Homesteading as Prepping?

[mamabearCali]

We started looking for property in January of this year and closed in early November. We looked at 17 pieces of land , all over 20 acres. We actually purchased the very first track of land we looked at. We made offers on two other tracks and even had a contract signed on a track , but could not get clear title .
As far as building codes , all locations in VA has finally caught up with Chesterfield and Henrico. I have been looking at Mitsubishi Electric for our Heating and Cooling . I have installed several in additions that I have built for customers and everybody seems to really be pleased. I am still going with a wood stove with cooking surface for back up heat.
We are going to build a Cabin now ( about 1,200 s.f.) and maybe a house at a later date. Even though we have 30 acres Dinwiddie Co. , like most VA counties , we are going to have to attach the house to the Cabin. The reason is there can not be but One Single Family Dwelling on any building Lot. I guess we will get through it !

Good to know! Will have to include that in our plans. Have to have a starter building that is conducive to additions....because the county is stupid. Oh how I hate how our decisions are forced.

[Snakester]

To be able to keep 27 acres in Land Use 3 acres have to be zoned residential ..So the county can collect the most TAXES!

[jdonovan]

land use grants special tax status... i.e. a VERY reduced tax rate.

Most likely the whole property is still under one zoning, but 27 is in the land use tax-rate, and 3 is not.

[Snakester]

The Land Use tax for the 30 acres is $180/year.When we applied for a Well and Septic/ Building Permit , 3 acres had to be rezoned Residential. At least The Land Use portion will save us a few $$$.

[mamabearCali]

Snakester....I thought about PMing this but then I thought others might benefit from the knowledge as well.

So here is my question. Is a simple adjoining hallway good enough for the house to be an addition, or does it have to share a wall? We are considering some properties that have older houses on them, fixing them up to snuff then building our house while living in the little house.

Did you ask about having the property made into two lots and then being able to build two domiciles on it?

[Snakester]

Our property can not be divided...I know from past experiences that as long as the two structures are attached , it will meet code. If we do build at a later date we will attach the two with a Carport / Breezeway.
If we were able to divide into two lots then there would have to be two Electric Meters , two Wells and Drain Fields so that is out of the question.

[OakRidgeStars]

Just saw this today on Twitter. Seems like a lot of folks are interested in homesteading these days.

http://www.survivalblog.com/2013/12/the ... chaya.html

[sweetmk22]

The hardest part of homesteading is figuring out when to sell all the trees!!

Anybody know a good website that can help with that!!??

[mamabearCali]

ok....you got me...why would you sell the trees?

[Palladin]

Trees are a crop, just like any other. They just take a little longer to mature. If the woodlot is hardwood, and managed for heating purposes, then you'd do just that - manage and grow it from a sustainability standpoint. If one's aims are select harvest or clearcutting then replanting, then retaining the services of a competent forestry consultant would be money in your pocket. The consultant earns his commission by securing the best possible sale for you. A good forester knows the trees and the land, knows the loggers and the markets, and coordinates with the Department of Forestry on replanting and so on.

[dorminWS]

I've been involved in a couple of deals where a deal was cut to let loggers cut a boundary and only take trees above a certain diameter (typically 14-16 inches), which leaves trees for shade and cover and to mature later (20-30 years) and keeps the property owner from being left with a scalped-bare (local loggers call that "grubshucked") boundary. Other people (including the forest service, but then they think clear-cutting is the way to go) say that's not a good thing to do because it takes out the best and strongest timber and leaves the runts and stunts.

I guess in a homesteading scenario the logger would be glad for you to keep all the tops and cutoffs for firewood.

But Palladin's right; a good forester would pay dividends if you can afford to pay him. In any event, you need to get somebody to "cruise" the timber and tell you approximately what you've got and what you can expect so as to not be completely at the mercy of the logger. And whatever you do, you want to see the paperwork where he sells the timber from your property so you know you're getting a straight deal. And it all depends on whether you've got enough timber to pay somebody to mess with it. At some point it quits being logging where they pay you and becomes grounds maintenance where you pay them.

[mamabearCali]

Interesting...I had not thought of that....was not really part of my plans as part of my plans were if I got enough of a chunk of land to leave part of it wooded for wildlife (and possible hunting).

But hey if you understand it and can turn a coin at it....Harvest and plant away!

[VACoastie]

My folks cut their land about 10 years ago. They had some folks (3rd party) come survey the trees and gave them what they thought would be a fair cut and how much would get taken out. We had roughly 15 acres of woodland and they finished it in 4 days. At the end of the process the woodland wasn't bare and afterwards we took care of the land so that briars and gumtrees wouldn't take over. In about another 10-15 years they should be good to cut again.

I'm not sure how much my old man got in return for the cut but is imagine it was a pretty decent deal for the amount they took.

Definitely go the 3rd party route though if you plan on that and see (as above in another post) the lumber milk they're selling to. Ask for sqft prices on the types of trees on your land.

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[dorminWS]

Ask for sqft prices on the types of trees on your land.

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I think you mean "board foot", not sqft. Best I remember, lumber prices are quoted per 100 board feet. A "board foot" is basically 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick.

[VACoastie]

Correct you are Dormin!

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[Reverenddel]

I know I was looking to let Forestry on, and make the payments on the cost of the land from the larger trees, but keep the medium hardwoods, and put in some seedlings.

And like Coastie, make sure the freakin' briars, and "invasive" species trees don't take over.

Does anyone know the actual species name for "Ironwood" trees by the way? I have been looking to get a few of those for planting.

[VACoastie]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hornbeam

This is the only ironwood I've seen around. Is this what you're referring to Rev?

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[WRW]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironwood

Ostrya virginiana is the one I was familiar with.

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[WRW]

I have to ask what the ironwood would be used for.

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[Palladin]

x2 - do tell