Best state/location for self-sustainability?

[kwells2006]

I really like Arkansas, especially in then Mountains in the west and the buffalo river area.

We canoed down and camped on the Buffalo river a few years back. There was good fishing a lot of game. One morning when I got up there were  cat prints beside my tent that made me snap my head around to see if it was behind me!  Could'a lived on that sand bar right up until flood time. 

excellent and plentiful with game and farmland alike, property isnt expensive either

[LabRat2k3]

Well I think we have it pretty good here in WV. Most years the winters aren't too bad, the summers don't get too hot, we have a good growing season, plenty of good water sources, not many dangerous critters, and plenty of wild game. Land prices are better than a lot of places and people pretty much leave you alone and let you live on your own terms, but are quick to help each other if the need arises. I could live pretty good off the grid around here, some folks do around here and don't even know that's what it's called it is just the way they have always lived.

[mechanic]

I hear the US of A has plenty of land in Utah, and the pictures of the place are pretty.  Lets just go there and hide

[bilmac]

It's funny. You don't hear much about Utah as a State making noises about how they will not go along with what is happening in Washington like other western and southeastern states. I know that it's people are pretty conservative.

[223fan]

WV is a good place as others have said.I didn't get on the grid till 1988 when I became one of Uncle Sam's Mis Guided Children,mom & dad finally got on it about 1994.I cann't say as I ever remember going hungry or cold growing up,of course we did hunt cut wood & garden.

[30calflash]

 This thread has been very informative and I hope that some folks who've mentioned how nice their state is mention which one it is. I, being from Ct. do not plan to stay here forever and the info some folks have offered have made me interested in places that I not been to or have forgotten about. Keep up the good work!

[SHOOTALL]

The problem is in many states people see living off the grid as being poor or backward. In many cases it might be but in others it is when folks just say they are tired of working to keep up with what others think is best for them. I would look for a place where peple mind their own business and that will be hard to come by. City slickers looking to move out of the city have ruined a many good place . As an example I moved out . On one side was a family that had been there for generations on the other a family from the city. The city family pushed until the org. family had to put up the free roaming chickens. Then they complained about all the ticks getting on their kids , go figure ?

[WD45]

Not actually sure about what state but when considering a location it would be best if you were close to a water source that could be used as drinking water for you and livestock AND crop irigation if necessary. The best would be at least 40 acres farmed in 3rds. Also remember you have to be able to plant enough to not only live off but have enough to keep for next years seed also. I would also say you are better off in a warmer region. The longer the growing season the better

[WD45]

By the way shoot all, I get so tired of the city yahoos that want to come to the country and expect to live like city people. Good friend of mine had some city people move in next to his place and kept complaining about him not cutting his grass. This went on until he cut and bailed the 5 acres of hay between him and the city peoples house. No kidding.

[SHOOTALL]

By the way shoot all, I get so tired of the city yahoos that want to come to the country and expect to live like city people. Good friend of mine had some city people move in next to his place and kept complaining about him not cutting his grass. This went on until he cut and bailed the 5 acres of hay between him and the city peoples house. No kidding.

No doubt . I have one now complaining that I don't feed my cows enough grain. They get grass and hay . One is now about 1300 lbs the other 1100 or so. I give them a bucket of grain every couple of days so they will come to the bucket . I do so to make loading easy or getting them back in the pasture if they get out.
 Here they buy 5 acres and think they own the county !

[glock fan]

I lived in southern Missouri for about 10 yrs.  I think southern Mo. or Arkansas would be great.  I don't like winters there though.  Too cold and too many gray days until spring.  Land was very cheap in Mo. for some reason.  Beautiful wooded hills & vales.  Lots of rivers & lakes.  Great place for homesteading or living off the grid.  I had a small farm (40 acres) on the Niangua River.  It is the only river to flow north in Mo.  Clear rock bottom.  Also there was a state trout spawning facility upstream about 5 miles.  Every year the state would release trout into the river.  Right before I left they reintroduced beaver & otter into the area.  They had huge fines for anyone who shot any of them.  Now I have a place in south Texas and love it.  I hate winters so I'm staying in Texas.  It's sunny all winter down here. Very few gray days.  In fact winter is the best time of the year down here.  Best time for outdoor projects.  There is still plenty of land in this great country but it is disapearing fast and is getting more expensive all the time.   

[SHOOTALL]

The best places are already taken . It would seem a place close enough to enjoy the benifits but far away enough to miss the bad would be best. Population centers are where they are for a reason , best place is one reason. A good place to look would be really old cities and towns . Think small and places that passed their prime years ago. Look in the South for good weather. Most will be near a water source that has been around for years. One that is far from other big population centers would be good. In a place like this you could be a short walk to be off the grid.