Upper Peninsula of Michigan Homestead Plan

[TheOtherEnder]

Hello! I'm new here.
My username TheOtherEnder is a reference to my plan to move from one end of Lake Michigan (Chicago) to the other (Upper Peninsula).
I have not purchased the land just yet but will do so soon. I've been looking at properties for years already. Some listings include the tractor. Maybe I'll get lucky.
68yo retiree waiting for my youngest daughter to move out (engaged) and I'll move at that time and live alone. My recreational life has included fishing up there for decades and I have a sweet boat.
My plan is a homestead for raising goats (meat and dairy) and chickens (meat and eggs) mainly but also worms, bees, and perhaps other things. Add hunting, fishing, growing, gathering, and all that to achieve food independence. I will achieve year-round food independence with a little surplus I can use as gifts or barter. I'm on the carnivore diet since surviving a battle with cancer. So the plan is for the land to feed my animals and for the animals to feed me. To feed the goats I'm ballparking around 5+ acres for hay and I'm looking at: mower/cutter, tedder/windrower, and mini-baler. I'm also looking at harvesting firewood and tree chores. I'm also looking at snow moving. Hay, wood harvesting, and snow are the big three for me.
I have never owned or used a tractor. I have no firsthand experience. I've been researching deeply for months now and I'm delighted to have discovered this site!

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Welcome "TOE" to the site. Lots of good info on here no matter where you live it seems there is a member not far away. Good luck in your searching for the new property.

 

[ning]

My suggestion would be to include in the next ~5 years a helper's cabin on the land.

 

[WM75Guy]

Welcome to TBN. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Welcome, from Maine; your retirement plan sounds like a little slice of heaven.

 

[J&K]

Good Goals and sounds like a great retirement. I'm in the U.P. a lot and is a great place to be. Wish I would have retired up there also but hard to leave current roots in the Lower. Good luck and keep us posted where you end up.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Love the U.P.!! Good luck on finding your slice of heaven!

 

[5030]

We own hunting property up there (56 acres to be exact), but no desire to live there as the winters can be brutal. Much prefer living in the lower, lower. The upper Wolverine is nice but the taxes will kill you on 'improved' property.

 

[domin]

Another newbie here—hey everyone! Just wanted to say hi and jump into the conversation. Right now, we're living in a small but super cozy house that we’ve put a lot of love into. Honestly, it’s been perfect for us so far. That said, I keep dreaming of a bigger place with a nice yard or maybe even something closer to nature. I always joke that I’ll only start seriously looking at properties if I win something big on bovada . But hey, you never know

 

[johnsayen]

Where are you looking? Snow loads vary vastly across the UP. Even within a few miles can vary 50+ inches a year. Connect with locals before buying is my recommendation. I am willing to help too if desired.