Address all questions to
Aggie@Homestead.org
Dear Aggie,
Can you tell me
which states still allow free homestead of land and who to contact on
this and how to go about the process?
SC61
Dear SC,
This is a question
yours truly is asked on a very regular basis, and the short answer is
“There aren't any.”
If you require a more
detailed reply, let me quote directly from the US Government Information
website, since it’s the only place I’ve found official US Government
information compiled in a clear and understandable manner-
“No
matter what you may have heard or read, there is no such thing as "free
land from the government." There is no federal
homesteading
program and public land the government does sell is sold only at market
value.
Under the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(FLMPA), the federal government took over ownership of public lands and
abolished all remaining traces of the often-amended
Homestead Act of 1862.
Specifically, the FLMPA declared that, "the public lands be retained in
Federal ownership, unless as a result of the land use planning procedure
provided in this Act, it is determined that disposal of a particular
parcel will serve the national interest..."
Today, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
oversees the use of some 264 million acres of public land, representing
about one-eighth of all the land in the United States. In passing the FLMPA, Congress assigned the main duty of the BLM as "the management of
the public lands and their various resource values so that they are
utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future
needs of the American people."
What about ads
for "low cost" government land?
Be very
careful of any company or person selling information about how to buy
federal public land for what sound like extremely low prices, often as
low as $1.25 per acre. While the BLM does occasionally sell land, it is
priced at fair market value, as required by law.
Federal law
requires that all parcels of public land sold by BLM fall into one of
three categories:
-
Scattered and
isolated tracts that are difficult or uneconomical to manage;
-
Tracts acquired
by the BLM for a specific purpose that are no longer needed for that
purpose;
-
Or land where
disposal will serve important public objectives, such as community
expansion and economic development.
In addition, BLM
only sells public land located in the western states of: Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
and Wyoming. Due to the rapid growth of cities and towns in the Western
U.S. resulting in an increased need for open space, BLM has become even
more reluctant to sell land than in the past. Consumers should contact
any
BLM office,
visit the
BLM's Land Sales and Disposal Web site,
or call 202-452-5125 for more information about BLM land sales.
Several other
federal agencies also sell land, houses and other real property. For
more information, see:
Government Sales and Auctions: Real Estate”
Dear Aggie,
I don't know
if you print advice from readers, but I understand Richard's situation
with the health problems. We also have concerns. When we began our
search for a retirement farm in Tennessee, my husband was concerned
about the state, and found that in SOME states, it is reasonably easy to
get within 20 minutes of a hospital, IF you are in an area of small
towns. Texas was difficult - but we were told that if you call 911 they
would send an ambulance to MEET you en route. When I check out a
property online, I always do a Yahoo map with the address and then enter
the word "hospital" in the "find on the map" section (below the "get
map" area. We've found lots of farms in small-town "hollers" that are
reasonably convenient to doctors and hospitals if you have a reliable
vehicle and are not afraid to drive fast.
By the way, we
are still looking for a place. We'd like between 40 - 100 acres in
Middle Tennessee, so we can retire close to family (who are south of
Nashville). If any readers know of a good deal on such a place, reply
to: bvann@vpsinc.net.
Good luck,
Richard! I know there is a good place for you out there!
Brenda
Friend Brenda,
Aggie is always
happy for assistance, especially with something as important as health
issues at stake. Your idea of using the Yahoo Map Search is brilliant,
and I know that your search for land is as methodical and thorough. May
I suggest that you narrow your sights to one or two counties in your
target area, and forge a relationship with someone at either the county
clerk’s office or the tax office there? Your new friends can supply you
with name and address of out-of-town owners who may be willing to sell
if approached, and also parcels coming for auction due to delinquent
taxes.
Happy Homestead
Hunting!
Dear Aggie,
I
live on a small piece of land 23 miles from the nearest town. I am not a
particularly social person, and I much prefer my peace, quiet and
seclusion.
I
am also some distance from all of my neighbors except one. This
neighbor lives only a couple of hundred yards away from the county road
and me - this is an unpaved road, but gets a fair amount of traffic
none-the-less.
Here's my problem: my neighbor raises large dogs, German Shepherds, and
at any given time, there are six to a dozen of them in their kennel
right next to the road. Every time a car drives past, the dogs start to
bark and sometimes all the barking can go on for several minutes.
This is driving me absolutely crazy.
Other than this, she is a perfect neighbor who causes me no problems,
but these dogs appear to be all she lives for and I don't think she
would consider getting rid of them.
What can I do?
Lawanda
My Poor
Lawanda,
I do understand
your distress at having your peace and quiet shattered by your
neighbor’s dogs. You are generous for pointing out that this is the
only contentious issue in an otherwise stellar relationship between you.
Is there a
reason the dogs’ kennel needs to be right up on the road? Perhaps their
main yard could be moved out of sight of traffic, giving them less cause
for sounding the alarm. If that’s the case, you could certainly offer
assistance in the building of the new kennel runs. On the other hand,
if she WANTS them that close to the roadway, I’m sure you could come to
an agreement as to suitable exercise times for the dogs - perhaps a
designated “Quiet Time” when the dogs are to be kenneled inside from
10 p.m. - 7 a.m.?
