I would like to know of any insight folks can offer on homesteading in Southern Missouri. What kind of produce can be grown? What are the best areas? What should we look for in Missouri land?

-- Mark Bergstrom (m_bergstrom@yahoo.com), December 21, 1999

Answers

I can't resist poking a little fun here. What should you look for in Southern Missouri land? Something without rocks. What can you grow? I understand that Southern Missouri has great growing if you can establish some soil above the rocks for the plants root system. I've lived in Missouri, does that give me the right to poke a little fun? Sorry folks, I couldn't resist.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), December 22, 1999.

Mark, most folks in Southern Missouri (who share your interest) are growing as much of thier food as they want right on their property. As the other respondent indicated, it may appear soil-less to you (and may be) at first glance, but with some work, you can create a viable garden. And with some innovation, you can do even more, such as have herbs and jungle-sized tomato plants growing in the middle of winter, in a greenhouse that also provides some warmth to your house. My friends, the Speraneos, do that, growing the veggies in hydroponic beds fed by the droppings of the Tilapia they grow in an adjoining fish tank. And there are lots of homesteaders here with goats and other livestock outdoors all year around, since the winters generally are mild.

Come look first, of course, but try the Ozarks. We've loved it for more than 30 years! Stop by the web site and have a look around.

Vern and Phyllis www.runningriver/modeland.htm

-- Vern M. (modeland@runningriver.com), December 28, 1999.

Mark, most folks in Southern Missouri (who share your interest) are growing as much of thier food as they want right on their property. As the other respondent indicated, it may appear soil-less to you (and may be) at first glance, but with some work, you can create a viable garden. And with some innovation, you can do even more, such as have herbs and jungle-sized tomato plants growing in the middle of winter, in a greenhouse that also provides some warmth to your house. My friends, the Speraneos, do that, growing the veggies in hydroponic beds fed by the droppings of the Tilapia they grow in an adjoining fish tank. And there are lots of homesteaders here with goats and other livestock outdoors all year around, since the winters generally are mild.

Come look first, of course, but try the Ozarks. We've loved it for more than 30 years! Stop by the web site and have a look around.

Vern and Phyllis www.runningriver.com/modeland.htm

-- Vern M. (modeland@runningriver.com), December 28, 1999.

Tring the link but can't get through...Are you sure it is correct?

-- Ruth Guida (n5rjm@arrl.net), January 03, 2000.

We are in southwest-edge of the Ozarks-we hav sandy soil, not alot of rocks-though some here do have their share. Clay is more of a problem. The weather is usually mild...hot and humid in the summer- takes a bit of getting used to, but on the plus side-sweet potatoes grow great-as do melons and other heat loving crops. The gardening season goes longer-can sometimes start cooler crops in February-first frost is usually November. Bugs are more of a problem, but every area has it's downfalls. Gene Gerue who wrote a book on finding the perfect place in the country-lives here and has for 20 some odd years. He and many folks around here call Missouri the ideal state for homesteading. I think part of the reason for this is less rules and regs from the governments..and while jobs are plentifu, pay is generally lower. Means housing is usually more affordable-some areas more than others. (We were originally from suburbs of Chicago-so maybe we are biased.) Air is cleaner-stars are brighter and lifeis more laidback here. Can you believe that there are stores that close at noon on Saturdays here? and everything shuts down at 5pm...what a life! Can you tell we love it here? Best of luck!

-- Eric (heartsongstormteam@yahoo.com), January 25, 2000.