I buy land for a new home builder… Don’t buy land in a flood zone… Don’t do it… Don’t do it… There is plenty of land that you can get for a great price that is high and dry and relatively flat.
Take your time Paul. A contour map of the land would really help you identify your high and low spots, giving you a better lay of land, and informing you where you could/should build living systems and pathways. Is this property just under county regulations? (I hope so) Or is it included within a cities regulations? I ask because if you plan on building ponds/water bodies it's going to be cheaper, easier, and faster if you only have to adhere to the county regulations. I know you feel the pain of dealing with County, City AND HOA regulations.
A contour map would help for sure not how much a contour survey would cost. If I get it, observation may be the best way to see how water flows. It has no restrictions which is a plus in regard to HOA shizzz. Luckily my neighborhood’s HOA is voluntary to join too. I escaped the grasp
I'm happy to hear it's just country regulations! There are a few free resources that provide contour maps like USGS or even Google earth. Keep in mind, they are free, and only accurate to a few meters. If you wanted a more accurate map Google earth pro is great bc you can draw on it and create a personal digital map. Can't wait to see what you do! Best of luck. @@paulplantu
Hey Paul, it's Gary from Tucson. First, I'll say follow yours and the families heart. If together you all feel it's right, go for it. You already know it will be a costly many years project. Don't close you eyes to the negatives, but don't let them scare you off either. Enjoy the journey - you're young and healthy. Gary
If you're just doing restoration a flood plain would be great. So many types of trees and other plants can thrive there. My yard floods every year and I planted accordingly.
The land sounds exciting, I love all the trees and plants. That sitting water really has me worried. You can do a lot with the land, but keep looking to see what else might be available. Good luck!
Yes, Check super well the flood area - and barking dogs as well. Most importantly deer and squirrels that will eat the stuff before you even sniff it lol Frankly, it looks beautiful for picnic, but not to buy and invest time and money with garden or probably a building. A friend of mine lost everything in the last flood years ago and it is not fun. Her land had a map indicating just "a bit of flood" in a corner - it was total loss . Take your time to check every single thing. You'll still get surprises afterwards, but it is exciting to go property shopping!
Have you watched Colette from Bealtaine Cottage in Ireland? Highly recommend watching her videos. She's a great insipration to me! Colette has made a foodforest/woodland from land that was seen as "unsuitable" and boggy. I'm rooting for you😊🌲🌱🌳
I have not, I’ll check them out. The land here isn’t boggy in general just after an all day downpour or multiple days of heavy rain. Anybody with experience in those conditions will be a help
good luck man if you go for it! invasive species management if brutal. ive been battle english ivy and oriental bittersweet for years. its working though! native wildflowers poping up now and im building some produce boxes along the edge. maybe some live edge cedar stairs going in next 😬
Check if the seller retains the mineral rights. It would really suck to restore some native Texas bayou only have someone decide they want to frack it or whatever.
So I'm 99% sure that citrus tree is a Citrus Trifoliate, also known as a Hardy Orange or Flying Dragon. They're an ornamental citrus plant native to China and are an invasive species in the U.S. It's actually very aggressive and spreads very fast. That first thorny patch you showed is likely actually connected to the same root structure as the one with the actual fruit on. The root structures of these things are massive, but also because of the amount of seeds each fruit produces it spreads that way too, with the seeds taking root in the ground after dropping and animals carrying them off allowing them to spread even more over vast areas. We have them in NC. I actually have one in my yard that was there when I moved in and God knows how old it is but I know it was planted by previous owner dedicates ago as a ornamental scrub and the area it has attempted to take over is several years on each side. I've seen plants pop up 10 yards away on the same structure. It's very cold hardy as well. Regarding the fruit, there's conflicting information about if they're actually poisonous to humans. Some things I've read over the years so they cause stomach pains and gastrointestinal issues. I know animals and birds spread the seeds, but funny enough, I've ever seen an animal touch them. That said, I've also read people using the pulp and peel to make marmalade. I suspect the answer is more simple: you can eat them but eating too many will make you sick. So anyway, long story short, you may need to get control of that plant if you buy the land. Also, what's interesting is these are usually only found near where there was once a home because they were intentionally planted so it's possible there might have been a home there at one point. You may be able to found the old foundation close by. One other thing: be very careful about digging or cleaning trash in that area. Because it's a flood plain it's likely considered a "wetland" based on the EPA's absurd definition and people have actually been charged with federal crimes simply for digging or cleaning or trash in these areas on their own property. It's ridiculous, but true. It's not the only example, but Sackett v. EPA is a good place to start.
