Maine

[echosrevenge]

I moved to Maine with my husband (his family is here) a year ago, and totally understand the urge to buy NOW NOW NAO based on gorgeous internet pictures of waterfalls and trout streams, and the insanely cheap price of land compared to much of the rest of the US.

Don't.

The hands-down WORST thing we could have done was buy a place right off, even in the first months we were here. We're not even sure we're ready to now, and it's been our primary goal for a couple of years now. It's well worth getting to know the area by renting and exploring for a year, especially if you're not a returning native or moving to be near friends & family. Every 5 miles is a different tiny town, and they each very much have their own character and pro/con list.

That said, our big problem right now is picking JUST ONE place to live...there are a lot of little towns that we love, it's a shame we can only live in one of them.

 

[MustardTiger]

Chambertin,
My husband and I searched for our home for about 3 years before we found the right place.
We love it. It is not perfect but it is us. We have about 3.5 acres. we are 20 min (at most with traffic) from Portland old port and about 5 min from the ocean. We can see some of our neighbours but are far enough that we can be as loud as we want, have whatever animals we want and basically be ourselves without anyone batting an eyelash.

We both dreamed of buying 20+ acres and looked at numerous properties like that BUT the homes would not live up to HUD standards and since we were buying on a USDA program we had parameters (no peeling paint, no falling down barns etc) You seem to have some savings so that part probably wont be as much of an issue to you...we had hardly anything so we had to find the right combination of upkeep and land to make it work. We think this is the miracle home


One day we want more land but for now....we are in the process of becoming organic certified and starting a small small small CSA. It is pretty exciting and amazing considering 3 years ago I was waiting for a green card and couldn't work and he searched for 6 months before getting a job after we moved to Maine, It was tough times.

ANYHOW: to be totally random, just throwing this out there, if anyone is interested in a chicken portrait or pet (or human for that matter) let me know. I am very interested in painting a chicken portrait. I know some of you have a favourite girl or boy just waiting to be immortalized in oil. I am totally open to trades of all sorts....farm equipment, seeds, chicks, canned goods, canning lessons for that matter, whatever. Let me know I want to barter more in my life!!

 

[Chambertin]

To start with the NH land: That sounds exactly right about the reason for the price differences.
Problem is that wont work well for me as the first thing I want to do is start building or renovating the house. A high property tax would kinda kill me and my plans. Now maybe its a good deal to have the home in Maine and the income producing farm a distance away, but then there's all the travel.
Still I'll have to look into farm land rental rates because it still could be a great investment.

Next about the ELL teaching. I was looking at that, but even for ELL you have to have a Masters or Doctorate in Ed. So I would have to go back to school for at least 2 more years, then do all the certification to get paid much less than I do now and try to pay loans while chasig my future. I dont mind a pay cut, but my goal in life was always to be debt free (or as much so as possible).
To be honest education is about nothing but big business now. By the time you are finished with the degree you have to take whatever pitance they decide to give you to pay off your school loans and you have to do whatever training they demand and charge for because if you dont get certified you cant get a job.
In other words I feel like teachers are screwed coming and going. Then after all that you have to worry about unions, tenure, PTA's, crazy kids and insane regulations about treatment.
If you ask me we have so many problems with school shootings and other major youth problems because both the students and the teachers have lost hope and the politicians only make everything worse when they stick their noses in it.
Better stop now before I get on a big rant about education. (to be honest I'm really thinking of getting into politics too)

Finally the property.
Impulse and dreams can really ruin a good property investment. As this will be my "retirement account" a self sustaining farm that requires minimal input and just the occasional hired help there are some extreme criteria I have for it. I wouldnt be surprised if it takes me a year or so to find the right property also.
Once I get in and working just finding all the programs avilable to begining farmers and getting registeres will take at least 6 months. Then there's the VA, and disability, and more and more and more paperwork, so it will most likely be a minimum of 1 year of searching.
I'm finding some really interesting programs out there as I do my peliminary search.
Whats great about that is it looks like have at least 10 more pairs of eyes to help me spot a good deal in Maine.
Thanks everyone!

