Thinking of Homesteading In Arkansas? Here's Some Places To Avoid (And Check Out)

[@HumbleHollarHomestead]

We are in your 'go zone' very close to some of the very best fishing in North Central Arkansas. It is a sportsmans paradise here. We have great hunting, the rules are very lax and the cost is low. Coming from Colorado this is a breath of fresh air. We got an amazing deal in Summer 2022 after selling our off grid log cabin in the mountains there. We eventually moved in Fall 2022 and have been here full time since. We have a pond, 3 different year round springs and a seasonal creek currently just about done building our log cabin that we sourced from a local saw mill for a very good cost. Taxes are very cheap here and we have absolutely no codes. This does not appear to be changing as the population likes it that way. I have noticed property prices have gone nothing but up and not as much for sale now. . Locals are very friendly for most part. There have been a lot of transplants here moving to homestead. Arkansas has a major stigmatism in the US.. mainly that everyone is dumb and racist but this has not been my expirence at all. The gun laws are good and getting better. Overall I have very little to gripe about. It is a food desert for the most part, so there is that.

[@MikeRota]

All my favorite homesteaders are in NE AR

[@GHOSTINPLAINSIGHT]

The green hilly area you are pointing out at 3 minutes and 35 is called Crowleys Ridge and is very seismically active. Part of the New Madrid fault zone. Don’t move anywhere near here!

[@pattishelton3169]

Lawrenceburg Tn worries me.

[@fivem3398]

I live in Arkansas, actually inside one of your "go zones". I was raised in the MS river valley and can tell you that some of your go zones are significantly more populated than the river valley. What you said about access is true though due to all the turn rows in the farm fields. Most of those little farm towns are less than a few hundred people. The real issue in that part of the state is the aquifer and fault line.

[@janebadon3988]

I’ve been learning about the fault line, but am unaware of the aquifer issue....would you mind telling me about it?

[@fivem3398]

@@janebadon3988 It is drying up

[@Sjradventures]

What I didn't hear you talk about is the statewide drug problem Arkansas has. I live in one of your no zones. The poultry industry has taken a huge hit. Property is over priced by 400 percent.

[@OmegaBlueFarms]

Great video. we are investigating moving our pastured poultry farm to Arkansas. Water security and biosecurity are at the top of our checklist. We were already looking to avoid the poultry tunnels for biosecurity reasons, thanks for reminding how bad those commercial birds smell. We have also viewed the fracking history of areas. In the end we have 13 counties left in our "go Zone".

[@CraquedEggs]

I spent 6 years in Perry county AR and it isn't bad. I would also stay clear of the Arkansas river for many of the same reasons you avoided the Mississippi river.

[@klarraportillo]

Thank you so much for this video. It was very interesting.

[@BobbleheadHomestead]

Nope, Arkansas is full, don't come here :) BIG Homesteading KZbinr meetup this weekend at Blue Mountain Lake - Waveland Campground, Havana, Arkansas. Tons of groovy KZbin channels, come hang out with us. Simple Life Reclaimed, Country Road Cure, C'mon Homesteading, Drifting Dreamers 5, Drews Lens, Possum Run Homestead, JunkToJems Homestead, Our Mountain Home, and many more including me. Food, fishing, fun, activities for kids, and community building. Should be hundreds in attendance, we sold out the campground.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Ha. Nice try. It's far from full. You've got room for some truther patriots.

[@HippocratesGarden]

Howdy Jeff!

[@jimmywayne623]

Arkansas is full of chicken farms!! Don’t build anywhere close to them. Check topo maps first & ask farmer when the chicks are harvested & then visit the area. Nastiness every 9 weeks or so.

