More than a passing trend, homesteading in the Adirondacks is a lifestyle that dates back thousands of years. With the best hunting and fishing east of the Mississippi, trees for timber harvesting and maple sugaring, and acres of land for gardening, gathering and raising livestock, it’s easy to see why the Adirondacks continue to attract homesteaders today.
Benefits of Homesteading in the Adirondacks
The tradition of self-sufficiency and living-off-the-land is alive and well in the Adirondacks, and for good reason. Here are six benefits of building a homestead in the Adirondack Region.
Hunting
While the Adirondacks are largely regarded for whitetail deer and black bear hunting, small game also flourishes here, including grouse, pheasant, wild turkey, ducks and rabbits. Bobcats, coyotes and other furbearers can also be hunted and trapped here. Adirondack Hunting Seasons & Regulations.
Fishing
Trout, bass, walleyes, northern pike, muskies, perch and pickerel are just a few of the popular fish found in the Adirondack waters. The region features more than 3,000 lakes, ponds, rivers and streams for fishing, but it’s important to be vigilant about mercury contamination. The New York State Department of Health provides Adirondack Region Fish Advisories noting which fish are safe to eat.
Gardening
Although the Adirondacks have a shorter growing season, cold-loving crops, including peas, lettuce, radishes, onions, and potatoes, can go in the ground as early as mid-May. All other planting can begin in June, and by late September most homesteaders have stored enough homegrown fruits, vegetables and herbs to last until spring.
Foraging
Thyme, mullein, watercress, mint, and other herbs grow abundantly in the woods, streams, and meadows of the Adirondacks. You’ll also find raspberries, blackberries and wild apples, and an abundance of mushrooms, including chanterelles, oyster mushrooms and lobster mushrooms.
Maple Sugaring
Sugar Maple and Black Maple trees, preferred for making maple syrup due to the sap’s high sugar content, flourish in the Adirondacks. By the end of February, the daytime temperatures rise above freezing, while the nights dip back down, creating the ideal conditions for sap harvesting and maple sugaring.
Raising Livestock
Free range chickens, goats and horses do well in the mountainous land of the Adirondacks. Many homesteaders also raise pigs, ducks, turkeys, beef cattle and dairy cows. In fact, the dairy industry in the Adirondacks dates back to the 1860s, and it remains the primary agricultural industry in the region today.
Homesteading Land for Sale in the Adirondacks
Adirondack Mountain Land has four new lots for sale in the Adirondack Park that are ideal for homesteading. Although many of the maple trees in the Adirondacks have been forested, each of these plots has plenty of trees for maple sugaring, as well as other mature hardwoods for chopping firewood. Our homesteading land is also close to Amish country, and offers ample fishing in nearby Cranberry Lake and the Massawepie Ponds area.
Browse our land listings, or contact us for more information about homesteading land for sale in the Adirondacks.