How We Purchased Our Permaculture Homestead on a Small Income: Land Trust Solutions for House + Farm

I repeatedly see folks posting about how farmland or homeownership is unaffordable. How they don’t see a path to owning a farm or Homestead in many places in America. We were in the same boat until we were shown a solution and bought our home and began converting it into a permaculture paradise 13 years ago.
Because so many folks have asked about our process, I wanted to share our process of buying a land trust house, and discuss the ins and outs of land trust homeownership of homes and farms for folks on a limited income.
My new channel:
/ @parkrosehausfrau170
Ways to support our work:
Paypal.me/ParkrosePermaculture
www.Patreon.com/ParkrosePermaculture1
www.ko-fi.com/ParkrosePermaculture
Land trust resources:
www.ProudGround.org
oregonlandtrusts.org
farmland.org
www.oregonagtrust.org
oregonlandtrusts.org/oahp/
www.landtrustalliance.org/new...
IDAs :www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/sp... my
NAYA: nayapdx.org

[@permiebird937]

I was fortunate enough to buy a Jr. Half acre just as the bleeding edge of the real estate boom took off in Portland. It was 2000, and we found our house through an organic gardening group and a permaculture group, by word of mouth. Good thing we bought a modest priced home on contract before market and didn't take everyone's advice to buy the "most house" we could "afford" which we might have lost in the 2008 crash. Now I'm starting to look at this issue from a different perspective. My hope is to build a granny flat over the garage, for my daughter, or to rent, if she doesn't decide to live there. As long as I have my daughter to inherit, I won't entail the property. Should I outlive my daughter, she is an only, I have considered in such an unfortunate circumstance, about putting my land in a land trust in my will, during old age infirmity, or during a terminal illness. My nieces and nephews all have or will get college degrees, and all of them live in other parts of the country, which means my yard with its currently establishing chestnut trees would get sold to the highest bidder to divide the proceeds easier between them all. I don't want that to happen, so donating my land to a trust would be one way to insure it doesn't. It would be a good thing to do, and a very satisfying F*** You to the endless developers who write us letters and even knock on our door to try and get us to sell our home so they can build condos. Might have my compost spread on the lot after dying just to make it a graveyard for 50 years. You can't take it with you, but you can protect it if you do the right things.😉

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

A lot of people coming across a channel like yours might make some assumptions about the privilege that one must have to be able to live your lifestyle. Hearing your story = mad respect Angela! Suffice it to say that most people who move to Portland are not contributing to it in the way that you are, and have not sacrificed what you have to be here.

[@KathyFitz1113]

Wow! I just discovered that Connecticut has a community land trust working to promote young farmers save farm land.

[@belieftransformation]

Thank you for your time & sharing of information. Here in Canada, there are getting to be more ‘Habitat for Humanity’ for low income families to be able to contribute their labor as a down payment for an eligible home. They have other qualifications to be able to purchase, as well. There’s just not a lot of homes available in the program. Many blessings to your family🤗🇨🇦

[@JWHealing]

Great video! Nice of you to discuss actual dollar amounts as that might help people understand better.

[@evabonnes2614]

Thank you for sharing this. Your videos are so inspirational and encouraging for me. We have a suburban lot that is nearly 1/3 of an acre and I am so grateful that we were able to finally buy our own place. I often feel like I would want a bigger piece of land and yet I know I have limitations. These videos help remind me that creating this permaculture space without that 5 acres I dreamed of is really just fine. Staying in a place I love in spite of the rising costs is worth it. After working for many years as a special education teacher I understand the love of the job and the stresses. You are both living well and sharing it with us and it is appreciated.

[@junipercameryn7375]

This is amazing- my partner and I have been on the Proud Ground waiting list about almost 2 years in January. I found your channel after we applied for a house with a beautiful yard this summer and I wanted to research urban permaculture and found your page and it was so perfect you're in Portland too! We didn't get it unfortunately, were gonna keep trying. But how cool that you've been able to do what you've done through that program, it's very encouraging to know!

[@chantalteawikstrom7294]

Thanks for making a video about this and sharing these resource links! My partner and I are still working on saving up for our first home and land access. Edit: I agree, money (and capitalism) BLOWS.

[@shanepetersen5870]

I wasn’t aware of these types of land trusts, thanks for the very well explained introduction. Seems like exactly what we need to be doing in California.

[@aurorawhite3359]

It’s very helpful to hear about finances in a culture where talking about money is taboo

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

This might be interesting for people living in the USA. I don't think things work like that here in the Netherlands (NW Europe). Land prices and house prices here are high, because it's a small densely populated country. Here many houses are not private owned, but by housing corporations and then rented by the people who live there. Such houses can vary from small apartments in large buildings to five-bedroom semi-detached houses with large gardens. I'm the happy renter of a small ground-floor apartment with front and back yard. Although this is a country of rules and regulations, there are little rules for gardens! Permaculture forest garden in front and back yard, no problem at all!

