Land & planning

Land & planning covers the due-diligence work before you buy — reading a soil survey, finding and testing water sources, interpreting a percolation test, and spotting the quiet problems that photographs hide. Articles give you a working checklist so you assess properties the way a farmer would, not the way a listing describes them.

2 articles

PIONEER · WATER·5 min read

Buying land for homesteading: water, soil, and the perc test

The land is the one homestead decision you cannot undo. Here is how to vet water, soil, zoning, and the perc test before you buy, and how much acreage you need.

PIONEER · DESIGN·5 min read

The best states for homesteading, and how to judge them

Tennessee, Missouri, Idaho and more top the homesteading lists, but the right state is the one matching your goals. Here is how to weigh land, water, and law.