Living on the Island

Open Discussion - for our Readers, Islanders, and Web Site Visitors alike. Discussion regarding any and all aspects of Beaver Island are welcome here. Also a place for general Beaver Island conversation and discussion.

Moderator: Gillespie

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ScottS
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:04 pm

Living on the Island

Post by ScottS »

This is a question mostly directed to the full-timers.

I'm thinking of moving to the island. I want peace, quiet, isolation, and a more old-style sense of community. I have a few questions that maybe some of you can answer for me.

Whats it like in the winter, in terms of dealing with the isolation?
Whats it like in the summer, with tourists all over the place?
Whats the Catholic church like? We were there in November, and it seemed nice, but the regular priest wasn't there.
How do people make a living?

My wife and I run a small commerical farm and cidery in lower Michigan. We raise nearly all of our own food, and some extra to sell. Are there any farming operations on the island, besides horses? Is there any affordable land on the island anywhere? I want interior grazing land, not lakeshore stuff. Land with apple trees on it. I fear I'm going to have to win the lottery to buy land and build a house.

Any help or discussion is appreciated!

Scott

Edit: One last question - how are new people accepted by the old-timers?
Rob_I
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Grand Rapids, Mi

Post by Rob_I »

Before any locals answers that, do you have a half million dollars or so laying around?
ScottS
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:04 pm

Post by ScottS »

Don't I wish. Part of what I'm trying to figure out is if being wealthy is necessary to make this happen.
Gillespie
Posts: 1563
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 1:43 pm
Contact:

Post by Gillespie »

If you are resourcefull you can survive here just fine. 10 acres, on average, is 40k. If you like to work there is always a job available for someone who shows interest.
footprints
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:55 pm

living on Beaver Island

Post by footprints »

The price of freedom is high; often retail plus 100 percent
John Crouse
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2003 3:05 pm
Location: Beaver Island
Contact:

Living on the Island

Post by John Crouse »

If you're interested in apple trees you might want to talk to Roy Elsworth at the Erin Motel. Roy is an agricultural engineer.
Kris S.
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2003 7:29 pm
Location: Remus

oops

Post by Kris S. »

I had a far-reaching enough memory to recall that someone had inquired about old apple trees a few months back on the forum, so found that topic and "bumped" it. As soon as I did, I realized that person and the person now making a similar inquiry are one and the same. Oh, well....good try. :oops:
"The trouble with the rat race is, even if you win, you're still a rat." --Lily Tomlin
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