That’s all good info, thank you for such an in-depth and well thought out comment. There definitely are a bunch of trifoliate trees on the property. I had no idea they spread by huge root systems. The property is in the 100yr floodplain but not a wetland I think it’s 10 acres or so away from the bayou. Also when researching the plot it didn’t come up as one which is good.
It seems like you have a connection with that land already. Follow your instincts. If you feel the land is worth the effort then it will pay you back 10-fold. I appreciate your respect for nature!
This is a tough one. Obviously flood plaine land is typically no good for construction. But your situation is a little different. Like u said the ground will be real fertile. Your wanting the property for gardening. Will the water be too much at some point? I'm sure. But free water on the property is good I guess for your situation if u know how to utilize it. It's a tough one. Obviously you don't have plans to build on it. It might be hard to re sell in the future. But for gardening purposes it might be great. Idk man lol. Don't let other people hinder your decision. You will make the correct decision on your own wants and needs. All I can say is I'll definitely be here for the journey!
Hey, thanks so much for the comment! I like your balanced point of view. Whatever I get I’ll have a few things up my sleeve in regard to what I’ll do with it! Haha
I know they say to not buy in a flood plain, but I don't see it being a big deal if you're not building a house. I see that and I see a canvas with ample opportunities for ponds/water features.
Flood plain land is deceptively beautiful… beware… If it was that wet after only one day of rain, think of the 3-5 day rains we have here in Houston pretty regularly… It’d be tough to spend time, effort, and $ on it, only to have it soggy or underwater. If you buy out of the flood plain, your investment will grow also, and if you needed/wanted to sell it, you’ll get more and sell it much easier. Having lived on flood plain land, I’d never buy it again, even for a garden only. I’d keep looking… Good luck!!
Do you plan on eventually living and building on the land? The flood plain is the biggest concern especially with trying to grow things. I would keep looking and really do your research on how much work comes with developing the land.
I think it’ll be dope, but you’ll need to do some more research to see if the flooding can be controlled, to most people it’s a bad idea because you would probably want something useful like a home but the idea of having it as a garden kinda works it it could be a native forest restoration project
Cool video. That looks like a beautiful native habitat. Such an asset to have a big space of native land like that. Should be protected and respected, Im sure it would be in good hands with you. Btw what camera setup do you use?
Crazy but I would also be attracted to that land to be used as a garden/preserve, or maybe even a getaway cabin in the future. The water actually would interest me and of course the trees. Is it possible the land is of high clay content which could be the cause of the puddling in the higher areas? Clay takes forever to drain off. Would you be allowed to scoop out that stream area and pile it up on the higher areas? It could make for an interesting landscape. It's fun to live vicariously through your efforts!
That’s what drew me to the area. It already has a ton of beneficial trees for wildlife and the rainwater creek is a really cool ecosystem too. The soil content is high in clay for sure.
I meant to say before you may even have some vernal pools forming in the creek bed area which in itself are a cool ecosystem. Great education for your kids someday.@@paulplantu
How much of the land could you actually count on remaining dry is rhe main thing. And you would have the constant dog barking to deal with too. Very fertile looking tho. Any Texas Olives around? Those are highly sought after here in Flori-duh. But yeah man if there is more usable dry land there than where your house is now then go for it. You cant get old growth trees like that often. And just think, you could have your very own forest to get lost in.
i don't know if i would spend 85K for gardening UNLESS i had an investment plan that would allow me to recover that cost and some when the time came to move on to new ventures.
4 acres isnt very big, I’d definitely get the borders surveyed before pulling the trigger. It’ll be a cool advent when you do pull the trigger on a place though. Obviously it’s more than enough land to play and build gardens on, but you shouldn’t be getting lost on 4 acres, 40 maybe.
