Retired Couple seek Southern WA Homestead

Looking for suggestions/help with our search for a small homestead (1-5 acres) in the southern part of Washington.  Looking for a property that we can make into a market garden so we can sell some wonderful Organic Herbs and Veggies at Farmer's Markets etc.  We'll do chickens, of course, and eventually bees etc.  A place with existing fruit trees would be a bonus.  Being retired, we can't afford much.  If a property has 2 permitted dwellings on it we would consider a higher price as we have an old friend who would go in on the property with us.  Let us know if anyone has any good ideas of where to look or maybe you even know of a neighbor who's selling.  Cheers! Eric and Emmy

Welcome to the forums, Eric!  Good luck in your search.

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the area!

My first question is: Are you thinking about southern western Washington, or southern eastern Washington? I've lived in both and there's a big difference between the two.

My second question is: Are you looking for suggested areas to live (towns, counties, etc) or specific properties for sale?

I've lived near Woodland, Washington and interned on a farm near Battleground. That whole area is really great. If you go west from there towards the ocean the temperature is cooler and milder, but it's further from the cities and I don't know what the soil is like there. The soils in Woodland and Battleground were a nice clay loam. I live further north now but not that far from either.

[quote=James Landreth]Hi Eric,

Welcome to the area!

My first question is: Are you thinking about southern western Washington, or southern eastern Washington? I've lived in both and there's a big difference between the two.

My second question is: Are you looking for suggested areas to live (towns, counties, etc) or specific properties for sale?

I've lived near Woodland, Washington and interned on a farm near Battleground. That whole area is really great. If you go west from there towards the ocean the temperature is cooler and milder, but it's further from the cities and I don't know what the soil is like there. The soils in Woodland and Battleground were a nice clay loam. I live further north now but not that far from either. [/quote]

Yes we are looking for suggestions for areas in Southern Western WA as we have family in Camas. Battleground has come to our attention before. Soil is important, but I understand that local zoning can alter a homesteaders plans. Are there homestead friendly areas where farm products can be sold and farm based events (u-pick days, weddings, farm to table events etc) are permitted?  I would also entertain any existing farms for sale by permaculture savvy families. Thanks!

Hi Eric,
I just saw this, I'm sorry.

I have a friend who does natural gardening and beekeeping in Camas. She's a great resource for all sorts of things. Western Washington in general, any region, has a lot of permaculture people I've found. I think that so long as you're outside of an urban zone you should be ok on most things legally, but I would give check it out. Cowlitz county wasn't very restrictive or nosy when I lived there. I think that selling farm products (depending on what they are) and you pick days, weddings, etc. probably have similar laws and regulations in most counties. Farm products might have to be done in a certified commercial kitchen, though I know in my county (Lewis) people can certify their home kitchen that way in some circumstances. I know a woman who runs a bakery out of her house and is certified to do so. I don't think any county would have many problems with you pick, and weddings and farm to table probably have some safety regulations like maximum occupancy (depending on the building), fire hazards, etc.

An advantage to that region is that it's not too far to tap into the Portland/Vancouver markets.

Thanks James. We will be in Camas in Jan and would love to speak with your friend.

I sent her an email just now to see where she's at with things. I'll private message you to let you know if she responds. I'll also ask a friend who lives outside of Battleground