Friday, September 12, 2014

Klickitat County Real Estate: Off The Grid Land Available

By Jerish Thieman


These days, many people are leaving suburban and city life behind and heading out to rural areas to live off the grid. This means they no longer depend on utility companies for electricity, gas and water and learn to grow their own food and raise livestock to maintain a totally independent life as much as possible.

There are just about as many reasons for going off the grid as there are people who choose to live this way. Often, a family wishes to simplify their life and lessen their impact on our electrical grids and community water supplies. For others, they wish to be independent and depend on their own hard work for survival and become completely self-sufficient.

Some people worry that society might collapse or perhaps a large-scale natural disaster or even a widespread plague could alter the course of our nation, and they wish to prepare for any eventuality. No matter what reason one has for leaving the grid and going back to the land, Klickitat County in Washington offers many real estate options for those seeking a more independent life.

Klickitat County is largely rural encompassing nearly 2,000 square miles but with fewer than 22,000 residents. Portland is the nearest large city, about 95 miles away. Seattle, Washington, is about 140 miles away, as well. For those seeking a bug out location, Klickitat County is within a fairly easy driving distance from either of these two cities but still rural enough to provide safety and security. You can choose from a variety of different types of property in the county, from parcels of land that are quite isolated to those closer to county roads and to towns such as Goldendale. The staff at Klickitat Valley Realty can help you find a unique property that fits your particular needs and your budget, as land costs in the county are typically quite affordable.

While portions of Klickitat County are mountainous as the Cascade Mountains run through the county, there is plenty of good land for agriculture. You can find grazing land for livestock as well as land suitable for crops and large gardens. Hunting also is allowed throughout the county, although there are some restrictions, but you will find everything from wild turkey to deer to pheasant and other game animals. One challenge that all off-the-gridders face is locating good sources of water, and this should definitely be one of the priorities of your property search.

Aside from water and growing your own foods, being off the grid means you are relying on unique sources of energy. In Klickitat County, there should be adequate sunlight to power your home on solar energy, but wind energy also should be considered as the county has higher average wind speeds than most places in Washington and even the United States. Another source of power to consider is propane, and while this does have to be delivered, it is a cleaner fuel than many other fuel sources and, if you buy it in bulk when prices are very low, it can be quite cost-effective.




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