We're about a year or so away from being able to make the "break" and hoping for a bit of advice.

We're looking for advice about homesteading in Arizona -- preferably the mountainous regions (Prescott/ShowLow/ Flagstaff) and are wondering if anyone has any input about these areas. We've spent several years in Arizona so we do know about the water situation. Mostly we're wondering if anyone else has done it and what kind of livestock they might recommend. We're hoping to provide as much for ourselves as possible.

While Arizona is our primary choice at the moment, we are open to any suggestions reguarding location -- we need somewhere it's easy to homeschool (few hoops) and winters that are not as humid/damp as Louisiana (cold and snow is okay). Any suggestions?

Thank you, Jenny

-- Jenny (JennKrista@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002

Answers

I lived in Arizona most of my life. I only went up to Prescott/Flagstaff in the summer. I hate cold/snow. You will get snowed in some winters and have to wait until they can get the roads cleared to go anywhere. It used to be a gorgeous area until crowded with humans!

Pastures aren't common there. Water is like gold (and costs dang near as much) and the type of earth demands the water to grow anything. You will see all types of livestock there.

Arizona isn't the arid desert that it used to be. Whereas years ago doctors recommended that folks with asthma go there, today they tell them to stay away. There's 5 allergy seasons. Yep, that's right. Don't understand it, since there's only 4 seasons, but that's what an allergist told me.

The earth is very rocky, which is great for the hooves of critters, but I would think it'd be tough to garden. Dynamite is sometimes used to put up fence poles!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

On a related/non-related note... Why don't us "chilled to the bone" folks homestead in Mexico? Away from the border where it's all touristas? just a thought...

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), March 06, 2002.

I have lived in arizona since '86. The show low area is growing rapidly since the california nuts have discovered it. It seems they like to live in the area from friday to sunday, then fly back to their california jobs. I have been told their attraction to the area is the cheap land costs, and the lack of people/pollution. Guess what? Land is no longer cheap and traffic is getting congested. The fire department, which used to be only 2 stations is building 4 more full time stations. I would recommend looking west of flagstaff, towards the ash fork area. -john

-- john novak (ldsparamedic@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

I would have to agree with John. We are in the Flagstaff county, northeast of town. Here, the soil is very poor, but; After one full year of digging out an area to garden and replacing it with good soil, lots of compost, manure and such, we are expecting to have a pretty good gardent this year. We are being tutored by a life long gardener from this area. He says it is hard work at first, but becomes easier as you build up your soil. Also, there are all kinds of livestock being raised here. Goats, sheep, cattle, horses, chickens, and llamas to name a few. There is not good grazing, this you will have to deal with. The water isn't too expensive if you aren't on the city plan. Although, most people haul their water. Last year, the snow was pleasant. The road closures were few and short lived. This year, there hasn't been ANY snow, like the rest of the country we are headed into a summer drought. Sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), March 06, 2002.

Used to live between Show Low and Pine Top. Twas a bit of Heaven. You can't stir people there with a stick now. The Eager/Clifton/Reserve area is the best of what is left.

Gailann, check out the Roswell/Artesia/Carlsbad corridor.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), March 06, 2002.

Jenny, if you decide to check out the Roswell/Artesia/Carlsbad corridor in NM, email me.

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), March 06, 2002.

Oops, sorry, misread Paul's post. Though Roswell/Artesia/Carlsbad is in NEW Mexico.

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), March 06, 2002.

We live in Surprise, AZ. Snowflake is growing area but cold winters. Land is still cheap though. Also, look in the area near Tucson. We are still debating south or north. Lots of bargains still; depends what you want. We want to look at NM also.

-- Hank (hsnrs@att.net), March 06, 2002.