posted 9 years ago
When you say "farm land" do you mean previously farmed land or just open grassy/brushy space? If you just mean open, untimbered space then ideally it would be good to have some of both.
Advantages of forested land:
- Source of building materials, and firewood if you use wood-burning appliances, that is available NOW, not 10 to 100 years from now.
- Greater privacy
- In places where fruit/nut trees are endemic you could have access to food right away rather than waiting for seedlings to mature and start bearing.
- More shelter from the wind
Challenges of forested land:
- More labor required to prepare the site for construction, fire protection, and passive/active solar.
- If all you have is non-food producing forest you'll need to clear land to make room for gardens and orchards.
- Forest soils (particularly under conifer forest types) are very acidic meaning you'll probably need to amend your soil if you want to grow anything other than blueberries and roses.
Advantages of open land:
- Easier site prep for construction.
- No trees blocking your solar panels or passive solar house.
- Safer in the event of a wildfire.
- Blank slate. Plant anything you want, wherever you want it without it being shaded out by an already established tree.
- More wildlife. Not much grows under a mature forest canopy. Any good hunter knows to look for deer in meadows, old logging areas, or fire scars because enough sunlight reaches the ground there to support grass and shrubs.
- Better pasture, for the same reason.
- If you live in an area that isn't flat the view will probably be nicer without a bunch of trees blocking it. On the other hand, if I lived somewhere with no topography I think I'd probably rather have trees to look at than an empty horizon.
Challenges of open land:
- Fully exposed to the elements (particularly the wind)
- Less privacy
- Fewer onsite resources. If you want to produce your own timber/firewood you'll have to plant it and wait years for it to grow.
If I could only find one or the other I'd pick forest. You can cut down a mature tree a LOT faster than you can grow one...
Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't.