I am hopeful that
you and she can come to some acceptable agreement that will preserve the
precious individual freedoms living in the country is all about for all
parties involved.
Dear Aggie,
I
have lots of splotchy spots of dirt on my computer screen. I've tried
getting them off with those pop-up wet-wipes manufactured just for that
purpose, but all they seem to do is take off the dust. I see that they
contain isopropyl alcohol. I don't even know what that is. Can I just
douse my screen with Windex? Water? Rubbing alcohol?
This is driving me nuts.
Nils
My Slightly
Addled Nils,
I am flattered
(but a tad confused) that you confidently assume that Aggie can solve
your sticky monitor issues. I’ve consulted (via search engine)
with Tara Aronson, the "Thoroughly Modern Mom” who suggests the
following:-
“Cleaning
the Monitor
Stop! We know what you're thinking!
You're thinking, "What's the big deal? Just spray it with window
cleaner, right?"
Wrong, computer killer. Never spray anything directly onto the monitor
or the screen.
Some spray will
go through vents onto the circuit boards. And circuit boards are very
finicky about being sprayed with any liquid, especially caustic
cleansers. Here is the safe way to clean your monitor:
-
Turn off the computer. Don't just power down;
turn it off at the switch.
-
Gently wipe plastic casing with a cloth dampened
with water and just a bit of dishwashing detergent.
-
Spray glass cleanser onto a lint-free cloth and
then gently wipe the screen.
-
Never touch the back of the monitor.
You could also
buy special cleansers for computers at computer stores. You will need
these to clean laptops, which are more delicate than PCs. “
Since dish soap
is designed to cut through grease, I feel that it will surely and safely
help your screen. If, for some reason, it does NOT, I suggest this:
http://www.theslurps.com/
Dear Aggie,
My neighbor
has this extremely weird tree that grows faster than anything I ever
seen. I stopped and asked him about it one day and he said it was a Paloanya, but I tried to look that up and couldn't find anything about
Paloanya trees. Now he's in Florida for the winter. Can you help me?
Raymond
Dear
Spelling-Challenged Raymond,
I believe what
you are referring to is a “Paulownia Tree”. Our friends at
http://www.paulowniasupply.com/index.htm, state the following, and
I’m inclined to be a friend of any tree with which Jimmy Carter is
friendly:
“Royal Paulownia
trees can reach roof height the very first year. Get
quick shade or privacy without
the wait… turns that bare spot into a beautiful
showpiece… complementing your home.
Plant a tree that’s actually Fun to Grow!
Your neighbors and children will be fascinated by the first year growth
rate of up to 10 feet or more. We have seen some Paulownia Trees grow
over 20 feet in one season.
Plus, you’ll
delight in the spectacular
show of lush, lavender blossoms year after year. Clip
some blooms and put them in a vase - so you can fill your home with
their fresh, delicate aroma. Paulownia Tree Flowers look like opulent
Cascading
Orchids…full
of rich color.
The Royal Paulownia
Tree is
easy to grow.
Simply add water… stand back and watch how fast it soars. Resists
temperature extremes from –10F to 110F. You control the height you want
by easily pruning off sprouting lower branches.
Large leaves
shade your home during the hot months, then drop in the Fall, allowing
sunlight through when it's needed most.
We routinely hear
stories of old growth Paulownia trees being worth thousands of dollars.
Paulownia trees are one of the most valuable hardwoods grown in the US.
Much of this wood is shipped to Japan where they revere Paulownia for
its beauty and pay large sums for it.
Traditionally,
when Japanese couples have a daughter, they plant a Paulownia tree. When
the daughter is ready to marry, they cut down the tree and make a dowry
chest, furniture and other items out of it for wedding gifts.
Paulownia trees
are believed to bring
Good Fortune
to the household and all who enter.
Ancient Lore has
it, that when the legendary
Phoenix
flew across the Orient, it would only land on Paulownia Trees… bringing
prosperity and wisdom to those who were near.
Paulownia Supply
Tree Nursery provides a
predictably fast growing,
beautiful tree that
will give your home both charm and beauty.
Your fast growing
Paulownia (Empress) tree is easy to grow. It prefers well-drained
areas with some direct sunlight. They grow in almost any soil.
Paulownia Trees
are drought resistant once established. Their roots tend to go deep into
the ground in search of water, rather than on the surface. This makes
planting around the tree easy and makes it friendlier to nearby walkways
or fixtures.
Unlike some fast
growth trees that have short life spans, a healthy Paulownia Tree can
live for 80 to 100 years.
"Don't put your face
over it or you may get a mouthful of leaves."
Jimmy Carter- Former President and Commercial Paulownia
Tree Grower, discussing the trees fast growth.”
Address all questions to
Aggie@Homestead.org
