Missouri! Here's Where I'd Homestead (And Places I'd Skip)

[@joshua511]

Missouri can be fantastic but PLEASE only come here if you are someone who minds their own business.

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

amen to that

[@susandobbins1313]

LOL. Consider the audience. I don't think Curtis has a lot of non liberty minded followers. 😉

[@mikehunte398]

They never do, Tennessee, Missouri and The Carolinas are going to be dumpster fires in the next 10-20 years because of all the West Coast refugees.

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

Very good advice. Former resident of Taney County .. where we took down the road signs so that the foreigners would stay away from our happy places .. and then, there's always Bald Knob😁

[@07negative56]

People are always splitting the blinds in the Midwest. Super nosy

[@davidmccormick4141]

We left Michigan last year and settled in MO near Neosho / Joplin. Land price was unbelievable, and we found a spot with amazing soil (hard to find great soil around here). Neighbors are all very like minded if you stay out of larger cities. Can't be happier with our new home here.

[@justmefolks1863]

The Lake of the Ozarks is the largest man made lake in the US. In Missouri they spray chemicals all the time on fields and the power company sprays along all power lines to keep from doing as much maintenance. You don't want to use any type of drain system to bring water in. Unless you use raised beds you are going to work a long time (years) to make a garden worth using, half the state is full of rocks the other half hard pan clay. People pack guns because we like our safety, from other people, cougars, bears, coyotes among many others, plus we have several snakes you don't want bit by. Land is getting cheaper at the boothill because storms and earthquakes are in an uptick right now. Just got to remember if it sound to good to be true it most likely is. I was born and raised in Missouri spent time all over the state.

[@timothykeith1367]

The Lake of the Ozarks is huge, but since then larger reservoirs have been built. In Texas, Toledo Bend reservoir has 181,600 acres of surface area and 4,477,000 acre-feet storage capacity. Lake of the Ozarks has 54,000 acres of surface area and 1,927,000 acre-feet capacity. The East Texas Piney Woods extends into Arkansas but the East Texas lakes don't seem to be as popular as Lake of the Ozarks. I think many from Chicago visit the Ozarks, but I think permanent migrants from the west coast are very common on the Ozarks.

[@tripler3724]

I live in the Bootheel and I have seen farm land go 10-13k. Yes, we have constitutional carry, but in my area, I never see anyone carrying. No cougars, bears, but quite a few coyotes, but you rarely see them. My work zone was Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi Counties. My Satellite Office was beside the Sheriff's Office in the Court House Square right on the New Madrid Seismic Zone and no worries. I've lived in NW Missouri and like it, but I own farms down here so I moved back. The Ozarks are beautiful, but you can wind up pretty far from a lot things may really like or need.

[@kaijudude_]

I'm from Falcon MO the land is pretty decent for gardens. We usually get soil from the river to use and most of our walkways are made from all the lime stone rocks we get. Heck my great uncle still lives in an old limestone house that my great grandpa built in the 50s. Literally went to the creek bed and got rocks.

[@jjfarms4573]

Moved to Southern Missouri 3 years ago and I love it. Mind your business and treat people with respect and you will be just fine. Winters with the wind chill can get real cold but nothing compared to Canada. The Ozarks aren't for the weak, don't come here if you're looking for a half step between worlds, this is all in country.

[@Commonmomhomeschooler]

We left Washington state for Missouri 4 years ago and landed in the ozarks - Texas county has been a great place for us

[@chosen3258]

We’re you able to build your permanent structure home yourself? Meaning Without inspections and building codes to adhere by!? Did you just build it peacefully without permits? Thanks! I’m looking to buy 1-10 acres myself. Your response would be so greatly appreciated. I’d love to know your okay out there and doing well! Thanks bud!

[@David-kd5mf]

'The weather can be a bit radical' - understatement mode

[@Studio55FRG]

Stay off the high ground to avoid the high winds. Stay off the low ground to avoid the flash floods. Build on the middle ground tucked slightly down into a hollow and you're almost tornado proof. Had one skip right over the top of us earlier this year.

[@mf4]

Callaway County has a nuclear reactor, for those that care about the potential threats surrounding that. There is a wind farm in the area between Memphis and Kirksville if you're looking for property deals.