[@andreaschmidt6753]

Thank you Angela! I’m so grateful for your generosity in sharing all this information! I learn so much from you and have just started my own mini-farm in my front yard. So excited to get in my winter cover crop and plan for the spring!

[@sandrabrown4993]

One thing to point out is that even though you couldn't sell and buy another property in the area (because you only get 25% of the appreciation), you would be able to sell and move to a lower cost area (like Iowa). So you're not "stuck" with this house forever. You're only stuck with this house if you want to live in Portland or another high-price area.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Very true, although my husband’s state employee pension requires he work in Oregon until retirement. Lots of reasons we couldn’t leave the state. But you’re totally right, we could move to another market with lower housing prices and buy in.

[@sharonross4535]

Good video. Your right the love of money is the root of all evil. I agree I hate money. When payday is here all it is is exchange day. You pay your bills and nothing is left. You don’t keep it and you can’t take it with you when you die. Your videos are interesting and I also take away some knowledge. I enjoy learning and like to do research. Keep up the good work. You have a lovely place. Such a beautiful set up. So glad you homeschool and enjoy working in your yard. Your permaculture is set up wonderful. God Bless you.

[@joycemiller7908]

Thank you for this, and all, your videos. You are a good teacher. I live in n Portland on a 50x110 lot on a very busy street, and would love to sell and get out of the city and have more land. I'm retired, so can live anywhere. I have permaculture, and annual no-dig veg beds and love the idea of regenerative agriculture. So, I'm definitely going to look into the conservation land trust and see if I qualify. Thx for the info!

[@FernandoMedrano]

I came for the permaculture, and I stayed for the housing activism. I love your channel.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Thank you!!

[@kathmandu1575]

Excellent video - thanks!

[@sherirae]

WOW! What a brilliant idea. Love the idea of the home being available for the family forever. It helps the community stay green too. Glad there are options out there.

[@RainbowWarriorChris]

Thank you for the info

[@wildedibles819]

Interesting never heard of this I was able to get a private mortgage with the person who owned my house before I did I was lucky to get it but its hard having a low income and making improvements

[@cjpatterson4711]

I have a mobile home and single low income. Its really hard to have money for repairs. This land trust sounds nice, but for me I would be faced again with not enough income to make repairs. More power to low income folks who have the ability to maintain a home and land. It takes commitment. I now understand better what Land trust is. We have a local one that owns lands to be conserved. Near rivers and lakes.

[@maplenook]

Sounds like a raw deal.

[@elysenapoli6395]

That's incredible. I'm glad you were able to do this.

[@chiomascharm4596]

Thank you for sharing your story 💜

[@irenesilva744]

Super informative. Thank you!

[@65j20e58w35]

Thanks for talking about this.

[@MonoiLuv]

So informative. Thank you for putting this together

[@annebeck2208]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you are putting this out there. Blessings to you as you share so many blessings to others.

[@dr.rev.lindabingham]

Blessings to all!

[@eshel1954]

Kudos to you! Great information! Doing what you love is more important than money!

[@marykappesser5145]

Thanks for sharing this part of your journey. You are so knowledgeable about so many things. I admire your passion about your lifestyle.

[@HavaWM]

A little explanation of my husband and I’s situation, which is wildly different from everyone else’s, for sure: My parents own a farm in rural Idaho. We are blessed that they’re going to split off part of the farm and give it to us now, basically giving us our inheritance early. We’re going to use the ownership of that land as collateral to pay for the materials to build a house, and to pay to put in a well, etc. We’re currently living in a travel trailer on the family farm and pay a very low rent each month (basically to help my parents with property taxes and overall farm expenses). We’ve purchased a cargo container and are using it to store building materials that we find for cheap on Craigslist. We’re calling it out Craigslist House. 😄 Our goal is to have a very small (or nonexistent) mortgage by time we’re done, allowing us to live simply. I want to have a food forest on our land (green grass is such a waste!) and it’s been the watching of those videos that led me to your channel. Anyway, I just thought I’d share our situation bc I know it isn’t normal, and that plays into your thoughts on how there needs to be lots of unique solutions for all of the unique situations out there. Thanks for all of your hard work - this channel and your knowledge is so appreciated! ❤️❤️

[@growinginportland]

Thanks for sharing. I just purchased a home in the Parkrose area and look forward to my adventures in Portland. I like this idea of Land trusts. I like learning new things. I also have about a quarter acre of land, I look forward to turning it into a food forest. The previous owner has these pruned trees and bushes that I have no motivation or desire to maintain moving forward. I did find a rouge raspberry bush that has been feeding me raspberries for about a week. Defiantly a good sign. Hope to run into you one day, I'll be sure to say hi. Have a great day and keep posting videos, I have much to learn. Cheers.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Welcome to the neighborhood!!

