posted 3 hours ago
Hi. I am new to Permies. I mean, I've lurked a bit, but haven't posted. I'm finally posting in the hopes I can connect with people in the region.
I currently live in Germany, but we are thinking of moving back to West Virginia after being here for over 12 years due to some family reasons. My husband has land in Pendleton County, WV. Right now, it's nothing but trees and some cleared area. I am interested in forest farming and setting up a homestead. I've been managing two gardens here in Germany (totally different climate), and have been doing a lot of research on the topography, soil, climate in Upper Tract, etc. As much as I can from afar!
My long term plan is to have a small organic farm there (NTFPs, berries, etc) that is net-zero or as close to net-zero as I can manage. The challenge will be somehow getting it financed and building it all in a way that will be eco-friendly and not disturb the current environment too much. The good thing is that the forested area is about 80% of the 72 acres he owns, and it hasn't been disturbed in a long time. (He inherited, and his dad hadn't touched it, either.) There's a spring!
So, good news, but it is a dry area (Upper Tract is known to be dry). It's steep. It's at 530m elevation. It's mostly northern slopes. There's a road along one edge of it, if we need to plug into to electrical, but I want to try to stay more self-reliant, if we can. We also have very little capital, and we are both middle aged, with mostly-grown kids--one starting college in Maine and one who will NOT want to move to the States. So we will be on our own, mostly. Probably.
Anyway, that's the plan. In the meantime, we are trying to tie up loose ends here in Germany. We love it here, and we have permanent residency, but we don't have the land. I need a forest for my soul.
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