[@ry3713]

Some of those areas are appealing due to cost, but looking at the USGS glyphosate map has me rethinking the midwest altogether.

[@johanna8206]

I didnt know there was such a thing!

[@gardeninggalagain]

Thanks for this mention.

[@johnsummers7389]

I live in MO and love it here. Land is still rather expensive though ever since the pandemic.

[@codygillespie]

I picked up over 100 acres near Clearwater lake at a steal. It's beautiful there, two large ridges overlooking a crystal clear creek, high ground in the trees, incredible views. BUT, I cant begin to tell you how bad the ticks are in that region, it's an absolute pandemic of ticks. We need the wildfires back to bring balance. It's different there, the neighbor runs Longhorns cattle in the valley and they dont exactly use fencing. The people dont seem to stay on their own land when they hunt either.

[@joshua511]

Yeah, my uncle would burn the ground near his cabin to keep the ticks at bay. You'll need to post your land for trespassers, use purple paint if you haven't already. It's true that there are plenty of people who hunt the same places for decades, even if the land has changed hands. It's probably a good idea to meet the neighbors.

[@SaveYourBrainKillTV]

Chickens are another great way to deal with the tics near the house.

[@DrBilly90210]

Agree. I live on the SW side of Nixa (near Springfield) in a neighborhood with 5 acre lots that abuts farmland & pasture. A few years ago I spotted a hunter coming onto my property during deer season. I politely asked him to please respect property lines and leave my property. He claimed to be tracking an animal he'd shot. I politely repeated my request for him to leave and he did. If he'd asked before he came onto my property, I'd have probably let him. Didn't appreciate him trespassing. A colleague has about 400 acres near Truman Lake. He's found deer stands, turkey blinds and ruts on his land from ATVs/UTVs. Has had to involve the sheriff a time or two. Most common excuse is "I've ALWAYS hunted here." "Freedom" means different things to different people.

[@cindylooney375]

So nice to have met you at the Doug & Stacy event Curtis!

[@kaijudude_]

I'm from Missouri near Ft.Wood Laclede county my dad still lives there. After I retire from the Navy my wife and I are going to move back. She's originally from Honduras and the ozark landscape is very similar.

[@jeffreygould2451]

Southwest Missouri is already homestead “Mecca”. Great place to live if you keep your eyes open and mouth closed. Be a good neighbor and you’ll get along fine. Soil is thin and sooooo rocky, (sharp and flinty) so gardening is difficult unless you build raised beds. Post holes are an all day event. Grazing is the way to go.

[@BensMusicDojo]

Lived in Missouri most of my life, might as well go a little further south and get into Arkansas. It’s just a little bit prettier, and the growing season is a little longer. You can grow watermelons no problem in Arkansas with little effort, but Missouri it’s mostly a no go. Also, any fruit trees here are hopeless due to pest pressures and late frosts. Blackberries, strawberries, asparagus, and sour cherries do well here for permaculture. Apples, pears, peaches, are a lost cause without serious spray schedules.

[@DrBilly90210]

I'm in SW MO and my joke is that the best hiking in Missouri is in NW Arkansas. 😏

[@VioletD313]

My suggestions for the next states would be Kentucky and Tennessee. Also talking about the differences between the two. I personally live in Michigan definitely curious on your thoughts there.

[@MB-jg4tr]

I'm in Missouri, it's a decent place to be. We have constitutional carry, and "Castle Doctrine" stand-your-ground laws which is awesome. Most places here are very freedom oriented politically. There's a High % of guns compared to most states for sure, and Missourians historically made a lot of shine and blew things up for fun. Winter can be more than mild some years and we get freezing ice storms. Summer is hot as hell with insane humidity which makes it feel hotter. The weather can and does change rapidly. Tornadoes ✔️. There's an insane amount of bugs.. ticks, chiggers, and other not-so-nice critters to contend with. You can't just sit on the ground here and expect to be okay. The cicadas are insane right now and it's really gross. Plenty of poisonous snakes too. There's lots of water here, and it's a huge dense forest of trees everywhere except the flat north. You can't just venture out into the woods willy-nilly as it's so thick most places you literally can't traverse it without a machete, and you'll loose your bearings quickly if you don't have a compass. The ground is very rocky in most places which makes farming and digging in a challenge. It's more work than most people expect. Some places along rivers are flood prone, of which we have many. Definitely stay out of the big cities especially St. Louis, it's severely crime ridden in places and some places are not safe even in the daytime. Some rural areas are very economically depressed, and there's lots of small dying towns without good employment nearby. Some smaller towns have very corrupt local gov, so make sure to research that. There's quite a lot of bad drugs and druggies throughout the state, more than most places. If you know what you're getting into it's a fine place to be and probably one of the safer places for the coming struggles.

