Hi there! We're looking for people homesteading in Canada. Specifically, we are interested in relocating from the Columbia Valley in BC to the Muskoka region of Ontario. Any suggestions on how we find people in that area involved in the countryside lifestyle? Also, how about Nova Scotia? We have relatives there and land prices are good. Anyone from that area? Now that we are in a position to buy a cheap piece of land we are anxious to determine the right place to begin building our homestead and living the lifestyle we've been dreaming of and working towards! -- Robynn and Shawn

-- Shawn H (ironfire@cyberlink.bc.ca), January 21, 2001

Answers

Shawn -- I grew up in Muskoka -- good luck on finding cheap land. It's gorgeous there -- truly one of God's masterpieces, but the problem is everybody making more than $100000 a year in Toronto owns a piece of it.

If you are interested in land alone, try Dignam's (they're online) -- or contact a local real estate agent -- I know a couple there, Zetta Hurst would probably be a good place to start -- if you want I can get you some telephone numbers -- my family all still live there, although we're now in Saskatchewan.

-- Tracy (trimmer@westzone.com), January 21, 2001.

Hello from Nova Scotia. Here are a few links to real estates in the Annapolis Valley, NS from my local paper. We are a small province but there are a number of different areas, this is only one. Ocean frontage is pricey, the "valley" is the agriculture area. www.homelifevalley.com www.coldwellbanker.ca www.minasrealties.ns.ca www.mackayrealestate.com www.traditionsrealty.com www.remax-valley.com

Hope this helps a bit.

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), January 21, 2001.

Yes Nova Scotia is affordable if you don't want waterfrontage. All around us is being slowly taken over by cottagers. We moved to our property almost 5 years ago and at first it seemed plenty rural..now I am thinking I'd rather be a little more secluded (we are on a main road). But neighbors are a good thing! Plus if I have anything to sell (Ie eggs) I just set up a sign on the front lawn and get customers. There is an upside to everything! LOL. You didn't mention what kind of area you were looking for. Around Truro is a fairly agri based economy with an agricultural college nearby and lots of feed supply. Pictou county is nice (home county for me)too. If I was doing it all over again I would pick the Truro area (and outlying areas such as Stewiake etc) to settle. Husband works in city and folks are in Pictou county so it would be a good midway point. There aren't enough good things to say about NS but then again I am a tad biased! LOL

-- Alison in Nova Scotia (aproteau@istar.ca), January 23, 2001.

YES,LAND IS VERY AFFORDABLE HERE STILL.BUT GERMANS ARE BUYING UP A LOT OF LAND AND BASICLY DRIVING THE PRICES UP.YOU CAN BUY RAW WOOD LAND HERE FOR ABOUT $30,000.00 CANADIAN[THAT WOULD BE ABOUT$15,000 US] I`M INTERESTED IN SETTING UP A HOMESTEAD HERE.NOW IF WE COULD GET A FEW LIKE MINDED PEOPLE TOGETHER THEN THE COSTS WOULD BE CHEAPER. THE ONLY THING ABOUT NOVA SCOTIA AND I SUSPECT ALL OF CANADA NOW IS THAT THEY ARE IMPLIMENTING THE CANADIAN BUILDING CODE EVERYWHERE.SO ALL BUILDINGS WOULD HAVE TO MEET CODE REQUIREMENTS. CORDially YOURS CORDWOODGUY

PS: I HAVE A FRIEND WITH 2 PROPERTIES .AN ISLAND AND A PENINSULA BOTH ON THE OCEAN.AROUND $100,000 US EACH.

-- cordwoodguy (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), May 01, 2001.

Cape Breton Waterfrontage/Log Homes! McIntyre's Lake-Cape Breton Island-25 Acre Lots With 500/800 Ft W.F. Close To Gabarus @ $30,000 Cdn Each Lot

-- Tom MacDonald (linkscout@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.