R Hill

Hello Brittney,

Thank you for your kind words. I try to build my on my skillset every day.  Your place sounds very nice and I love the path your on.  We share the same values and desire to steward a piece of our earth leaving it better than we found it.  I'm sorry to hear about the setback with your last homestead helper. It's sad that so many people fall waste to the ravages of addiction, and I understand your desire to prevent a future occurrence, but I'm not sure beginning a working relationship with a drug test will hinder or help. I enjoy a social lubricant and marijuana on occasion but my days of any other drugs or drug testing are gone decades ago. I do believe people should be able to put or "not put" whatever they want in their own body but I also believe in personal responsibility and accountability. I despise predators, and thieves and support all people that serve the permies.

If I had gotten your offer several months ago I would probably be there right now.  However, I am about to take possession of 40 acres along a creek near Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee Forest here in Illinois.  I've looked at vintage aerial photos and it's been the same since at least the 1930s. It has a mix of leased soybean crop, timber, bush hogged acreage with room for a nice 1/2 acre pond and well maintained old horse and buggy trails throughout;  power, water, cellular, and high speed fiber at the road if I find a need for it. However, I'm installing 13kW of solar w/ 30kW of lithium batteries, rainwater catchment, and plan on keeping it off grid.  It's 30 minutes from a Krogers and Rural King.  It's a beautiful place to start but I will still have much to do and right now it's just me.  I just wish Winter wasn't upon us now.

I'd love to see your place. How long have you been at it ?  Perhaps,a trip with the camper, I've always got tools with. and willing to lend a hand

Hello Raymond,

I am a retired veteran living in Southern Illinois. I have a rather large skill set that lends to independent living.  I spent last year tearing my sisters 80s single wide down and scrapping it to build her a tiny home on a shoestring. Now that I've returned home I am in the process of downsizing and preparing to sell my home in the small town where I live.  I am looking at options to relocate and stumbled on to your post. I have my hands full now, more so since I've retired, but I am curious as to where you are in you progress and if you have secured the help you were looking for since the last post some months ago.  Also, in what town are you located ?

Hello Leif,

I've been interested in NW Arkansas and SW Missouri but I've been broadening my search further north.  I'm currently in Southern Illinois and downsizing to sell my home here.  One aspect of buying land I found is to be sure that local codes are favorable to your permi plans,  Some jurisdictions contact may not align with permies ideas. I would be happy to share ideas and finds as I search.  Feel free to contact me any time.

Hello Heather,

I have been on this site several years now planning my departure from the corporate world. I am ready now...  I retired early over a year ago to travel with my camper and focus on my search for land to make my own little Eden. Bam !, along came COVID and sidetracked my plan. So, I spent last year assisting family through some medical struggles and building a tiny home to replace my sisters broken down 80s single wide trailer. I am resuming completion of a remodel to sell my current home in a small town in Southern Illinois to move further into the country.  My initial plans were to find property in the Ozarks which is still an option, however I am looking for a life partner as well, and it seems would be prudent to include her input in the search.  Not only because its easier to live off the grid but it is my equal and great desire to find my soulmate. You express the same desires I have to abandon the consumerism and reliance on the modern luxuries to which we've enslaved ourselves. I have experience with a fairly extensive skill set for independent living; including masonry, electrical, carpentry, plumbing, solar, automotive repair, hunting, fishing, first aid.  I am not as experienced in agriculture, however I am learning more now until I can plant a garden. I would welcome discussion with you about your desires and readiness to pursue your goals.  Perhaps we can help each other. If you are interested I would love to hear from you even if its strictly platonic. I am always interested in sharing ideas or resources as well.

I don't see any replies here, is this place still for sale ?  Location ?  Jozzle@mail.com

This is a pretty old post and only saw one reply, did you sell this property ?

I'm in the same situation and have been looking for land in the same area, NW Arkansas or SW Missouri.

Hi Lisa, I haven't been on here for some time now and am just returning.  I retired early a year ago November with plans to downsize and sell my house here in Southern Illinois and to relocate and get my hands into the earth. But first I was going to stock my camper and hit the road for a bit of travel.... Well, best laid plans.  COVID struck, and I also had family in Oklahoma with medical and other issues that needed my help, so spent the last year living out of my camper giving my assistance. My sister's 40 year old single wide had to be put down, couldn't find anyone that wanted to work, or do the job right, and so I did it myself not only to help but as a primmer to building my own place.  I tore it all down, recycled what I could, reworked the whole septic which wasn't working correctly, and built her a safe tiny home to live in.  I found out right away I had gotten soft in the job I'd just retired from as I lost 30 pounds during the process, but it gave me great satisfaction in making my world a better place.  As you say, been there, done that.  Well, I've returned to my life and my original plans to downsize and sell my home here to seek a new home away from the hustle and bustle.  I'd love to speak with you about your plans as well and see if maybe we are a fit for helping each other or more.  I have all the skills your needing, I don't need you to pay me or a job, and I do have a nice camper I've been living in for near a year if need be. I would enjoy the company of a grounded woman as I move forward.  We're about the same age as well and from reading your post we think alike in many ways, so I think we'd get along just fine.  There's much more we could discuss in private if your so inclined.  I did save the best for last; I have experience working with incubators :).  I hope to hear from you and above all I hope you can get back on track after setting aside to help your family as well.  If you wish to pm me I will give you my number if you like.  I'm a bit old school and prefer talk to texting.  Ralph

Hi Gail, where is the property located, what are your plans and needs once getting the property, and if you'd like to PM me about what you need to move forward and discuss a possible agreement to get you there.

Hello Zennia, I love the way you think.  I am recently retired and in the process of downsizing to relocate from Illinois and looking for acreage in either SW Missouri or NW Arkansas, leaning to Missouri.  I am contemplating an earth-bermed home, and prefer the idea of a rain catchment with cistern for clean water, however a well would be a nice backup.  I prefer to be off grid and limit electric use to go solar and keep cost and complexity down. I like redundancy so would probably keep propane and look towards wood as well for energy in cooking and heating as necessary.  I abhor consumerism, entitlement, and government over-reach; and strive to always be self-sufficient.  I have a background in education and strongly support home schooling.  I've an engineering background and capable in many facets of construction.  I enjoy a rural setting, the outdoors and all it has to offer.  I must admit my farming skills are limited but I'm anxious to get my hands in the dirt and learn to work with the earth in a sustainable fashion.  I am not afraid of physical labor and would entertain the idea of helping in a temporary capacity as I search for a lager place and develop a plan moving forward.  I have my own 25' camper which I'm adding solar to make it more self-sufficient.  I plan on visiting the area frequently as I search for land. I also have family in Oklahoma not far from Fort Smith where I travel frequently as well.  I'd love to hear more about your knowledge and experience in the area.  Ralph Hill