[@FredAstaire-de1uq]

Oh my goodness. I'm just outside of Manchester Kentucky and it's exactly what you described. Just add that the local drug lord lives behind the hill I own. They burn houses if you get on the way... A few people have died mysteriously . Today they stole a four-wheeler down the road, and my chainsaw. You have to Lock and load day and night to keep your stuff And yes, the government is more crooked than the thieves and druggies. I guess that's how it is when 38 of the worst poorest counties are here in Kentucky... And I was about to sell out and come to missouri. Maybe not...

[@samanthaporter6662]

My family packed up last year and fled Seattle for Missouri.... Love it! Got 13 acres!

[@AmyMucklestone]

We did the same, 8 years ago! Where did you land? We are down near the AR border.

[@firsttimemommy3735]

We are driving down to Missouri this weekend to look at land and homestead on it. Grow food, build stuff, have animals, home school! I hope we find our community down there ❤ I am so excited for the change!

[@racheloberry8562]

We are trying to do the same thing. Looking for the right area. Where are you looking? ​@@firsttimemommy3735

[@joyceslusser3148]

Was great to meet you at the homesteading life conference. Stay clear of the southeast and the new Madrid fault line….

[@timothykeith1367]

I joke that the MO bootheel was once further north until an earthquake moved it south.

[@whynot16384]

I have never watched your channel before just this video so I maybe missing the point but Springfield area has huge Homesteading community. Including a festival in the fall with vendors that is extremely good. Plus if you want to forage for things(Mushrooms, edible foods) there are some awesome groups in the southern part of Missouri.. We are still learning everything but I would be willing to guess that it's very supportive in that area. Especially when you are first starting out.. It will launch you years ahead, just going to the Homestead expo.. I've went too two of them and they are awesome..

[@dennismiller1602]

Eastern Oklahoma next…..NE to SE. Tip: The Boston Mountains straddle the ARK/Okla line as well as the ouachita Mountains. Broken Bow lake holds the most pristine water in all of Oklahoma surrounded by Forrest.

[@8sonrisa8]

Are you looking at the New Madrid fault area, it’s history and likelihood of a replay?

[@G.RogerVanPool]

We have 60 acres near Norford Lake/ Tecumseh, Mo.(Ozark County). Great area to be.

[@susandobbins1313]

How are you doing after the storm? I'm just over the border from you. Oh, re-read that. Same county. Heh.

[@AmyMucklestone]

Hi, neighbors! I’m in G-ville!

[@juliegouker4946]

I am in Isabella

[@susandobbins1313]

Hah! We're in a sweet spot, usually miss the bad stuff (knock on wood)

[@susandobbins1313]

@@juliegouker4946 Pontiac!

[@susandobbins1313]

Yay! My state! Might have a bit of trouble trenching for a French drain in our rocky soil. We are in the south on the border with Arkansas, 3 miles from a lake.

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

Love that area. We have a weekend getaway on Bull Shoals and i love it down there. We are in Arkansas (by about 300 yds) but on the Missouri side. It creates interesting rules and laws and whatnot between AR and MO

[@SaveYourBrainKillTV]

Bought a mid sized bus to pull my camper and left Louisiana Texas for the Ozarks. Been here in Forsyth bull shoals area since November. Looking for that right topography to homestead.

[@gisela1074]

I was born and live in Missouri. Bone chilling cold in winter, extreme humidity and heat in summer and lots of rain and flooding in between. The ground is always wet from the dew. Wooded areas are very dense which must be thinned out to even walk through. Mosquitos, chiggers, ticks, poison ivy, snake filled area. Not for the faint of heart. I personally hate living here. I suggest watching the OZARK series with Jason Bateman to understand what backwoods folk are like. Seriously scary.

