Northwest Idaho (Lewiston, Moscow, Post Falls: real estate, to live, garden)

[annaraven]

Hi folks:

We're looking to escape Kalifornia, and looking at potential places to retire in NW Idaho. Because of climate, we are looking at CDA, Lewiston and along Clearwater River toward Orofino.

We'll want to a couple acres a few miles out of town (<10) and raise chickens (which we have now) and goats, and plant a vegetable garden (tomatoes, beans, etc, with a greenhouse for extending the season) and fruit trees.

We're currently in Sillycon Valley (but I'm from MN, and he's from Italy), and we're looking for somewhere to escape for vacation/retirement. Want hunting, fishing, hiking, mountains...

Any suggestions on where to look/avoid? We're especially interested in issues of climate (growing season, sunlight, moderate temps?), culture (we're pretty libertarian), and friendliness/neighborliness. We want to find a friendly town where we can be a part of the community, while still having our livestock and garden. We'll also need some level of internet access, so info on what's available would be helpful.

Thank you in advance!

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Hi Anna,

Welcome to the Idaho forum. Pretty much all of North Idaho offers you much of what you ask for. Is access to a larger city on a regular basis a necessity for work or health reasons? Quick access to an airport? If so, the CDA/Post Falls/Spirt Lake area give ready access to Spokane. If not, most anywhere in the area will meet your stated needs. You mention that you'd like to live <10 miles from town, on acerage I assume? If you want ready access to the National Forests and don't need the above mentioned urban ammenities, Wallace, Clark Fork, Sandpoint, St. Maries and Orifino, among others, are all nice. The Lewiston/Orifino corridor along the Clearwater is at a lower elevation than much of the state and offers a noticably milder winter and longer growing season. Great area with access to tons to do in the woods.

[annaraven]

Hi. The Lewiston/Orofino corridor is looking pretty good. Looks more like the climate we'd be happy with. We do want at least 2 acres for chickens and goats. We do need to be within a reasonable distance to a hospital (not getting any younger...) but don't need a lot of other urban amenities.

[Shaner]

I would say somewhere in between Moscow and Orifino would be what your looking for climate wise, great farming land as well. You might think about picking up some cheap land and having a builder come out, a lot of people have been doing that.

[Native Idahoan]

Shaner, have you posted your website/listings before or are your allowed to? Thank you.

[Shaner]

I am not allow too, but if you want to msg me what your looking for I would be glad too =) Don't want the fury of Sage coming down on me

[Sage of Sagle]

Originally Posted by Native Idahoan

Shaner, have you posted your website/listings before or are your allowed to? Thank you.

CDF's Terms of Service bars direct advertising of real estate services or direct linking to realtors' sites in posts. But if you go to Shaner's profile and click CONTACT INFO you'll see his website URL right there.

Shaner has been a hugely valuable relocation resource to CDF'ers and has a very good reputation here.

[Shaner]

haha I knew that little comment would drag Sage out of the woodwork =) Thx bud.

[Native Idahoan]

Thanks Sage. Sorry, I am not very familar with the functions of the forum other than an occasional post, so thanks much!