I need a good starting point here so I will begin with our move to the new property in the fall of 2010. I have always been interested in older technology and farming. Before we moved we had less than six rolling acres to work with. A big reason I was in favor of moving was the opportunity to acquire more land. I was also ready for the true freedom of being outside the city limits as we were currently inside the limits of a small town.
We looked at land in the entire state of Missouri, but the most desired area for us was around our current location in northern Missouri or possibly the KC area. I didn’t want to be too close to KC, but a location closer wouldn’t be bad. Any county with a high population or to close to KC, Columbia or St. Louis wouldn’t be considered. There were many considerations but my main list of requirements at the time were:
- More than 5 acres of tillable ground with good soil.
- Water and power at the site.
- Reasonable in price so that I could pay it off in less than eight years.
- To not be so remote that my wife has a long drive to work.
- Not be directly on a major highway.
We looked for about a year. My requirements lowered the available choices by a lot. Bare land can be had at a good price in Missouri, but that price will not be such a good deal when you add the cost of supplying your own utilities or getting them ran to your land.
We settled on 20 acres just south of Macon Missouri. The new homestead was about 12 miles from our old place making the move easier. The land had some drawbacks as all places do, but the location is perfect for us. My wife would have an easy commute to either Macon or Moberly.
Our place in its former life was home to an Independent Stave Company sawmill.
And therein came its largest drawback, the large pile of sawdust in the middle of our property. There were also logs scattered throughout the fields as well as the occasional piece of machinery. While brush hogging I was on constant lookout with one foot on the clutch and the other on the brakes in case I came upon an obstacle.
The place was very run down. I am not sure when the sawmill quit operation, but by the time we bought the place it was rough. The bright side was the potential. The layout was a long drive with all the buildings around a center graveled turn around area in the middle of the property. Three buildings remained, the newer office, and two large shops.
Power was very abundant, we have our own power line coming into the property with three phase power that used to run all the sawmills equipment. Literally enough power to run a factory. The place had county water ran to the office as well as phone service. Sewer was provided by a lagoon.
The property had a very productive pond and the fields were a mix of grasses that were a little overgrown with trees.
