Lots of questions about moving to TN + looking for diversity, tolerance, employment, rural living (Lawrenceburg: job market, homeschool)

[sassykat&joe]

I really don't know anything about Davidson county, but it has been my experience that the closer you are to a metro area, the more likely there will be "restrictions" or "standards" or whatever, on what/how you can build and use your property.

2 acres is very little land, when you consider how densely the neighborhood could be populated by people on 2 acre plots. Raw land requires a lot of money be put into the improvements - well, septic, access road, etc., if you are in an area that doesn't have the infrastructure (city water, sewer). Then, you will have a lot invested in a piece of property you might not be able to sell at a profit when you are ready to move to your ideal location.

[RadicalRay]

sassykat&joe, you are right, the closer to a large city the more restrictions there are likely to be. We definitely have to have land without restrictions. We're big-time homesteaders and very into sustainable building, permaculture, etc. so we've got to be able to do what we want with our land.

We plan to purchase raw land as it is generally cheaper. The basic idea is to drill our own well and use composting toilets and a grey water system. Still an investment, but not nearly what it would cost to pay to have someone else drill a well, or have septic tank installed, etc. We aren't ready for energy independence just yet though, so we would have to have power brought onto a lot We're pretty prepared for all that part of the relocating business, as we've purchased land before for the same purpose. But, plans do change!

[sassykat&joe]

Originally Posted by RadicalRay

grey water

I don't remember, so can't pull it up quickly, but when I first started working on developing/improving our vacant land, i read someplace that Tennessee considers ALL grey water to be equivalent to black water. If you are going to use grey water, check on the laws first. Depending on how rural you actually get, you could be pretty stealthy about it, but sure couldn't do it openly.

As an aside - talk about coincidences - we were at the local Goodwill for their 50% off sale days yesterday (yes, we are also yard sale and flea market junkies) and I noticed bumper stickers on a van parked next to us. "Breastmilk for all and circumcision for none" and couple of others on the topics you are interested in - this is in a really rural, conservative, small town where I would have thought they would dismiss these ideas as "all that hippie stuff". So, I guess there is hope for you yet in Tennessee.

[nashvols]

This is a super-long thread, but I think there are some relevant considerations in it for building a sustainable homestead.

//www.city-data.com/forum/tenne...see-story.html

[RadicalRay]

Thanks! Laws are definitely something we would have to look at. Midwifery legal there, grey water systems legal here (depending on location) :P It's probably going to be a trade-off wherever we go.

That thread looks really interesting! I will bookmark it to look at later

We're considering moving to Tuscaloosa, AL to be closer to the U so my husband can graduate sooner. (He's technically a senior already, but the Distance Learning program goes really slow.) After he gets his degree we could move anywhere; even out of the south! TN is still one of the top states we're thinking about.

[creeksitter]

I was going to say South Knox County - but NW Davidson sound promising. I have the impression that the rural areas outside Chattanooga are pretty conservative. There is an intentional community in the Sequatchie valley.

I don't think you are going to get away with the "no septic" option in most of TN. Your best bet is to find a lot with a ramshackle mobile home.

[Skittleroni]

Hi there I just wanted to as my input. My family and I have recently moved to pikeville tn to homestead. We bought land that has loads of trees on it for cheap. We choose to live off grid so we don't have to worry ab septic. We use compost toilets and candles. Plan to do gardening, animals, etc. it's great out here and glad we made the choice. Btw - I am a breastfeeding, co sleeping, cloth diapering momma. If you have any questions I'm happy to help looking for like minded folks out this way blessings- candi

[Memphis1979]

Clarksville TN opens a new restaurant every month seems like, and we are opening a new 1800 employee Hankook tire plant at the end of 2014. Growing at 5% population per year.

5th largest city in the state, and if these growth rates continue, we'll be 4th before to long.

[RVingFT]

Radical Ray - you may want to also check out Floyd, VA for intentional community. We have a good friend who moved there from SE Arizona and she loves it. We visited her and her partner this past year and can really see why... it's rural, but lovely. Great water, a downtown that is funky and local farmers that really support community.

[Diana F]

We are wanting to move to Waynesboro TN. I am a white woman married to a black man and have bi racial children and grand children. Will I have racial problems in this small town or have problems? We are retired and want to live in peace