Judith Browning wrote:I think the 'unfriendly to outsiders' reputation has changed. When we first moved here in '73 we were sort of chuckled over and stereotyped but kind of fit into an already eccentric area. Then we weren't really that interested whether folks accepted us or not. Gradually we integrated into the community and now there are so many 'from off' I just don't see a problem...except that some who 'retired' here wanted (and got) some big city conveniences...like fast food and stop lights:( and generally upped the taxes for everyone.
If we had had a plan I think northern Arkansas Ozarks or into Missouri would have been a better choice for farming than here...but we have a wonderful craft community, music, caves and rivers and of course our kids and grandkids are here in this area.
Larger pieces of land are still $1000 an acre or less and with water usually...I would want to know who owns the mineral rights and if it had been tree farmed or any other use that would have heavy pesticide use.
Arkansas has a Homestead Act Credit That offsets up to $350 of your property taxes...so on or forty acres we pay $133 after the credit (I had to look it up...it did go up this last year!).
The wonderful parts of living here far outweigh the heat and bugs and rocky ground......
What area do you live in, Judith? What do you mean by "northern Arkansas Ozarks or into Missouri would have been a better choice for farming than here"? Is it bad soil where you are? I love what you said about your area being a craft community with music, caves and rivers. That sounds right up our alley!
Heat isn't too big of an issue for us as we're in Florida right now where it's crazy stifling. By bugs...what do you mean? Are there specific critters that come to mind? Please tell me that you're not overrun with mosquitoes. Part of the reason we're leaving our current homestead is because of the mosquitoes. Many around here have had luck with bat houses but even with a family of 200 bats on the property - we're still eaten alive every day. At least we get some guano, so the bats are good for something.
