Creek property 100%. Running water and good soil are so key for homesteading! You can put in a culvert to get to the back of the property, and find the highest elevation spot for the house and cleared pasture.
As someone who lives on a mountain with no natural way to get water, I would definitely pick the creek property. There are so many more possibilities when you have a water source, for your gardens, livestock etc. You can't always rely on rain, it could be that you don't get enough one season and then you would have a huge problem, whereas as your father stated, you could build dams and make a series of ponds in the creek. Look for flat space there to build your home which is a way from the road. If you are building a series of ponds you could divert the water enough as to make it easier to build a bridge. Whichever you decide, I am sure you will make a success out of it! Greetings from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
As a fellow homesteader, who is created a property from nothing, I would go for crawdad Creek having that water is invaluable. Not to mention all the timber, the lovely, lush forest I think it’s a no-brainer, crawdad Creek all the way.
Lots of spreading weeds that will take time to rid of. Ticks, bugs attacking garden and pest the animals. There is a creek at Sunny Hill also they could still make a pond and potential to generate income from solar. Open will help with rain catchment as heavy forest not so much. Hill is dryer, the forest is damp.
I've lived Both. I have a small farm place in the next county over that is "crawdad creek". It has a natural water source, is in a valley and is "darker" than our mountain place. The house there is a cabin built in 1860 and was built so that very little sunlight comes in. The ground there is Fertile, there is constant access to water with 2 creeks, a pond, 2 springs, 2 dug wells and a drilled well, and the land is flatter (which in and of itself is a HUGE plus). I currently live on a mountain. I do have decent water here in the form of a well, but I have to be careful with it and I have a very small pond that dries up in a drought season. There is No fertile soil here unless I buy it, build it etc. But the absolute Biggest draw back of the mountain property is that it is a mountain. Chores are 10 times more difficult on a mountain. Gardening on a hillside/slope is difficult. Fences and buildings are more difficult to build, it is more difficult to herd animals up or down a mountain than it is on flat land. Your driveway is more difficult to maintain on a mountain. Erosion is a constant on a mountain. I'm in my 50's now and the older I get the more difficult everything on this mountain property becomes. So IF I were choosing to buy a property, I would choose crawdad creek. You CAN build a bridge to get across the creek there and you can Also build a house that allows maximum light in so that you aren't living in the "dark". I'm one of those people who NEED's sunlight so I understand the need to have the light. You can also harvest some of the timber at crawdad creek and sell it and the creek is a natural and fun place for the kids and You Both said it yourselves, you Feel Good when you are at crawdad creek and isn't that what HOME is all about?
If I had to chose it would be the Creek property , not just for all the water 💦, fertile soil & TREES 🌳 🌳 you can BUILD with, HEAT with & raise animals in, but all the potential tree house/ fort building & all the time kids would spend in the creeks, I don’t know how many acres it includes but if light/ flooding are a concern Build UP, maybe stack a bunch of shipping containers up high off the ground or start w/small portable buildings that later can become guest or teen cabins 😊
As a viewer, I'm way more interested in watching you transform Crawdad Creek than I am watching you add grass and lean-to structures to the Sunny Mountain.
Crawdad Creek has way more potential. You can pick where you want shade in your pastures. You have trees to provide lumber and wood heat. You can have wood pastured pigs, and goats will love the roughage. Your chickens will take care of any ticks. The creek is a guaranteed child entertainer as well as a source of water and power. You have real, virgin, living soil that can provide awesome gardens and pastures immediately; even the branches from cut trees or downed limbs can be the basis for hugelkulture, because you already have dirt to cover them with. It is way easier to cut down trees and remove stumps for pasture than to create enough dirt to grow things in. You have readily available water. The mountain property starts with a minus in all these things; it could take years and lots of labor and money just to get to zero. How long and how much money to create enough dirt for pastures and gardens? I don't see any detriments to Crawdad Creek. Just make sure you build above any potential high water level. For a couple thousand dollars you can rent the equipment needed to pull stumps, or you can hire someone who has their own equipment.
The creek property all the way. It will take sell work and it will get you guys closer to your goal faster. 1) you have water already, a creek running through, plus you can add rain catching system for extra/back up water. You said you wanted to make it easier to water the animals - few small dams when you divide the land for rotational grassing 2) raw land is always best, you have great sail for farming. You can cut down the trees as you need with out destroying the sail. Once top sail is gone it’s hard to rebuild taking years, and in some cases it’s not possible if you are on a hill, it will keep running off. 3) if you are selective in removing trees and opening some areas, it can make sunny spots which will help remove some of the humidity. Try to leaving 2/3 of trees, it will give you and your animals instant shade to cool off = everyone happy. Plus the trees you remove you can use on your property for projects, heat your new home or sell it for extra income. 4) for privacy put in a bridge to go into second half of the property. Leave the trees on the street half, it will give you extra privacy plus you can add some kind of shrub along the street/property line to give an extra privacy. Down the road you can use the street side as an educational site and selling your products if you want.
Those thorny weeds and rocky ground are dealbreakers for me 🙃… if you want to rely on your garden for food, it would take many truckloads and lots of time to get that soil for pasture and garden. -- To pick which trees you want to keep and which you want to get rid of is great! To get the LIGHT you want, chippity choppity those trees down ❤
I love sunny mountain! I think your long term happiness is something to consider if this is your forever homestead. You can make both properties work but imagine yourself sitting on your front porch on sunny mountain looking out at that amazing view.
Crawdad creek gets my vote 😊 takes a long time to grow trees, you can pick and choose which ones to keep or remove. Try to budget a drive-across bridge to get as far from the road as you can. Besides, it looks like the kids are already loving the water. Best of luck to you all!
Agreed. I was wondering how costly it would be to build a bridge over the creek to build the house farther from the road? Also if that was possible, how much effort/work/$ to open up forest to create pasture?
Your dad is a genius, if you like Sunny Mountain, then Put solar panels all over there and sell the excess electric, that would be so much easier than farming ! Valleys are where you farm. Crawdad creek is where you'll find water and deep top soil. It will be cooler in the summers and warmer in the winters. Plus all those trees will be worth a fortune to you to start the farm !
@@Poppy_love59 I am in PA and it does not work out great as far as ROI. It is ideal if you are using the energy that you make, but many solar companies that set up on your land for carbon credits don't do you personally any good. Be careful.
@@kerryfoose3116 I wouldn't use any outside Solar Companies. Businesses require investment in order to make a good return. Too many people think that doing things like opening franchises is a path to good wealth mngmt, I disagree for the same reasons you just stated. Invest in the solar panels and pay any specialist like electricians you need to do the wiring. The law still requires the local utility to pay you at the same rates they charge the customers for any Wattage you supply them.
Number 2! Water is main thing, especially for self sufficiency. Animals won’t be too hot and you have a shield from snow, wind and too much sun. You can always remove trees, but it takes a long time to grow them
My experience is a low topsoil area with few trees and a great view -- so much money invested in feeding the animals, for years. Money and effort in getting that pasture going. The rocks have their perks, but there is a reason that creeks and green areas with moisture and growth are known for fertile farm land.
I have a very small creek that only "runs" when there is flooding rain and is very unimpressive. This is where the "but" comes in it has a few small springs along the way and never goes dry and never freezes. Several years ago we had a record-breaking drought and it almost went dry. There was one small pool of maybe 150 gallons to water 25 cows but it kept up. There was also a strip of grass that remained green all along the creek It is a great resource to never have to water your cows.