For the long term I want to try to get into the future of farming on a solid scale.
Possibly politics, but I really want to get into grant programs and future developments, so right now pure land is much more important than facilities (most grants will partially pay, or completely pay for facilities, but never land). I'm doing some planning and research for a program that helps veterans of all kinds but espically those who have suffered trauma get into farming as a swords to plowshares outreach program. It can combine my education, persomal experience, philosopy, and give me a chance to help those who served in a real and permanent manner. When you graduate my program you get a farm, not a pice of paper or another pat on the back before you get kicked out on your own. (theres a lot of support, but it isnt as practical if you want an independant life, I love it but at times my disability feels like a teather to the government. Heck why fight when I can try to improve)
Its gonna take a lot of time, education, and help, but wow the rewards would be amazing.

My only true worry about the move will be how to satisfy my chicken feever over that year+ of searching!
Mustardtiger if you dont mind where from originally?

 

[Mainechick168]

Chambertin,
My husband and I searched for our home for about 3 years before we found the right place.
We love it. It is not perfect but it is us. We have about 3.5 acres. we are 20 min (at most with traffic) from Portland old port and about 5 min from the ocean. We can see some of our neighbours but are far enough that we can be as loud as we want, have whatever animals we want and basically be ourselves without anyone batting an eyelash.

We both dreamed of buying 20+ acres and looked at numerous properties like that BUT the homes would not live up to HUD standards and since we were buying on a USDA program we had parameters (no peeling paint, no falling down barns etc) You seem to have some savings so that part probably wont be as much of an issue to you...we had hardly anything so we had to find the right combination of upkeep and land to make it work. We think this is the miracle home


One day we want more land but for now....we are in the process of becoming organic certified and starting a small small small CSA. It is pretty exciting and amazing considering 3 years ago I was waiting for a green card and couldn't work and he searched for 6 months before getting a job after we moved to Maine, It was tough times.

ANYHOW: to be totally random, just throwing this out there, if anyone is interested in a chicken portrait or pet (or human for that matter) let me know. I am very interested in painting a chicken portrait. I know some of you have a favourite girl or boy just waiting to be immortalized in oil. I am totally open to trades of all sorts....farm equipment, seeds, chicks, canned goods, canning lessons for that matter, whatever. Let me know I want to barter more in my life!!

Ohhhh I'd love a chicken portrait! I don't have much for trade though! I'll dig around and see if I have anything worth while besides pickles

 

[dowgirl71]

Anybody have word on poultry swaps this year?? Tractor supply's maybe? If anyone gets info let me know...I can't wait for spring time!!!

I just got a FB post from Bangor Chicken Swap saying that their first swap at Tractor Supply Company in Bangor is 10 wks away, April 13th from 9-2pm. It'll be here before we know it!

 

[hoppy]

this little call duck hatched this morning, my son is right in love!! and the duck follows him everywhere.

 

[CoopChick719]

Awwww! Two cuties!!

 

[Paulajon]

this little call duck hatched this morning, my son is right in love!! and the duck follows him everywhere.

Hi Hoppy , so cute .
Do you have any BLRW hatching eggs or Blue amercauna hatching eggs ? I have eggs in the incubator going in lock down tomorrow , so I have time before I can start another batch. If you don't have any do you know of anyone ? thanks

 

[joanie_maine]

this little call duck hatched this morning, my son is right in love!! and the duck follows him everywhere.

Guess the duck is in love too!

Hey Hoppy, are you going to post a new 2013 swap thread in "Chickenstocks etc" ????

With hatching started, it would be nice to post what we'll have to sell there?

 

[MustardTiger]

Chambertin,

I'm originally from Toronto and my husband is from Wyoming.

Mainechick, I would happily trade for seeds...but they would have to be certified organic) or pickles

Hoppy - I love that your kids are into this stuff and not into wasting time playing video games or other useless time wasting!