Homesteading in Oregon..Here's a Few Key Spots To Avoid (And Check Out)

[@keithfisher756]

You completely bypassed southern oregon. Medford, Grants Pass (which is a conservative area) has all the shopping you need and a good climate to grow food.

[@geo-metric]

I bypass those meth towns every time I drive through southwest Oregon.

[@Andy-le8xy]

@@geo-metric You are 100% correct about them being meth towns or drug havens more to the point they are drug invested and dangerous locations. Not a good place to move too.

[@keithfisher756]

@geo-metric we absolutely have a homeless, fentanyl, and meth problem. We have Mexican, Chinese, and Bulgarian cartels here growing weed. But it's better than the Willamette Valley.

[@hughjunit2503]

If you think those litle towns are bad dont go to Portland😂😂😂 Portland wears a cape with a giant S on it for "shithole😂😂😂😂😂

[@mute7116]

Sshhhh

[@l.l.2463]

Life-long Oregonian here. I would also add the importance of looking minutely into the land-use laws of any property under consideration. I hear about things people are able to do in other states that would never be allowed here. The agriculture laws seem to favor the big landowners. Little 20 acre, single family parcels can be hard to come by. And don't assume you can build a 2nd home for a grown child or elderly parent. Even if you can get a zoning exemption for a hardship issue they can make you render it uninhabitable when the person passes so you can only use it for storage. Not much freedom here. I might also mention that gardening can be a challenge even in the "wet" part of the state because we, also, can go 2 months without any real precipitation. Most of it comes in the late fall through spring. And all that moisture can make it hard to keep up with dry rot etc. I also remember at least one cool, rainy August where the tomatoes didn't ripen. Then they baked on the vine in September. Also, the politics stink because the high population urban areas outweigh the more conservative parts.

[@lisacarden1309]

I live in Oregon I totally agree but I’d add the decades of mail in voting /illegitimate elections, have turned it into a Marxist cesspool

[@rpestess]

I live in Oregon and the problem with the Hood River, The Dalles area is that it is always windy and during the winter I-84 closes occasionally due to icy roads and wind. Also, Bend has grown into a large city with most anything you would need. Towards the town of Sisters looks like an area with potential for property but it is expensive. About 30 minutes south of Bend is the town of LaPine which has some remote areas near water and still within driving distance of Bend. Also, if you live west of I-5 you will be cut off if the Cascadia Earthquake hits. Thanks for the video!

[@Waynebrady22]

I homestead 30 acres outside Klamath falls. I think not mentioning grants pass, Medford and Klamath falls area is a miss. Price are good. Weather is moderate. Politics are good as well

[@hempfarmerclay4184]

Kfalls here also!!! They dont know, thats ok, already lots of Cali People moving in.

[@aubreyleonae4108]

@@hempfarmerclay4184 they started moving in 73 big time, especially keno, chiloquin etc

[@Bogey.Smalls]

This is why i came here, me and my wife have been looking at land in the Kalamath area to homestead for some time now. Southern Oregon gets 300+ day of sun a year and seems nearly ideal.

[@Jjaylynn_333]

Grew up in eastern Oregon, most people commute to Boise Idaho if they need anything. Closer than Portland and an easier drive.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

Only wind turbines are up in the gorge area that is it. How big of a nearby town do you want? You can get most things you need in La Grande or Pendleton in the NE, if you are up by Pendleton you can also drive into the Tri Cities Washington easily and they have everything, its over 100k. If you live in Central Oregon Bend is over 100k and has everything. If you live in SE near Ontario and they do not have what you need its a short drive to Boise. The only truly isolated areas are South Central around Lakeview and Burns areas or John Day valley area or Wallowa valley. At one point your pointing towards Ochoco National Forest area talking how isolated it is and "barren", the farmland and ranchland to the South of that is lovely and well watered with thousands of springs and a easy drive to Bend. As for Willamette Valley a ton of it is very rural farmland and ranch land. You are right about very high prices, tons of Californians have moved and are moving to Oregon causing home prices and rental prices into the obscene area. They settle other than Portland into resort/retirement communities on the North Coast and Bend, for price reason alone I would avoid the North Coast. The SW Oregon area, South of Eugene has been a hot bed for "survivalists" going back to the 1970's. Eugene is woke because its a college town, Bend is because 80% of its population is newcomers from California or Portland but 15 minutes outside of town is cattle country.

[@c3bhm]

State of Jefferson!

[@thomastrefz]

This is 💯 correct I live in Eastern Oregon, and it's not that hard to find what you need in Baker City or Hermiston, depending on what side of the mountains you live on.

[@jamesmoulton4436]

Nice job man. I think you were focusing on the amenities a little much. Anything we can't get in town we just order online. The only time we go to Portland is for business or maybe the airport. Any small town will have 90% of what you need

[@marge3157]

I live in a large county of 8500 people not a single stop light. Affordable property taxes. And year round sun light. But you have to be a little tough to live here. Freeze all year. Crummy sandy soil.