[@drewblack749]

Farmland here is gmo/glyphosate and sprinkled with wind turbines. Sad what they have done to this state.

[@theantifeministwoman7567]

The Lake of the Ozarks might be beautiful but you get a crap ton of tourists for Spring Break and the Summer. I wouldn't suggest it.

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

True but just go 5 miles away from the lake (especially on the western side) and it is like being in a different place altogether. Personally i like the area as it has more oak trees than SW MO which has too many cedars, but just a small preference.

[@chloiebear21]

The west side is booming too compared to the last 8 years that I've lived on this side of the lake. I'm looking to move toward Versailles or north. Too many tourists.

[@cherylbertolini3140]

Good afternoon Curtis, can you please look at Virginia and New Hampshire?

[@Poppy_love59]

No building codes in the Ozarks!

[@susandobbins1313]

Depends on your county/city.

[@chosen3258]

What county are you in ? Were you able to build your permanent structure home yourself? Meaning Without inspections and building codes to adhere by!? Did you just build it peacefully without permits? Thanks! I’m looking to buy 1-10 acres myself. Your response would be so greatly appreciated. I’d love to know your okay out there and doing well! Thanks bud!

[@sheepdogvalor5099]

I live in Pulaski county Missouri… my land isn’t as rocky as my parents just 30 minutes away, in Miller County.

[@evvie01]

Howdy neighbor, fellow Pulaski-ite, Saint Robert apartment dweller. Not a homesteader yet but following the folks doing good works. Originally from Michigan.

[@chosen3258]

We’re you able to build your permanent structure home yourself? Meaning Without inspections and building codes to adhere by!? Did you just build it peacefully without permits? Thanks! I’m looking to buy 1-10 acres myself. Your response would be so greatly appreciated. I’d love to know your okay out there and doing well! Thanks bud!

[@sheepdogvalor5099]

@@chosen3258 I purchased already built. I think there are building codes but I think it is different in some surrounding counties.

[@8sonrisa8]

Can you please do Oklahoma; particularly NE closer to MO?

[@dudeusmaximus6793]

Best kept secret in the country is north and particularly north central MO. There's a reason tons of Amish and Mennonite live there - low pop and far far away from major cities. Wood, water, decent arable land that's affordable.

[@ronaldcummings6337]

Hey! I've been in the right spot for four generations!

[@dustybaney7787]

I live in Kennett MO, it is a good place to be. I have been here 7 years and just getting ready to start my homesteading journey.

[@jimketchum3169]

Cool you made it to the Doug & Stacy shindig. Folks don't get much better than them two. Great video as always!👍

[@8sonrisa8]

Early 1900’s people just left the New Madrid-Mississippi River area Ozarks or went crazy from constant earth quakes (liquefaction) causing much of those curious water patterns and now gorgeous terrain. Supposed to do a replay here-likelihood better than San Andreas or Juan de Fuca out west. Does your system consider those dangers?

[@WildWhispores]

The water there forms rivers/lakes like that, because the water is following the valleys. It's Ozark Hill Country. Also, those wide fat river lakes are mostly manmade, because of dams turning the rivers into reservoirs.

[@dwightburess3791]

Ozarks was at the base of the glacier in anchient past. All the water melt cut lots of valleys like a small grand canyons..

[@franklinwill22]

What are your thoughts on places in west Virginia

[@RiceLaboratoriesandScreening]

We're looking for land in Wildwood and high ridge area. I love missouri and dont want to leave espcially considering weather and farming

[@mudworks33]

Northern Wisconsin Northern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are great great for natural food sources. Its easy to propagate the wild foods and there is water absolutely everywhere

[@RandomThoughtswithFred]

Winters are way too long

[@ridgehilljillie9429]

I love that region, but, not the negative winter temperatures...

[@Andy-le8xy]

Missouri is straight from Hell with it's heat and humidity. Plus I have dealt with some very very strange and weird people especially in Cape Girardeau. The inbreeding not good. Paul you can keep Missouri and this includes Illinois, Arkansas and several surrounding states.

