Ideal Spot To Move and Start a Homestead

I have been growing and practicing permaculture in urban areas for the last 6-7 years, first in BC Canada where I'm from and now the last 3 years on Crete in the Mediterranean. I would like to buy a property and start a rural homestead in the next couple years, and trying to figure out where to look for property.

1. I prefer a mild climate...mild winters above freezing , mild summers, with precipitation throughout the year.

2. I have Canadian and EU citizenship, so am looking in these two areas specifically.

3. I eat a plant based diet and want to focus mainly on fruit growing, with food forests, so the climate needs to be at least zone 8 or higher to support a wide range of fruit species.

4. I'm looking for min. 5 acres, close to water and trees, ideally with some elevation, in a rural area but with good access to at least one small city.


Coastal BC where I'm from fits my climate criteria more closely and it was in my experience much easier to grow things there. However property prices are not realistic for me to go back.  The rest  of Canada is too cold and expensive.

In Europe, northern Spain seems to best match my criteria. Maybe the Atlantic Coast of France too. Anywhere in the Mediterranean I imagine would be too hot and dry in summer and too populated, and anywhere else would be too cold for what I want to grow.

Anyone got any other ideas or insights?

Welcome to the forum!

My idea for the ideal spot to homestead does not check any of your boxes.

I have never been to Spain or France, have you?

Why not plan a vacation to those places to see if they are really ideal?

Crete in the Mediterranean sounds ideal to me though I have not been there either ...

Dareios Alexandre wrote:
1. I prefer a mild climate...mild winters above freezing , mild summers, with precipitation throughout the year.

2. I have Canadian and EU citizenship, so am looking in these two areas specifically.

3. I eat a plant based diet and want to focus mainly on fruit growing, with food forests, so the climate needs to be at least zone 8 or higher to support a wide range of fruit species.

4. I'm looking for min. 5 acres, close to water and trees, ideally with some elevation, in a rural area but with good access to at least one small city.

Hi Dareios,
Welcome to Permies!
Greetings from the southern tip of the departement Cher in France.
I don´t know if there's a place that fits your criteria - perhaps the Finisterra (end of the pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela) in NW Spain? I know it rains relatively much there.

Here where I live we have a microclimate with zone 8a-8b.
We've had mild winters with 1-3 days of freezing temperatures. Last year was very rainy and relatively cool, this year has been dry and hot. I find it difficult to say what's "normal" with the weather patterns we're having.
But: we're at 300+ meters elevation, there's lots of water around in the form of natural lakes and ponds, and in our own garden all kinds of fruit have been growing for a loooooooong time, judging by the old orchard (we've been here only for 2,5 years now); grapes, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, plums and I planted a fig tree and an almond tree that are thriving. There are also hazelnuts and walnuts. The soil is mainly clay, with patches of sandy soil in the surrounding areas where the Romans used to plant their vineyards - it's an old and still-going-strong wine region as well here around Chateaumeillant (18370).
Prices are relatively low for France, because it's "in the middle of nowhere", with bigger cities at comfortable distances to do the shopping etc. at.

Also consider the southern part of Ireland or England, possibly Wales?  And maybe parts of Portugal.

Thanks Nina. Yes the northwest coast of Spain is at the top of my list. I have been thinking about France as well. What do you think about the Atlantic Coast, anywhere between Brittany and Hendaye? Are properties more expensive there? Also, what about the bureaucracy in France? Here in Greece it's really bad, and I've heard France is known for having a lot of rules and regulations on what you can and can't do with your land, etc. Is this true, and if so, is France still worth considering?

Nina Surya wrote:

Dareios Alexandre wrote:
1. I prefer a mild climate...mild winters above freezing , mild summers, with precipitation throughout the year.

2. I have Canadian and EU citizenship, so am looking in these two areas specifically.

3. I eat a plant based diet and want to focus mainly on fruit growing, with food forests, so the climate needs to be at least zone 8 or higher to support a wide range of fruit species.

4. I'm looking for min. 5 acres, close to water and trees, ideally with some elevation, in a rural area but with good access to at least one small city.

Hi Dareios,
Welcome to Permies!
Greetings from the southern tip of the departement Cher in France.
I don´t know if there's a place that fits your criteria - perhaps the Finisterra (end of the pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela) in NW Spain? I know it rains relatively much there.

Here where I live we have a microclimate with zone 8a-8b.
We've had mild winters with 1-3 days of freezing temperatures. Last year was very rainy and relatively cool, this year has been dry and hot. I find it difficult to say what's "normal" with the weather patterns we're having.
But: we're at 300+ meters elevation, there's lots of water around in the form of natural lakes and ponds, and in our own garden all kinds of fruit have been growing for a loooooooong time, judging by the old orchard (we've been here only for 2,5 years now); grapes, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, plums and I planted a fig tree and an almond tree that are thriving. There are also hazelnuts and walnuts. The soil is mainly clay, with patches of sandy soil in the surrounding areas where the Romans used to plant their vineyards - it's an old and still-going-strong wine region as well here around Chateaumeillant (18370).
Prices are relatively low for France, because it's "in the middle of nowhere", with bigger cities at comfortable distances to do the shopping etc. at.

Thanks for the ideas. UK and Ireland are too expensive and Portugal has too much bureaucracy.

Riona Abhainn wrote:Also consider the southern part of Ireland or England, possibly Wales?  And maybe parts of Portugal.

Hey Dareios.
From what you’re looking for I think the north of Spain is a good idea.
It’s far away and not too well connected to the rest of Spain or the rest of Europe though.
Finisterre means end of the world!

I think there’s burocracy almost everywhere you go.
Building code in Spain is relatively strict, though it varies whether it’s enforced or not. But look into what you’re legally allowed to do with a property before committing.

Dareios Alexandre wrote:Thanks Nina. Yes the northwest coast of Spain is at the top of my list. I have been thinking about France as well. What do you think about the Atlantic Coast, anywhere between Brittany and Hendaye? Are properties more expensive there? Also, what about the bureaucracy in France? Here in Greece it's really bad, and I've heard France is known for having a lot of rules and regulations on what you can and can't do with your land, etc. Is this true, and if so, is France still worth considering?

Hi Dareios,

I'm sorry I have no experience with the Atlantic coast of France.
I'd say France is the inventor of bureaucracy! The machinery LOVES paper, copies, hierarchy etc.
The rules about what you can/cannot do with your land are quite straightforward: land is divided in "agriculture" and "building" land, probably more categories, but when searching for our place I came across only those two categories.

I'd say look into the culture of a land. Does it resonate with you? Give it a go - a vacation or a longer stay if possible (renting first?).

The rules and regulations are unfortunately present all over the world, only different from country to country.
And I have to say, while France is a bureaucratic land, a lot of folks in the countryside are quite decisive about doing what they want with their property and land, regardless of the rules... The revolution-spirit is still strong here. So next to the "official imago" of a country, always also look into the culture of the nation as well.
Good luck!