Cabins & Homesteading

I'm in the process of figuring out my 20 year plan. The goal is to declutter/simplify my life and prepare for what it seems the future will be like. The destination at some point is a cabin and a little land and the fixings to throttle down and enjoy life. We're talking off-grid or peri-grid living with minimal overhead.

There's a real-estate crash thread and probably a thread for preppers...but I'm looking for the folks who are making their way to build their sanctuary in the woods. Cabin building, Well setups, micro hydro, greenhouses, solar. Whatchu got? How did you pick your zone? How did you pick your plot? Any zoning & planning struggles?

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start with states that have low or no zoning oversight
MT is one
ID, AK are in that category too

& usually properties that are zoned rural & have large footprints often have the least regulation

My cabin in Wyoming has very little oversight to any kind of zoning.

As for off grid power - there has been no better time for it. Battery prices continue to plumet, Panels are cheap (subject to change w/ tariffs) and all the inverters are pretty bad ass these days.

Water is a different story as it all depends on how deep it is at whatever you purchase.

If you are East Coast, Vermont, NH, and Maine all have low to no zoning environments as well.

That said, without knowing your intentions or motivations, I encourage you to think long and hard about the loneliness factor. There is starting to be a lot of hard data coming out about how relegation away from society will produce the exact opposite of what most are initially seeking when it comes to happiness. See threads on the Rocky Mountain's suicide problems as just one example. More specific to this topic (in the sense of back to the land), there is an excellent documentary, 'Peter and the Farm', which does a pretty deep dive into the mental aspects of such a life decision. I encourage you to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzj-CgSZBCE

Now setting that all aside, I've included a lot of these aspects into my own life, which I really recommend. I've moved to a small, rural, northern NH town that seems to provide the access to nature, self sufficiency, and self reliance, while still provided a strong sense of community, excellent schools, and other such benefits of society (don't forget health care access). It has worked out great for my family and I in that regard.

how is was done...

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...1000_QL80_.jpg


https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/s...oxfire-series/

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Originally Posted by AdironRider

If you are East Coast, Vermont, NH, and Maine all have low to no zoning environments as well.

That said, without knowing your intentions or motivations, I encourage you to think long and hard about the loneliness factor. There is starting to be a lot of hard data coming out about how relegation away from society will produce the exact opposite of what most are initially seeking when it comes to happiness. See threads on the Rocky Mountain's suicide problems as just one example. More specific to this topic (in the sense of back to the land), there is an excellent documentary, 'Peter and the Farm', which does a pretty deep dive into the mental aspects of such a life decision. I encourage you to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzj-CgSZBCE

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Yeah that's definitely a consideration. And it's really the only thing that's giving me pause. The goal isn't full hermit mode so much as an ongoing kooky project that could turn into a semi-lifestyle. My job is very people-heavy and I can find one pretty much anywhere, so the face time lonely aspect isn't as big a deal. I don't think I'll ever hang it up entirely.

A man needs a project, you know? A pipe dream.

I'm looking in the Kootenay zone, East of the Okanogan valley. Preferably north of the border but not by much. Like the Grand Forks/Creston/Nakusp triangle. Is there a good resource for crown land for sale?


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Step one - define what 'simplify' means to you.

Homesteading absolutely does not involve de-cluttering. You will need more tools, more equipment, more engines that require maintenance, more fencing, etc. Homesteading is essentially creating a small farm. Farming is hard work. Weather always seems to be against you and not until you go to use a tractor, a log splitter, etc. do you realize it doesn't work or breaks in the middle of a project and a 30 minute drive to town is needed for parts.

I used to live on 10 acres in a town of 350 people. We gardened a lot of our own food, I brewed my own beer, harvested and pressed my own apples for cider (after building the scratter and press myself), raised and butchered our own chickens (enough for the year plus enough to barter for beef, eggs, etc), used wood for about half of our heat (some years from trees off our own land), etc. After my kids grew up and moved out, my wife and I moved to town and now rent an apartment. Our life is so much more 'simple' than it used to be. No yard work, no prepping/weeding/harvesting our garden, no feeding and watering animals twice daily, no small engine repair, no splitting and stacking wood, etc.

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Originally Posted by Peruvian

<snip> After my kids grew up and moved out, my wife and I moved to town and now rent an apartment. Our life is so much more 'simple' than it used to be.

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Livin' the dream, man! https://ridemonkey.bikemag.com/image...ies/xthumb.gif

We have a cabin in Idaho that is 100% off grid. The only issue we have if shit went bananas would be the propane we use to cook with and it is our only refrigeration option. We plan on adding a few electric fridges/freezers this spring, but have concerns how they'll hold up in harsh winters (cabin sits at 8,000 ft). The propane would also fire up the back up generator, but the new solar battery system we installed seems like more than enough considering we probably get 300+ days of sun where we're located.

