Where to move? ...grow food ... raise a few chickens (Ozark: high school, gardening)

[Versatile]

Don't matter where Ozarkboy comes from his advice is right on.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by kshe95girl

I would take anything Ozarksboy says with a very large grain of salt. He is not even a native, he is a Georgia cracker.
BTW, I am a native, and we are not all racists, believe me

Yes, to the original poster who wants to move to Missouri, I am not a native. I truly was born in Georgia, at Werner-Robbins AFB while my Dad was in the Air Force. Weeks later, he flew off to Japan for a year and Mama brought me back to her native state to live with her parents, also natives of Missouri. They weren't going to let me into the state, because I was a Georgian, but as I was still on the tit, they decided to go ahead and accept me into both the family and the state.

Now, Kshe95girl's post should give you some second thoughts about moving here. Do you really want to move to a state where the natives are so quick to point out their superiority to newbies?

Of course, I don't know whether her advice is of any account either. After all, she left this great state many years ago to go live in Florida, of all places. Does she really love Missouri? I'll let you decide.

I'm still trying to DIScourage you from moving here, because I want you to be absolutely certain this is the place for you. If you move here and then find yourself unhappy and start complaining then I will join the true natives in berating you. I don't like to hear people talk bad about my family's native state, even if my native state happens to be Georgia.

Regards,
Ozarks Boy

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by ozarksboy

Yes, to the original poster who wants to move to Missouri, I am not a native. I truly was born in Georgia, at Werner-Robbins AFB while my Dad was in the Air Force. Weeks later, he flew off to Japan for a year and Mama brought me back to her native state to live with her parents, also natives of Missouri. They weren't going to let me into the state, because I was a Georgian, but as I was still on the tit, they decided to go ahead and accept me into both the family and the state.

Now, Kshe95girl's post should give you some second thoughts about moving here. Do you really want to move to a state where the natives are so quick to point out their superiority to newbies?

Of course, I don't know whether her advice is of any account either. After all, she left this great state many years ago to go live in Florida, of all places. Does she really love Missouri? I'll let you decide.

I'm still trying to DIScourage you from moving here, because I want you to be absolutely certain this is the place for you. If you move here and then find yourself unhappy and start complaining then I will join the true natives in berating you. I don't like to hear people talk bad about my family's native state, even if my native state happens to be Georgia.

Regards,
Ozarks Boy

aaaaww, OB, it was just a bit of satire, I thought you would get it!
BTW, the only reason I am still here in Florida is because of DH and his job, there are no Lockheed-Martin facilities in Mo, and he cant go to work for Boeing due to the no-compete clause in his contract.
Do I love Missouri? What a silly question.

[Inoxkeeper]

Originally Posted by kshe95girl

aaaaww, OB, it was just a bit of satire, I thought you would get it!

Well done! I tried to rep you but I am in rep pt. timeout again.

[lone sailor]

Originally Posted by FarmBoyWannaBe

We would like to move to an area where we could have a nice home on 10+ acres. We want to grow some of our own food and have some chickens. We are very friendly and love people, but we don't want to live on top of our neighbors (so cities and suburbs don't work for us).

We've been looking at Southern Missouri or NW Arkansas. We want a lot of trees surrounding us (so that's the Ozark region, right?). We've been to NW Arkansas and have stayed with friends there but were a little discouraged by the high cost of housing. We also read where the land in Missouri may not be very good for growing things (but maybe this was referring to large farming). We also have an interracial family mix, so a place where "everyone" is generally accepted would be best. Could anyone give us suggestions on rural towns that would be a good fit for us. We'd like to check them out. Thank you.

I would like to add that ANY State in the US would work for us; we are inquiring about MO and AR because of the beauty and weather (although snow doesn't bother us). We thought about New Hampshire for a while... then saw their property taxes. We also lived in Iowa, Texas, and Oklahoma but there just were not any trees (at least where we lived).

Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated!

I doubt you'd have much, if any, trouble in most of the areas in southern Missouri. You seem pretty laid back and goal oriented. You know what you want and aren't really looking to ride in to town in a blaze of glory. IMHO, most will accept you and your family for who you are. Believe it or not, beyond popular belief, there are many people in this area that do not care what color skin another person has. It's not that there isn't any discrimination in southern Missouri, but it's nothing compared to what I've seen in other states. As a matter of fact, my wife is Hispanic, and all three of my children are half Hispanic and half Caucasian. I've never had one single problem with anyone being racist or not be of accepting nature to myself or anyone in my family because of our ethnicity. I wish you and your family the very best of luck in your journey, where ever it may lead you.

[Doing4HIM]

Hi y'all, What about 'raised' beds for veggies. I live in Stone County. See lots of folks with raised veggie beds. My friend has chickens and sells organic eggs, too. When ya think of it, we all have a 'blend' of something. Just be courteous, respectful of your neighbors and I believe the same is directed toward you. Yes, I would agree around Waynesville, Ft. Leonard Wood area, or down near Branson. We see and serve 'visitors' of all races. Over 8M per year.

[kshe95girl]

raised beds would work wonderfully. My Grandmother was an avid gardener in the Ozarks, and had many.
I use them down here, due to the poor quality of the soil.

[robertjohnson]

As a member of an interracial family I must protest the libelious fiction directed at the pale and rural.
Having spent years in the mid west and the last five smack dab in the center of KKK central (95838)
I have never detected a bad 'vibe'. Or staring mumblers. No comments or keyed car. Or flaming crosses that I have noticed. But then I'm not looking for or expecting to see any of these things.

All the dragons are dead.
Those are just windmills.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by robertjohnson

As a member of an interracial family I must protest the libelious fiction directed at the pale and rural.
Having spent years in the mid west and the last five smack dab in the center of KKK central (95838)
I have never detected a bad 'vibe'. Or staring mumblers. No comments or keyed car. Or flaming crosses that I have noticed. But then I'm not looking for or expecting to see any of these things.

All the dragons are dead.
Those are just windmills.

Excellent post, and it says volumes about the midwestern mindset.
BTW, is your screen name in honor of THE Robert Johnson, of Crossroads fame?

[FarmBoyWannaBe]

Thank you all, once again, for your ideas. I've also thought of the idea of the raised beds. Still not sure where we'll end up; gotta keep doing my research and visit more places. We've lived in quite a few "redneck" areas and have gotten along quite well. We are very friendly and never judge anyone by any measure. Since we'd like this to be a permanent move, we're spending more time choosing a location. I guess the only "concern" that I've always had was whether or not it'd be safe in any particular area for my wife or daughter (both of whom have brown skin) to walk the roads without being harrassed. We've never experienced such an ordeal, but we've heard of them happening... hence my need to post this question.

Again, thank you all.