of the state as possible and maybe flat out eliminate some areas we wouldn't care for. I'm accustomed to weather and the landscape varying widely in different areas of a state, so it will be a unique experience to visit a state that's more or less hills, trees and lakes one end to the other.
At any rate suggested routes and sights would be appreciated.
I would like to avoid:
-Yuppy towns-- the kind with 8 starbucks? don't need them. Don't want them. If So-cal transplants like it 'cause it's just like home, I won't.
- Retirement living black holes. Hubby and I are late 20s and will be barely 30s by the time we make the move. I think our kids would appreciate us choosing an area with some growth and other young families.
- Hicksville. Hubs and I both come from a county in Oregon where just about everyone has one of two last names. Sometimes a small town really is *too* small, and even if you wanted to integrate you couldn't do it w/o a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon, a crowbar and some arranged marriages. At least give us a Hick town with 6 different last names and a choice of three church denominations
Hey I just had an idea--have you looked into Rogersville? It's just outside of Springfield and is some of the prettiest countryside that I've ever driven thru. All the houses were neat and well maintained (not hicksville then) and the farms seemed to be smaller ones. I fantasized the whole time I was driving thru about moving there, but haven't yet.
I've see it on a map stepka, but I've yet to see any property for sale there as yet. Most of what I am seeing near Springfield is in Seymore, Buffalo, Bolivar, Conway, and a teeny bit by Aurora, and then south (near south, or FAR south) of Rolla around Licking, Houston, Summersville etc.
It may be worth mentioning that I'd happily take cooler winters if it means cooler summers.
Yeah Kshe, you don't have to sell me on the virtues of goats. I'll probably try to grab a couple when I get there. Thankfully you can sell milk in MO because between goats and cows I'm going to be up to my eyeballs in the stuff! lol I've always had horses before so compost has never been a problem, but the ones I have now are my mothers and I won't be taking them-- I don't ride enough to get any investment out of an equine though so I don't plan on getting any new ones either. They're just not practical for pets-- so expensive! maybe if I had a big place I'd plow with one! Rofl! Even then I'd probably get a pair of dexter cattle instead!
Thanks for the info Mogal, tossed you some rep on that one.
Last edited by dusky_beauty; 07-25-2011 at 04:42 PM..
Up here in Rolla we don't have a Tractor Supply. Used to, but it burned years ago and was never rebuilt.
What we have are The Family Center, which is similar but it is regional; MFA Farmers Exchange, a statewide cooperative, and Sands Farm and Home, a local store. We also have a Lowe's, which will have many of your requirements.
We have an Orscheln's 30 miles away at Waynesville.
Any good feed/farm supply store should cover me. Ok folks, I think you've gotten my thought process all straightened out, now I know where my next "vacation" (recon mission LOL) will be. Now we just need the right job and farm opportunity to line up at the right time, and I need to keep reminding myself to keep my menagerie simple so I don't have to move or liquidate it!
Any good feed/farm supply store should cover me. Ok folks, I think you've gotten my thought process all straightened out, now I know where my next "vacation" (recon mission LOL) will be. Now we just need the right job and farm opportunity to line up at the right time, and I need to keep reminding myself to keep my menagerie simple so I don't have to move or liquidate it!
Good luck and enjoy your visit to our beautiful state!
You might like West Plains, Cabool, or Mountain Grove.
These are all the towns that came to mind for me too along with Ava, Willow Springs and Gainesville. They are all in south-central MO. Immediately Ozark came to mind like you said. There's also Hermann up north, an hour from Columbia, less than an hour from Jeff City and less than a couple of hours from St. Louis. Potosi is a good suggestion too.
Ozark, in particular, has that main street feel. The problem with all of these except Ozark is their proximity to anything major. Oh yeah, and then there's Hollister too, which is within proximity to Springfield.
Those towns in south-central MO are all a good 60 miles from Springfield, but based on your hobby farm idea, those are the towns in the right counties for that - Douglas and Ozark Counties. West Plains has medical facilities and those towns and farms are all within a normal distance of it. West Plains isn't big, but it's the biggest town in the area, that's for sure.
SEMO as suggested is also a good option. Although Cape Girardeau is not technically the Ozarks, a lot of the maps include it and the area right across the river in Illinois are called the Illinois Ozarks. I'd say anywhere south of I-70 and you'll be in pretty country. The biggest cities are obviously Saint Louis, Cape, Columbia, Jeff City and Springfield.
If you want to pull up a good listing of houses and land for sale for the Ozarks, try Missouri Multi-List. I like it because he includes many of the realtors, so you don't have to jump from site to site to see listings.
I liked the looks of Ava but I can't find any hospitals. My best guess would be that emergency services are provided by an ambulance company or the fire department, but I cant tell which one it is (or how to even inquire employment.)
Ozark sure looks nice, but I was advised that the commute from the southern side of Springfield is rough. It appears that my most likely areas are Bolivar/Buffalo to the N. of Springfield, or Marshfield/Seymour/Conway to the E.
I'm also looking at a 30 mi. radius of Rolla (they had an impressive chamber of commerce relocation packet, what can I say) and Texas/Howell counties.
I haven't looked at West Planes that closely yet, but I should.
My concern regarding the SE is two-fold. The land is more expensive because the farm land is premium, and I'd rather not be so close to that fault line when the big one hits.
The staff at the hosipital were hands down the nicest people I have ever seen work at a hospital! And I have been to many in various states unfortunately. LOL
Figured it out! Ava and many other small towns South and East to Springfield are serviced by Cox Ambulance. I now have their jobs list bookmarked. I am the queen of Google for a day!
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