[@ryansoo4000]

Do you take nuclear waste storage sites or nuclear reactors into consideration? What about military bases?

[@LifeLibertyGarden]

Central OR would be the last place Id homestead off grid. I live in Redmond. If you have water rights, canals can be turned off or restricted on drought years. Wells are drying up. Much of the east side can get freezing temperatures any day of the year. We had a freeze just 2 weeks ago. Plus, it’s highly populated. If I could afford it, I would off grid an old property around Elkton south to wolf creek.

[@JAKE-yf9gl]

I grew up in the valley and moved to central Oregon in the late 80's. I've always had a garden, but the extrem fluctuating temperatures, poor soil and critters make make it a lot of work. It's nothing like gardening in the valley .

[@FreeRadicalX]

What does Curtis mean by "woke" and how is it relevant to homesteading? Also I'd say making those circles 50 mile radius is a big L, all three of those cities get downright rural outside 10 miles, maybe 15 for Portland. The Willamette Valley is by far the most fertile lane in the state and an arms reach from those cities is the best place to look. Yes it's expensive but all land in Oregon is expensive.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Woke has nothing to do with homesteading, that's why I say to stay away from it.

[@asktheanimals]

Curtiss puts it succinctly. Many laws & regulations are being put into place in areas that have been taken over by woke ideology that actively suppress small farms & homesteads.

[@duded2268]

I checked on those desolate areas you're talking about and there seems to be enough rainwater and snow to catch enough water to live on if you can even catch rainwater in Oregon!?!

[@duded2268]

Of course I didn't double-check but I could be in the wrong area

[@terale6798]

Last I saw, you can collect rainwater off your roof in Oregon. In Washington, it's illegal to collect any rainwater! The state believes they own all water above and below your property. 😢​@duded2268

[@duded2268]

@@terale6798 I saw a video where they said Oregon actually has a video on a government website showing you how to collect water

[@pdx_painter]

Generally, in Oregon, you can collect rainwater, but you can’t divert runoff or creeks.

[@farmersamforest9393]

Water rights laws are very bad in Oregon

[@MistiPatrella]

Truth! I'm here. It's all good unless you want to start a business.

[@imoongarden6347]

Water “rights are bad everywhere or coming to a town near you, have you seen Idaho? It’s literally just the same game/ plan, different time, different names, once you see it, you can’t see it. Just have to be creative and think outside the box. 🤗

[@ethanelectric1024]

You are awesome for these videos. I have lived in Michigan my whole life and am moving to Nashville for a job. I'm excited for West Virginia and Kentucky.

[@victoryhomerepair7340]

Waiting for West Virginia and Virginia

[@kathywinkler9802]

I live in Southern Oregon, and love it!! .... Except ... lol ... it's TOO dry in Summer, the water rights issues, now they want to shut down small farms, and it's got a growing homeless problem ...

[@scruffyscrubs5468]

My sis lives in Grants Pass. Ive lived in Gresham. Yeah, east of Mt. Hood is really dry.

[@mantaszmenskis5619]

Whatabout the radioactivity by the Columbia river in the Walla Walla area?

[@IsaiahLove777]

Yes. Please. Everyone stay out of Oregon

[@kelley8223]

We are to inherit a good bit of land in the middle of the “no go zones” once my father in law passes. It’s hard for us to decide whether or not to keep it or sell and purchase something somewhere else. We currently live in Arizona and I would prefer the high desert, but that also has its own challenges. The land in Oregon is beautiful and would be great for livestock and large gardens. We are just not a fan of the politics in the area. Selling the property there would likely get us a lot more elsewhere, but my husband grew up there and thinks it would be good to keep it. Tough decision and hopefully we don’t need to make it anytime soon.

[@adamfrank66]

Looking forward to your review of Saskatchewan. I am currently looking at property here.

[@maplenook]

I’m in an area you suggested. Two neighbors with acreage are trying to sell. No luck in months. Things are good but going into the cities has become depressing.

[@Beesunflower369]

All this information is amazing. Thank you.

[@Traconian2]

I live in Central Oregon and I can say it's priced out. My home has more than tripled in price in the last 12 years. Water is a major issue here, even if you have water rights. Oregon is mostly conservative East of the Cascade Mountain Range, but there's not enough people to offset the big cities, so, it doesn't mean anything politically. No windmills here, but some solar panel farms, small scale compared to other places. Cost of living here is high, making it difficult for young adults to get started. We homestead on dry land, only because we bought before the boom. Great views, few bugs, and low humidity make it a nice place.

[@hvmanara]

Good analysis, Curtis.

[@Jay-dr9co]

100 miles from Costco in Oregon,with a mediterranean climate Just right.

[@n0tcher]

Can't wait to see one of your vids on California

[@gruffmadness]

Have you done wisconsin?

[@gwenbarnes4738]

He didnt mention Medford or Klamath Falls, at all...

[@helpplants7]

Oregon is tough on farmers even small farms , a lot of regulations on water especially, fish are first in Oregon it’s been that way many decades.

