Help with locating next Homestead

[normajean]

Hello my kindly and knowlegeable chickeners:
My partner and I are looking to move from Tallahassee, FL to a few possible states- namely PA, KY, WV, MI and possible MN. We are looking for 10-50 acres, rural but close enough (within 1hr) to a decent sized town with hospitals (I work in the healthcare field.) We will build our own home, and are we are really looking for scenic (ie rolling hills and mountains) along with farming. He has family in MI so we are looking to staying within a days drive of Detroit.
The crop we are looking to start is mainly hay production with a small specialty livestock herd. We are thinking about mainly rare breed cattle or a boutique meat of some kind. I am also going to have a small flock of chickens mainly for our family egg consumption.
Any suggestions for websites, things to start narrowing down the search......any help at this point since I am feeling quite overwhelmed with where to start!!
Any help is much appreciated, and I hope everyone is staying warm or enjoying their wonderful weather!
Cheers
Gia

 

[CATRAY44]

Well, if you like Michigan, check out my area, referred to as 'The Irish Hills"... beautiful area about 45 minutes from Ann Arbor and 2 hours from Detroit. http://irish-hills.com/

I have to say that if I could choose another state (other than Mi.), I would choose Tennessee or West Virginia, near or in the mountains!

Cathy

 

[SterlingAcres]

There's a 4 bedroom ranch with 40 acres for sale here. Haven't seen the property, but the entrance is nice. It's 2 miles from town and there are 2 farmer's markets there.
I don't know what they're asking for it, but I'm sure it's not outrageous. I think it's for sale by owner. The neighbors up and down the road have chickens, livestock and horses. It's pretty nice here, we're in the mountains.

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

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=Pocono+scenery&btnG=Search+Images

http://www.pocononature.com/index.html

 

[conny63malies]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/14-Lookout-Lane_Brandenburg_KY_40108_1101732222
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1082-Hwy-434_Lebanon-Junction_KY_40150_1098856789
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/8-Lower-Colesburg-Rd_Elizabethtown_KY_40215_1105485883
here are three suggestions.
The Ft Knox area would be great for you. There are medical centers/ hospitals in Elizabethtown and plenty of Hospitals in Louisville. Toledo is about five hours away so Detroit shouldnt be longer than a 6.5 hour drive.
The area seems to be agricultural friendly.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

The Grand Rapids, MI, area is very up-and-coming in the area of medicine. We have four really good hospitals, and there is a new Michigan State University medical building being constructed here as well.

I've lived in the area of Grand Rapids, MI, for eight years (a Michigander all my life), and I absolutely love it. The people are nice and there is tons to see and do. Grand Rapids is surrounded by rural communities, and there are plenty of highways running north, south, east and west, so it's easy to live in the country and have a speedy commute.

We are about three hours from Detroit.

 

[ChevygirlBeth]

Just curious - is there a specific reason you left Ohio off your list?

I live in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in Eastern Ohio and it is beautiful here. It's pretty much the middle of nowhere, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There are many hospitals within 30 minutes to an hour away. We make hay and raise beef cattle. It is great land for grazing animals. It may not be for you, but I do love it here!

Just thought I would share some of our beauty with you. Click on the pictures for a larger image.

The spot on DH's grandma's farm where we were married:


Another shot of this field while we were making hay:


A creek that I pass by on my drive to and from work:


The view from a hilltop near my parents' farm:


Some of our cows happily munching grass as they're turned into a new paddock:

 

[mom'sfolly]

There is lots of farmland within an hour of Rochester, MN and there is plenty of medical stuff with the Mayo Clinics there. Its pretty country too. I was kind of surprised at how cheap some of the land is. The downside in a Minnesota winter.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
Beautiful! I'm from Indiana and have been through Ohio many times. Nice farm country in both states. Excellent pictures Beth!

 

[joerogrz]

Tennessee is really nice AND we don't have a state income tax. Plus it's exceptionally nice in the eastern part. Out of the other states you mentioned, I like KY and WV the most, but if you want scenic, get in the mountains of one of those two states. WV you can't really help getting into the mountains tho, cuz the whole state is pretty much mountains and hills I believe.

 

[halo]

Who knew Ohio was so beautiful!?!?