Need info about buying land in the Ozarks.

Anyone have anything to say about buying land in the Ozarks for a homestead? I hear that it'll be hard to be accepted, but I'm not worried about that - as long as I'm not moving into an openly hostile neighborhood. Locations, tips, warnings would be greatly appreciated. Would prefer an area with abundant, safe water, close to a moderate size city (within 30 miles), moderate climate, not heavily affected by tornadoes. Any help?

The whole area is at higher risk for tornadoes, especially the I-44 corridor from OKC to St. Louis. That said, Rolla, MO is nice town. University of Missouri, Rolla makes it much more interesting than anyplace else along I-44 (IMHO).

The downside of land in southern Missouri is that there is not much soil on top of all that limestone. If you can find a low-lying piece that has a (seasonal) creek running through it, that would be your best bet. Also take note of the size of the white oaks on the property. If you have a lot of white oak, a local sawmill will pay you well for that, and then you have some money you can put back into planting your diverse food forest. If you are really fortunate, there may be marketable black walnut on it, and those trees can bring in some serious money. If it has a lot of scrubby black locust and osage orange (hedge apple), that's not going to get you any money, but you will have plenty of starting material for hugelkultur and/or biochar.

Hello, Ari and welcome to Permies...we are glad to have you here. I saw your post and was planning to respond in the morning when I have more time. Always glad to talk about the Ozarks.

Thanks Judith and John!

Are there certain areas that are more likely to be "outsider-friendly"?

I think the 'unfriendly to outsiders' reputation has changed. When we first moved here in '73 we were sort of chuckled over and stereotyped but kind of fit into an already eccentric area. Then we weren't really that interested whether folks accepted us or not. Gradually we integrated into the community and now there are so many 'from off' I just don't see a problem...except that some who 'retired' here wanted (and got) some big city conveniences...like fast food and stop lights and generally upped the taxes for everyone.
If we had had a plan I think northern Arkansas Ozarks or into Missouri would have been a better choice for farming than here...but we have a wonderful craft community, music, caves and rivers and of course our kids and grandkids are here in this area.
Larger pieces of land are still $1000 an acre or less and with water usually...I would want to know who owns the mineral rights and if it had been tree farmed or any other use that would have heavy pesticide use.
Arkansas has a Homestead Act Credit That offsets up to $350 of your property taxes...so on or forty acres we pay $133 after the credit (I had to look it up...it did go up this last year!).
The wonderful parts of living here far outweigh the heat and bugs and rocky ground......

Judith Browning wrote:I think the 'unfriendly to outsiders' reputation has changed. When we first moved here in '73 we were sort of chuckled over and stereotyped but kind of fit into an already eccentric area. Then we weren't really that interested whether folks accepted us or not. Gradually we integrated into the community and now there are so many 'from off' I just don't see a problem...except that some who 'retired' here wanted (and got) some big city conveniences...like fast food and stop lights:( and generally upped the taxes for everyone.
If we had had a plan I think northern Arkansas Ozarks or into Missouri would have been a better choice for farming than here...but we have a wonderful craft community, music, caves and rivers and of course our kids and grandkids are here in this area.
Larger pieces of land are still $1000 an acre or less and with water usually...I would want to know who owns the mineral rights and if it had been tree farmed or any other use that would have heavy pesticide use.
Arkansas has a Homestead Act Credit That offsets up to $350 of your property taxes...so on or forty acres we pay $133 after the credit (I had to look it up...it did go up this last year!).
The wonderful parts of living here far outweigh the heat and bugs and rocky ground......

What area do you live in, Judith? What do you mean by "northern Arkansas Ozarks or into Missouri would have been a better choice for farming than here"? Is it bad soil where you are? I love what you said about your area being a craft community with music, caves and rivers. That sounds right up our alley!

Heat isn't too big of an issue for us as we're in Florida right now where it's crazy stifling. By bugs...what do you mean? Are there specific critters that come to mind? Please tell me that you're not overrun with mosquitoes. Part of the reason we're leaving our current homestead is because of the mosquitoes. Many around here have had luck with bat houses but even with a family of 200 bats on the property - we're still eaten alive every day. At least we get some guano, so the bats are good for something.

Hi, Ari...Look on line for Mountain View chamber of commerce for some interesting things in this area. We don't have a problem with mosquitos but some in the state do...especially around rice farms. The biggest bug problem is ticks...almost anywhere that it is wooded has them almost year round. I think that soil surveys might be available on line now...the Ozarks vary. What you notice here is that although there are many who grow food hardly anyone has a surplus for the farmers mkt. Farther North...around Fayetteville the market is huge with a wonderful variety of vegetables and many organic growers.
Try browsing the Ozark forum here and you should run across others in many locations throughout the Ozarks.
What sort of place are you looking for?