Any one willing to let a family live and homestead in their land? (real estate market, houses)

[bortstc37]

Originally Posted by rickers

I would rather live off the sea living on a boat than live off the land off grid in a corn cob house.

cob construction does not involve corn cobs.

and i certainly wouldn't use it in alaska.

[NomadicBear]

Originally Posted by bortstc37

i was doing it so that i could learn how to do a variety of tasks on a small, organic, off grid farms (i worked on a couple of different ones). it was well worth it. i wasn't just a fruit picker or anything like that. i got to do everything, and am very grateful that i took the opportunity to learn.

now i know many of the finer points of composting, planting, weeding, clearing land, chasing chickens, weeding, construction, leveling, watering, sweating, stinking, weeding, wind/water turbine maintenance, killing snakes, cutting/chopping wood, weeding, digging ditches and drainage channels, harvesting, trapping rodents, moving big heavy things, and weeding.

did i mention weeding?

if somebody who didn't grow up on a farm wants to learn how to live off the land, these are good skills to learn.

I suppose I can understand it in the context of developing skills, but working full time for only shelter and food is no different than what the Okies had to endure during the depression era. It's labor exploitation. The Okies were actually paid, but most of their wages went back to the company stores in order to pay for food. It was almost impossible to get ahead. Working full time on a farm for food and shelter is a rip-off, and a form of slavery.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by NomadicBear

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.

Unless you live by the Ocean or major river to get food from, living off the land in Alaska is no easy task. Hunting is strictly regulated, and for an outsider not being a resident, it is even more restrictive.

The Growing season is short and the wildlife likes gardens better than most humans. We plant every year and the moose alone will jump a six foot fence and take out more stuff in ten min's than you can harvest in an hour.

Yes you can survive in Interior Alaska living off the land, but very few do because of how hard it is, they will travel to town once or twice a year at least to get major supplies, more often than not, they go more often.

The Coastal areas, if the tide is out, the table is set. Food is very easy to get from the sea and the winters are very mild compared to the interior, but the land is very expensive.

[Rickers]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Food is very easy to get from the sea and the winters are very mild compared to the interior, but the land is very expensive.

Boy howdy, when I was looking for properties, (still am), I couldn't come close to buying anything in Alaska that I could live on at my age. Way too pricey.
That's why I'm here in Mayberry Montana.

[NomadicBear]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Unless you live by the Ocean or major river to get food from, living off the land in Alaska is no easy task. Hunting is strictly regulated, and for an outsider not being a resident, it is even more restrictive.

The Growing season is short and the wildlife likes gardens better than most humans. We plant every year and the moose alone will jump a six foot fence and take out more stuff in ten min's than you can harvest in an hour.

Yes you can survive in Interior Alaska living off the land, but very few do because of how hard it is, they will travel to town once or twice a year at least to get major supplies, more often than not, they go more often.

The Coastal areas, if the tide is out, the table is set. Food is very easy to get from the sea and the winters are very mild compared to the interior, but the land is very expensive.

I never said it was easy, now did I?

[blueflames50]

The Coastal areas, if the tide is out, the table is set. Food is very easy to get from the sea and the winters are very mild compared to the interior, but the land is very expensive.[/quote]

that's if ya don't get caught in the quick sand-mud...many people have died in that muck!

[NomadicBear]

Originally Posted by rickers

Boy howdy, when I was looking for properties, (still am), I couldn't come close to buying anything in Alaska that I could live on at my age. Way too pricey.
That's why I'm here in Mayberry Montana.

I don't see any bargains out there for land, either. The number of people who have 6 figures for a piece of raw land with no water or power is miniscule, and shrinking. For the most part, banks aren't lending on raw land anymore, unless one has perfect credit and a substantial down. Before the real estate bubble, land loans were difficult to come by. We've returned to those days, and land prices should fall substantially as a result.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by NomadicBear

I don't see any bargains out there for land, either. The number of people who have 6 figures for a piece of raw land with no water or power is miniscule, and shrinking. For the most part, banks aren't lending on raw land anymore, unless one has perfect credit and a substantial down. Before the real estate bubble, land loans were difficult to come by. We've returned to those days, and land prices should fall substantially as a result.

gee I hope you are right for the people trying to buy land that prices will fall....Lots of people with land though will just hang onto it unless they become in dire straights for money.

[marmac]

Originally Posted by bortstc37

i've done farm work in situations like this. i was expected to work 8 hours a day, just like anyone. the work was hard but the food was good and the air was clean.

-------" i was expected to work 8 hours a day"--

I've never known a farmer who would make such generous arrangements and allow you to leave at 8 hours when he and his family were putting in 16 hours .

[bortstc37]

you mean when he and his family were on vacation in italy?