[@suburbancommandojeremy]

Do you really need more than One Million people to be considered a city? Spokane has over 460,000 people and you call it a town. There are too many people here now!

[@comeconcon569]

Everything in Oregon revolves in the western part of the state where its government has its seat. when tourists visit the state, they will come to western Oregon, not Eastern Oregon.

[@TM-ye6fk]

When will there be one for Colorado? Specifically thoughts on the Western Slope?

[@asktheanimals]

I have some thoughts & analyses on CO, including W Slope. I think one of the most challenging aspects of the W Slope is water. Water rights are messy to begin with, then add fracking of headwaters (high water extraction along with toxic waste in ground, surface, & waste water), dependence on irrigation companies, & piping/stealing of water for the ever expanding Front Range sprawl. At least some of the ditch companies have given fair warning of early shut offs in drought years. A good thing with the irrigation is the terrain making for some excellent gravity fed planning. Another challenge is cost. Land & housing costs are skyrocketing out here, especially in river valleys. With more money moving in, regulations that destroy small farms are increasing. Most of the CO climate is terrible for sustained plant-based agriculture. Silvopasture in river valleys is a good way to maintain resiliency, but in other areas like temperate grasslands (considered the most endangered ecosystem on the planet) & sage steppes, some people don't get deep enough into the observe & interact 1st permaculture principle, then proceed to do something stupid like kill all the rain-making prairie dogs & try to plant a food forest or put in row crops. Most of the state is best suited for properly managed grazing. Ideally utilizing arid-adapted ungulates & ruminants. Bison are best. In the non-native realm, yak, goat, Mongolian camels are better suited to this climate than cows, but even cows are better than plant agriculture because they can be grazed with natives (even though there are many people who aren't willing to learn how to work with the native biotic communities). Designing for passive & active solar systems is a no-brainer in CO. Some brilliant work is being done with greenhouse design here. If one moves here & doesn't utilize the sun, they are just another one of the clueless zombie hoards.

[@pdx_painter]

Your 30,000 ft view is generally accurate, but your smaller details are inaccurate. You are correct that the political climate is liberal because Portland, Eugene, and Bend have enough population to control everything. However, if you get 20-30 miles east or west of any large town in western Oregon, you’re surrounded by conservatives, and rarely more than an hour from anything you need. Yes, it’s expensive, but that’s a relative issue for many. I grew up here, I have children and grandchildren here and any property I buy will have to be here. If you can afford it, the biggest cons are land use regulations. Generally speaking, any rural farm or forest land cannot be decided down below 20, 40, or 100 acres if it hasn’t been divided already. Same applies to multiple dwellings, For instance, a 30 acre plot is zoned R20 and has one dwelling, you’re not likely to be able to put a second dwelling on it because you can’t get two 20 acre plots.

[@offgridcurtisstone]

Well, it's what I say at the beginning of most of these videos.

[@danr97123]

live in Portland area. you are spot on with everything.

[@imperialfish454]

lol my man put a little too much of his politics into this video. I'm no democrat but Bend is one of the friendliest towns for homesteaders, regardless of the politics in town. Sometimes having a bunch of hippies nearby is useful, cause they open stores where you can get garden and farm supplies. He also breezes right by towns like Hermiston and John Day cause he's just looking at a map and knows nothing about the area itself, both decent sized towns for supplies. Maybe spend a little less time getting mad at the vague cloud of "wokeness" around specific zip codes and try to focus more on the places you actually know. How "woke" a city is ain't going to make your potatoes grow any differently, calm down. For those interested: plenty of places within the valley are good places to look. Tillamook can get a little busy from all the Portlanders heading to the coast, but anywhere in the county not in a national forest or on the major highway between the town of Tillamook and Portland will give you a lush, beautiful area. Priced as such. Farther south in Coos county, Curry county, or Josephine county is going to be better for your money, and if the word "woke" scares you so much, you'll be at home. Also a lot of nice rivers, might just find your land having a really good source of water and fish. Would not suggest Astoria area like Curtis says, the place is too wet and floods semi-regularly. You can make it work, but scrap any building plans you already have for that property and start from scratch.

[@8sonrisa8]

Had a gorgeous farm in Boring/Damascus but was quickly getting encroached on by growing suburbs, bullying, rules, greed and “wokeness.” Had to get out fast. Outside of Ashland area, nothing in Oregon was interesting to me after that. Terrible governor, etc.-but it’s all the over now.

[@poodledaddles1091]

Interesting….

[@JamesBlazen]

Oregon sucks unless you like Pride parades.

[@hempfarmerclay4184]

@@JamesBlazen where you getting your salt from Curtis in a long lasting shtf??? These mid west states i guess can hike to utah and mine salt or live close to the coast…

[@marge3157]

Not in Lake County.

[@TheMoeShun]

Please do Minnesota

[@offgridcurtisstone]

I heard you the first time.

[@TheMoeShun]

@@offgridcurtisstone haha yay! I appreciate everything you do!