Hey Aust, I have been looking for several years. One thing I would recommend is search for properties with the acreage you want AND with a junky modular home on it. Costs LESS most times than raw land and usually have a well and sceptic as well as a concrete pad or two that can be reused.
Water is your most valuable asset. Always. If the creeks are swift, there’s the ability for hydropower. Timber is valuable. And not having to build up soil is a labor and time saver.
Crawdad creek for sure. Build the house across the creek and build a bridge. Beautiful property. The other one looks like a desert and too much work for good soil to planting trees which take a long time and not to mention no water source. Other option is to continue to look at other properties
Falling Waters - build over one of the creeks (LOL). Too dark? Take down some trees. You aren't looking for just a scenic view. Homesteading means livestock. My husband is 80 and I am 73. We are building on a granite ledge, doing all the work ourselves - clearing boulders and trees, putting in driveways, running electric. We do have a two acre hay field, but it needs drainage and reworking from years of packed sod. We can only work on the project for 4 months in the summer, as we are 10 hours away, but we are getting it done. We started by over-hauling a cargo trailer to live in while we build. Are you absolutely certain you can't find another place on that entire Creek property that a dozer and excavator can't get access to (I love running heavy equipment)? The best thing you can do at this point is pray for wisdom and guidance.
IDK which I'd choose. I agree it's about the feeling you get there. I do love the view from Sunny Mountain, and appreciate that it would be great for solar, wind, and even hydro are all possible. Restoring the soil is so very important, but I don't think it's going to be as easy as you think on top of the mountain for all the same reasons. It would be a great place to build a home into the mountain however. The Valley property made me swoon more than I thought it would. I wouldn't normally like valley over mountain, wet over dry. I lost my home in what was called a 500yr flood. However, virgin land with flowing water is a must have foundation for a homestead. I'm from TN and building a bridge over creeks and rivers on private property homes is done often and I actually find it extremely charming. Great place for the kids to go and cast a line to fish from as well. I'd agree I'd want my home off the road as much as possible, but that's very doable. Harvesting the lumber there would most likely give more light, and dry things out a bit. You'd diff want to mange the water, but you have a great resource with your parents. I just see it being a world of resource and beauty. All the water features and uses there of.. the beauty, fishing, hydro, water for animals, gardens, and people. You could even have a water wheel that could cool food, grind meal, and make power. You'll also be able to grow more and farm the woods as you improve on what's all ready there. My vote is for the rich valley, if you can afford both develop the mountain and vacation there. If you buy the valley make sure to hang a good tire swing for the kids! I'm sure you'll make either a happy home so just follow your heart, you'll be putting so much into it, it's only right it should lead the way.
From personal experience, we bought a homestead last year with a creek on it (3 creeks actually that eventually meet into 1) and there's no way we could have come as far as we did in this year if we wouldn't have had that source. My vote goes to Crawdad Creek!
Not sure if either one of these is it! It would be awesome to have a creek but I'm worried about how bad it gets in the wetter months. Look for a better blend of both properties! Anxious to see what you do with it regardless of where you choose.
Crawdad Creek definitely gets my vote! I love water. It is great not only for farming but also for pleasure. Can't you build a bridge over the creek which will open up the land on the other side for the house?
My vote: Creek Property! The water resource and untouched land where you have all the say on how the layout is; absolutely this one. More initial work but lifelong satisfaction.
How many acres is the Creek property?? Being away from the road , having privacy, and security for children is a must. I vote Sunny Mt. The work that’s done for you is huge when it comes to savings. Water deteriorates everything and even if it’s in the budget to maintain bridges to get you where you want deeper inside the creek property there is the additional maintenance of the bridges to ensure access to your homestead. Also, yal mentioned hunting. Have yal been out to see what the deer population is like between the two properties?
Personally, I choose Crawdad Creek. While that section of the creek is wide and deep, is there a section further in that would not necessarily need a bridge? Build a drivable dam with only a small bridge over the spillway overflow. Much better water access and retention. Better soil for gardens and pastures. Let the pigs root around and clear a lot of the underbrush. The Highlands will clear out some of the small stuff, as well. Plentiful source of wood for heating. And possibly lumber for building with a portable mill purchase. And I see better wildlife access through the property. I see winter access issues with Sunny Mountain - getting up there in ice and snow. And that appears to be a granite mountain. Not easy to build soil on solid rock. You will need at least 6" of soil, and every rain will wash away half of your gain each year. You could possibly put your solar and wind system on top of sheds, providing more shade, but the winds will be brutal on top of that mountain in winter. And you can't sell back electricity unless you have access to the grid. How much will that cost to connect to?
Sunny mountain is my vote. I thought I was gonna go with craydad creek but I totally get what Kay is saying the sun is very important for me. I love shade but it the winter I need to have as much sun exposure as possible.
The land is so lush at Crawdad Creek. That's what I would choose. The 2 lands left alone to flourish, tells you exactly what your land will continue to provide you. Build a bridge and build your house on the other side of the property. Open it up for your home location and name it "Sunny Crawdad Creek"
Fresh water... the end. Water is life. Here’s the thing, you MUST consider resources; water, wood, soil. Here on the plains we have only soil... water is only accessible through a well ($20k) and the only wood we have are scarce cottonwoods (homes don’t have fireplaces around here). 200 miles east and we can have water, wood AND soil. It’s amazing all the property people have purchased the last year that lacks resources. If you get one with all 3... that’s golden.
From what I was able to see I would go Crawdad Creek for sure. I didn’t catch the amount of acreage there but I would imagine it is similar in size. That property has tons of potential. Sunny Mountain is beautiful but that creek and forest can go a long way. Whatever you guys end up choosing, I wish you the best in life! 😃❤️
As someone who lives on valley floor in a wind tunnel, I'm not sure I would enjoy living on the top of the mountain being exposed to all the weather systems blowing through, My wind is diurnal marine layer blowing in and out, and sometimes it comes from the north from SF Bay, and sometimes it comes from the south from Monterey Bay. I live in the narrow valley that separates the two watersheds. My soil is deep here, and I have existing mature nut trees on my property which provides windbreaks. I don't get as much wind from weather systems, it's more extreme on the mountain tops surrounding me. You did not mention whether or not the second property is on a southern slope. If it's a northern slope, I would pass on it because of less sun available.
The creek is just beautiful, it takes much longer to grow trees and the trees you cut you can use the wood. Water is life and you do get sun but much less wind. It’s just so beautiful from the start! 👍 I really think farming is much better in the valley
Wow this hit close to home. We just moved from a beautiful creek front property to a mountaintop property. There were many similar factors in place like you guys have to decide. By far and away the biggest factor for us was sun. With no sun on our cabin in the dark days of winter on a north slope, we just needed it for our mental, emotional, and physical well being. It was a tough decision, but I am absolutely loving the views! The sunrise/sunsets add a different view every single day. Best wishes either way! Love from Oregon. -Robert
After living 8years in a wet wooded area and dealing with mold, lots of rain, sometimes flooding and just the dark dank feel we moved to an open hilly countryside with lots of sun. We are working to build up our soil for our homestead. We do have two ponds for water- you guys would have to work on that fairly quickly. Anyways my vote is for sunny mountain- we are sooo much happier now that we have more open rolling land. The animals seem to be thriving better here too - now that’s it’s a little drier with more grass and sun.
i love Crawdad Creek because it lets you decide how much native untouched beauty you keep. to have that secluded little creek to sit down by and just be in the super oxygenated forest, its a beautiful thing. And you can always rent the equipment to clear and sell or build with the lumber resource from your own land!
While the mountain has a beautiful view I think the creek may be a better canvas for you to build a place you love it will take more work/resources though to build it.