[@BobbleheadHomestead]

@@offgridcurtisstone Yes we do, the more the merrier. If you know cool folks wanting to move to Arkansas tell them to reach out, I'll help where I can. I came to Arkansas 7 years ago, I found 2.5 acres for $5,000 on Craigslist. The property was full of trash and next door to a 4 CAFO chicken warehouse operation on one side, and a cattle ranch on the other. Great advice not to live next to one of those, you are absolutely right, but it gave me a very, very cheap way to start a small business. Two weeks ago I moved to 7 acres which was $40,000. It was raw land and I have been developing it the past year. Tree clearing with a backhoe (which allowed for some big hugelkultur trenches) driveway building, culverts, water, electric, septic, shed to house setup, moving coops and chickens. Now I can start expanding - food forest, gardens, turkeys ducks geese sheep and more than I can handle. I've gotten an unbelievable amount of help thanks to real life connections through KZbin the past 6 years and can tell you there are tons of like-minded, intelligent, hard working people around my little area of Booneville, Arkansas and we love helping people working for more freedom and self-sufficiency. You may have to drive an hour to get a bottle of wine or a 6-pack, and meth heads might break into your house, and the neighborhood pack of free roaming dogs may wipe out a flock while you've got your back turned for 10 minutes, but there are miniscule property taxes, no building codes, and more than enough good folks to outweigh the bad. Come to Arkansas, ya hear?

[@joni4632]

Has anyone ever heard of a dating site for preppers? I would love to homestead but I’m single and 60 and don’t want to do it alone.

[@susandobbins1313]

Hi, Curtis! We're in the Missouri Ozarks, right on the Arkansas border. Love it here. Our county is so small, no interference.

[@Davidg1t1]

Helloooo Susan! I’m on the state line @ BullShoals. Good Day to you!

[@susandobbins1313]

@@Davidg1t1 we're 3 miles from Bull Shoals Lake.!

[@Davidg1t1]

@@susandobbins1313 How Awesome! I sub’d to your channel. Take care friends

[@susandobbins1313]

@@Davidg1t1 I don't post on YT. 😉

[@dart336]

Fort Smith here: it depends on what your priorities are. Great real estate here, terrible homesteading policies in town. Most of my friends moved across the bridge where there are several homesteads for sale half an hour to hour out of the "big city". I use the quotations because it's a small city of only 90K, it's the nearest center for big box stores and services. The entire county is smaller than the suburbs in California and Quebec I grew up in. Fort Smith is so out of the way infact tornadoes rarely hit the main section of town, and generally low on the disaster charts. Fort Smith is also a border town with Oklahoma who's split between two different tribes when you're driving into town, even a small section of FTS is technically and legally in Oklahoma(West FTS, Arkohoma). A lot of Oklahoma homesteaders drive in the Atwood's, Tractor Supply (South of and East of FTS) and Farmers Co-op. It's really a great spot to start over. The City is ran by morons, and it's one of the most over regulated cities in the country. Life however in the numbered streets will find a way to openly own roosters. Fixer uppers are typically under 90K here. 57K in town for a 3b1b that needs a dumpster to clear out whatever is left behind and replacing the cabinets. Easley 100k house once flipped. Decent spot to stay until you find a homestead. Half an hour outside of town, 50K for a flop house that needs to swept out and gutted. Not much land but close to the interstate and several homestead properties. As far as CAFOs go, don't worry about it, very common out here. Look for soil testing and physical conditions of the chicken house. They can be cleaned up after all. If they can fit 5K birds for Tyson, you can comfortably fit in 700 free range ones in there.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

We moved up in the foothills north of Van Buren. It’s harder to find larger tracts, but not impossible. People have been easy to live with. We can do whatever we want on our land.

[@imaliveinjesus]

Checkout the Cleburne county area. My home, where I have my little homestead. 1.5 acres and all the gardening, with NO RESTRICTIONS.

[@ROYALDONTPLAY]

What do you think of Izard county ?

[@truthl0ver777]

Looks like Mena Arkansas should be ok! I’m near the national forest land too. I’m stoked. Moving in a month if everything goes good with the sale. 10 acres, mostly wooded. I can clear some more if I want

[@zenjamin6262]

This info is so valuable! It is so easy to get yourself into somthing that you didnt see the downfalls then you move in realize the inherent problems then have somthing nobody wants to buy and your stuck. the kind of properties curtis is suggesting are only becoming harder and harder to find and will likely double in price once reality hits the fan

[@andybonneau9209]

I'm loving this series. Can't wait until you get to Maine. 😊

[@kylesnyder3757]

Could you cover Minnesota sooner rather than later?

