Cabins & Homesteading

[AdironRider]

Yeah, second the awesomeness of that project.

[idahospud]

I haven't been on TGR much lately but reading this thread lead to watching that last night. Really well done. There are more than a few guys like that out in rural VT although I get the sense that they're not being replaced by a new generation.

[liv2ski]

Livin' the dream, man!

Agreed 100%

[Truckee Joe]

What I didn't know before I moved to my homestead was this.

There are a lot of unsavory people who live off grid. I have a few neighbors who are hiding from the law or child support payments. 90% of my neighbors are living off gov handouts and are very poor. one year I had to bring in food/gas for my neighbor as she was having an 'into the wild' moment, in her trailer living off only protein powder.

At least they stay away and mostly keep to themselves, and since no one wants Jonny law coming by...

My tips are this.

Learn about the neighbors, it doesn't matter how big your land is, a bad neighbor is harder to deal with when they don't play by the rules.

Learn about easements, this comes back to the bad neighbor thing. The easements really define a lot of what you can do with your land. And trust me people don't want other people using their land for access. So they will legally and illegally try to cut you off if its not spelled out.

Build redundancy into you power systems, as little quirks of each style of power has different ups and downs.

Never waist a trip. Whether it's bringing materials in or out, the road is bumpy and long so i find it better to maximize trips than to bring big loads.

Play in the area. All work and no play makes a dull guy. If didn't ski, bike, hike, climb out my front yard. This kind of life wouldn't be worth it to me.

[Bronco]

Not off the grid but built a couple of log homes from trees I cut on the property in Montana. Learned a lot on the first one that I changed on the second one.

Fairly remote location accessed by 2 miles of private gravel road with a USFS easement on it to access a trailhead past our property. I didn't think it was that bad dealing with USFS but some of my more redneck neighbors hated them. We had to get a permit from the USFS to plow the road which reminds me, check into who plows the access road. We had a hillbilly in the neighborhood that plowed for 20 years. He knocked on my door my first winter out there in November and said he was done and asked if I wanted to buy his plow business. Being at the end of the road meant I was on my own for keeping the last mile of road plowed and no contractors would be persuaded to go all the way out there to do it. I quickly learned plowing on a 4-wheeler in -20 was pretty difficult to dress for. I ended up purchasing a used Kubota with an enclosed cab and front blade which worked pretty well.

Absolutely check any deed restrictions, there's some wacky stuff in there sometimes. The current cabin we have in North Central Washington contains deed language that says no shooting, hunting or snowmobiling on the property which is odd for a 5 acre minimum zoning. We read through this and concluded it wasn't a deal breaker for us.

Put some $ into your driveway, don't just wing it. We shot in ours with a level and had relatively easy plowing which made winter access a lot easier. You want to think about if a fire truck or ambulance can get in there in the winter. If you do purchase in snow country, plan for snow storage when plowing and where the snow may slide off the roof of the cabin. I messed this up on the first cabin.

[Peruvian]

Agreed 100%

To me, simple is walking to the grocery store & local bars/restaurants, biking to other activities, chores being limited to vacuuming or cleaning the garage out of extra stuff I no longer use or need, and having a lot more free time for recreational purposes. Living in town does mean it’s a longer drive to go skiing or mountain biking and I have to deal with neighbors (most college kids here in BTV) but there is no perfect place. Having a low maintenance getaway within an hour like sc is planning would be a nice balance but doesn’t fit in our long term goal of living even more simply by mid-2026.

[Buke]

Eons ago, I was going down the round the world sailing rabbit hole and I read something to the effect of, "the type of person who dreams of selling everything and sailing around the world is often the same type of person who dreams of selling everything, moving to the country and living off the grid, growing their own food, etc. In every case, you're better off buying a farm than a boat".

I grew up in the country on a "farm". I know what that's like, both the good and the bad. Needless to say, I stopped dreaming about sailing around the world in any serious way, even if it still fun to have some romantic daydream about sipping cocktails on an uninhabited south pacific island.

