Good Hood?

I am looking for a place and was hoping to find something near a bunch of other permies. I'm looking in the Yelm/Rainier/Eatonville area. Have a good prospect in Rainier--anybody near Rainier? Thanks! Celeste

PS I am starting over again, lost my place in Oregon. Had 10 wonderful years in the Oregon woods. Eager to start again.

I am also looking for property in the Eatonville/Yelm area. There are a LOT of properties for sale anywhere from 5 to 100 acres, depending on how much cash you have to spend. Have you looked on Landwatch.com? I have a realtor, but the properties that he has given me information on are basically the same thing that you can see on Landwatch.

I have not seen any permies per se in Eatonville, but there are a lot of small-scale farms, many with solar and wind power. Seems to me like good place to start... IF you can find the right piece of land to start with, and if the seller is willing to deal! (I have put in offers on two properties and they were summarily dismissed without counter-offer)

Some of the land I have been looking at is specifically on the Little Mashall river, which might give the option for a micro-hydro system. Problem is, it isn't exactly LEGAL to build anything within the "high water line of a stream or river" in Washington (the title even states this explicitly). So anything used would have to be done on an underhanded manner. I have plans for a "hidden" penstock that would feed a sluice to a low-head turbine without being completely obvious.

Note that Pierce county is not a "Pocket of Freedom"according to Earthship.com. I am not sure what this means, but I do know any bulding permit will have to come with an approved septic design, even if you are planning to use a botanical cell or composting toilet.

Alternatively, there is a great property on the Nisqually river at 135 acres (30 acres approximately buildable, the rest are protected habitat) that I would love to own, but I don't have all of the $179k they want for it.

Hi! one of my possibilities is on Alder-Mashel Rd, almost 5 acres with a "non existant" ie unbuilt to code but grandfathered in 1976 dome cabin. Could be a steal--structure tests positive for meth, in the process of determining how well utilities "work"--septic and electric to well. Which, I dont' think they work...but this situation could be a ideal situation for having permits blah blah in place and proceeding off grid. All structures seem sound, and meth abatement would not be horrendous(been reading up on that, in former life I was a pro cleaner).

SO that one is on my list...gathering information to use as lowball offer. I dont' think the septic works, there are gullies dug away from the house for grey water, and people poop out in the yard. The property has nice sun exposure, and a stream along the back line.

Well was vandalized (capacitor stolen) in the week between looking at the prop twice.

Maybe that info will help someone else. It's a great deal with potential. Absentee owner, cash only. Sold as lot with utilities but utilities may not be usable(electric works).

You have the MLS number? I may have looked at the same property.

This was my favorite, and one that I put an offer one, and may do again:

http://www.landwatch.com/Pierce-County-Washington-Land-for-sale/pid/200035207

I put in a reasonable offer but will probably put in another. The problem is, the owner of the land isn't the kind who likes to deal, and I don't want to anger him because I know he has a lot of guns, and he actually lives a couple parcels north of this property. (I also know he is years behind on his property taxes)

There is also another 10-acre parcel for-sale-by-owner directly adjacent to the South, which would double the length of river you have to work with, but frankly the southernmost property is not the same quality, mostly overgrown alder. The owner to the south also wants $80,000 for his acreage, which is pretty rediculous considering what other properties are going for.

This weekend I am looking at a 20-acre property a little further south (upstream) on the Little Mashall. Partially cleared with south-facing slope. If you are wondering how these properties have south-facing slope but a river that runs south-to-north, it is hard to explain. Just look at the topo maps on google maps and you'll see what I mean.

The soil here has a lot of shale in it. Good for percolation but hard to dig in. Perhaps if there are a few permies in the area we can go in together on some earth-moving equipment.

Link for the dome house
12614 Alder Mashell Rd E, Eatonville 98328
http://www.redfin.com/WA/Eatonville/12614-Alder-Mashell-Rd-E-98328/home/2635942

Dave that property you're trying for is beautiful, I hope you get it! Good Luck! ha, I know what you mean about those curmudgeonly old forest farts...he is seeing what you're made of, stand strong, be respectful, don't suck up ha. It's a tricky dance but once you're "in" you are IN. A bottle of his favorite poison along with your next offer is a nice tip of the hat too ha.

Thanks for the info, if you end up in the area it would be cool to see what you do!

I am looking for something with a small cabin, small acreage within larger forest, enough sunny spot for a garden for myself, plus chickens. Cool neighbors of like mind def a plus--ie no McMansions. Close to water(stream) cool.

I tihnk that dome house could be a steal, it has to be cash, don't have cash liquid right now. or maybe it will still be there when it is ha!

Oh, yeah, I have seen that one. Didn't know it tested positive for meth... Yikes.

Further proof that anything that looks like a good deal is going to have something wrong with it (which of course the listing agent is going to either gloss over or straight up lie about!) We just need to find something that is acceptable!


I personally want something to build a solar passive home on, probably following much of the Earthship principle but without a greenhouse. Some place a I can go to get away from the city. I can't live there year-round, at least not until I retire from the Navy.