[@ChrisBairDrums]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Michigan! Also Missouri 🙂

[@toxicmasculinity6246]

MI is a dem/liberal state. Best to avoid those states entirely.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Love both those states for homestead value for sure.

[@earthzeroapothecary]

I live in Michigan and am excited for that update, as well!!

[@Davidg1t1]

Thank you for this video brother! So cool you mention our area. Gorgeous. Rugged. But there are a lot of bugs.. however the people here are awesome ❤️‍🔥 even the Sasquatch are not aggressive 😉

[@DanielIvan707]

Great stuff. Please do Alabama and Tennessee.

[@ccadelli]

Cheers from Fort Smith, AR!!

[@EdimentalGardens]

I’m very much looking forward to your video on Texas

[@davej7458]

As you like at the Midwest, do you consider the 1930 -1940 dust bowl areas at risk for future drought. They have removed the shelter belts and gone back some of the same bad farming practices.

[@CristinLive]

Will you please do one of these videos for Mississippi 🙏

[@wadeschwartz6281]

New Madrid fault line in northeast Arkansas ,,Definite no go

[@mikkirandall9758]

Unfortunately, that's where I live. I love the north central and northwestern side of the state.

[@jerrodsonger2869]

I moved up to searcy co 2 years ago but for 26 years I grew up within the central ar circle. Ozarks are amazing but the ouachita mountains in perry/saline county and out that way (Winona WMA) literally amazing land although it’s public there is so much land surrounding it that isn’t. Low populations spring water it’s very comparable to the ozarks.

[@geraldcroft9020]

I’m here in Mountainhome. The surrounding area is good southern Missouri east over towards a Ash Flat. Just be sure if you love the garden bring your copper spray for fungus. it’s really humid and something to fertilize, the soil is terrible. And dig you a hole for the tornado season. One thing, and I haven’t listen to this yet, is it people here are polite, courteous, kind I haven’t seen much theft all. The median age here in Mountainhome is in the 50s not that many young people it’s a retirement type area. There’s no graffiti but I’m not seeing a lot of gardening which concerns me. There are lots of cows here. Lastly, I just picked up over 50 acres. I’m fairly level heavily trade with mixed forest with a lot of big cedar for around 240., yes, it is very cheap here and those who can work remotely will really have a low cost of living. Came from Utah a few years ago. Edit : I forgot to mention out in the county there are no building permits required

[@freddyhollingsworth5945]

North central Arkansas is the best, Harrison, Mountain View, Mountain Home, Gasville, etc... Super clean land, lower cost per acre, hard wood forest, lots of water, good wells, etc...

[@PDXBeach]

Have you thought about doing this type of analysis outside the USA? I don’t think we would ever leave the USA, but it would be worth considering a lower threat locale outside of the lower 48.

[@anthonylilja]

Please do East Tennessee.

[@pattishelton3169]

And southern middle Tennessee between Waynesboro and Pulaski TN.

[@mauricioacosta7492]

How would you rate evening shade Arkansas. Great content thank you for you work

[@duncansh81]

I don't know how this affects the decision-making but I live near Russellville, AR and there is a nuclear power plant in Russellville. If the grid goes down, that thing has 3 days of diesel to keep it from melting down. After that, there is not way of keeping it stable. My understanding is that it won't "blow up" but it will meltdown and would still likely scatter nuclear debris for a large area around there.

[@terrychandler3969]

The nuke plant has 5 safeties if all else fails there's a gravity fed pond to shut down the reactor which could never be started again

[@dragonrider9051]

Great video, Arkansas the hidden gem state.

[@adamjohnson1311]

Great video!

[@KieraCameron514]

"These Ozark Lakes are so cool." Uh, that's Beaver Lake which was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They built a dam on white river to make the lake.