I'm not even sure it would take more work and resources. It may take more to begin with but on the mountain property it's going to take a lot of work to build up the soil and then it will be a constant never ending battle against the wind and erosion to maintain that soil. The creek location has more initial work in the form of building a bridge over the creek and cutting down trees but once it's set up the way they want it's going to be much lower maintenance. The constant exposure to every weather system that passes by that the top of that hill/mountain is going to endure is going to ensure non stop long term problems that have to be fixed.
My husband and I purchased all wooded land in the mountains of PA less than a year ago. It has one really good creek, one smaller creek and at least a couple springs. We recently finished adding a driveway to the building area sites. It is over 800 ft long. My husband and neighbors dropped the trees, and we paid an excavator to dig out the driveway due to the complexity of the driveway right off the road and grade changes. We love it. Highly recommend the woods and creek any day. When we visit, we stay off grid and use a camper with a generator. We always are seeing the wildlife, countless deer. It's become our happy place. Our future goal with it is a homestead. We are also going cash only so it will be a slow process. Thanks for the videos! They are helpful as we plan out our future dream.
Definitely build a bridge and place the house on the other side. Watch Arm's Family Homestead. They have a bridge over their creek. Their place is gorgeous! Pedestrian bridge for when the water is too high, and cement pad under the creek water in driveway.
Crawdad Creek. It has more of what you need out of the gate. You might be able to sell the wood to offset some cost, less windy vs. the top of a mountain. Build the bridge.
Crawdad Creek. No doubt, #2. It would take years to plant and grow the beautiful trees. Also for any future animals-they will be so much cooler with the shade from the trees.
I have to say the one with the creek I love the other one but building up soil yes it can be done but that’s so time consuming and what happens if u have a crazy rain that wash’s it all away again. The second property is just so nice and raw
I wouldn't like being near the road but, if you could find a spot on the other side of the creek and make it accessible...that would be my choice. I'm from Louisiana and just the name pulls the strings of my heart and the shade is so important here in the south because of the heat. Of course, that's not an issue for you so much. Also, it seems to me that you could make some extra money by logging some of the woods. I bless you and pray that the right choice will be in both of your hearts. That it will be made plain to you both.
Keep looking. The mountain top will have more weather challenges. You won’t have good soil for 8-10 years. Not enough for big animals. Not enough water. A well will be very deep and expensive. I don’t see the road as a big con. Easy on a snow blower operator. Cut trees. Darkness lightened. But wet is hard on sod with big heavy animals. Keep looking.
Build that bridge! That place is absolutely idyllic. Running water is such and awesome resource! I love how lush it is there. Clear some trees for sun and away you go 😊
Pass on both one is to wet the other your going to freeze in the winter and water will forever be a problem and it will take years and years to build top soil
In Washington State, where I live, there's no way you'd be allowed to build a dam and store/redirect water. Also, there's a required setback from any groundwater source for livestock in most areas. Maybe it's less restrictive where you are, but I'd check into that! Good luck, they both have lots of potential!
@@SagebrushRambles Washington and Oregon have some of the most restrictive laws when it comes to Homesteading, if you're going to Homestead unless you have more personal reasons those are not the states to do it in.
I would choose Crawdad Creek as well. Woods can be used for so much. Lumber to build with and a heat source. The creek makes the property worth so much more than the other property. Use the trees you clear to create the bridge(s). I see way more potential in the creek property.
I would definitely pick up the creek property, it's a rougher path but cheaper . removing tree will dry the land a lot, you could build the dam so you could go wuth your car on it so you could put your house further. You might have to start pasturize the wood with pig, but i think it's easier to select what tree stay than planting new one! you probably have a lot of nut tree in that wood (another plus)
For me the view on the mountain top is stunning, but with the benefits of water and soil at the creek, it's worth the change. Also, at Crawdad creek, the woods give you a view of what you have, whereas the mountain pulls you view to what you don't have. Creek 1000%
Number 1 is major work and time rebuilding the soil on hard compacted dirt to make any kind of pasture for the animals to eat , are you going to feed them hay for the first few years until any kind of soil is established ? . Number 2 is easier to clear some trees for more sun and to dry out the land and is less work and time to get all you want in a farm , there is no contest for me , I vote number 2 land , I will be along for the ride what ever property you guys choose , blessings.
You didn't say how many acres the Creek property had. I think I would take some time to build across the creek where you feel better about building. I'm from Colorado I live right under pikes peak I love the mountains. I feel lost without the mountains but not having water and dealing with water solutions all the time. I would go with the creek. And everything they're saying about global warming you should think about more the water. You can clear out some of them trees have great growing property (gardens, fruit trees etc.) Nice pastures. You might have to take extra care for parasites and foot problems. But you take really good care of your animals anyway. You can open up places where it would be sunny and you won't feel so close in. Probably get a good hunting. But again you can go and hunt. You can stock your creeks. But it's really hard to get water where there is none. That's my opinion.
Crawdad Creek As a permaculturist, it has water where you can get at it. You have a soil biome instead of needing 5 years and / or lots of earth works. You can clear trees to make your sun traps. Having your initial home near the road can be mitigated with planting. Go smal and it becomes a place for young adults after you built a crossed the waterway. I do not like the cleared mountain top due to the erosion. I am biased though being based in the maritime Pac NW. And we are looking at timbered property because we want to demonstrate how you fix it. The place we are looking at has a barn, well, septic, small home, is just off a main road and we don't have large critters yet. It's been recently timbered and has about 15 acres in hay but it has been seriously damaged. Crawdad creek has more options for silvopasture and agroforestry without the repair. You have hydro potential even with a drought, pumping water around and over Sunny Mountain will be a hassel. Sunny mountain road was cut in for logging ease and the drainage wasn't designed to retain the water and perk it into the soil hence erosion issues are a high potential. I do not specialize in your climate, would really want to see topo maps, and get better assessment of standing vegetation before I say more. If you want to get to STUN level, go with the creek, if you want quick fix but sustained inputs go with mountain. Both are a lot of work to get where you want. Creek will have those 19th century big trees faster than if you need to plant them as seedling on the mountain in sun baked water eroded dirt . It's already having mature pioneer species.
Both are good properties. If K is going to be unhappy with it being dark and the lack of privacy I would go with the one she wants. What is the other property like during the season when it is more rainy? if you think it's wet now it will be twice as wet in the rainy season.
I was sure I would choose Crawdad Creek, but after seeing both properties, I think I would choose Sunny Mountain. Creeks are wonderful as long as they don't flood you out. The peaceful feeling on the mountain was priceless.🌞
Love Crawdad Creek. Water is so important and the fertile soil. I hope that you can build the bridge. We live off a now busy road and I hate all the noise. It was a quiet road when we moved here. Good luck and can't wait to watch you grow your new homestead. 😁
For water needs and the wilderness feeling, I would choose Crawdad Creek. Just listening to the creek is awesome! Water is #1 so I would have to choose this one! Sorry Sunny Mountain!
Listening to the creek was great until a car drove past and drowned it out. His saying "All you can hear is the water" was not actually fact. The creek is right by the road. They would have to build right by the road so that water sound is a moot point.
Love the sunny mountain!!! But lack of water is really scary for me. And rocky soil is really hard to work with. In all honesty I think either property will be amazing and troubling. Whatever you pick it will be good. Love seeing your parents on camera! I honestly want to call them!
I would pick the Crawdad Creek. It seems more "alive". Although the mountain has a beautiful view of the other mountains, the forest is just as beautiful. I think it has better resources.