For my purposes I think 3 acres could work. Ideally I’d like 10 but anywhere an hour from Houston is extremely overpriced for that. Haha, there’s only a fence on two sides and it’s heavily wooded so moving through that and conceptualizing size/boundaries without a survey is not easy.
Looking by all the comments I feel comfortable saying think about it more. Ever thought about buying a home with more land? Instead of maintaining ur own garden there and then this other land. Many garden channels have done that the past couple of years and they seem to be enjoying that a lot.
That would be cool for sure, but as of right now I can’t go full rural living because my business is in the city and my son will be in better schools in our current area. I live in a pretty cool neighborhood rn so probably am not looking to build a house there.
As long as you build up, depending on where you are, you can get a house & garage out there. The government mught suggest that you elevate about 5 feet above the plain at minimum. They can advise you on specifics though.
Fort Bend county says only 18 inches above the flood plain. That seems too low. Brazoria County says 2 feet above it. People got 3 feet & higher inside from Harvey.
$4,446 PER ACRE. In 2022, the average price of an acre of Texas land jumped more than 12 percent to a record high. Texas land values climbed to new heights in 2022. According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, the average price of an acre of rural land in the Lone Star State reached $4,446.Jun 9, 2023 Are you really getting a deal for a wetland with limited possibilities?
It’s not fully rural isolated land. It’s within an hour of downtown Houston so prices aren’t going to be low like the land in West Texas where nobody really wants to live.
After seeing more of the video, I don't think that this is a good place for you. It's got far too many water holding areas. You would have to do a LOT of elevation work, you might have to get variances to make a safe, dry home. There's no guarantee that you would get them though.
Son … they aren’t making anymore land !!! Take your time n choose wisely ! There are SO many folks on TH-cam looking for a bit of land … Hey … you may find that you need a bug out place to retreat to ??! But if you own land ??? You can make a place into whatever makes you happy ! Look for land for sale apps !!! ❤
I buy land for a new home builder… Don’t buy land in a flood zone… Don’t do it… Don’t do it… There is plenty of land that you can get for a great price that is high and dry and relatively flat.
If I got land close enough to my current house I wouldn’t be building a home on it.
Take your time Paul. A contour map of the land would really help you identify your high and low spots, giving you a better lay of land, and informing you where you could/should build living systems and pathways.
Is this property just under county regulations? (I hope so) Or is it included within a cities regulations? I ask because if you plan on building ponds/water bodies it's going to be cheaper, easier, and faster if you only have to adhere to the county regulations. I know you feel the pain of dealing with County, City AND HOA regulations.
A contour map would help for sure not how much a contour survey would cost. If I get it, observation may be the best way to see how water flows. It has no restrictions which is a plus in regard to HOA shizzz. Luckily my neighborhood’s HOA is voluntary to join too. I escaped the grasp
I'm happy to hear it's just country regulations! There are a few free resources that provide contour maps like USGS or even Google earth. Keep in mind, they are free, and only accurate to a few meters. If you wanted a more accurate map Google earth pro is great bc you can draw on it and create a personal digital map. Can't wait to see what you do! Best of luck. @@paulplantu
Hey Paul, it's Gary from Tucson. First, I'll say follow yours and the families heart. If together you all feel it's right, go for it. You already know it will be a costly many years project. Don't close you eyes to the negatives, but don't let them scare you off either.
Enjoy the journey - you're young and healthy. Gary
Thank you so much Gary I appreciate the insights as always
Wow imagne growing a food garden there and never having to worry about watering your plants
I LOVE this idea Paul. Your very own food forest :)
If you're just doing restoration a flood plain would be great. So many types of trees and other plants can thrive there. My yard floods every year and I planted accordingly.
The land sounds exciting, I love all the trees and plants. That sitting water really has me worried. You can do a lot with the land, but keep looking to see what else might be available. Good luck!
It would be sick to see how you could transform that space into a thriving garden!
That’s why I want some land! I can go crazzzy on it!
@@paulplantudon’t do iiiiiiit. Too much of a mission. Time is money. There are better options out there.
