Jr Hill

"...consider contributing your views to it." A 12 year old thread with nothing for the last 9 years. Sigh...

OK, here's my view: A tractor allows one single person to do something a whole team of people working together can't, and/or in a short time. But if you can sub in another thing to maintain and you work by yourself I don't believe there is much to discuss here.

This is an interesting conversation for someone looking for rural land. Here is something I'd like to point out: it depends where you want to buy and who is helping you, professionally. When I lived in the midwest, as you drove down the highway, you saw county roads on a one mile apart grid. the exception was land features like a lake or river, a railroad track, an interstate, etc. It's gonna be kind of unusual to get land locked inside of a 640 acre square surrounded by corn or soybeans.

In other areas such as the plains, foothills and mountainous ranges, things are completely different because the land use is different. If I was looking at a parcel in a far rural area I sure the heck wouldn't want to deal with a realtor who didn't understand the area. When I bought the land we have now the realtor we contacted should've known the simplest of details -  like how to get here but she was just lazy and I doubt she had even seen the properties. We contacted someone else and that gal met us at a nearby land mark, led us to a given place and had her GPS and survey pins and L/L. She scrambled up a 60% boulder strewn grade stopping for us (mainly me) to catch up and on top opened into a plateau from where we could see Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt St. Helens (obviously a good sales person). She walked us straight to a survey pin with her GPS. The story goes on from there. But my point is that this realtor knew and gave us details that we didn't even know to ask - like the easements on the private trail that went through 3/4 of a dozen 40/80 acre parcels to get here. Guess who represented us as buyers?

Upon us making agreement that she would represent us she reviewed and provided an abbreviated abstract and the latest survey. In her investigation she found out that two adjacent parcels had been listed but were not in the MLS system yet (the non-resident owners didn't know each other were selling). She advised us for an initial bids on each. All three parcels closed at the same time before anyone knew what was going on.

At some point, and especially if its for sale by owner, your gonna have to get professionals involved. Choose wisely.

I left the city in the early 90's and a primary reason was to escape mowing. I do weed whack along a few paths after the spring growth to give a buffer zone in case Mr Timber rattler is lying in wait. We enjoy the native grasses so much more anyway.

I can't think of a topic that falls more into the 'In Depends' category. When we bought our 1st three parcels in south central WA (two 40 and one 20 acre contiguous) they averaged $2k per acre, 17 years ago. We have since added another contiguous 20 and a 40 that touches corners. The devil is in the details though: zoned 'Open' land or 'Recreational', totally off grid as in zero utilities available, no cell service by any provider, access via ancient logging road via easement through private parcels, zero county services except for emergency services. The land is mostly fully treed with PPine, Douglas Fir and Oregon Oak. Substantial grades in a north facing canyon. There has never been any structures in the past, maybe a teepee or two. In other words this land would be considered 'special purpose' as it has little attraction for the average city person who wants all the conveniences of modern existence. But it is perfect for us.

Right now and within a few miles there are a couple of 10 acre parcels on mostly prairie but at least those have a cell signal that are on the market listed for $8k/acre. I wouldn't give $1k for either. And these are unusual parcels as there are restrictions to subdividing anything to less than 20 acres. But they'll probably sell for the asking price or more. But that's here. Take these above attributes and compare them placed in each of the other 49 states and the prices are all over the spectrum. So the only way I can answer the topic question is it depends where and how badly you want the place. And really - how badly others want the same place. That's when it becomes completely unpredictable.

For us the first step after we bought land was to have a water well drilled before we could decide on where to place the future homestead. Where we live in south central WA, in a forested off grid canyon, the water can vary to a huge degree in a very short distance. If you hit ground water it could range from a few gallons per minute to an underground river. It can range from sweet and crystal clear to tasting like you're sucking on a rusty iron bar. We were fortunate on the 1st attempt and got 11gpm at 200' deep and it is absolutely delicious and cold even though it has a high colloidal mineral content which is for the better. If there was no water or its quality was poor the project would be over before it started. You have to have water.

As for the pooper, according to State law an outhouse is prohibited. So if you are a lawfully compliant permie it gets expensive real fast. A formal septic system on a steep canyon side is possible but it can get complex real fast. There are no willows around here but I can tell you that the Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir and Oregon Oak like the human waste just fine.

Nette's Fine Mexican Food in the south of Omaha just before you get to Bellevue had/has the BEST broth chili (nope, no beans) that I have ever eaten. It is HOT. I always ordered at least a cup if not a bowl and used it instead of the (homemade) table hot sauce. As a family we ate there about once a week. We never placed an order because when they saw us come through the door they knew what to make up, including my margarita.

Hot food is definitely a preference and I think that as long as your constitution can handle it, it has health benefits. Like parasite removal (wink). And a cardo moment whole seated.

Half of a wall in our kitchen contains row after row of spices over the counter up to the ceiling. Many containers are a single spice and some are combinations for specific foods/dishes. The wife KNOWS spices and what compliments what food. That doesn't mean she heavily loads her cooking with them - she compliments the food or sometimes not at all. Some spices or combinations can change a simple food from one area or region's taste to a completely different one. That to me is spicy.

One the other side of the kitchen is the 'hot' stuff and obviously those contain some spices mostly by brand variances. But I don't consider them spicy. Those are hot.

Hat's off to folks who know how to use spices and how to use the hot stuff.

BTW, I have a bottle off 1 Million Scofield Pepper Extract. Is that spicy to you? (No, it is dangerous. I mix 2 tbsp with 16 oz of water in a spray bottle to use under the hoods of eqmt the keep the ground squirrels and mice from eating stuff.)

Wasted food?!?

In 10+ years has no one thought to give the stuff to the working dogs, pigs and chickens?

Direct answer to the question is "Yes" but as with many things, it depends. Snags can be important but like the rest of the forest they have to be managed. First they are dangerous and you don't want one around any structure or something that can be damaged when it inevitably falls. You obviously don't want one that will fall across your road and of course not on you or anyone else. They will very seriously kill you for a long period of time. They are fire tinder. But they add character and habitat. Even after they fall they still make an excellent home for our creatures.

We have multiple contiguous parcels of forest in the PNW and the area is a prime wildfire risk. After the last 10+ years of reduced rain there is an increase of drought stressed trees (mostly the native ponderosa pine but also some douglas fir) that are then bug magnets soon to become the next snag. Our land is in an active forest production plan and having some snags is part of it. But too many of them is counterproductive. In some areas where the owners don't manage their land it is a depressing sight. But those places increase our risk too.

Tree species, soil types, contour, elevation, weather patterns, wildlife and overall forest health is why it is wise to get a professional involved. Then you can carry on from there if you are so inclined or have a problem that demands an expert. Those trees are quite valuable.

Tannerite. I like fireworks and enjoy some target practice but exploding targets are just a complete waste of resources. And the stuff is pretty darn expensive.