Articles · Topic
Articles about Land
82 articles across 3 sections
Section
Self-Reliance
Before You Buy: 20 Land Due Diligence Questions
Twenty questions before signing on any rural property: legal access, water rights, well testing, septic suitability, flood plain, wildfire risk, and title.
Biogas Digesters
Anaerobic digestion at property scale, and why hydrogen sulfide disables the sense of smell at the concentration where it becomes immediately dangerous. The feedstock threshold, gas conditioning as permanent infrastructure, digestate, and the confined space pattern that kills rescuers.
Biomass, Wood Gas and Heat Conversion
Turning what a property already grows or discards into power and useful heat. Eight guides covering feedstock assessment, thermoelectric modules, Stirling engines, combined heat and power, and the three higher-risk pathways covered under the understand-not-build standard.
Generating Your Own Power
Track 3 of the Energy domain. Continuous power generation at property scale across six areas: solar, micro-hydro, wind, biomass and heat conversion, continuous-duty engines, and site-specific sources. Written for a property that intends to produce its own electricity as normal operation rather than for a household sizing backup.
Inherited Land and Heirs' Property: Clear Title, Partition, and USDA Help
Inherited land without clear title is heirs' property. First steps, how partition works, the USDA farm number and relending programs open to heirs, and how to keep land in the family.
Is Your Biomass Worth It: Measuring What a Property Produces
The three feedstock streams a property can carry, measured separately and converted into kilowatt-hours. Sustainable woodlot yield against the household's own heating claim, the EPA screening threshold that rules manure out for most smallholdings, and the stove hours already being burned.
Is Your Site Worth It: Assessing a Wind Resource
The cube rule, wind shear and hub height, and the four ways to estimate a site's wind resource ranked from worst to best. Includes the Department of Energy screening equation worked end to end on a 12 foot rotor, the 30 foot clearance rule, and why a year of logging at hub height beats every shortcut.
Is Your Water Worth It: Measuring Head and Flow
The two measurements that decide whether a stream is worth developing, taken with a garden hose, a pressure gauge and a tape measure. Head by pressure at 2.31 feet per psi, flow by bucket, float-area or weir, with the surface velocity correction most homeowner guides omit. Worked end to end on one creek.
Land and Self-Reliance
Your household's relationship to land determines its self-reliance ceiling. Guides for renters, urban lots, suburban yards, rural acreage, water rights, zoning, and buying land.
Micro-Hydro and Water Power
The Hydro track of the property-scale Generation section. Eight guides on generating power from moving water, which unlike solar and wind runs continuously. Measuring head and flow, the three system configurations, turbine selection, civil works, load control, and the water rights and permits that decide whether any of it is lawful.
Paying for Land: Land Loans, Farm Credit, FSA, and Owner Financing
How people pay for rural land: land loans, Farm Credit lenders, FSA beginning-farmer loans, owner financing and contracts for deed, and leasing first, with real terms and risks.
Renter Self-Reliance: What's Possible Without Owning Land
Water storage, container food production, skill development, and community connection are all available from any rental. What renters can do specifically, and the portable-vs-permanent framework.
Rural Acreage and Self-Reliance: What Land Actually Makes Possible
Five acres to a working farm, food production, well water, wood heat, and energy options available on rural land, plus EMS response times, infrastructure costs, and self-maintenance requirements.
Small Impoundments and Micro-Dams
What storing water behind a small dam offers a micro-hydro system, and what it demands in engineering, permitting and permanent liability. The three failure modes and their national statistics, why hazard classification describes consequences rather than condition, and why this guide stops short of build instructions.
Suburban Lot Self-Reliance: What a Quarter-Acre Can Actually Produce
Raised beds, laying hens, fruit trees, and a rain barrel on a typical suburban lot, with extension-sourced figures for what each produces and the order to add them.
Towers and Maintenance
The tower decides how much a turbine produces and most of what it costs to keep running. Guyed, self-supporting and tilt-down structures compared, the land each needs, what a foundation actually resists, and the maintenance arithmetic across a twenty year life.
Urban Lot Self-Reliance: Intensive Production on a Small City Yard
Intensive raised beds, vertical growing, and container gardening for city homeowners. Front yards, community plots, and underused wall space extend what small urban lots can produce.
Water Rights and Permits
Three separate bodies of law govern a micro-hydro project: the state right to use the water, federal energy jurisdiction under the Federal Power Act, and Clean Water Act permitting. Federal jurisdiction turns on where a project sits rather than how large it is, and there is a formal process for finding out where you stand.
Water Rights: What Every Landowner Needs to Know
In the western U.S., water rights are legally separate from land. Prior appropriation, riparian doctrine, rainwater collection legality, and well due diligence.
Wind at Property Scale
The Wind track of the property-scale Generation section. Seven guides on small wind, opening with the honest position that it is the most oversold source on the site. Site assessment, why most installations disappoint, horizontal and vertical axis machines, towers and their maintenance burden, system control and braking, and the zoning that decides most projects before a turbine is ever chosen.
