These are a few of the best homesteading states for the opportunity of starting your own spread.
It seems as if we have been hearing about homesteading for our entire lives, but what do we really know about the process? That fact may or may not be the most important piece of information that you are looking for, but at least one half of the states in the nation have some sort of homesteading rights enacted to use for the common good.
Although the rules vary from one state to another, homestead statutes are similar in their intent to grant land to those that would care for it, or to protect a house or property in times of hardship.
For our purposes, we just want to shed some light on the states that offer these prospects to our land-loving brothers and sisters in the attempt to lend a hand in their search for the right place to settle. Whether you are looking for a piece of land to start, or have something in mind already, you may at least find a location here you might not have considered.
According to Mother Earth News, "Homestead rights don't exist under common law, but they have been enacted in at least 27 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming." With that in mind, let's start looking at some good places to setup.
Best States for Homesteading
As with anything, the best homesteading states are directly in the eyes of the homesteader. Modern homesteading trends up, and then trends down, but the fact remains that folks are migrating to rural areas to settle in their own brand of self-reliance. We're not sure if it's just a trendy fad or if it's true what they say: everything old is new again.
Either way, urban folks can do it simply by creating enough space to grow and store what they need to sustain themselves in times of need. The hard part is getting away from the rat race and trying to be self-sustaining or completely off the grid. Granted, you do not have to do that. Homesteading can be whatever you make of it.
Depending on what your greatest desire is: most remote, scenic, farming quality, or just plain the cheapest, your choice will be your own. In any case, these states are quickly becoming some of the most popular for the practice.
Virginia
Many agree that the Old Dominion State is better than most for its growing ability and season. Frost generally leaves early and doesn't show up again until later in the year (as late as November) making it a nearly 200-day growing season.
This is a great homesteading state for simple reason that homesteading is about many things, but it is most importantly about feeding your family. There is a generous amount of rainfall and good soil for growing crops making it unnecessary to need a vast amount of land to farm.
Oregon
There has always been a strong homesteading culture in Oregon and with over 30,000 small farms in the state, it shows why. If you love the outdoors as much as you love sustaining yourself, the Beaver State is the place to go.
In fact, if you look at the natives who dwelled here, they not only could grow what they needed, but live off of the land completely since this area is replete with natural resources from the coastal waterways to the inlands lakes and rivers.
Honorable mention to nearby Washington State due to its proximity and similar land resources. Really it's hard to go wrong with either.
Wyoming
The Equality State has the smallest population for its size in the U.S. making it a great place for those who want to make their own living off of the land, and get away from it all. There's only about 500,000 people who call Wyoming home. Both growing season for crops and for livestock are good here since it has over 100 days of sun each year. (Can you say solar power?)
Not only that, but the hunting in Wyoming is very good, even for those who have not hunted it much. If it's remote that you want, this state has all that and more, especially for off-the-grid homesteaders.
Just be warned that the winds in Wyoming can be fierce, and the winters harsh. Make no mistake, they get all four seasons here and they can be quite unpredictable. That being said, the scenery is beautiful and there's never a bad sunset to be enjoyed for those looking to get away from it all.
Montana
Big Sky Country has some of the most beautiful and majestic landscapes anywhere which make it an ideal location for folks who like to get out and explore. If a big part of your plan is to get closer to nature, than you will find it in Montana in abundance.
The downside is that the winters can be harsh and long, making the growing season all the more important. The upside is the natural resources, not the least of which is the incredible hunting and fishing, and its massive amount of wild areas.
Alaska
Maybe you envision an area where you can stop worrying about what your neighbor thinks, the road conditions, (there are none) and dig into your own off the grid self-sufficiency. With seemingly endless mountains, forests, lakes, and rivers anyone who wants to disappear can do just that in the Alaskan bush.
If you want to live off the land or if you want to maintain some semblance of community, you can still find it in the Last Frontier State. Alaska is the last resting place for those who consider self-reliance the only way to live and are out to prove their worth.
Other Thoughts
You may be considering other concepts such as solar power, wind power, or other forms of renewable energy, or you may be looking to live without any of that. There are also those who may be seeking a more community oriented style of life that might be interested in property taxes, natural disaster safety, and even homeschooling laws.
Even homesteaders need to be aware of the low cost of living, homesteading laws, and land prices. Sadly, free land is usually a thing of the past now. Self-sufficient living such as growing your own food is one thing, but total off grid living is quite another. Talk to any off-gridder and they'll tell you of the many mistakes they had to learn the hard way once they got started. In a way, that's part of the experience.
Your choice of state to start homesteading is ultimately your own based on what you know and what you would like to try. Remember, no matter how self-reliant you want to be, you are still going to be subject to the state and local laws and regulations of the place where your homestead is ultimately located. It pays to do your research on these things ahead of time rather than to learn some hard lessons once you're already settled in your new place.
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