Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Sprkplug's suggestions for happy homesteading.

An electrical transmission line cuts across my place. It's about 1/4 mile from the house. I wish it wasn't there but was there when I bought the place. I have a 1 acre food plot(wheat) on it and get to see a lot of wildlife crossing it. The gates are locked.

A customer of mine has a transmission line that runs through his property, and typical of the terrain where we live, it's all steep hills and hollers, not much good for anything. So he got their permission to dam up those hollers, and built a lake right underneath the lines. Was surprised he got the okay, but it turned out pretty nice and is quite unique. It is however visible from a county road, and he does receive uninvited guests.

We have the lines too. Definitely a "road" for people. They jump onto the electric right-of-way where it crosses a public road. They will follow it as far they are allowed. They have a true belief that is a public right of way, or at the very least belongs to the electric companies. And they think the electric companies aren't there to stop them , so it's ok., and who are we (the land owners) to stop them. Ha!

Definitely helps to have vigilant neighbors. The one neighbor here is good, the other talks big, but does nothing. That neighbor is were most of the problems come thru on.

Quality neighbors are an important "shopping"? aspect in my eyes. They can mean the difference between enjoying that parcel of ground you've always wanted, and "can't-wait-to-sell-this-*****"

We've all heard about getting married and starting in to "change" the other person? And we all know that seldom works long term. I think it works the same way with neighbors. Sure, you can go in with a don't mess with me attitude, and you bend a few, grudgingly, to your way of thinking. But do you ever feel free? Meaning, do you ever decide that you don't need the trail cameras, the video recorders, purple paint and no trespassing signs, Locks on every outbuilding, the sheriff's number on speed dial? Are you truly free if you still utilize these things, or are you constantly looking back over your shoulder, watching for signs, and listening for noises?

We have a major power line ROW. When they rebuilt it a few years ago they put in some heavy duty gates and fencing every place it crosses a public road. They also put one across the back of my property. It pretty much cut out the 4-wheelers and horse riders.

My main pond goes from one side of the ROW to the other. I have wilife food plots, my fenced garden, and my chicken yard there. The coop is at the edge.

I tried sleeping in a camper under that xmission line. There were spooky noises all night. My #1 thought was "I'm not alone here".

It could be an important "shopping" aspect, but what about long term. People so freely move every 5 years. You can't stop new neighbors, and you don't know what you get. Our place has been in the family since 1937, I'm here for the long term.

Ken, did they build fences outside of their easement zone? The one that crosses here said they will only do the right of way. Not much of a deterrence for ATVs. I suppose that was something my Dad should have gotten into the contract, but didn't know the troubles it would bring at that time.

Totally agree, FnC. It's tough to know what might lie ahead, but I still think it works to your advantage to learn your neighbors..

Neighbors....bonus points for long established families, such as you might find on multi-generational farms. Examine the topography of your neighbors places if possible. Is it remote and wooded, full of hills and hollers, or does it lay flat as a pancake with the words "future sub-division" written all over it? There's no way to be certain what the future holds of course, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't think about it a little.

I think if you find good neighbors it may not be an issue. I would give my neighbors first stab at my property if I were to sell it and I hope they would offer me the same opportunity. Would also be willing to parcel it out into each neighbors property if they all wanted to go in together, that is if I was selling it.

We are so lucky with neighbors at our place. They really watch out for us. My biggest fear is that they are going to try and "help" me with fish stocking. I'm contemplating putting up signs.. We have no fence, no gates, we are on a blacktop, but it turns to gravel past us, and goes in a loop. We are one of the few part timers out there, everyone else is full time, and keeps their places up very nice. I mow every week, just so we are not the eyesore around there. Most of our neighbors have all become good friends. Definitely much more of a community type atmosphere than in town.

Having good neighbors is everything in my eyes, just as important as every other feature we tend to look at when considering purchasing property.

Our pond acreage has no gates, no "no tresspassing" signs, no cameras, none of that. If you want to check out the sugarhouse, you will find it unlocked. Water and electricity are on.

IMO, the importance of good neighbors cannot be overstated.

I'll add another ROW type: Railroads. Especially abandoned railroads.

In our area there is a federal "Rails to Trails" program. They take abandoned railroads and convert them to public, paved walking and biking trails. All good right?

Our deed, written prior to 1950, clearly stated that if the steel for the railroad ever came up, the land would revert back to the property owner. Somehow, this federal program is able to ignore property deeds. Hello public access, litter, trespassing, theft, etc.

I'm all about public access to good trails...... on Wildlife Refuges, State and National Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, etc. But not going through private property with no buffer zone whatsoever.

Good point!

Sparky
You forgot two major things.
On one side you need a neighbor that has a free range chicken flock so you will have
"kentucky fried" all year
and on the other side
A major pallet company so you will have free scrap firewood to heat your house and
shop.
These are major financial considerations.

FIN, don't forget the gas well immediately adjacent to your house for free gas!!!

This is true!

Did I mention that we're moving over to the pond property in a couple months? Sweet!

They did. Actually, they are within their ROW, but the treeline is inside of their ROW. Because of embankments and other things, it is reasonably difficult for a four-wheeler to get past the fences and gates.

Spark - Any chance there are some under the radar factories blowing residuals in your direction?

Always the possibility...everything's done under the radar here.....

Is this true Spark? Haven't seen you mention this before. Just assumed your ponds were at your home....

I am truly happy for you and know you are as well .

Nice! Congrats. At least you won't be moving very far.

The property where we currently live, and where my business is based out of, is not the same property where the ponds are located. We live on a 6 acre plot with the chickens on one side, the former pallet company on one side, a paving brick manufacturer on one side, and a US highway on one side. My recommendations for what constitutes a desirable piece of property, while tongue in cheek, are based on this reality.

We also own a house and approx. 80 acres across the road, on a dead end lane. (easement.) This lane is right across the county road from my current driveway, and I can hop in the mule and be pondside in 90 seconds. This property was purchased from my in-laws, and was the sight of the former campground I have talked about in the past. I have been involved with the larger parcel, in one form or another, for over 40 years....Camped here as a kid with my parents, met my wife here when her family moved all the way from California to run a campground, and for the last 20 years or so we have been hands-on with this property, eventually buying it ourselves. This property is the model for what I'm suggesting in this thread.

Now, it's almost time to move. The other house is a lot bigger, and it's much more secluded back there. The sticking point is my business. I can't pick the shop up and move it with me, so, it looks like it may be time to begin punching a time clock for someone else, provided I can find a job. Been awhile since I've needed to do that, hope I remember how.

Hmm! a 90 second comute to work doesn't sound like a bad option,
a lot of people would love that option