Property #1 - 1st, how can you bank and sell excess solar power? 2nd ponds dry up sometimes. With the new unpredictability of the weather, drought is a real possibility. But the land is breathtakingly beautiful. 2nd property is not as gorgeous now, but has the most potential to become one with the least potential for problems. Thanks for sharing
Climate/weather has always been unpredictable. Somehow everything that has happened for ever is now attributed to climate change. Humans are an odd lot.
Easy, Crawdad Creek. The hardest parts to fix on Weed Mountain are already there; water & soil. Easy to bring in sun and you can control where with controlled cutting which is faster and cheaper than planting a tree or building shade buildings. No brainer for me unless there is significant in size or price difference.
Love both properties. Sunny Mountain... You can add soil at possibly at $$, growing trees where there are none is a long process. Using solar does have a plus. View amazing, but soil absent, and that will definately take some time and money, that one is hard. Crawfish Creek... Boggy shady land is hard, but it's easier to remove selected trees and use the lumber to build a bridge! You can possibly reroute streams to where large animals graze and over time the sun and water will be perfect. Both great properties, for me its preference in the work, building soil is hard. Crawfish Creek for me.
#2 Where there is natural resources of raw soil & water = perfect homestead! I grewup on fertile soil on a dairy farm. Now retired, I live in clay soil country, with shale rock beneath the surface ugh (no basements & no root Cellar). You can build main buildings on higher elevation, and have day pastures below along the creek (incase, of possible spring flooding) Animals need lots of grazing and have plenty of fresh water. You can incorporate into organic forest gardening / planting fields. 🌳 🌲 Someone mention selling off section of trees cut, to offset expenses. Can install portal, adjustable solar units on trailer bed to take advantage of seasons. Look at big picture!!
I would jump at the chance for property #2 Crawdad Creek looks amazing now and imagine looking into the future will only be better. I think either property you guys would make work. I just think #2 would be more satisfying sooner to what you want to do. Clearing the trees can either provide immediate cash or wood for projects or for both.
I think in the end Crawdad creek is what I would choose. Water is so important...and the animals would be such a help when it comes to clearing things.
As beautiful as no. 1 property is the bareness is a no go. Property 2; water is life, clear the trees, build that bridge to put that house where you will live the rest of your life, do it while you are young. Trees take forever to grow, selectively timber and use for wood heat down the road, manage the forest, clear for pastures and shelters and of course gardens. We had property in WV and loved it but being in a holler it would get dark very early so we built our cabin up higher in a clearing and so glad we did. Can't wait to hear your decision and good luck.
I vote for 2 . The forest land is set for gardening and the soil is ready. The trees will come in handy to build your home. Get a log cutting and make your own wood. Hunting .
Definitely the creek...water brings so much opportunity for energy, animals and growing. Clear some forest and you'll get sunshine to enjoy. Can you build further up the property?
I would take the creek property in a heartbeat. Lowlands generally is better soil. Adding the culvert as other say fix the access issue. All that timberland!
Between these two, crawdad creek. You won’t hear the road after a day living there. I use to live by a decent size airport in CA. I hardly heard it most of the time.
With the value of the timber and the skills and vision I have in homesteading I would choose crawdad creek natural flowing water is a make or break on a homestead for so many reasons making ponds can be house for natural irrigation for gardens and white the right setup and planning where the house goes will be a big bonus to a rain catchment system.
Water always wins. The ground is great for pastures. The mountain will provide little coverage from the wind and heat for the animals. Creating a good top soil from rock will take years.
This would be hard for me to pick also, although I love the sun and all its energy, the wooded land with the creek would be the best choice , just put the house a sunny location and clear the pastures out for both sun and shade parts, to please everyone !! Best of luck, I cant wait to hear and see what you do !!
We have a friend here in central Alabama with beautiful property in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. His property has a beautiful creek and wooded areas. He also has some wonderful cleared areas for a large garden…… but…… when we get a rainy season, he is trapped on his property. You have wonderful experienced help making sure your property can handle the overflow when you have an especially wet season. Bothe properties are beautiful! Good Luck!
i love the way your dad thinks. I live in a gully, and he pegged the idea I had for my property, which I have yet to implement - the stepped dams. I've lived here for 15 years, and I can tell you a few things. Noise travels in a valley, in ways you wouldn't normally predict. So you could go to the expense of putting in a bridge to build on the other side, to get away from the road - and the noise travels up the hill, as if you're living right next to it. But that all depends, because you can get some really quite places in the valley too. My point is, a sloping property, with land masses skirting on either side, won't be predictable like a flat one. Noise travels different, water velocity is more damaging, then there are shadows altering sun exposure. I think all those things can work in your favour, if you can wrangle a permaculture designer in to do it for you. I can tell you right now, Geoff Lawton and Bill Mollison, would go for Austin's property, but Joel Salitin would go for Kay's. They're all skilled at what they know to draw from a piece of land. Here's what I think you should be planning for though - which property will allow the use of machinery to manage it, the best as you age?There will come a point you NEED machinery to help manage the property. Not want, but actually NEED. Access to your property, is the most important aspect of a property. It doesn't matter what natural features and other elements it has going for it, if you cannot access it to use it. My recommendation for either property, is to introduce nitrogen fixing, browse trees for your cows, as a future drought-proofing measure. A tree can survive a dry spell, better than a pasture can. Combining these too forms of feed (browse and pasture) for your cows, will stave off hay bales, in the dry. See Geoff Lawton's video on converting browse into milk, for ideas - th-cam.com/video/k7Ft3CzMEac/w-d-xo.html
Sunny mountain. You will be able to figure out the water situation and restore the soil. Plus the view is gorgeous. That alone will help the value of the land appreciate over the years, and ticks and Lyme disease are possible problems. Plus improving the valley is likely to be more expensive. The creek area is going to be damp no matter how many trees you clear,
Creek property 100%. Running water and good soil are so key for homesteading! You can put in a culvert to get to the back of the property, and find the highest elevation spot for the house and cleared pasture.
As someone who lives on a mountain with no natural way to get water, I would definitely pick the creek property. There are so many more possibilities when you have a water source, for your gardens, livestock etc. You can't always rely on rain, it could be that you don't get enough one season and then you would have a huge problem, whereas as your father stated, you could build dams and make a series of ponds in the creek. Look for flat space there to build your home which is a way from the road. If you are building a series of ponds you could divert the water enough as to make it easier to build a bridge.
Whichever you decide, I am sure you will make a success out of it! Greetings from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Water but not a flood zone.
As a fellow homesteader, who is created a property from nothing, I would go for crawdad Creek having that water is invaluable. Not to mention all the timber, the lovely, lush forest I think it’s a no-brainer, crawdad Creek all the way.
Lots of spreading weeds that will take time to rid of. Ticks, bugs attacking garden and pest the animals. There is a creek at Sunny Hill also they could still make a pond and potential to generate income from solar. Open will help with rain catchment as heavy forest not so much. Hill is dryer, the forest is damp.
My vote is number 2. Water available. And you can always remove trees and sell the lumber. Better soil. Solar can go anywhere. Less wind.
Looks much better for the animals too.
@@cooperyoung1928 Wild and domesticated, just be watchful for predators, have high fence lines and bury your hardware cloth fencing about a foot deep.
