Farm towns within 3 hours from Puget sound (Seattle, Bellevue: real estate, lease)

[Stevebh]

I'll be moving to Puget Sound area from Georgia for work (IT). I'm looking for farms within 3 hour (reasonable driving) distance to spend the weekends. This is my first venture into farming, so I'll start it as a hobby. I prefer warm, less snowy ( I know I can't expect Georgia weather here, but as closest to it as possible) ! I want to grow veggies/fruits. I'm open to Washington and Oregon as well, wherever I can get 5 acres for 25K. If my requirements are unreasonable I can relax some of them. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

[Ruth4Truth]

OP,you'll have to be more specific than "the Puget Sound area". 3 hrs. from Seattle is different from 3 hours from Olympia or Bangor/Olympic Peninsula. And you won't find Georgia-balmy around the state, anywhere. The climate is changing, though, in the warmer direction, for better or for worse.

[Stevebh]

Hi Ruth4Truth,

You are right. I still haven't found a place to live, but I most likely will be renting in Bellevue - Redmond - Kirkland - Woodinville - Bothel - Sammammish, within 15 mile radius to work.

[poopskooper]

A couple of general answers to your inquiry that I'll throw out to start. First, from what you describe, you'll want to stay on the west side of the Cascades. It has the more moderate climate. Second, just about anywhere in western Washington will be within three hours of Puget Sound.

Five acres for 25k, I think, will be difficult, not impossible but difficult, however. Obviously, it will be virtually impossible in the three most populous counties in the state, King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties and very difficult anywhere else on the west side of the state. I'm thinking that even on the east side of mountains, it may be difficult. But I'm not a real estate expert and hopefully those that are more current in real estate land prices can chime in and give you better news.



eta: so you want 5-acres to farm and only want to be there on the weekends?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Stevebh

Hi Ruth4Truth,

You are right. I still haven't found a place to live, but I most likely will be renting in Bellevue - Redmond - Kirkland - Woodinville - Bothel - Sammammish, within 15 mile radius to work.

Well, some of those areas are good for small farms: Woodinville, Marysville, Duvall. Maybe you could just get an extra-big lot? And are you aware that WA State uses high property taxes in lieu of a state income tax for revenue? Something to ponder. Farther north of there, take a look at Mt. Vernon.

edit:
Oh, I see; you'll be renting, not buying, for a place to live, but have a small nest egg to spend on land. Well, OP, I don't think it will work. Your more realistic option would be to look into community P-patch programs for growing veggies.

[Hemlock140]

There are farms in Puget Sound, Carnation, Duvall, Monroe, Snohomish, North Bend, Fall City to name a few cities. Our growing season is shorter than Eastern Washington, but there is enough sun for commercial crops to be grown. For your land price, however, you would have to go more than 2-3 hours away. Even Mt. Vernon and Yakima would be over $200,000 for 5 acres. Even Pasco, about 3.5 hours away will cost you 3 times that. Maybe in the Omak area you can find something, but it's 4+ hours away.

[CrazyDonkey]

This is as close as I could find (and it looks like it would need to be cleared):

0 Beville Rd, Boistfort, WA 98532 | MLS #892619 | Zillow

Double or triple your budget and you'll have more choices:

This looks to best fit your requirements (including fruit trees), but is at the outer edge of three hours from Bellevue:

1010 Oak Point Rd, Longview, WA 98632 | MLS #16473795 | Zillow

Pretty easy drive from Portland, however, if you want a "town & country" life style.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

There are farms in Puget Sound, Carnation, Duvall, Monroe, Snohomish, North Bend, Fall City to name a few cities. Our growing season is shorter than Eastern Washington, but there is enough sun for commercial crops to be grown. For your land price, however, you would have to go more than 2-3 hours away. Even Mt. Vernon and Yakima would be over $200,000 for 5 acres. Even Pasco, about 3.5 hours away will cost you 3 times that. Maybe in the Omak area you can find something, but it's 4+ hours away.

I'm doubtful that even North Central or North East Washington will yield much in the way of 25K for five acres. And those are generally the cheapest parts of the state, real estate-wise. You might find 5 acres for $40 or 50K near Omak or Tonasket, but the nice spots are still more than that.

[jacqueg]

Your chances of finding 5 acres of decent cropland for $25K in western washington or oregon are vanishingly low. If you do find such a piece, it will have some major drawbacks. For instance, unbuildable and landlocked...

You don't say what experience you have, but an experienced grower - hobby or otherwise - would be more focussed on soil types and water availability than on acreage, so I think you aren't very experienced.

Both western washington and western Oregon have a growing community of people experimenting with ways to farm their backyards. There are a few urban farmers who do their commercial growing not only in their own backyards, but in other people's backyards. There are also close-in farmers who might be willing to lease you some growing space.

Since it seems your work will be in the Puget Sound area, may I introduce you to Seattle Tilth? I think that getting involved with them or a similar organization will be your best bet for finding creative ways to get going. Welcome to Seattle Tilth! — seattletilth.org

Also, I'd look in the Chehalis/Centralia area. It's within your 3-hour radius, and land is noticeably cheaper there than in the Seattle metro area. Very pretty country too.

[grega94]

Something to consider, even though eastern WA has colder winters then the west, their summers are hotter and the nights are warmer too.

Wenatchee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenatc...gton#Geography

Avg High
3 months > 80F
5 months > 70F
7 months > 60F
8 months > 50F
Avg Low
0 months > 70F
2 months > 60F
4 months > 50F
7 months > 40F
9 months > 30F

Seattle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle#Climate

Avg High
0 months > 80F
3 months > 70F
5 months > 60F
9 months > 50F
Avg Low
0 months > 70F
0 months > 60F
4 months > 50F
8 months > 40F
12 months > 30F

Atlanta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta#Climate

Avg High
4 months > 80F
7 months > 70F
9 months > 60F
12 months > 50F
Avg Low
2 months > 70F
5 months > 60F
7 months > 50F
9 months > 40F
12 months > 30F