Any one willing to let a family live and homestead in their land? (Metlakatla: living, moving to)

[Captain Crunch]

Originally Posted by warptman

Don't forget to pack your can of crops!

Thats funny warp.....seems I remember this from another thread

south Florida = warm all year-round
Alaska = OMG

Thats should be all the OP needs

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by bortstc37

yet the types who did it for free when the government gave them land were not freeloaders?

the whole concept of homesteading is giving somebody a free house and/or land and making them "prove it up" for a period of time. i suppose it can be done privately just as easily as publicly...

Homesteaders were not just given free land. They had to improve it by clearing the land, plant crops, build a house and so forth. There was nothing cheap about homesteading, and when you got done, the government taxed you on all of your efforts.

Free it wasn't, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears and even cost many their lives.

[bortstc37]

yes, that's what i meant by "prove it up."

[megensmom]

To me a person like me who has not been raised or lived here in AK who no clue at all about homesteading in AK. While some places in AK it is fairly easy to raise cattle or other animals for meat but those people still have to pay for hay because for the most part it doesn't grow in most places. And if someone is giving you a place I would be willing to bet it is not prime property. How would you get water for your family? Drill a well,LOL not at most places due to permafrost,melt snow that would be an experience for sure. How would you provide for your family if you didn't luck out and kill a moose? I think your dream is really unrealistic for Alaska maybe somewhere else but to just think you're gonna plop down on a piece of land here and live is very very unrealistic and could prove deadly.

[NomadicBear]

It didn't seem to me like the original poster wants free land, but rather free rent. In any case, they are looking for a handout. I desire for a parcel of land in Alaska, too, but I realize that prices are quite high for what I'm looking for, and I'll have to work long and hard to get what I want. If I knew I could never afford a piece of land in Alaska, but was hell bent on "living off the land", I would just head up there, find a secluded parcel of government land, and live there. Who's going to find you? If found, move somewhere else and start anew. It's a big place, and I'd think it's fairly easy to "get lost".

[bortstc37]

if i were confident that the people in question weren't at risk for starving/freezing/dying one way or another, i wouldn't have a problem with a small family living on my land, especially if they helped maintain things/do chores/etc.

i probably wouldn't give them a chunk of it in exchange, but there's nothing wrong with free rent in exchange for hard work. people have done it for me and i would do it for others.

[MeganAK]

The problem with this whole scenario is the legalities. Not to mention the OP having no idea what kind of hard work it takes to make it in Alaska. It sounds like a legal nightmare to let someone build a house on your land. Not a good idea. TO the OP- you have a good heart and it sounds like you are trying to be more sustainable, but why not start small by growing your own food where you are now, and learning more about self-sustainability? There are parcels of land other places besides Alaska that would be affordable. You could even buy a small chunk (2-5 acres) and not spend much. If you don't have much money- start small. You can think big, but start small. Save money where you can and try to buy your own small chunk of land. It will be worth it in the long run to plan now so that you can have the life that you want later.

[Jerseykat]

No I think the OP was asking for the land for free, not a place to live for a while. They noted they are looking to build a natural house on the land.
Maybe it's just me but I don't think I would be building on land that I didn't own.
Which makes me curious about what skills the OP has to build a home in an off grid area? Home Depot isn't around the corner, nor is electricity to run power tools if that is the way they are looking. This would be haul everything in and serious manual labor.

The OP noted "we don't really plan on having electricity, unless it comes from solar panels we put up, but with what money?"
Skipping the land purchase, land loan or land gift..whatever it's called, how are they going to support themselves?

But my last question is why Alaska?

[Marty Van Diest]

Alaska is not the best place to do something like this. Wyoming might work, or some midwest state where land is cheap. I do know of a farmer who would often let people live on his property in exchange for work...but he expects real work, hard work, REAL HARD WORK. Most people moved after less than a year. I don't think he does it any more.

[NomadicBear]

But my last question is why Alaska?

Alaska is very rich in natural resources and, while cold, is a good option for anyone wanting to truly "live off the land". In most areas of the lower 48, it's just not possible with all of the development, and lack of fishing/hunting available. Most people looking to live off the land aren't looking for areas where they will need transportation to commute to hunting/fishing areas, etc. They want it out their back door.