[@chosen3258]

Doesn’t leave you with much where will you go

[@zebwalton979]

The Ozarks is one of the worst places to homestead; thin soil, bad water, small (stunted trees), meth… it’s become WAY overcrowded in the past 15 years. In the 80’s, most properties were 40 acres or larger, now you’ll find people on top of people living on 5 acre lots. I’m amazed and saddened how much it’s changed.

[@brockreynolds870]

the nautral beauty is all still there, just a lot of trashy, low life people. And with the Oxarks, there is very little in the way ot TILLABLE acerage. you can get pasture, but as you said, thin soils. I have a 40 acre homestead, unincorporate Johnson County, NW of Warrensburg. Good soils here, close enough to get to decent medical care. I am a landscaper and commute 30 miles to Kansas City to work during my busy season. I have the best of both world here. I have a full barn, 12X24 greenhouse, fenced vegetable garden, and full orchard and 2 freezers full of produce.

[@brockreynolds870]

As a 4th generation native Missourian, I can give you the lowdown. 1: the Ozark region is stunningly beautiful. But lots of poverty and lots of meth 2: North Central is very Ag oriented, but there are also a lot of corporate farms. I feel the best place to be is in unincorporated area of a county just outside of a metro area. Such as where I live, which is Johnson County. Your'e close enough to be a 30-45 drive from everything, including good medical care, but far enough away to avoid all the pitfalls. There is a lot of wild swings in the weather, but we have far les tornadoes, overall. Our yearly average is HALF of what Kansas is, with roughly the same land area. So the counties I recommend are Johnson, Cooper, Saline, Pettis, Randolph, Phelps, Maries, Gasconade, Henry, Moniteau, Cedar, Benton, Morgan, Howard, Miller, Osage, Crawford, Franklin.

[@countrycreekclips4749]

Like Countryside and mother Earth magazine always said," live in the countryside but under 20 mi from a Big Town",

[@deadname9140]

as a person who lives in missouri, I would avoid it at all costs.

[@loricartwright4043]

Why is that?

[@ridgehilljillie9429]

Thanks for the video. Missouri and some surrounding states have a major threat, the New Madrid fault line. Everybody seems to forget about that. When Yellowstone goes, it'll trigger that fault line.

[@mporter012]

Most of the water in s Missouri/ n Arkansas is via dams and the army corp of engineers... white river is world class fishing bc of these dams.

[@swiralgod]

Take a look at New Brunswick.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

We will.

[@davidswihart4333]

Love your video's, have you ever done Tennessee? we have 5 acers looking for maybe 10 to 25 acers.

[@yetithruhiker9230]

Curtis. Please review Oregon. I have always thought of it as weird and difficult to homestead but it has rich farmland and a pretty decent climate. What do you think? Is it possible or is it liberal hell...as Portland is.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

We will.

[@JamesBlazen]

Lived in Oregon 35 years. Place sucks and prices are outrageous.

[@yetithruhiker9230]

@@offgridcurtisstone Thank you Curtis.

[@RodeoOn]

I live in Missouri, if you can't handle unpredictable weather and tornadoes, you might want to go somewhere else.

[@mnp870]

They get a lot of tornadoes

[@johanna8206]

Northern MO (above KC) tends to get extreme weather (more snow, stronger cold snaps in winter, lotta tornadoes head up that way, etc.). The areas surrounding KC tend to get more of the "big city" type politics. There's a huge scandal going on right now in Jackson county regarding a ridiculous and illegally done jump in property tax that's driving folks out of their homes, with property co.s coming in and offering to buy them up- so definitely better if you can avoid the areas surrounding bigger cities, but even still there are lots of good folks here. Not much for organically minded agriculture, but it would be great if more would come this way! Another thing to be aware of is a tendency towards drought in summers. Winters are short and fairly mild, but then there's usually a freak cold snap of -30s (real feel) for a week or two. Squash Vine Borers are prevalent, at least where I'm at, so anyone looking to grow squashes needs to grow resistant varieties. Just a few observations from an ex-new englander transplant 🙄.