[@SukiAwake]

Ok I live in one of your "no zones" but not in the Mississippi valley area and I think people should talk to someone who lives in Arkansas before saying yes or no about an area.

[@springflowerdark2137]

Arkansas is full, but thanks for covering the state.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Hardly ;)

[@springflowerdark2137]

@@offgridcurtisstone it really is. Full of corporate farm types and with the mining coming to Arkansas for ev minerals it is going to be a bit crazy

[@ArkansasSquaw]

Totally agree with you on the delta regions of our state, especially Cross County, St. Francis County, Crittenden County, etc. I hate driving through it. A lot of crime (close to Memphis) and not a lot of industry. I live in Arkansas and lived here my enter life. Own property in Conway County, Faulkner and Cleburne County. I personally love the Ozarks around Leslie, Marshall and within those surrounding areas. Close to water, lots of areas in which to hunt, and definitely not over populated.

[@ROYALDONTPLAY]

Looking to buy land in Izard county, any idea what the building enforcement is like ?

[@ArkansasSquaw]

@ROYALDONTPLAY Izard I have no idea about. What town and I'll see what I can find out?

[@ROYALDONTPLAY]

What about Izard county ? Thinking of getting land there

[@SilverBackPreparedness]

Thoughts on Missouri? Staying away from KC and STL of course.

[@theantifeministwoman7567]

Stay away from Columbia/Jefferson City and Springfield as well. St. Charles County is even too built up now and having protest activities. Stay away.

[@theantifeministwoman7567]

Oh, and same for Ironton and Farmington. They also have a protest/riot group down there.

[@theantifeministwoman7567]

Pardon the multiple nuggets. Stay away from Ft. Leonard Wood, too many dumped chemicals and same for that Ironton area. North of HWY 70 has better/bigger deer than the south, but there are a lot of like-minded people in the Ozarks. However, everyone wants to live there now. Northern Missouri does get bitter winters sometimes. It's a give and take.

[@farmsteadgoldcompany]

I chose a place in the middle of the Mark Twain in Southern Missouri to build my FGC Viking Outpost. I found there to be some good folks there, and I want to live my retirement days growing food for the community. I had several areas cleared for greenhouses, pasture, pond, and future camping/cabin spots; even if it just for good friends to visit and take a break on the weekends from cities. I am still on a water well list to have a well dug--that will be the last piece of the puzzle for the place to be really sustainable. There is plenty of rain, wildlife, remoteness, lumber for heating; and the Current River 20 miles away, and the nearest small town is 7 miles away. I love it out there. Cheers.

[@l0I0I0I0]

I'm interested in homesteading in Arkansas, where I'm at.

[@ryansoo4000]

Do BC Canada next!

[@asktheanimals]

Some of the hills in his example could potentially go beyond swales & into terracing.

[@Unsung_Guardian]

Thank you!

[@bosshog1062]

What is your thoughts on Russellville or Pottsville?

[@HippocratesGarden]

I am from, and live in the Northeast area in the first red polygon. Close on some details, missed a few as well. If anyone wants boots on the ground info...

[@petekooshian5595]

I'd like details! Give me the good, bad, and ugly

[@ROYALDONTPLAY]

Been thinking of purchasing land in Izard county, any idea what the building enforcement is like ?

[@durgan5668]

One of the problems Arkansas has, is the money isn't spent on infrastructure. There are horrendous problems with raw sewage being spewed into Lake Catherine, for instance, and they've known about it for decades. The only time they act on it is when they are forced to by legal action. Every time it rains, it overwhelms the system and the sewage flows right into the same lake that families take their kids to.

[@HalfQuickFarmer]

I’m just outside of the red zone surrounding fort smith. Muskogee. Of course prob a red circle around my town…

[@marep17]

I have read that there are some big nasty mining and such projects coming to Arkansas. That concerns me. Where are these things coming?