Location, Location, location... water is soooo important! Also it's way faster to cut down trees, then to wait till they grow. I vote for crawdad ❤
I've lived Both. I have a small farm place in the next county over that is "crawdad creek". It has a natural water source, is in a valley and is "darker" than our mountain place. The house there is a cabin built in 1860 and was built so that very little sunlight comes in. The ground there is Fertile, there is constant access to water with 2 creeks, a pond, 2 springs, 2 dug wells and a drilled well, and the land is flatter (which in and of itself is a HUGE plus). I currently live on a mountain. I do have decent water here in the form of a well, but I have to be careful with it and I have a very small pond that dries up in a drought season. There is No fertile soil here unless I buy it, build it etc. But the absolute Biggest draw back of the mountain property is that it is a mountain. Chores are 10 times more difficult on a mountain. Gardening on a hillside/slope is difficult. Fences and buildings are more difficult to build, it is more difficult to herd animals up or down a mountain than it is on flat land. Your driveway is more difficult to maintain on a mountain. Erosion is a constant on a mountain. I'm in my 50's now and the older I get the more difficult everything on this mountain property becomes. So IF I were choosing to buy a property, I would choose crawdad creek. You CAN build a bridge to get across the creek there and you can Also build a house that allows maximum light in so that you aren't living in the "dark". I'm one of those people who NEED's sunlight so I understand the need to have the light. You can also harvest some of the timber at crawdad creek and sell it and the creek is a natural and fun place for the kids and You Both said it yourselves, you Feel Good when you are at crawdad creek and isn't that what HOME is all about?
If I had to chose it would be the Creek property , not just for all the water 💦, fertile soil & TREES 🌳 🌳 you can BUILD with, HEAT with & raise animals in, but all the potential tree house/ fort building & all the time kids would spend in the creeks, I don’t know how many acres it includes but if light/ flooding are a concern Build UP, maybe stack a bunch of shipping containers up high off the ground or start w/small portable buildings that later can become guest or teen cabins 😊
As a viewer, I'm way more interested in watching you transform Crawdad Creek than I am watching you add grass and lean-to structures to the Sunny Mountain.
This^^^^!
Crawdad Creek has way more potential. You can pick where you want shade in your pastures. You have trees to provide lumber and wood heat. You can have wood pastured pigs, and goats will love the roughage. Your chickens will take care of any ticks. The creek is a guaranteed child entertainer as well as a source of water and power. You have real, virgin, living soil that can provide awesome gardens and pastures immediately; even the branches from cut trees or downed limbs can be the basis for hugelkulture, because you already have dirt to cover them with. It is way easier to cut down trees and remove stumps for pasture than to create enough dirt to grow things in. You have readily available water. The mountain property starts with a minus in all these things; it could take years and lots of labor and money just to get to zero. How long and how much money to create enough dirt for pastures and gardens? I don't see any detriments to Crawdad Creek. Just make sure you build above any potential high water level. For a couple thousand dollars you can rent the equipment needed to pull stumps, or you can hire someone who has their own equipment.
The creek property all the way. It will take sell work and it will get you guys closer to your goal faster.
1) you have water already, a creek running through, plus you can add rain catching system for extra/back up water. You said you wanted to make it easier to water the animals - few small dams when you divide the land for rotational grassing
2) raw land is always best, you have great sail for farming. You can cut down the trees as you need with out destroying the sail. Once top sail is gone it’s hard to rebuild taking years, and in some cases it’s not possible if you are on a hill, it will keep running off.
3) if you are selective in removing trees and opening some areas, it can make sunny spots which will help remove some of the humidity. Try to leaving 2/3 of trees, it will give you and your animals instant shade to cool off = everyone happy. Plus the trees you remove you can use on your property for projects, heat your new home or sell it for extra income.
4) for privacy put in a bridge to go into second half of the property. Leave the trees on the street half, it will give you extra privacy plus you can add some kind of shrub along the street/property line to give an extra privacy. Down the road you can use the street side as an educational site and selling your products if you want.
Those thorny weeds and rocky ground are dealbreakers for me 🙃… if you want to rely on your garden for food, it would take many truckloads and lots of time to get that soil for pasture and garden.
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To pick which trees you want to keep and which you want to get rid of is great! To get the LIGHT you want, chippity choppity those trees down ❤
I love sunny mountain! I think your long term happiness is something to consider if this is your forever homestead. You can make both properties work but imagine yourself sitting on your front porch on sunny mountain looking out at that amazing view.
Creek property all the way. It's beautiful. All the shade, the grass, the possibilities
Crawdad creek gets my vote 😊 takes a long time to grow trees, you can pick and choose which ones to keep or remove. Try to budget a drive-across bridge to get as far from the road as you can. Besides, it looks like the kids are already loving the water. Best of luck to you all!
Agreed. I was wondering how costly it would be to build a bridge over the creek to build the house farther from the road? Also if that was possible, how much effort/work/$ to open up forest to create pasture?
Your dad is a genius, if you like Sunny Mountain, then Put solar panels all over there and sell the excess electric, that would be so much easier than farming ! Valleys are where you farm. Crawdad creek is where you'll find water and deep top soil. It will be cooler in the summers and warmer in the winters. Plus all those trees will be worth a fortune to you to start the farm !
Electric companies don't pay all that much for your excess electricity. It takes years just to break even.
@@robinlillian9471 They pay the same rate you pay. 1 year on a solar panel will be pay it off!
@@Poppy_love59 Depends on the state.
@@Poppy_love59 I am in PA and it does not work out great as far as ROI. It is ideal if you are using the energy that you make, but many solar companies that set up on your land for carbon credits don't do you personally any good. Be careful.
@@kerryfoose3116 I wouldn't use any outside Solar Companies. Businesses require investment in order to make a good return. Too many people think that doing things like opening franchises is a path to good wealth mngmt, I disagree for the same reasons you just stated. Invest in the solar panels and pay any specialist like electricians you need to do the wiring. The law still requires the local utility to pay you at the same rates they charge the customers for any Wattage you supply them.
Number 2! Water is main thing, especially for self sufficiency. Animals won’t be too hot and you have a shield from snow, wind and too much sun. You can always remove trees, but it takes a long time to grow them
My experience is a low topsoil area with few trees and a great view -- so much money invested in feeding the animals, for years. Money and effort in getting that pasture going. The rocks have their perks, but there is a reason that creeks and green areas with moisture and growth are known for fertile farm land.
Either one I will enjoy watching Ur progress, on the Rd to making Ur dream farm. 🖖🏡
I have a very small creek that only "runs" when there is flooding rain and is very unimpressive. This is where the "but" comes in it has a few small springs along the way and never goes dry and never freezes. Several years ago we had a record-breaking drought and it almost went dry. There was one small pool of maybe 150 gallons to water 25 cows but it kept up. There was also a strip of grass that remained green all along the creek It is a great resource to never have to water your cows.
Hey Aust, I have been looking for several years. One thing I would recommend is search for properties with the acreage you want AND with a junky modular home on it. Costs LESS most times than raw land and usually have a well and sceptic as well as a concrete pad or two that can be reused.
That is kinda what we did.
Crappy double wide, fantastic shop.
Water is your most valuable asset. Always. If the creeks are swift, there’s the ability for hydropower. Timber is valuable. And not having to build up soil is a labor and time saver.
Crawdad creek for sure. Build the house across the creek and build a bridge. Beautiful property. The other one looks like a desert and too much work for good soil to planting trees which take a long time and not to mention no water source. Other option is to continue to look at other properties
Falling Waters - build over one of the creeks (LOL). Too dark? Take down some trees. You aren't looking for just a scenic view. Homesteading means livestock. My husband is 80 and I am 73. We are building on a granite ledge, doing all the work ourselves - clearing boulders and trees, putting in driveways, running electric. We do have a two acre hay field, but it needs drainage and reworking from years of packed sod. We can only work on the project for 4 months in the summer, as we are 10 hours away, but we are getting it done. We started by over-hauling a cargo trailer to live in while we build. Are you absolutely certain you can't find another place on that entire Creek property that a dozer and excavator can't get access to (I love running heavy equipment)? The best thing you can do at this point is pray for wisdom and guidance.