[@johanna8206]

Just reading through other comments and oh my goodness, yes, the ticks and other bugs are insane. One of the first things I noticed after moving here (cedar oil works great for them btw). Snakes too, also scorpions, and almost every kind of wildlife imaginable. Hawks, foxes and coyotes are super plentiful, for anyone with chickens to be aware of. Also, I'm on straight clay but after a few years of no-till, mulching, and adding compost as I'm able (way too little, but doing the best I can) I'm seeing improvements. Flooding can be problematic here. The heat plus humidity ensure that weeds spread FAST so you gotta keep on top of it or else. On the plus side, you can forage paw paws, persimmons, and a whole host of other native fruits/foods.

[@galinamalashchuk3846]

Hey, just putting it out there, if anyone is interested, we have a nice of ground with very large house available for sale. In central Missouri, 30 miles to the lake of the Ozarks, 40 miles from Jefferson city

[@HomesByPatrick]

Hydroelectric Dams is how they get the water to do that.

[@k.4243]

Lake of the Ozarks is a huge tourist attraction there's tolls and seasonal traffic water quality is low and they like to cover up the ecoli contamination that spikes around the holidays. You will have water quality issues if you don't thoroughly filter your water and is no exception to pesticide spray. All the rich people from out west are moving to the Ozarks and buying up cheap land and putting up giant houses so the people who live here can't compete for affordable land and housing. In the Ozarks we grow rocks you'll have to figure out a new way to grow food and every inch is on a sink hole just fyi y'all.

[@olgawahl4389]

Have you done SC?

[@lizziestockwell5461]

I live in the middle circle lol.

[@mikehunte398]

DO NOT COME TO MISSOURI OR THE MIDWEST IN GENERAL!!! Please stay in whatever Eastern or Western area you're in, we're full lol.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

I was hoping we could camp out in your yard.

[@mikehunte398]

@@offgridcurtisstone I have a vicious army of highly trained squirrels to keep interlopers out...

[@barb8452]

​@@offgridcurtisstone..intruders are here. Many foreigners...

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

Hi Curtis! The Ozarks is an eroded plateau with limestone parent rock, good phosphorous in the lowlands .. and that is also the clue for how those lakes formed, the water just goes every which way trying to make it off the rocks .. and then after the channels got deep, we dammed them up. That valley across from Mark Twain National Forest, overlooking Bull Shoals is something else, a beautiful sight, and VERY fertile. If you move out there, take the Love of Jesus with you, because in Taney County, the Law is handled personally and biblically. Sure, there is a Sherriff .. but that is only because someone voted.. you know who you were .. stop it.

[@BS.-.-]

Isnt this tornado ally?

[@bobody6258]

I like this, do Florida!

[@kansascityonline]

I live dead center of KC area metro.. KC is 320 sq miles.... with near 2.5mil people in the metro.. My homestead is just a small walk from the hood.. if SHTF.. we boogie to the country.. real deep red America there...

[@hammsteader]

Do alberta?

[@galinamalashchuk3846]

Piece of ground *

[@juliegouker4946]

I have been here 10 years and I will die here. Fun fact we have scorpions, trantulas, tornadoes and flash floods. Stop coming here you are driving land prices up.

[@dberg1964]

Shhhhh!!!! Dang it!! Missouri Suck! Don’t come here. Oh sure you can grow the heck out of food. And yes plenty ofo places to be away from people. Most rural areas got the nicest people. But geez it sucks! Go to Kansas. 😂😂

[@JEffinger]

I'd skip Missouri

[@lavenderlilacproductions]

It's terrible. Stay far away.

[@kimprescott835]

The lakes are man made. Lol. That's how they got there.

[@zww1019]

The lake of the Ozarks is man-made

[@BensMusicDojo]

Lived in Missouri most of my life, might as well go a little further south and get into Arkansas. It’s just a little bit prettier, and the growing season is a little longer. You can grow watermelons no problem in Arkansas with little effort, but Missouri it’s mostly a no go. Also, any fruit trees here are hopeless due to pest pressures and late frosts. Blackberries, strawberries, asparagus, and sour cherries do well here for permaculture. Apples, pears, peaches, are a lost cause without serious spray schedules.