*It's freakin disguisting...it tastes like a sour bad grapefruit* 😂
Thank you for doing the taste test for us haha.
I do it so you don’t have to. Hahaha
If you want it brother, I hope you get it. Awesome potential!
I'm 69 on thumbs ups. Haha!
Yes, Check super well the flood area - and barking dogs as well. Most importantly deer and squirrels that will eat the stuff before you even sniff it lol
Frankly, it looks beautiful for picnic, but not to buy and invest time and money with garden or probably a building. A friend of mine lost everything in the last flood years ago and it is not fun. Her land had a map indicating just "a bit of flood" in a corner - it was total loss . Take your time to check every single thing. You'll still get surprises afterwards, but it is exciting to go property shopping!
Have you watched Colette from Bealtaine Cottage in Ireland? Highly recommend watching her videos. She's a great insipration to me! Colette has made a foodforest/woodland from land that was seen as "unsuitable" and boggy. I'm rooting for you😊🌲🌱🌳
I have not, I’ll check them out. The land here isn’t boggy in general just after an all day downpour or multiple days of heavy rain. Anybody with experience in those conditions will be a help
good luck man if you go for it! invasive species management if brutal. ive been battle english ivy and oriental bittersweet for years. its working though! native wildflowers poping up now and im building some produce boxes along the edge. maybe some live edge cedar stairs going in next 😬
Check if the seller retains the mineral rights. It would really suck to restore some native Texas bayou only have someone decide they want to frack it or whatever.
So I'm 99% sure that citrus tree is a Citrus Trifoliate, also known as a Hardy Orange or Flying Dragon. They're an ornamental citrus plant native to China and are an invasive species in the U.S. It's actually very aggressive and spreads very fast. That first thorny patch you showed is likely actually connected to the same root structure as the one with the actual fruit on. The root structures of these things are massive, but also because of the amount of seeds each fruit produces it spreads that way too, with the seeds taking root in the ground after dropping and animals carrying them off allowing them to spread even more over vast areas.
We have them in NC. I actually have one in my yard that was there when I moved in and God knows how old it is but I know it was planted by previous owner dedicates ago as a ornamental scrub and the area it has attempted to take over is several years on each side. I've seen plants pop up 10 yards away on the same structure. It's very cold hardy as well.
Regarding the fruit, there's conflicting information about if they're actually poisonous to humans. Some things I've read over the years so they cause stomach pains and gastrointestinal issues. I know animals and birds spread the seeds, but funny enough, I've ever seen an animal touch them. That said, I've also read people using the pulp and peel to make marmalade. I suspect the answer is more simple: you can eat them but eating too many will make you sick.
So anyway, long story short, you may need to get control of that plant if you buy the land. Also, what's interesting is these are usually only found near where there was once a home because they were intentionally planted so it's possible there might have been a home there at one point. You may be able to found the old foundation close by.
One other thing: be very careful about digging or cleaning trash in that area. Because it's a flood plain it's likely considered a "wetland" based on the EPA's absurd definition and people have actually been charged with federal crimes simply for digging or cleaning or trash in these areas on their own property. It's ridiculous, but true. It's not the only example, but Sackett v. EPA is a good place to start.
That’s all good info, thank you for such an in-depth and well thought out comment. There definitely are a bunch of trifoliate trees on the property. I had no idea they spread by huge root systems.
The property is in the 100yr floodplain but not a wetland I think it’s 10 acres or so away from the bayou. Also when researching the plot it didn’t come up as one which is good.
Thank you for documenting this journey. If you got more land buying insights I’m very interested. Looking to go through this process myself.
I definitely have some, I’ll keep you updated in the videos to come!
Wow ❤❤❤❤❤❤ the trees and foliage Those thorns super creepy and cool be careful 👍👊🌎rules mosquitoes suck😯🙄
I like it little creek don't like the water standing in bad mosquitoes and flood
It seems like you have a connection with that land already. Follow your instincts. If you feel the land is worth the effort then it will pay you back 10-fold. I appreciate your respect for nature!
Be patient, walk away from the flood zone
Water is life
Heck yeah!