Next summer we're hoping to figure out a greenhouse option. We have lots of water, so no issue there, but the growing season is super short so you'd have to get creative to get through long winters.

As for your questions, we bought this as a vacation/hunting cabin and the well and propane was already established. We added solar and plan on adding wind to that for back up shortly. For buildings I'd really consider the pre-built cabins or even a yurt if your trying to save some $. I'd suggest doing a deep dive into mining claims as many counties let you build on them if they're the right size.

P.S. If you can't tell this was a hot topic of conversation while we were up there this weekend closing it up for the weekend.
P.S.S. Peruvian is spot on. Upkeep is so much work, let alone making this a full time living situation!!

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Originally Posted by Peruvian

Step one - define what 'simplify' means to you.

Homesteading absolutely does not involve de-cluttering. You will need more tools, more equipment, more engines that require maintenance, more fencing, etc. Homesteading is essentially creating a small farm. Farming is hard work. Weather always seems to be against you and not until you go to use a tractor, a log splitter, etc. do you realize it doesn't work or breaks in the middle of a project and a 30 minute drive to town is needed for parts.

I used to live on 10 acres in a town of 350 people. We gardened a lot of our own food, I brewed my own beer, harvested and pressed my own apples for cider (after building the scratter and press myself), raised and butchered our own chickens (enough for the year plus enough to barter for beef, eggs, etc), used wood for about half of our heat (some years from trees off our own land), etc. After my kids grew up and moved out, my wife and I moved to town and now rent an apartment. Our life is so much more 'simple' than it used to be. No yard work, no prepping/weeding/harvesting our garden, no feeding and watering animals twice daily, no small engine repair, no splitting and stacking wood, etc.

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don't forget all the money spent on all the fuel to get in and out of town, moeny spent driving shitty vehicals because you would in that lifestyle and blowing tires on the shitty road, I know lots of people who still go this

A buddy told me " if someone who looks at a homestead and sez wow its neat they probably didnt grow up on a homestead/ farm SO when i look at a homestead/ farm i think about how much work I see "

and then don't forget when you get olduz a lot of them are now getting old

LOL ^^ but it was a labor of love eh ?!

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Originally Posted by Huskier

A man needs a project, you know? A pipe dream.

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Yup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy-4NxJRxNQ

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Originally Posted by Huskier

I'm looking in the Kootenay zone, East of the Okanogan valley. Preferably north of the border but not by much. Like the Grand Forks/Creston/Nakusp triangle. Is there a good resource for crown land for sale?

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Why do Americans always think they can come to Canada and buy Crown (Public) land?
Sorry, no public land for sale. Only way to put a dwelling on Crown land is to get a tenure that permits a license of occupation. Mine, trapping, recreation, that sort of thing. Doable but a lot of paperwork. And permanent habitation/residence is not permitted.

Private rural land comes up all the time through the usual sources. There’s some backcountry land dealers out there like NIHO Land & Cattle Company that puts parcels up for sale, but the best ones get snapped up pretty quick.

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Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

Why do Americans always think they can come to Canada and buy Crown (Public) land?
Sorry, no public land for sale. Only way to put a dwelling on Crown land is to get a tenure that permits a license of occupation. Mine, trapping, recreation, that sort of thing. Doable but a lot of paperwork. And permanent habitation/residence is not permitted.

Private rural land comes up all the time through the usual sources. There’s some backcountry land dealers out there like NIHO Land & Cattle Company that puts parcels up for sale, but the best ones get snapped up pretty quick.

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https://tenor.com/mrG9ENx2Kcj.gif

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I grew up with folks trying to homestead. It was sorta miserable. There were bright spots. There were times where we had great gardens, and our own animals to eat. But there was a lot of not having much. For me it was fun until I was five and went to school with suburban kids and kids living on real farms. My mom got sick of it before my dad did. And it pretty much devolved from some idealistic living closer to the land into just being poor and scrambling to survive.

All that been said, there's nothing wrong with wanting an off the grid cabin. I want one some day. When I can afford it. So be realistic about what it is and isn't.

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Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

Why do Americans always think they can come to Canada and buy Crown (Public) land? .

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Hasnt the BC moratorium on foreigners buying property been extended for the foreseeable future?

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Originally Posted by californiagrown

Hasnt the BC moratorium on foreigners buying property been extended for the foreseeable future?

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I don't believe that moratorium ever covered rural land in most areas.

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Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

Why do Americans always think they can come to Canada and buy Crown (Public) land?

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Did somebody say pipe dream?

Attachment 504396

ok.

Then you moved out of your crazy uncle's house, but you live across the street and he has automatic weapons. I'd rather just get Texas to secede

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Originally Posted by dan_pdx

Then you moved out of your crazy uncle's house, but you live across the street and he has automatic weapons. I'd rather just get Texas to secede

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Lulz.