IDK which I'd choose. I agree it's about the feeling you get there. I do love the view from Sunny Mountain, and appreciate that it would be great for solar, wind, and even hydro are all possible. Restoring the soil is so very important, but I don't think it's going to be as easy as you think on top of the mountain for all the same reasons. It would be a great place to build a home into the mountain however. The Valley property made me swoon more than I thought it would. I wouldn't normally like valley over mountain, wet over dry. I lost my home in what was called a 500yr flood. However, virgin land with flowing water is a must have foundation for a homestead. I'm from TN and building a bridge over creeks and rivers on private property homes is done often and I actually find it extremely charming. Great place for the kids to go and cast a line to fish from as well. I'd agree I'd want my home off the road as much as possible, but that's very doable. Harvesting the lumber there would most likely give more light, and dry things out a bit. You'd diff want to mange the water, but you have a great resource with your parents. I just see it being a world of resource and beauty. All the water features and uses there of.. the beauty, fishing, hydro, water for animals, gardens, and people. You could even have a water wheel that could cool food, grind meal, and make power. You'll also be able to grow more and farm the woods as you improve on what's all ready there. My vote is for the rich valley, if you can afford both develop the mountain and vacation there. If you buy the valley make sure to hang a good tire swing for the kids! I'm sure you'll make either a happy home so just follow your heart, you'll be putting so much into it, it's only right it should lead the way.
From personal experience, we bought a homestead last year with a creek on it (3 creeks actually that eventually meet into 1) and there's no way we could have come as far as we did in this year if we wouldn't have had that source. My vote goes to Crawdad Creek!
Not sure if either one of these is it! It would be awesome to have a creek but I'm worried about how bad it gets in the wetter months. Look for a better blend of both properties! Anxious to see what you do with it regardless of where you choose.
Crawdad Creek definitely gets my vote! I love water. It is great not only for farming but also for pleasure. Can't you build a bridge over the creek which will open up the land on the other side for the house?
My vote: Creek Property! The water resource and untouched land where you have all the say on how the layout is; absolutely this one. More initial work but lifelong satisfaction.
How many acres is the Creek property?? Being away from the road , having privacy, and security for children is a must. I vote Sunny Mt. The work that’s done for you is huge when it comes to savings. Water deteriorates everything and even if it’s in the budget to maintain bridges to get you where you want deeper inside the creek property there is the additional maintenance of the bridges to ensure access to your homestead. Also, yal mentioned hunting. Have yal been out to see what the deer population is like between the two properties?
Personally, I choose Crawdad Creek. While that section of the creek is wide and deep, is there a section further in that would not necessarily need a bridge? Build a drivable dam with only a small bridge over the spillway overflow. Much better water access and retention. Better soil for gardens and pastures. Let the pigs root around and clear a lot of the underbrush. The Highlands will clear out some of the small stuff, as well. Plentiful source of wood for heating. And possibly lumber for building with a portable mill purchase. And I see better wildlife access through the property. I see winter access issues with Sunny Mountain - getting up there in ice and snow. And that appears to be a granite mountain. Not easy to build soil on solid rock. You will need at least 6" of soil, and every rain will wash away half of your gain each year. You could possibly put your solar and wind system on top of sheds, providing more shade, but the winds will be brutal on top of that mountain in winter. And you can't sell back electricity unless you have access to the grid. How much will that cost to connect to?
Sunny mountain is my vote. I thought I was gonna go with craydad creek but I totally get what Kay is saying the sun is very important for me. I love shade but it the winter I need to have as much sun exposure as possible.
The land is so lush at Crawdad Creek. That's what I would choose. The 2 lands left alone to flourish, tells you exactly what your land will continue to provide you. Build a bridge and build your house on the other side of the property. Open it up for your home location and name it "Sunny Crawdad Creek"
Loving the creek! My immediate reaction was complete awe! I wouldn’t like how close it is to the road
I have farmed both hills and valleys. Valley will always out produce a hill. Live water is the most valuable thing you can have on a property.
Fresh water... the end. Water is life. Here’s the thing, you MUST consider resources; water, wood, soil. Here on the plains we have only soil... water is only accessible through a well ($20k) and the only wood we have are scarce cottonwoods (homes don’t have fireplaces around here).
200 miles east and we can have water, wood AND soil. It’s amazing all the property people have purchased the last year that lacks resources. If you get one with all 3... that’s golden.
From what I was able to see I would go Crawdad Creek for sure. I didn’t catch the amount of acreage there but I would imagine it is similar in size. That property has tons of potential. Sunny Mountain is beautiful but that creek and forest can go a long way. Whatever you guys end up choosing, I wish you the best in life! 😃❤️
As someone who lives on valley floor in a wind tunnel, I'm not sure I would enjoy living on the top of the mountain being exposed to all the weather systems blowing through, My wind is diurnal marine layer blowing in and out, and sometimes it comes from the north from SF Bay, and sometimes it comes from the south from Monterey Bay. I live in the narrow valley that separates the two watersheds. My soil is deep here, and I have existing mature nut trees on my property which provides windbreaks. I don't get as much wind from weather systems, it's more extreme on the mountain tops surrounding me. You did not mention whether or not the second property is on a southern slope. If it's a northern slope, I would pass on it because of less sun available.
The creek is just beautiful, it takes much longer to grow trees and the trees you cut you can use the wood. Water is life and you do get sun but much less wind. It’s just so beautiful from the start! 👍
I really think farming is much better in the valley
Wow this hit close to home. We just moved from a beautiful creek front property to a mountaintop property. There were many similar factors in place like you guys have to decide. By far and away the biggest factor for us was sun. With no sun on our cabin in the dark days of winter on a north slope, we just needed it for our mental, emotional, and physical well being. It was a tough decision, but I am absolutely loving the views! The sunrise/sunsets add a different view every single day. Best wishes either way! Love from Oregon. -Robert
After living 8years in a wet wooded area and dealing with mold, lots of rain, sometimes flooding and just the dark dank feel we moved to an open hilly countryside with lots of sun. We are working to build up our soil for our homestead. We do have two ponds for water- you guys would have to work on that fairly quickly.
Anyways my vote is for sunny mountain- we are sooo much happier now that we have more open rolling land. The animals seem to be thriving better here too - now that’s it’s a little drier with more grass and sun.
i love Crawdad Creek because it lets you decide how much native untouched beauty you keep. to have that secluded little creek to sit down by and just be in the super oxygenated forest, its a beautiful thing. And you can always rent the equipment to clear and sell or build with the lumber resource from your own land!
Water is so important. You can clear the trees for sunlight
I would def want property #2 !! It's beautiful and you have your own woods ! In the times we live in now you may need that wood to heat your home.
While the mountain has a beautiful view I think the creek may be a better canvas for you to build a place you love it will take more work/resources though to build it.
Better canvas. Love that! So true!
I'm not even sure it would take more work and resources. It may take more to begin with but on the mountain property it's going to take a lot of work to build up the soil and then it will be a constant never ending battle against the wind and erosion to maintain that soil. The creek location has more initial work in the form of building a bridge over the creek and cutting down trees but once it's set up the way they want it's going to be much lower maintenance. The constant exposure to every weather system that passes by that the top of that hill/mountain is going to endure is going to ensure non stop long term problems that have to be fixed.