Dude, I call all thorny citrus trees "murder trees" 😂 Those thorns are wicked!! Be careful!
7:21 😂😂 never change paul!
This is a tough one. Obviously flood plaine land is typically no good for construction. But your situation is a little different. Like u said the ground will be real fertile. Your wanting the property for gardening. Will the water be too much at some point? I'm sure. But free water on the property is good I guess for your situation if u know how to utilize it. It's a tough one. Obviously you don't have plans to build on it. It might be hard to re sell in the future. But for gardening purposes it might be great. Idk man lol. Don't let other people hinder your decision. You will make the correct decision on your own wants and needs. All I can say is I'll definitely be here for the journey!
Hey, thanks so much for the comment! I like your balanced point of view. Whatever I get I’ll have a few things up my sleeve in regard to what I’ll do with it! Haha
@@paulplantu hell yeh! Excited man!
Be a good place for a huge natural pond for wildlife in the middle of a city!!!
I know they say to not buy in a flood plain, but I don't see it being a big deal if you're not building a house. I see that and I see a canvas with ample opportunities for ponds/water features.
Love you!
Bro this would be dope! Love the idea and content change!
I would pass my friend, seems like it would be under water a lot.
Make sure it has utilities, it always easier to build if they're already established
Run in the opposite direction!
Flood plain land is deceptively beautiful… beware…
If it was that wet after only one day of rain, think of the 3-5 day rains we have here in Houston pretty regularly…
It’d be tough to spend time, effort, and $ on it, only to have it soggy or underwater.
If you buy out of the flood plain, your investment will grow also, and if you needed/wanted to sell it, you’ll get more and sell it much easier.
Having lived on flood plain land, I’d never buy it again, even for a garden only.
I’d keep looking… Good luck!!
Make sure to look for any Sasquatch activity. You might be surprised one day.
That’s the mission.
A flood zone is a great place to make an iris meadow
Do you plan on eventually living and building on the land? The flood plain is the biggest concern especially with trying to grow things. I would keep looking and really do your research on how much work comes with developing the land.
It’s 30 minutes from my house so probably not. I might put a small warehouse or cabin out there if anything
I think it’ll be dope, but you’ll need to do some more research to see if the flooding can be controlled, to most people it’s a bad idea because you would probably want something useful like a home but the idea of having it as a garden kinda works it it could be a native forest restoration project
Cool video. That looks like a beautiful native habitat. Such an asset to have a big space of native land like that. Should be protected and respected, Im sure it would be in good hands with you.
Btw what camera setup do you use?
Crazy but I would also be attracted to that land to be used as a garden/preserve, or maybe even a getaway cabin in the future. The water actually would interest me and of course the trees. Is it possible the land is of high clay content which could be the cause of the puddling in the higher areas? Clay takes forever to drain off. Would you be allowed to scoop out that stream area and pile it up on the higher areas? It could make for an interesting landscape. It's fun to live vicariously through your efforts!
That’s what drew me to the area. It already has a ton of beneficial trees for wildlife and the rainwater creek is a really cool ecosystem too. The soil content is high in clay for sure.
I meant to say before you may even have some vernal pools forming in the creek bed area which in itself are a cool ecosystem. Great education for your kids someday.@@paulplantu
Build a castle 🏰 on the hill
Remember moving water is also free electricity if u know how.
4 acres at that price is game. Go for it. Oh flood plains r no joke. Find out what the last time it got really bad. I mean u could damn it up
How much of the land could you actually count on remaining dry is rhe main thing. And you would have the constant dog barking to deal with too.
Very fertile looking tho.
Any Texas Olives around? Those are highly sought after here in Flori-duh.
But yeah man if there is more usable dry land there than where your house is now then go for it. You cant get old growth trees like that often. And just think, you could have your very own forest to get lost in.
That is wood earl mushroom, it is used alot in Korean food
i don't know if i would spend 85K for gardening UNLESS i had an investment plan that would allow me to recover that cost and some when the time came to move on to new ventures.
I’m going to get land at some point in general. Not necessarily as a business move per say but just as a life goal.
Off the grid Paul plantu I wanna seee it!
There's some good land over in North Carolina.