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Originally Posted by Huskier

I'm in the process of figuring out my 20 year plan. The goal is to declutter/simplify my life and prepare for what it seems the future will be like. The destination at some point is a cabin and a little land and the fixings to throttle down and enjoy life. We're talking off-grid or peri-grid living with minimal overhead.

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I’m doing this right now. Bought some land on an island with some inheritance money from my mom. Watching her age and die as her caregiver put some perspective on where the road leads for us all. My kids are off to college. Wife and marriage are good. I wanted/needed a project and a future to focus on. At the same time I wanted to enjoy the now. I enjoy the manual work and process of creating, building, and maintaining a living space.Its what I have done professionally so not a stretch as I enter empty nesting and the next phase.

Attachment 504429

Spent the first Summer clearing a campsite and getting a feel for the place…
Attachment 504413

Spent this Summer clearing a “driveway” for the boat through the rocks and seaweed by cutting the seaweed free and moving the rocks…
Attachment 504420
Cleared a cabin site…
Attachment 504421
Attachment 504422
Attachment 504423

And Re-established the right of way/property line trail through several hundred feet of overhead brush…
Attachment 504424

Attachment 504425

Next Summer will be building a 20’x20’-ish off grid cabin something like this… kinda sorta… with a good deck…
Attachment 504426
Attachment 504427
Attachment 504428

This Winter will be researching the various systems… solar/wind, batteries, composting toilet, fresh water catchment system, etc

I am lucky (privileged) to have our house about 40 minutes away (10 minutes in the car and 30 minutes in the boat) and we live in an area that we can short term rent our house to tourists by the week to help pay towards the land and cabin project. We’ll see how it goes.

Thinking of inviting some Mags for a cabin raising next Summer along with some other friends of mine. Could be fun and each person helping would earn some time at the cabin over the next few summers.

My only advice would be enjoy doing the initial work and then the inevitable maintenance, there will be plenty as others have pointed out.

I’ve had a great time so far… listening to tunes, smoking some herb, and spending time working my body and mind on the project. I’m sure it will never be “done” and I’m good with that.

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Originally Posted by Huskier

I'm looking in the Kootenay zone, East of the Okanogan valley. Preferably north of the border but not by much. Like the Grand Forks/Creston/Nakusp triangle. Is there a good resource for crown land for sale?

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If you've got questions on the states side of the Okanogan let me know.

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Originally Posted by Huskier

I'm looking in the Kootenay zone, East of the Okanogan valley. Preferably north of the border but not by much. Like the Grand Forks/Creston/Nakusp triangle. Is there a good resource for crown land for sale?

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Why north of the border? I assume that if you have no residency in Canada, you aren't looking to ever reside there for a majority of the year?

If you're into the hydro, greenhouse, solar type of things look into an 'earthship' style home. It's what I want to do eventually and you can get really creative with them. True self reliant/off grid home.

Well setups depend on location- how deep you need to drill for a well. Sometimes it's relatively cheap and sometimes it's insane and will raise your cost more than you'd like. If you can ask others close by to the property you're interested in how much they pay/paid for the same things you want to get an idea.

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Originally Posted by singlecross

I’m doing this right now. Bought some land on an island with some inheritance money from my mom. Watching her age and die as her caregiver put some perspective on where the road leads for us all. My kids are off to college. Wife and marriage are good. I wanted/needed a project and a future to focus on. At the same time I wanted to enjoy the now. I enjoy the manual work and process of creating, building, and maintaining a living space.Its what I have done professionally so not a stretch as I enter empty nesting and the next phase.

Attachment 504429

Spent the first Summer clearing a campsite and getting a feel for the place…
Attachment 504413

Spent this Summer clearing a “driveway” for the boat through the rocks and seaweed by cutting the seaweed free and moving the rocks…
Attachment 504420
Cleared a cabin site…
Attachment 504421
Attachment 504422
Attachment 504423

And Re-established the right of way/property line trail through several hundred feet of overhead brush…
Attachment 504424

Attachment 504425

Next Summer will be building a 20’x20’-ish off grid cabin something like this… kinda sorta… with a good deck…
Attachment 504426
Attachment 504427
Attachment 504428

This Winter will be researching the various systems… solar/wind, batteries, composting toilet, fresh water catchment system, etc

I am lucky (privileged) to have our house about 40 minutes away (10 minutes in the car and 30 minutes in the boat) and we live in an area that we can short term rent our house to tourists by the week to help pay towards the land and cabin project. We’ll see how it goes.

Thinking of inviting some Mags for a cabin raising next Summer along with some other friends of mine. Could be fun and each person helping would earn some time at the cabin over the next few summers.

My only advice would be enjoy doing the initial work and then the inevitable maintenance, there will be plenty as others have pointed out.

I’ve had a great time so far… listening to tunes, smoking some herb, and spending time working my body and mind on the project. I’m sure it will never be “done” and I’m good with that.

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Very fkna cool.