My husband and I purchased all wooded land in the mountains of PA less than a year ago. It has one really good creek, one smaller creek and at least a couple springs. We recently finished adding a driveway to the building area sites. It is over 800 ft long. My husband and neighbors dropped the trees, and we paid an excavator to dig out the driveway due to the complexity of the driveway right off the road and grade changes. We love it. Highly recommend the woods and creek any day. When we visit, we stay off grid and use a camper with a generator. We always are seeing the wildlife, countless deer. It's become our happy place. Our future goal with it is a homestead. We are also going cash only so it will be a slow process. Thanks for the videos! They are helpful as we plan out our future dream.
Definitely build a bridge and place the house on the other side. Watch Arm's Family Homestead. They have a bridge over their creek. Their place is gorgeous! Pedestrian bridge for when the water is too high, and cement pad under the creek water in driveway.
Sunny mountain! I too love the sun and the warmth. It’s so healing!
Crawdad Creek. It has more of what you need out of the gate. You might be able to sell the wood to offset some cost, less windy vs. the top of a mountain. Build the bridge.
Crawdad Creek. No doubt, #2. It would take years to plant and grow the beautiful trees. Also for any future animals-they will be so much cooler with the shade from the trees.
my vote is for crawdad creek. It is so beautiful; so green and the soil will be amazing. Once you clear some of the trees it won't be as dark.
I have to say the one with the creek I love the other one but building up soil yes it can be done but that’s so time consuming and what happens if u have a crazy rain that wash’s it all away again. The second property is just so nice and raw
I wouldn't like being near the road but, if you could find a spot on the other side of the creek and make it accessible...that would be my choice. I'm from Louisiana and just the name pulls the strings of my heart and the shade is so important here in the south because of the heat. Of course, that's not an issue for you so much. Also, it seems to me that you could make some extra money by logging some of the woods. I bless you and pray that the right choice will be in both of your hearts. That it will be made plain to you both.
Keep looking. The mountain top will have more weather challenges. You won’t have good soil for 8-10 years. Not enough for big animals. Not enough water. A well will be very deep and expensive.
I don’t see the road as a big con. Easy on a snow blower operator. Cut trees. Darkness lightened. But wet is hard on sod with big heavy animals.
Keep looking.
Sunny mountain would have wind. Trust me, I live on a sunny mountain and you will come to HATE the wind. I vote for the valley.
Build that bridge! That place is absolutely idyllic. Running water is such and awesome resource! I love how lush it is there. Clear some trees for sun and away you go 😊
Man, this is a real tough decision. Financially, Sunny Mountain. But my heart is loving Crawdad Creek. Sending lots of prayers your way!
Pass on both one is to wet the other your going to freeze in the winter and water will forever be a problem and it will take years and years to build top soil
In Washington State, where I live, there's no way you'd be allowed to build a dam and store/redirect water. Also, there's a required setback from any groundwater source for livestock in most areas. Maybe it's less restrictive where you are, but I'd check into that! Good luck, they both have lots of potential!
Great points. I'm in Oregon and it's the same here.
@@SagebrushRambles Washington and Oregon have some of the most restrictive laws when it comes to Homesteading, if you're going to Homestead unless you have more personal reasons those are not the states to do it in.
I would choose Crawdad Creek as well. Woods can be used for so much. Lumber to build with and a heat source. The creek makes the property worth so much more than the other property. Use the trees you clear to create the bridge(s). I see way more potential in the creek property.
I would definitely pick up the creek property, it's a rougher path but cheaper . removing tree will dry the land a lot, you could build the dam so you could go wuth your car on it so you could put your house further. You might have to start pasturize the wood with pig, but i think it's easier to select what tree stay than planting new one! you probably have a lot of nut tree in that wood (another plus)
For me the view on the mountain top is stunning, but with the benefits of water and soil at the creek, it's worth the change. Also, at Crawdad creek, the woods give you a view of what you have, whereas the mountain pulls you view to what you don't have. Creek 1000%
Crawdad Creek would be my pick but both prperties look amazing.
Number 1 is major work and time rebuilding the soil on hard compacted dirt to make any kind of pasture for the animals to eat , are you going to feed them hay for the first few years until any kind of soil is established ? . Number 2 is easier to clear some trees for more sun and to dry out the land and is less work and time to get all you want in a farm , there is no contest for me , I vote number 2 land , I will be along for the ride what ever property you guys choose , blessings.
You didn't say how many acres the Creek property had. I think I would take some time to build across the creek where you feel better about building. I'm from Colorado I live right under pikes peak I love the mountains. I feel lost without the mountains but not having water and dealing with water solutions all the time. I would go with the creek. And everything they're saying about global warming you should think about more the water. You can clear out some of them trees have great growing property (gardens, fruit trees etc.) Nice pastures. You might have to take extra care for parasites and foot problems. But you take really good care of your animals anyway. You can open up places where it would be sunny and you won't feel so close in. Probably get a good hunting. But again you can go and hunt. You can stock your creeks. But it's really hard to get water where there is none. That's my opinion.
Crawdad Creek
As a permaculturist, it has water where you can get at it. You have a soil biome instead of needing 5 years and / or lots of earth works. You can clear trees to make your sun traps. Having your initial home near the road can be mitigated with planting. Go smal and it becomes a place for young adults after you built a crossed the waterway. I do not like the cleared mountain top due to the erosion.
I am biased though being based in the maritime Pac NW. And we are looking at timbered property because we want to demonstrate how you fix it. The place we are looking at has a barn, well, septic, small home, is just off a main road and we don't have large critters yet. It's been recently timbered and has about 15 acres in hay but it has been seriously damaged.
Crawdad creek has more options for silvopasture and agroforestry without the repair. You have hydro potential even with a drought, pumping water around and over Sunny Mountain will be a hassel. Sunny mountain road was cut in for logging ease and the drainage wasn't designed to retain the water and perk it into the soil hence erosion issues are a high potential. I do not specialize in your climate, would really want to see topo maps, and get better assessment of standing vegetation before I say more.
If you want to get to STUN level, go with the creek, if you want quick fix but sustained inputs go with mountain.
Both are a lot of work to get where you want.
Creek will have those 19th century big trees faster than if you need to plant them as seedling on the mountain in sun baked water eroded dirt . It's already having mature pioneer species.
Both are good properties. If K is going to be unhappy with it being dark and the lack of privacy I would go with the one she wants. What is the other property like during the season when it is more rainy? if you think it's wet now it will be twice as wet in the rainy season.
The creek for sure. Build that bridge! Plenty of opportunity to clear out some sunny spots. Good luck guys!
I was sure I would choose Crawdad Creek, but after seeing both properties, I think I would choose Sunny Mountain. Creeks are wonderful as long as they don't flood you out. The peaceful feeling on the mountain was priceless.🌞
You're more likely to be washed out with no trees.
You build away n up from it versus direct next to it
Love Crawdad Creek. Water is so important and the fertile soil. I hope that you can build the bridge. We live off a now busy road and I hate all the noise. It was a quiet road when we moved here. Good luck and can't wait to watch you grow your new homestead. 😁
For water needs and the wilderness feeling, I would choose Crawdad Creek. Just listening to the creek is awesome! Water is #1 so I would have to choose this one! Sorry Sunny Mountain!
Listening to the creek was great until a car drove past and drowned it out. His saying "All you can hear is the water" was not actually fact. The creek is right by the road. They would have to build right by the road so that water sound is a moot point.
