and have some knowledge of this area.
I was really
just passing through Minnesota, and decided to stay for a while that turned into 7 years. 4 years of my time in Minnesota was spent living on a HouseBoat on the Mississippi River experimenting with
sustainable, alternative energy living. My Houseboat was Solar Powered (Passive and Active). I became an advocate, but wanted more. A Southern location is preferable for the longer growing season for
Organic veggies, fruits, and herbs. Also planning on some chickens and goats (impossible on a House Boat).
Living on a House Boat on the Mississippi River during a Minnesota Winter was
Spectacular. Incredibly beautiful. That was
before the Nikon.
This is from my old
Point and Shoot.
I've been shopping for a place for 2 years. I want to try organic farming in addition to alternative energy stuff. I wanted an earth hillside with a Southern Face where I could build into the hillside that was at least 10 miles from any development and surrounded by a National Forrest (Ouchita), AND had access to an unpolluted river large enough to fish.
This place fit all parameters.
I found it on EBay, bid on the it (the downpayment)
sight unseen (my grandfather rolled in his grave). I did study about 50 pics, a geo survey, demographic info, sat pics, stats for the area, and several long phone conversations with the owner.
I drove down two weeks ago, and after inspecting the property, closed on the deal.
It is perfect. The cabin, water well, septic tank, private road, livestock fencing, phone line, and electricity, (all less than 3 years old) were a bonus. I would have paid the closing price for the property only. Property is a bargain in Arkansas now. Bubble Proof. You can't buy a swamp lot in rural Minnesota for 3 times the price.
My new place is about 3/4 up a mountainside (in Alaska, this would be a hill), on the very top of a knoll, with an 180 degree unobstructed view of the Southern horizon. If you look at the right side of the "cabin" picture with the red arrow, you can see a part of the horizon.
This area, in fact the whole Central, NW Arkansas is undergoing expansion. Hot Springs, with a large Art Community, is about an hour or so away.
The downside:
The area is currently Baptist, fundy Christian
Dry County
Conservative
Backwards
DLC DINOs Pryor & Lincoln are the Senators, at least they are Dems ( a plus I guess).
I am very excited, and plan
the move for this Wednesday.