Hahaha, I’m pretty set on living in Texas
bitter orange is very bitter, but it makes for the best marinades, teas, orangeaids, and more
If I get the land I’ll have to try that next season.
4 acres isnt very big, I’d definitely get the borders surveyed before pulling the trigger. It’ll be a cool advent when you do pull the trigger on a place though. Obviously it’s more than enough land to play and build gardens on, but you shouldn’t be getting lost on 4 acres, 40 maybe.
For my purposes I think 3 acres could work. Ideally I’d like 10 but anywhere an hour from Houston is extremely overpriced for that. Haha, there’s only a fence on two sides and it’s heavily wooded so moving through that and conceptualizing size/boundaries without a survey is not easy.
Looking by all the comments I feel comfortable saying think about it more. Ever thought about buying a home with more land? Instead of maintaining ur own garden there and then this other land. Many garden channels have done that the past couple of years and they seem to be enjoying that a lot.
That would be cool for sure, but as of right now I can’t go full rural living because my business is in the city and my son will be in better schools in our current area. I live in a pretty cool neighborhood rn so probably am not looking to build a house there.
Just do your due diligence. You may not be able to get homeowners insurance along with other issues.
It’s within 35 minutes of my house so I most likely wouldn’t be building on it.
@@paulplantu Good idea. You could build a garden shed at least.
I accidentally got a phone call when the video started. I restarted it over so I can hear the intro, earth is your planet. lol.
Is it just me but having a waterway on the property is a plus for me lol
I think it’s a bonus personally. It’s more interesting visually, adds a whole new type of ecosystem, and it’s pretty much free irrigation.
I hope it works out
As long as you build up, depending on where you are, you can get a house & garage out there. The government mught suggest that you elevate about 5 feet above the plain at minimum. They can advise you on specifics though.
You'll have to raise up the access road & driveway too. You might be able to make a small bridge (1 lane) over the creek to do this.
Fort Bend county says only 18 inches above the flood plain. That seems too low.
Brazoria County says 2 feet above it. People got 3 feet & higher inside from Harvey.
Be sure to look at the current FEMA flood maps.
msc.fema.gov/portal/home
Montgomery county says only 1 foot above. Seems too low.
Most of Liberty county is a flood plain. I didn't find how high you'd need to build there.
10:42 these mushrooms are called „mu err“ in some asian countries and are not only edible but also quite healthy
Wood ear mushrooms aka Auricularia auricula. :3
$4,446 PER ACRE. In 2022, the average price of an acre of Texas land jumped more than 12 percent to a record high. Texas land values climbed to new heights in 2022. According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, the average price of an acre of rural land in the Lone Star State reached $4,446.Jun 9, 2023 Are you really getting a deal for a wetland with limited possibilities?
It’s not fully rural isolated land. It’s within an hour of downtown Houston so prices aren’t going to be low like the land in West Texas where nobody really wants to live.
Do a cost/benefit analysis.
After seeing more of the video, I don't think that this is a good place for you. It's got far too many water holding areas. You would have to do a LOT of elevation work, you might have to get variances to make a safe, dry home. There's no guarantee that you would get them though.
With a bit of luck you might get a Big Foot or Dogman thrown in for free , imagine the possibilities brother !
I’m trying to a get a saquatch BAD
Son … they aren’t making anymore land !!! Take your time n choose wisely ! There are SO many folks on TH-cam looking for a bit of land … Hey … you may find that you need a bug out place to retreat to ??! But if you own land ??? You can make a place into whatever makes you happy ! Look for land for sale apps !!! ❤
Yeah I want a little off grid spot and this one is pretty damn secluded and close enough to my current house.
I don’t think it looks good. Flooding is a big problem. And the fungi on the trees is a good indication it’s always wet.
Yesssss and I’ll even help you out with any projects!
Just think about you, like you bought your own national park for your own self and your significant other.
wait and buy better land
That’s expensive
Do it
This property is going to take TOO much time to manage and time is money.
check property taxes plz... i think it is way overpriced, even at $85K.
For the area it’s way under. Taxes would be $1,000 a yr unless I get ag excepted if I get more land
yeah what @louisw113 said