| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| uphighinco |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 2:19:19 PM
Hi Everyone,
I've been a lurker for a while and of course I'm a big fan of the magazine and this forum. We're currently living in a ski resort and w/the economy being what it is it's finally time after almost 2 decades to move but where to? Here are some wants and I'd love some input.
1. Chef jobs in particular ones that focus on farm to table.
2. Decent growing season, we're at 9,000' so something below 6,000'
3. Good schools, not opposed to homeschooling, but I do have a Kindergartner starting next year.
4. Welcoming, open minded community
5. Inexpensive cost of living. We'll be renting and I'd like to keep rent under $700/mo.
I know this is quite a random post under the welcome wagon but we need to make a move at the end of May. My job ends next week and there's no time to waste...would like to get my seeds in the ground wherever we end up.
Thanks for reading!
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| LeighErica |
Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 10:48:41 AM
My suggestion would be to consider North Dakota...please don't laugh. We just moved to Colorado (military) after living there for 2yrs. Despite the cold weather....they are a state that has not been hit quite as hard by the downturn in the econonmy as the rest of the country. The folks are very welcoming and hardy...they have to be...and the land is gorgeous!!! Despite there being no mountains...it is a treat to the eye to be able to see forever. Crops grown are sunflowers, wheat, flax, canola....etc. We lived in Minot and would recommend settling somewhere closer to Minot, Bismark or Fargo if you need a city close by. The Badlands/Medora area is gorgeous....wild buffalo roam free there and wild horses. We loved it there!! And I would admit that if we had family up there..we would go back and settle...it is a good place to live and raise families. Good luck with whatever you choose....thinking of you, Erica |
| herblady55 |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 6:52:26 PM
Welcome Patti. Glad you joined us!Good luck with your Homestead hunt. Since you don't care for the NE, I won't mention Ohio. LOL
Sister-chick# 905(Sept.14th 2009)
Judy
Hugs&Squeezles!
I am not contained between my hat and my boots! -Walt Whitman-
"Why couldn't I have been born Rich instead of So Good Looking?" |
| Lady Woodworker |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 3:30:58 PM
I don't blame you one bit Patti,
While I have come to love Maine I often say that if I didn't have a great marriage (which I do)
I'd head West!
Good luck in your search. I'll be thinking of you,
Karen
Farmgirl Sister # 2419 |
| Heather B |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 05:00:29 AM
Hi Patti!
I just wanted to give you a welcome and a good luck in your search. Although my DH and I both have jobs with the local school district we too have been looking to relocate to a smaller community here in Colorado. We have family in both the SE and NE area of colorado. The economy and the rat race has us tired and discourged. My hubby was born in boulder county and I've lived here since I was 5.
Heather
http://homesteadincity.blogspot.com/
http://littlehouseonthebumper.blogspot.com/ (My "glamper" page)
"Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty"
Farm Girl Sister #662 |
| fille de ferme |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 03:10:45 AM
Hi Patti & Welcome from Pa. :)
Blessings |
| uphighinco |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 3:59:46 PM
Thanks Karen,
Great input and though Maine seems nice in theory I think we've pretty much ruled out the NE. My husband is the chef I'm the jack of all trades and always can find something to do or sell online. I spent a large part of my childhood in N. Cali and 10 years in So. FL and now almost 2 decades in Colo. I do prefer the west, we are looking at a farming area in Colo. but the population is quite small, good schools, inexpensive rent but no year round employment.
It's a little unsettling to have to move due to economics and though we know some people in this prospective town it's a little scary to establish new roots. |
| Lady Woodworker |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 2:58:37 PM
Hi Patti,
Welcome!
I don't know how far you want to travel or how big of a change you are looking for but I grew up in Illinois and have lived in Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, and now Maine. I have also spent extended periods of time in New Mexico and Vermont. So I'll offer what I can...
1. Chef jobs--farm to table. Maine has a lot of restaurants that are owned by people who also raise their own organic produce and eggs etc.
Portland, Maine is a growing and popular restaurant town. Maine and Vermont are places that seem to have a coop and a farmer's market around every corner (though I'm sure other Farmgirls will chime in with knowledge of this in other states too).
2. Decent growing season. Mid-Maine in particular has fertile farmland. My being from Illinois I can't say that it compares to the black rich farmland that I have seen there and in Wisconsin, but we do have a lot of successful farming and a good community of small farmers in Maine.
3. Good schools. I can't really speak to that too much since I don't have children. Also, Maine is one of the poorest states in the country and I know that schools suffer for it. Although I do know that my township spends oodles on kids (even partially or completely subsidizing private schools through high school) and that it has some very good schools--a lucky thing that does not exist statewide. Also, some of our private colleges, such as Bowdoin, a top-tier college, will meet your financial need, and they are especially interested in educating Maine people who have an interest in staying. UMaine also has many college programs (such as Dentistry and some Nursing programs) that are nearly tuition-free for students who pledge to remain in the state for at least the first few years of their practice.
Massachusetts is known to have a consistently superb school system, preschool through PHD.
4. Welcoming, open-minded community. I find some Mainers to be cold and New England, I think, tends to be a much more reserved place than I am used to. Still, there are many good people here. I find Midwesterners to be the warmest. To me, Maine is frighteningly white but maybe it seems that way to me because I grew up in Illinois, where the melting pot is in full swing. I have made some wonderful friends here in Maine but it still ranks lower in overall warmth than the Midwest and California to my mind.
5. Inexpensive cost of living. I have never found this anywhere I really wanted to live. I have found that plunking myself into a community, people get to know me and soon someone comes forward with a nice apartment that someone's family member will rent inexpensively. Once people know you--they will want to help you.
Are you a single mom? How many children do you have?
I also know of a place near my home that is a school for people who are in transition. They have two tracks: Boat building/woodworking or organic farming. Their apprenticeships are ten months long and the experience is tuition free; you give your labor in exchange for room and board.
They accept ten to twelve apprentices per year and I think they might still be taking applications for the fall (you'd have to move fast though).
If you'd like to know more, let me know.
I hope this helps you--if only just a little.
Best,
Karen
Farmgirl Sister # 2419 |
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