Off grid cabins are cool though. We built one about 20 years ago. We installed solar a couple years ago. It was expensive, but my what an upgrade. Having electricity 24hrs a day is amazing.

[LHutz Esq]

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.

Exactly - we are just now coming to terms with the fact that the Crown never really "owned" the land here in BC. So they don't have much to actually sell. They along with some First Nations may lease, or license a bit or it - but they aren't in a selling mood.

And if you want cheep, you will likely need to look much, much further north.

[LongShortLong]

There's forest service summer cabins here and there around the country. If you want to build, some are (were) in wildfire areas. Most have neighbors and a power connection, maybe phone, maybe cell service.

[XXX-er]

Exactly - we are just now coming to terms with the fact that the Crown never really "owned" the land here in BC. So they don't have much to actually sell. They along with some First Nations may lease, or license a bit or it - but they aren't in a selling mood.

And if you want cheep, you will likely need to look much, much further north.

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 sez the Brits owed the FN for BC and they probaby could could have bought all that land way fucking cheap but they didnt wana pay for the BC in BC by the time they had got all the way across Canada

modern day they wanked about on Delgamuuk more wanking on Tsilcotin, when I suggested CGI was an illegal so I wasn't gona cross a picket to expedit shit for that project it was the end of A job eh

[dunfree]

Eons ago, I was going down the round the world sailing rabbit hole and I read something to the effect of, "the type of person who dreams of selling everything and sailing around the world is often the same type of person who dreams of selling everything, moving to the country and living off the grid, growing their own food, etc. In every case, you're better off buying a farm than a boat".

I grew up in the country on a "farm". I know what that's like, both the good and the bad. Needless to say, I stopped dreaming about sailing around the world in any serious way, even if it still fun to have some romantic daydream about sipping cocktails on an uninhabited south pacific island.

Off grid cabins are cool though. We built one about 20 years ago. We installed solar a couple years ago. It was expensive, but my what an upgrade. Having electricity 24hrs a day is amazing.

a boat you get to change scenery if you want, or just park in the Caribbean getting drunk all day. An actual homestead - not one of those fronts for an Onlyfans (applies to boaters too) is a bit different

[teleee]

Our cabin/homestead is going up, it’s a little more difficult to access - 4 hours of flying and a foreign land. But I dont have to plow snow to get to it.




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[fomofo]

a boat you get to change scenery if you want, or just park in the Caribbean getting drunk all day. An actual homestead - not one of those fronts for an Onlyfans (applies to boaters too) is a bit different

Personally have no interest in owning/caring for a boat - (perhaps having a friend with a boat) - but something like this and maybe a lot on which to park it and lay up for a while is appealing.

[m2711c]

[QUOTE=teleee;7152715]Our cabin/homestead is going up, it’s a little more difficult to access - 4 hours of flying and a foreign land. But I dont have to plow snow to get to it.




nice lookin' deer stand ya got there pal...



fact.

[gravitylover]

Play in the area. All work and no play makes a dull guy. If didn't ski, bike, hike, climb out my front yard. This kind of life wouldn't be worth it to me.

For the last few years every time we talk about where we go next my prime need is to be able to open the door and have my playground laid out in front of me. I don't want to have to load the gear, drive, gear up, etc. I just want to open the door and go. Second is an awesome garage.

[Huskier]

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…
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Spent this Summer clearing a “driveway” for the boat through the rocks and seaweed by cutting the seaweed free and moving the rocks…
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Cleared a cabin site…
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And Re-established the right of way/property line trail through several hundred feet of overhead brush…
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Next Summer will be building a 20’x20’-ish off grid cabin something like this… kinda sorta… with a good deck…
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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.

This. This is it right here. This is what I'm looking to do. Plus/minus the island component, though that admittedly seems awesome.