Zoning and Land Use: What Your Property Actually Allows
How to read zoning code, what residential zones permit by right vs conditionally, and how to navigate approvals for chickens, ADUs, solar, composting, and home businesses.
Zoning and Permits for Small Wind
Why a typical 35 foot residential height limit stops most home wind projects before they start, how setbacks decide the parcel size you need, what sound and shadow flicker rules ask for, covenants and interconnection, and when the FAA has to be notified.
Section
Preparedness
Alabama Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Alabama land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for AL landowners.
Alaska Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Alaska land guide: water rights (state permit system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for AK landowners.
Arizona Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Arizona land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for AZ landowners.
Arkansas Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Arkansas land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for AR landowners.
California Land and Self-Reliance Guide
California land guide: water rights (hybrid system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for CA landowners.
Colorado Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Colorado land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for CO landowners.
Connecticut Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Connecticut land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for CT landowners.
Delaware Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Delaware land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for DE landowners.
District of Columbia Land and Self-Reliance Guide
District of Columbia land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for DC landowners.
Florida Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Florida land guide: water rights (state permit system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for FL landowners.
Georgia Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Georgia land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for GA landowners.
Hawaii Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Hawaii land guide: water rights (state permit system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for HI landowners.
Idaho Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Idaho land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for ID landowners.
Illinois Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Illinois land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for IL landowners.
Indiana Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Indiana land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for IN landowners.
Iowa Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Iowa land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for IA landowners.
Kansas Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Kansas land guide: water rights (hybrid system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for KS landowners.
Kentucky Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Kentucky land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for KY landowners.
Louisiana Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Louisiana land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for LA landowners.
Maine Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Maine land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for ME landowners.
Maryland Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Maryland land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MD landowners.
Massachusetts Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Massachusetts land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MA landowners.
Michigan Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Michigan land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MI landowners.
Minnesota Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Minnesota land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MN landowners.
Mississippi Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Mississippi land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MS landowners.
Missouri Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Missouri land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MO landowners.
Montana Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Montana land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for MT landowners.
Nebraska Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Nebraska land guide: water rights (hybrid system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NE landowners.
Nevada Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Nevada land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NV landowners.
New Hampshire Land and Self-Reliance Guide
New Hampshire land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NH landowners.
New Jersey Land and Self-Reliance Guide
New Jersey land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NJ landowners.
New Mexico Land and Self-Reliance Guide
New Mexico land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NM landowners.
New York Land and Self-Reliance Guide
New York land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NY landowners.
North Carolina Land and Self-Reliance Guide
North Carolina land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for NC landowners.
North Dakota Land and Self-Reliance Guide
North Dakota land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for ND landowners.
Ohio Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Ohio land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for OH landowners.
Oklahoma Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Oklahoma land guide: water rights (hybrid system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for OK landowners.
Oregon Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Oregon land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for OR landowners.
Pennsylvania Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Pennsylvania land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for PA landowners.
Rhode Island Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Rhode Island land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for RI landowners.
Scoring Methodology: Best States for Preparedness and Self-Reliance
How the 50-state preparedness and self-reliance score is calculated: nine factors, weights, penalty system, data sources, and limitations.
South Carolina Land and Self-Reliance Guide
South Carolina land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for SC landowners.
South Dakota Land and Self-Reliance Guide
South Dakota land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for SD landowners.
Tennessee Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Tennessee land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for TN landowners.
Texas Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Texas land guide: water rights (hybrid system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for TX landowners.
The Best States for Preparedness and Self-Reliance
All 50 states ranked for preparedness and self-reliance. Water, affordability, food production, hazards, and legal access scored and explained, with a parcel due-diligence checklist.
Utah Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Utah land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for UT landowners.
Vermont Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Vermont land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for VT landowners.
Virginia Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Virginia land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for VA landowners.
Washington Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Washington land guide: water rights (hybrid system), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for WA landowners.
West Virginia Land and Self-Reliance Guide
West Virginia land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for WV landowners.
Where You Live Shapes What You Can Do
Before you pick a state, learn the questions experienced buyers ask first: dependable water, legal use, usable acres, true cost, and community. A calm starting point for thinking about where to live.
Wisconsin Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Wisconsin land guide: water rights (riparian rights), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for WI landowners.
Wyoming Land and Self-Reliance Guide
Wyoming land guide: water rights (prior appropriation), rainwater collection law, cottage food rules, right-to-farm protections, livestock zoning, and growing conditions for WY landowners.
Section
Gear and Buying Guides
Classic Self-Reliance Library
The foundational texts of self-reliance, books that have been earning their shelf space for decades. Carla Emery, John Seymour, Hertzberg and Greene. Buy a copy, or find it at your local library.
Fences for Pasture and Garden
Gail Damerow
Land & Homesteading Books
The best books for land-based self-reliance, from the suburban quarter-acre to the rural homestead. Buy a copy, or find it at your local library.
Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens
Gail Damerow
The Backyard Homestead
How much food you can grow on a quarter-acre lot, and how to preserve everything you harvest. New York Times Book Review. Why we recommend it, what to verify for food safety, and how to buy or borrow
The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It
John Seymour