Love the sunny mountain!!! But lack of water is really scary for me. And rocky soil is really hard to work with. In all honesty I think either property will be amazing and troubling. Whatever you pick it will be good. Love seeing your parents on camera! I honestly want to call them!
I would pick the Crawdad Creek. It seems more "alive". Although the mountain has a beautiful view of the other mountains, the forest is just as beautiful. I think it has better resources.
Property #1 - 1st, how can you bank and sell excess solar power? 2nd ponds dry up sometimes. With the new unpredictability of the weather, drought is a real possibility. But the land is breathtakingly beautiful. 2nd property is not as gorgeous now, but has the most potential to become one with the least potential for problems. Thanks for sharing
You sell your power you're not using back to the grid but I think they wanted to be off the grid.
“New” unpredictability of weather?
@@karenblanck7726 They're saying our climate changes will affect weather patterns in the very near future. But my garden says the future is now
@@shermdog6969 That's what I was thinking. Just trying to make sure I hadn't missed out on any new allowances that might be available.
Climate/weather has always been unpredictable. Somehow everything that has happened for ever is now attributed to climate change. Humans are an odd lot.
I would definitely buy the crawdad creek.
Easy, Crawdad Creek. The hardest parts to fix on Weed Mountain are already there; water & soil. Easy to bring in sun and you can control where with controlled cutting which is faster and cheaper than planting a tree or building shade buildings. No brainer for me unless there is significant in size or price difference.
Bridge from the sun access timber cutting, also equals damn. Cheap solution with sweat equity.
Water access is going to be the most important necessity in the future. Crawdad Creek is my choice
Love both properties. Sunny Mountain... You can add soil at possibly at $$, growing trees where there are none is a long process. Using solar does have a plus. View amazing, but soil absent, and that will definately take some time and money, that one is hard. Crawfish Creek... Boggy shady land is hard, but it's easier to remove selected trees and use the lumber to build a bridge! You can possibly reroute streams to where large animals graze and over time the sun and water will be perfect. Both great properties, for me its preference in the work, building soil is hard. Crawfish Creek for me.
#2 Where there is natural resources of raw soil & water = perfect homestead!
I grewup on fertile soil on a dairy farm.
Now retired, I live in clay soil country, with shale rock beneath the surface ugh (no basements & no root Cellar).
You can build main buildings on higher elevation, and have day pastures below along the creek (incase, of possible spring flooding) Animals need lots of grazing and have plenty of fresh water.
You can incorporate into organic forest gardening / planting fields.
🌳 🌲 Someone mention selling off section of trees cut, to offset expenses. Can install portal, adjustable solar units on trailer bed to take advantage of seasons. Look at big picture!!
I would jump at the chance for property #2 Crawdad Creek looks amazing now and imagine looking into the future will only be better. I think either property you guys would make work. I just think #2 would be more satisfying sooner to what you want to do. Clearing the trees can either provide immediate cash or wood for projects or for both.
Crawdad Creek! So much more potential, have it selectively timbered before you build to offset your work, and use that income!
Water and good soil! The hydro possibility out weighs the solar possibility- hydro is mostly all winter
I think in the end Crawdad creek is what I would choose. Water is so important...and the animals would be such a help when it comes to clearing things.
Having your own covered bridge over the creek leading to your home sounds pretty bad ass to me
Build the bridge take the creek! Water most important! You can take down trees for sun! And you hear traffic in both places that cancels those out
Is there any chance of having trees harvested off the creek property to help with $ for
building?
As beautiful as no. 1 property is the bareness is a no go. Property 2; water is life, clear the trees, build that bridge to put that house where you will live the rest of your life, do it while you are young. Trees take forever to grow, selectively timber and use for wood heat down the road, manage the forest, clear for pastures and shelters and of course gardens. We had property in WV and loved it but being in a holler it would get dark very early so we built our cabin up higher in a clearing and so glad we did. Can't wait to hear your decision and good luck.
I vote for 2 . The forest land is set for gardening and the soil is ready. The trees will come in handy to build your home. Get a log cutting and make your own wood. Hunting .
Crawdad Creek for my vote. Good luck. Blessings !!!
#1..the sun and view! You can always build a pond. The other is too close to road and it’s almost got too many creeks running thru.
Definitely the creek...water brings so much opportunity for energy, animals and growing. Clear some forest and you'll get sunshine to enjoy. Can you build further up the property?
Definitely the Crawdad Creek property. You will have water (extremely important), shade and fertile soil.
I would take the creek property in a heartbeat. Lowlands generally is better soil. Adding the culvert as other say fix the access issue. All that timberland!
Between these two, crawdad creek. You won’t hear the road after a day living there. I use to live by a decent size airport in CA. I hardly heard it most of the time.
With the value of the timber and the skills and vision I have in homesteading I would choose crawdad creek natural flowing water is a make or break on a homestead for so many reasons making ponds can be house for natural irrigation for gardens and white the right setup and planning where the house goes will be a big bonus to a rain catchment system.
Crawdad creek but I would build as far off the road as possible and open up the canopy around the homesite.
Water always wins. The ground is great for pastures. The mountain will provide little coverage from the wind and heat for the animals. Creating a good top soil from rock will take years.
This would be hard for me to pick also, although I love the sun and all its energy, the wooded land with the creek would be the best choice , just put the house a sunny location and clear the pastures out for both sun and shade parts, to please everyone !! Best of luck, I cant wait to hear and see what you do !!
Crawdad creek won my heart .
We have a friend here in central Alabama with beautiful property in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. His property has a beautiful creek and wooded areas. He also has some wonderful cleared areas for a large garden…… but…… when we get a rainy season, he is trapped on his property. You have wonderful experienced help making sure your property can handle the overflow when you have an especially wet season. Bothe properties are beautiful! Good Luck!
i love the way your dad thinks. I live in a gully, and he pegged the idea I had for my property, which I have yet to implement - the stepped dams. I've lived here for 15 years, and I can tell you a few things. Noise travels in a valley, in ways you wouldn't normally predict. So you could go to the expense of putting in a bridge to build on the other side, to get away from the road - and the noise travels up the hill, as if you're living right next to it. But that all depends, because you can get some really quite places in the valley too.
My point is, a sloping property, with land masses skirting on either side, won't be predictable like a flat one. Noise travels different, water velocity is more damaging, then there are shadows altering sun exposure. I think all those things can work in your favour, if you can wrangle a permaculture designer in to do it for you. I can tell you right now, Geoff Lawton and Bill Mollison, would go for Austin's property, but Joel Salitin would go for Kay's. They're all skilled at what they know to draw from a piece of land.
Here's what I think you should be planning for though - which property will allow the use of machinery to manage it, the best as you age?There will come a point you NEED machinery to help manage the property. Not want, but actually NEED. Access to your property, is the most important aspect of a property. It doesn't matter what natural features and other elements it has going for it, if you cannot access it to use it.
My recommendation for either property, is to introduce nitrogen fixing, browse trees for your cows, as a future drought-proofing measure. A tree can survive a dry spell, better than a pasture can. Combining these too forms of feed (browse and pasture) for your cows, will stave off hay bales, in the dry. See Geoff Lawton's video on converting browse into milk, for ideas - th-cam.com/video/k7Ft3CzMEac/w-d-xo.html
I like the creek. Water is like gold now.
Sunny mountain. You will be able to figure out the water situation and restore the soil. Plus the view is gorgeous. That alone will help the value of the land appreciate over the years, and ticks and Lyme disease are possible problems. Plus improving the valley is likely to be more expensive.
The creek area is going to be damp no matter how many trees you clear,
I like the one with all the green grass because you already know the soil will grow things richly