This won't be a full full time escape initially, more 50/50 to slow down a bit

Re: Why interior BC: 1) I work in American healthcare and the system is actively on fire. See critical access hospital closures, private equity takeovers, basic medicine shortages, 40m citizens about to lose healthcare, etc. BC health currently offers a viable exit, interior BC happens to be my preferred playground and where most of the job openings are.
2) I would like to escape Nazi Germany before the fourth reich fully comes to power.

Re: Buying Crown land: Didn't know that. I've seen parcels come up for sale that are "surrounded by crown land" so I figured that there might be some interchange. Anyway, rephrase to rural property, utilities not mandatory.

Great advice re: neighbors and easements. How does one access this information? Is it public record somewhere?









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[XXX-er]

Trudeau has had to shut down the immigrant thing SO can you move up here assuming you want to and if you did could you practise assuming you are an MD ?

[Huskier]

Trudeau has had to shut down the immigrant thing SO can you move up here assuming you want to and if you did could you practise assuming you are an MD ?

The answer is complicated and involves multiple hoops but the short version is yes. Currently in the process of navigating the hoops.

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[XXX-er]

We definatley need more MDS up here, when South African buddy moved here I asked if he could practise so he told me " I will eventuay have to write the boards " and i am pretty sure he was already doing walk-in before he had actualy written them.

BC has a fine tradition of stealing trained MD's, the south Africans came here en-masse sometime in the 90's and I believe at some point all the MD's in Smithers were SA

good luck eh

[highangle]

Personally have no interest in owning/caring for a boat - (perhaps having a friend with a boat) - but something like this and maybe a lot on which to park it and lay up for a while is appealing.

Timmy's figured out how to get more hours out of a day than most people.

You can see his place from the Seward Hwy. I always give it a look or a horn toot when i motor by in my OBS F350

[alive]

This. This is it right here. This is what I'm looking to do. Plus/minus the island component, though that admittedly seems awesome.

This won't be a full full time escape initially, more 50/50 to slow down a bit

Re: Why interior BC: 1) I work in American healthcare and the system is actively on fire. See critical access hospital closures, private equity takeovers, basic medicine shortages, 40m citizens about to lose healthcare, etc. BC health currently offers a viable exit, interior BC happens to be my preferred playground and where most of the job openings are.
2) I would like to escape Nazi Germany before the fourth reich fully comes to power.

Re: Buying Crown land: Didn't know that. I've seen parcels come up for sale that are "surrounded by crown land" so I figured that there might be some interchange. Anyway, rephrase to rural property, utilities not mandatory.

Great advice re: neighbors and easements. How does one access this information? Is it public record somewhere?









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Amazing thread and solid idea, Huskier. I’m sure you’ve looked into it, but there are quite a few programs available to help with the transition. Just met a nurse who moved into the area from Rhode Island and went through the process. Was expensive and the first year will be tough, but worth it. If you have any questions about interior health, let me know!

As far as land goes, there are a few nice ones that pop up every once in a while. Similar plan here, but currently have a homebase in town and cabin in the mountains. Always tempted to pull the plug on society and move up there full-time and live Dick Proenneke style. [emoji28]




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[highangle]

[fomofo]

Ingenious! Gotta admire the creativity and hard work that went into that.

[Dromond]

Re: Why interior BC: 1) I work in American healthcare and the system is actively on fire. See critical access hospital closures, private equity takeovers, basic medicine shortages, 40m citizens about to lose healthcare, etc. BC health currently offers a viable exit, interior BC happens to be my preferred playground and where most of the job openings are.
2) I would like to escape Nazi Germany before the fourth reich fully comes to power.

Fair enough. If you can make it work - and find a place to live - go for it. I met a physician living up in the Yukon who seemed to have a good enough lifestyle. They take ski trips down to BC of course, where they used to live. Stack your US cash while you can...

[Shredhead]

The answer is complicated and involves multiple hoops but the short version is yes. Currently in the process of navigating the hoops.

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How much does the Canadian system pay, compared to the US?