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

yes, and southeastern Missouri. Large lithium (Arkansas) and cobalt (MO) mines and both state governments are quietly passing bills to ruin these areas.

[@Sjradventures]

They are actively building a lithium planet 60 miles from where we live.

[@jennalira1611]

They are coming to SW AR

[@RealChrisFischer]

HI Curtis, are you still offering paid consultations?

[@vonniemerriam974]

This is where God planted me and where I've suburbsteaded for my 62 yrs. If only we can kick out the downstate blight, and it's perpetual enabling of Albany, it would be a homestead paradise.

[@monklife5885]

Expect extreme heat, humidity and festering mosquitos during the summer in southern Arkansas during the summer. Beware.

[@brokenbear809]

Take a good look at that First area you cordoned off is a dragon's head

[@SkyKingCoins]

Please do WV. :)

[@offgridcurtisstone]

We will do all US states.

[@mondavou9408]

NE Arkansas here. Can not recommend unless you're just looking for cheap living. There are almost no services, labor or supplies.

[@Papagiorgio777]

You rock Curtis

[@judymccormack2150]

Chicken dust!! Talk to the locals before buying. Some towns are cool, trendy and over regulated. Some rural towns are drug ridden and it spills over into the rest of the area. Overall was my 1st pick. West Memphis is dangerous!!

[@judymccormack2150]

State + county + city/town sales taxes...9%

[@Julesbc1234]

Or 10%

[@gindagoo]

What about North Carolina?

[@offgridcurtisstone]

We'll get there.

[@IveysFamilyFactotum]

just about the ENTIRE state of AR has large chicken farms. You just need to be on the correct side of them...I live close to a chicken farm but NEVER smell it as we chose the correct side to be on...😁😁👍👍....good to know however we are in a "green" zone...haha

[@Jjchg]

Don’t forget to remind people of the New Madrid fault in Missouri that if that blows Arkansas is going to be involved too according to the science.

[@youarenotme01]

You can’t be an outsider in Arkansas. The natives will make your life miserable and make you leave. They will NEVER accept you. My family has owned a vacation home there for more than 100 years. I’ve seen too many good people move there and regret it.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

I’m sure it’s not the same everywhere.

[@youarenotme01]

@@offgridcurtisstone yeah,… don’t listen to the guy who’s family has lived there on and off for more than 100 years, watched them run off everyone. “Sure” means you’ve no idea. You can’t be “sure” about that. You throw darts in the dark.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

I listened, and responded. But, I've also been all over the US and in 45 US states. If anyone tells me it's the same everywhere, I know by experience, that is not true.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

Not true where we moved north of Fort Smith. Our neighbors are very kind and friendly to us.

[@Artiekarns]

That can be very true. But so many outsiders have moved to Arkansas that it's changing. When we first moved here in 1979 a native Arkansan told us " You people come here and think you can change us but we just absorb you." That would mean you become part of them but that never happens. You are always from somewhere else. There's nothing wrong with you it's just the way they are. They are nice but they don't need you for a friend they have more than enough family. Fortunately, with all the "newcomers" moving in you will make lots of friends. We have never regretted moving here.

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

Don't come here. you won't like it. Stay away. Danger.

[@theIAMofME]

I know why you say that. I'm in TN. We do not need any more people coming here. They are killing us with taxes and pricing people (natives) out of the housing market. Old people who can't afford their property taxes will be homeless. Invaders are invaders. We do NOT like it. Don't expect a warm hello, a wave and an apple pie at your door. These people are running from places THEY created with their vote. No thank you! Sorry. not sorry!

[@Jcislrd7]

Arkansas might be cheap but has very high taxes in everything

[@irisburgos4153]

A strategic missile site?????

[@Sjradventures]

Yeah. They also build warheads here.

[@dragonrider9051]

Most the chicken farms you see are no longer functioning.

[@Artiekarns]

98% of Chicken farms around Batesville are up and running.

[@Adam_B]

Curtis is about 2 steps away from becoming Waco, Texas crazy

[@denisestarr2314]

Dude you know nothing about arkansas .