14 acres in NY: resources, information, help...

My wife and I just bought 14 acres in up state NY. We are looking to get information on the best design aspect for the land. What resources or help is out ther for this?

Thanks,
Rook

I have gotten some assistance through the local USDA agent.

I called for an office consultation. He had stacks paperwork specific to my parcel, including an aerial view map with contour lines and soil designations and the code to read that info. He was familiar with the surrounding area and was able to talk to me about drainage issues and what sort of crops would best meet my needs. Using that info I had someplace to start doing on-line research, which ultimately led me here.

One of these days I'll call and get an appointment for an on-site evaluation. So far, life has intervened and that task keeps getting pushed to a back burner. Of course I'm not living there yet and it's a 90 mile round trip for me to go meet him for an afternoon. Add that to the idea he has allergies and wants to wait until after the first good frost.

You might be able to download a soil survey for your area. This will contain a lot of the information Lolly got from her agent. http://soils.usda.gov/survey/printed_surveys/state.asp?state=New%20York&abbr=NY

If by design, you mean permaculture design, then you might consider the two volume set on northeastern US permaculture by David Jacke. Or having a knowledgeable PC designer in for a day to consult, if your budget permits.

http://www.amazon.com/Edible-Forest-Gardens-2-set/dp/1890132608/

Check out the Permaculture design manual at the library, and you might also read Gaia's Garden...go to some of the searches on reading material for other things to get at the library, you have a good 4 months to dream in NY.

Congratulations on your 14 acres... you need to be a bit more specific about what you want to do with the property. This time of year, I wouldn't recommending camping on site... but you need to get a feel for the weather and patterns on the land... take the permaculture dive - books, classes, people... and start OBSERVING as much as you possibly can. I personally look for 'blue sky' - as much SW open sky as you can possibly get at ... and then start playing around with siting possibilities for your house - I presume you're going to build one?

Go to your local university extension office.
Find a permaculturalist in your area. Find out who has done a PDC and get recommendations from them. Perhaps and ex-student?
Read Gaia's Garden / Food Forest / Perennial Edibles / Anything by Mollison
Observe
Make a list of priorities and start researching/asking each one.

Things to consider:
-Pathways/Roads.
-water flow
-what you need/want from the system: (7 f's: food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, and "farmaceuticals," as well as fun)
-what the system wants from you: repair/habitat.
william

My wife and I bought some acreage in upstate NY spring of 2011 (Cortland area), and we've tried our best to plan intelligently, as everything we do effects everything else. We've read everything we can get our hands on, and we've found that there is no better resource than spending time on the property, dreaming about what we'd like to do with it. And we reason and plan as best we can in baby steps that allow the greatest flexibility in the future...which we've needed.

Anyhow, my two cents: as much as possible, start with zone 1. The more time you spend on your property, the more and better ideas you'll have, which will also give you more time to read and learn, and refine your goals.

Ok, the goal of the land is to have our home there and be moving there by 2016. We want to have it as a homestead producing as much of our food as possible. In the spring we plan on put a 20 x 20 cabin to stay in during the spring/summer/fall and work and dream. We do have Amish living around us as well. There is some wood portion that will be used for hunting. I am in zone 5b near the salmon fishery.

Rook