Plenty of people dream of leaving the city for a quiet life on the land. The homesteader behind @leafandbeanfarm says her own move began with a much smaller plan: buy a little land for weekend camping. In a long story time post, she explains how a bargain foreclosure purchase, a missing property and a hike up a path turned that plan into a house, a homestead and a whole new way of life.
@leafandbeanfarm
A City Job And A Plan To Slow Down
She says she came to homesteading by pure chance, while her partner knew from the start that he wanted that lifestyle. She describes herself as a city person with a corporate job who loved making things from scratch, sewing and crafts, but was not sure about homesteading. They both felt the city was moving too fast and getting expensive, so they decided to slow down by buying land they could camp on. That way, she says, they would have an escape from the city and the best of both worlds.
They also set a rule: it had to be something they could pay for outright. She says they searched a foreclosure listing site for property close enough to drive to but far enough from the city to feel different. They found a parcel with a price she calls unbelievable. They could pay it in full, without monthly payments. Then came an extra nudge. She says that if they bought site unseen, the seller would discount it a little more, and like any woman who sees something on sale, she said yes. They bought the land without seeing it.
Driving In Circles
They made the drive of a little more than two hours, which she calls an exciting time, right up until they arrived. She says they drove up and down the road again and again and could not find the land. There were no markers and no indications of any kind. She admits she was freaking out and says she had the same doubts anyone would have about sending money for a foreclosure property they had never seen.
A neighbor who had noticed their car pass back and forth waved them over to ask if everything was okay. When they explained, she says, he told them they were in the right vicinity and that there was a path nearby. Up that path, he said, was an open space of land. They parked at his house and hiked up.
The Surprise At The Top Of The Path
The first thing they saw was a house. She stresses that they had only intended to buy land for camping, maybe with a trailer, and not a house. She assumed they were in the wrong place. She called the real estate agent, who asked her to hold tight, made a few calls and called back with the answer: that was how the land was listed, any structures on it were theirs, and they had already closed. Just like that, she says, a possible camping site became a whole house.
She credits the odds working together in their favor and says she feels they were meant to be there.
Clearing Out And Moving In
She says they spent that summer clearing the land, clearing out the house and checking which systems would need replacing. The property had been abandoned for maybe seven or eight years, and the grass was as tall as she is, which she jokes is not very tall at 5 feet 3 inches. They hired bush hogs because, as city dwellers, they did not even own a lawn mower. She says field mice and snakes appeared as the grass came down, and she ended up hiding in the bed of the truck.
Halfway through, her partner made what she calls an executive decision. They were driving down every weekend, about two and a half hours, still paying rent on their townhouse, so it made little sense to keep splitting their time. They packed everything into a moving truck and moved into the one space in the house they had managed to clear, living there while the work went on. She says floors and walls had to be replaced, and they were living in the middle of it.
From High Heels To Rubber Boots
As the work went on, she says, their skills grew. She uses sourdough as an example: you start by wanting to make bread, then you want sourdough, then wheat breads, flatbreads and muffins. Six months after finding the land, she says, she had gone from corporate high heels to rubber boots, dirt and sourdough.
She is candid that it has not all gone smoothly. Mistakes were made, things were done wrong, and the house is still a work in progress, which is why she has never shared a home tour. Her message to others is that the circumstances will come together, you are not alone, and the work is hard but very rewarding. She says there is purpose in knowing the effort benefits her own family.
Lessons For Anyone Tempted By A Bargain Property
Her story has turned out well so far, but it also shows why buyers should be careful with land, especially at foreclosure sales and auctions.
Verify access. Before buying, confirm there is legal access to the parcel by a public road or a recorded easement. A property you cannot reach is a problem even if you own it.
Find out exactly what you are buying. Ask for the parcel number, a survey or plat map and the legal description, and check for structures. Her agent confirmed the listing included anything on the land, but buyers should confirm that before they close, not after.
Check title and taxes. A title search or title insurance helps reveal liens or disputes, and a call to the county will tell you about back taxes and zoning.
Look into utilities. Ask about well and septic, electric service and whether any building on the land is legal to live in. Properties sold as is can come with expensive surprises.
Visit first when you can. A site visit would have saved this family some worry, and a walk with a local who knows the area can reveal flood zones or neighbors who can help.
Working On An Overgrown Property Safely
Clearing land that has been abandoned for years is real work. Wear boots, long pants and gloves, and mind where you step, since snakes and rodents move into tall grass. Check for ticks afterward. Before moving into an older house, have the roof, wiring, plumbing and any heating system inspected, and look for mold, pests and structural damage. Living in one cleared room while the rest is under repair can be done, but keep dust, tools and chemicals away from the sleeping and cooking area.
Starting Small
Her closing thoughts are encouraging. She says skills tend to grow on their own, one leading to the next, the way bread leads to sourdough. She also encourages everyone to try some form of homesteading, and she acknowledges that not everyone has the space or the money, so the mindset matters as much as the acreage.
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