Homesteading Research Paper

Homesteading: All about the Location

As much as you may like to, you usually cannot just find a piece of land and start homesteading. Any number of things can stop you from establishing a homestead on a particular piece of property. Some of the considerations may be legal in nature, practical considerations, as well as, security concerns.

First Concern: Water

Ideally the property has a private well or soon will have one put in by you. Otherwise, you would not actually have control over your water supply. You can divert streams and rivers so pipes carry water to your home, but you do not own the water five or 10 miles upstream, and you may not have the rights to any of the water flowing in rivers and streams nearby. Someone could dam, pollute,

Even though your property is miles from town there may be regulations in place. Each state and most local communities have rules governing the installation of waste management systems (septic tanks).

You have to check first, even though it is your property, and not in town, you still may need a permit and an inspection of the system after it is installed.

If you are buying property with a system in place, has it been inspected and certified, and if not, why not, or is it even a requirement. In some cases, to even work on the leach fields a permit and follow up inspection is required.

Before you install a septic system a "perk test" is required, and normally this has to be done by a professional and in some cases, the professional is a geologist. A perk test determines the absorption rate of the soil where the system's leach beds will be installed. The rate must meet certain standards set by the local or state agencies to ensure the soil can absorb the liquid waste from the septic tank.

Third Concern: Energy

Energy would include wood for heating, cooking, and alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro power. Is there enough sunlight for solar panels to be installed on the roof, and if not is there a place they can be installed on poles near the

The turbines have to be a certain number of feet in the air. Are there trees, buildings and other obstacles that would block the wind? Is there a fast flowing waterway in which you would have rights and access to so you can install hydro generators if needed?

Fourth Concern: Natural Disasters

Is the property in a flood zone? Zones change all the time, and even if not in a so-called flood zone is there a chance the property could be flooded. Again you have to do your research. You cannot take the previous owner's word for anything. You have to do your due diligence.

Are tornadoes common? A tornado can happen anywhere there are thunderstorms, but how prevalent in the area are they is the question.

Wild fires can happen where droughts occur and there are sufficient dry combustibles in the form of foliage, but they are more common in certain areas of the country, so check the records first.

Research about other natural hazards, but keep in mind there is no property immune from certain occurrences but you have to know the frequency of the most common ones.

Fifth Concern: Security and