| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Apr 13 2012 : 09:14:44 AM
The story:
A fellow well on his way to becoming part of our extended family paid cash for a luxury house on 3 acres down the road, and he's looking to develop it into a productive sufficiency oasis. It's on a "community well" that the rest of the community has left (drilled their own wells) and the grandfathered lot with all the water is a repo that will be made available to him to purchase for less than drilling a new well.
Soooo the fellow is all hot to snap this property up, and we (my husband and I and the property owner) are discussing cleaning up the lot's curb appeal and converting it to a mini dairy as a tax shelter/sufficiency exercise.
I'm really excited by the possibilities!
It will be a lot less rent than I am paying in this place, and I'm just bursting with ideas to beautify the old home, get going on some more advanced animal husbandry, and to have access to some development money when we really need it.
What a great way to keep busy while we're stuck in Arizona anyway!
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 02 2012 : 11:07:21 AM
Rain Barrels... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It'd have to rain for that! LOL
But seriously, yes, I'd like to have a capture systems for what little we do get, but we are blessed with a large supply of groundwater from a well designed for 4 houses, but servicing only 2 :D
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Jul 02 2012 : 10:20:27 AM
Oh Jen! I'm sooooooo happy for you! Will be following your blog! Best wishes and congratulations!
PS - I just had a guest blogger write about Hugulkultur on my blog. It's a permaculture technique that helps you use a LOT less water in your garden. You might want to check that out. In Tonopah you'll need it! You could also look into using Rainbarrels to capture runoff? I use gray water for an ornamental garden. I live in the high desert (5000 ft) in S. Central Oregon. I'm always looking for ways to conserve water!
Again, congratulations!
Farmgirl #4053
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jul 02 2012 : 09:38:32 AM
We got it!!! Now we just have to sit on our hands until HUD closes, gives us the keys, and the pipes and wiring stolen for scrap are replaced and we've got power and water!
Then the real work begins to turn a dumpy mobile home on a dirt lot into an organic oasis!
This is what we have to start with:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/36210-W-Lower-Buckeye-Rd_Tonopah_AZ_85354_M16866-30070
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jun 30 2012 : 2:58:15 PM
Fingers crossed! Good luck!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com
www.amydingmann.com |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jun 30 2012 : 1:03:44 PM
Well, The financier has decided to give us a private mortgage so we can bid on the home today, for tomorrow's 10 pm deadline. If no other bids (or lesser bids) it's ours. We will know by monday, and when we know we can get an electrician and plumber out there to make it livable.
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jun 30 2012 : 11:00:07 AM
What an awesome opportunity! I surely hope it all works out. It's so hard to wait, isn't it? Keep us posted!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com
www.amydingmann.com |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Jun 29 2012 : 11:17:47 AM
Oh Jen, I'll keep a good thought for you! I so hope this is your doorway to new opportunities. You've worked hard for it! Team Jen! Team Jen! Team Jen!
Farmgirl #4053
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Jun 29 2012 : 10:08:50 AM
Update: Property is now for sale (auction) through HUD... we will have to wait to bid until it opens up for "investors"--- the great thing is that the picture is AWFUL. The only information the listing gives is of the cruddy old mobile with it's 2 bed 2 baths. It doesn't even describe the land, the estimate is WAY overpriced. Every other property in the area -looks- better than the one we want.
We sat down with mom's boyfriend and shared our business plan-- everyone is really excited!
Oh, and we found out the wiring and any metal pipes may have been stripped, so that's another reason we're unlikely to have opposing bidders.
(Hopefully that won't cost the project too much money in the end, the house is a temp measure so we don't have to spend extra for cosmetic on the fixes)
It's coming down to the wire! We will know in a couple weeks I think if we get the place or not.
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| laurentany |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 8:00:40 PM
Good Luck Jen!
Hope things move along quickly for you as well. Please keep us posted!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - May 03 2012 : 8:59:41 PM
Progress today, Finally got a hold of a supervisor at Freddie Mac-- The house is locked in paperwork purgatory... there is a legal dispute over who owns the home... Freddie Mac or Bank of America. (Guessing the owner had a mortgage out with each company before defaulting.)
B of A put a sign in the window... but a call to them referred us to Freddie Mac.
