Any advice from Preppers on future home in WA? (Port Angeles: section 8, for sale)

[Gully Foyle]

I have started researching where to move in WA. I'm interested in the rural parts.
I understand the Preppers are into self sufficiency and preparedness. Which makes sense in case of an emergency.
Any advice on what to seek in properties? On adaptations, like generators or solar pumps for wells, that are must haves? Advice on raising animals, Goats/Chickens/mini-cows (Smaller produce near the same and have a few breeders in the state)?
Right now I'm looking for at least ten acres, preferably more, with well and septic. I've seen a couple of homes with Geothermal but am uncertain of the benefits. Few have back up generators, which isn't really that much of a problem. But is fuel or propane better? I've seen a few properties with future potential for logging. Would be nice for a small source of income, or just to add to my own firewood.
Not really sure how hard it is to raise the animals I mentioned. No idea how much vet time and money gets spent. I do know it isn't hard to pasteurize milk or make your own cheese/butter/buttermilk.
I garden now and freeze, haven't canned yet.
Thanks for any advice shared.

[stonecypher5413]

You will be able to find excellent advice and answers to most of your questions on the Self-Sufficiency and Preparedness sub-forum here on C-D -- very helpful posters, just ask!

Try "Wanted to Buy" on the Craigslist closest to the area you're interested in and then check realtors specializing in acreage for sale through Dexonline or similar.

YouTube, of course, has a zillion tutorials for everything you could possibly imagine on self-sufficiency, homesteading, raising animals, food preservation, alternative energy, etc.

Good luck in your search.

[Gully Foyle]

I'm actually seeking experiences specific to the various regions of WA. For example I did not know that the state owns your water including rainfall. I would also imagine that there exist property clauses specific to WA which only a WA land owner would be aware of, environmental protections for example.
Thank you for the advice.

[sean98125]

Is there a message board online specific to this lifestyle? They might have more depth of information than you'd find here.

[Gully Foyle]

I read through a couple. Very few are WA based.
I'm not interested in the Gold and Guns crowd. Those have tainted the dialogue from being prepared for a disaster to being prepared for the apocalypse.
I also think many of those sites and forums are being monitored.
I did read an interesting discussion about mold and rust.
Other than the environmental and legal aspects of land ownership, I'm interested in some of the adaptations which worked and didn't. I read about someone who used a solar pool pump for his well. It was another state but made me consider if that would be useful in Western Wa. Or fuel vs propane backup generators.

[Yojimbo11]

As a prepper I'm leaving Washington, the only nice places are on the Islands and the land price is high and Islands are close to land masses are going to be death traps should SHTF and way to Many socialists in this state.

In a WWIII Scenario we are a primary nuclear target, we have nuclear bases all over the state, we don't get many natural disasters but when we do get a Volcano that goes or a big quake its going to be bad.


To many socialists in this state make it really expensive to live despite the tax situation on paper.

Here's the problems for someone self sufficient, Unless you are a welfare recipient or in the Military your food costs are really high up here.

Why?

Public groceries stores are all heavily unionized, even Walmart is expensive in this state.
Food-stamps don't get hit with the sales tax on food here, and the generous $800 minimum they hand out encourages stores to jack the prices up.

Soldiers buy on base with all kinds of discounts and being a large percent of the population and unaffected creates a climate where this situation isn't going to change.

So if you have a job and are paying cash for anything its pricey.


State employees start at $50K a year so get ready to bend over during property tax season because every paper pusher in the state is going to have their hand out and sending you a bill.

The property tax rate is caped low at %1 I think it is? They make up for it with bizarre mandatory services with dozens of small fees and unexplained taxes. The unionized garbage man in pierce county starts at 60K a year and has full benefits and his services are mandatory as a act of law, he charges $180-$250 a month and they tie it to your power service so if you can't pay him they will shut your lights off because taking away the 3 Gallon can they give you is no threat at all.




If you are a solider, welfare recipient or state employee Washington is great, if you have any type of private sector job or ambitions do not move here.

Washington state revolves around people in hovels paying $4,000 a year in property taxes to watch section 8'ers moving in to new houses for $150 a month and get free groceries.


If you make anything less than $25 per hour full time and benefits you can expect to have a lower quality of life than those on public dependence.

[Seacove]

Best of luck to you. Please spread the word that Washington State is a terrible socialist state, especially for preppers.

[Hemlock140]

I would place the government environmental regulation at the top of the list for the problems in living independently. Most areas have regulations against tree cutting on your own land, and you may not be able to mow your own grass if there is an endangered bird nesting nearby. Still,m if you get out a ways you can pretty much do what you want. I know of a 20 acre place for sale in unincorporated Port Angeles where the seller milled his own lumber and raised cattle, pigs, turkeys and chickens for years. Phinn Rd just off Blue Mountain Rd.

126 Phinn Road, Port Angeles WA - Trulia

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo11

As a prepper I'm leaving Washington, the only nice places are on the Islands and the land price is high and Islands are close to land masses are going to be death traps should SHTF and way to Many socialists in this state.

And you're trying to come to Oregon?

Most people are going the other way.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by hamellr

And you're trying to come to Oregon?

Most people are going the other way.

Now, now, lets not discourage him from taking his prepper self to Oregon. He made a nice long list of why Washington State is bad for preppers. But I thought Texas and Montana/Wyoming were where they were gathering? There's even a Montana Preppers Network.