[@growinginportland]

@@ParkrosePermaculture Thank You.

[@HavaWM]

This was fascinating! I’m so glad you explained this concept to us. It isn’t applicable to my situation, but as you said, a diversity of solutions need to work for a diversity of situations, and the fact that this exists is very cool.

[@MsAusarian]

This sounds so complex. But I can see how it works out and glad it did you you.

[@devon932001]

Great explanation! LOVE your scarf💜, did you make it?

[@earthvillage10]

Thanks for researching this. I hadn't heard of an IDA or these types of land trusts. I love the idea of preserving land for future generations.

[@hewittg.malone5973]

Sorry 1985 to 1995 I was able to buy a property from the city of Philadelphia for $500.00 to $2,000.00 all across the city. The Annual taxes were $400.00 to $700.00. Although realestate was available for $40,000.00 to $75,000.00 back at that time - my Income did not qualify me for this. My point is, there are many opportunities for people to acquire land. The problem lay in how you go about what you are doing.

[@alwyzDTF]

I'm curious about starting a nursery on a Land Trusted property...Would all of the profits be yours or does the land trust have rights to some of that income?

[@rosaarias7128]

thank you 🤍🕊

[@breannaroberts6232]

I can't find the liberation permaculture youtube channel. Do you know if they've changed their channels name?

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I tried to find them a few weeks ago and couldn’t either. I don’t know what happened to them!

[@avenkf]

Okay, I have to know... what college in Iowa? Proud Grinnell alum here!

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Husband (98) and I (01) both went to Grinnell!

[@avenkf]

@@ParkrosePermaculture Oh my gosh, such a small world! I started in '01, so we just missed each other. Just last weekend I went to a little Grinnell west coast mini-reunion in LA, and on the plane ride there I happened to sit next to a guy who grew up in Grinnell. What are the odds?

[@pauloneill2201]

Single Family Homes are not inherently sustainable or equitable. No single building type is more tied to the negative impacts of suburbanization, racial discrimination in mortgage finance, and the roots of our current housing issues. The YIMBY/NIMBY false dichotomy makes people reactionarily oppose new dense housing, when in reality it is what is needed under our current economic conditions. Permaculture/open space/gardening do not exist only in opposition to density. In fact, efficiency in land use is an important part of sustainability and resiliency. SFHs are not opposing sprawl, they usually are the sprawl.

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

I bought my land before I bought my house. After financing the land for 5 years I paid right around $48,000 for 8.2 acres. The day I paid off my land me and my wife went looking for a single wide trailer. I think we are paying $42,000 for it. I’m going to be honest with you. I never would have done what you did. It sounds like a rip off to me. I’m glad it worked for y’all but I just don’t see it as a good thing.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

It’s definitely not a “rip off”, but as I said, it’s not a solution for every situation. In expensive parts of the country, land trusts keep home ownership and farm ownership affordable for low income folks and increase diversity. They serve a valuable purpose. I’m glad y’all found a solution that work for you! It’s definitely not the route I would have taken. We could have moved somewhere with a lower cost of living and lower land costs, but there are many reasons that didn’t feel right for us. But that’s what is great about having lots of options for different folks with a diversity of needs in a range of locations.

[@allahmohammed1819]

I've been trying to get my community to stop wanting to be ubi deadbeats settling for a small income and feeling like a slave to the system. Young adults need to know options like union apprenticeships exsist. They ( which is anybody's race, gender, felony record, age or orientation) can earn a living wage while learning to be a journeyman where they will will then earn a prevailing wage which is over $30 an hour. Unions protect the worker...no one gets away with not working

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I don’t understand what this means. 1.Advocates of UBI are not “deadbeats”. 2. Wage doesn’t correlate to how hard you work or the value of your labor to the community. Teachers are grossly underpaid, especially considering they often need 2 masters degrees to be competitive in this area. 3.Homemakers and volunteers contribute a ridiculous amount of unpaid invaluable labor to the community. Not getting paid doesn’t equal “getting away with not working” 4.Union apprenticeships are great and trades are a valid career option for many people. But we’ve had plenty of friends with trade jobs struggle to find consistent work and earn a living. Much less have consistent healthcare. 5. This family is pro-union, but that doesn’t do a thing to fix the issue of overinflated housing costs and the issue of farmers not being able to afford land.

[@BobSmith-un5mw]

And there is the buzzword. colonialism. I'm out, unsubbed.

[@terrancesnyder9323]

Thank you for the info