Explained the issue of the well and now our family with a fresh "deeded interest" will be offered the chance to buy the lot first and foremost when the banks work it out.
Hopefully it goes quickly!
I don't mind the swimming pool at my current place but I am sick of the high rent and my mother's stuff taking up 3/4ths of the house.
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Apr 14 2012 : 2:12:52 PM
Paula, I already have a pregnant belmont (jersey dexter) who will be a first freshener. I'm thinking about getting her a jersey for a friend-- I've talked to a dairy that sells second or third year pregnant cows that are "low producers".
I've been kicking around getting a Nubian or two for a while-- Even when I was a little girl I preferred their roman faces and floppy ears!
The "milk barn" building is a 5 car garage concrete floored building with a fantastic roof (honestly, it's better made than the house!) I'm thinking of walling it off into rooms for different uses like a milking room, a tack/feed room, etc.
The property owner/investor is in escrow on his personal residence property 3 houses down and will move in this week. The property we would be developing is a foreclosure B of A owns. It's not advertised as for sale, and left to their own devices it could take them months to figure out they own a vacant property in that spot that they need to sell. (So it's not advertised or being shown to anyone.)
The realtor selling the fancy house has an "in" there and he's pulling strings to get it "available" sooner. When it gets to that point it will be a simple cash transaction. (As simple as real estate can be.)
Everything is decided from our end and the investor's end, we just have to wait on B of A to get on the ball and let him buy it. Could be a month, could be 6 months. We are scoping out some backup alternate properties, but this one is of a specific benefit to the investor to claim complete ownership of the large well.
The plan is to "finish" the property into something working in 2 years when DH and I plan to buy our own farmland, and then place another family on the property to maintain it and the animals he purchases for it (which should be a pretty sweet deal for those who come after me... )
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Apr 14 2012 : 09:49:22 AM
Jen, What a great opportunity! Aren't you going to have fun! Yes do keep us posted. I used to keep goats and just loved them to pieces. My neighbor here sells her milk goat milk to a creamery and it's been made into some blue ribbon cheese I can tell you. (Rogue Creamery) Best of luck!
Susan
Farmgirl #4053
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
ETSY Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OregonNatural
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Apr 13 2012 : 8:16:07 PM
Jen, Keep us posted how it goes. What a neat project ahead of you, if that is what you decide on. You mentioned dairy, but what kind..cows, goats, ? When will you know if/when it all takes place?
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
"Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better."--Albert Einstein
"A meal of bread, cheese and beer constitutes the perfect food." --Queen Elizabeth I
http://www.etsy.com/shop/StrawHouseDesigns |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Apr 13 2012 : 4:00:37 PM
Rosemary, while those are good ideas; the home is in a tiny, sprawly community about 50 minutes outside of Phoenix, and not heavily regulated. So there won't be a lot of government interference IF we open our food sales to the public, but I don't think they run those types of programs out here. The first goal is supporting the two families (mine and his... which is still mine! LOL) For food product sales we will have to fall under state and county guidelines with which I am already fairly familiar.
The bulk of the work will be converting the mechanics garage building into a dairy barn, demolishing and recycling materials from an even older trailer that's been open to the elements (and animals... YUCK!)and developing the acre of desert dirt and rocks and barbed wire fences in front of the house into a pasture.
Animal pens... coops, stalls, cosmetic work on the living quarters and yard, raised beds, fruit trees are also all on the list.
We've discussed the "rent" going directly into a bank account where the property's fund for improvements grows-- pretty cool idea! The owner is purchasing the land specifically for the water rights... the improvements currently on it and will be added to it are just a bonus.
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
| Rosemary |
Posted - Apr 13 2012 : 10:14:41 AM
Sounds wonderful! What a great opportunity! Be sure to check with your local zoning people & other authorities before committing to an on-site business, though.
As for "development money when we need it," you might want to consider actually selling your development rights, if your county or state has such a program. That way, you get money up front for conserving the land, the land gets conserved (always a good thing), and you can invest the money so that by the time you need it, your money will have grown and will be readily available to you, which might wind up being better if, say, you don't find a buyer when you're ready to sell.
WOuld love to see photos (before and AFTER :) |
| forgetmenot |
Posted - Apr 13 2012 : 09:28:27 AM
Cool beans! Don't things just happen for a reason?
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
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