Mr Rawles,
I am very glad to hear your facts, comments and Godly encouragement and read the many articles on your site regularly. Thank you for standing in the gap and for your ministry in general.
Would you help us understand your reasoning for recommending eastern Oregon? My husband and I have looked and looked at eastern Oregon to move to or at least buy a piece of land to relocate to in a G.O.O.D. “bad to worse” scenario. We currently are on the liberal side of the Cascades in Oregon because of my husband’s work. The problem we have found with eastern Oregon is the real lack of dirt and water. How on earth would we ever be able to grow enough food in “gravel”? Or ever have enough water to be “self sufficient”? Or any cover of trees to hide our ventures? I know you are a very busy man, but we trust your wisdom and if you have any articles or suggestions on how to do these things we would love to hear them. Really we would, I am not being sarcastic. The land in eastern Oregon is much more affordable for us. We earnestly serve the Lord, have four children, homeschool and one income. Thank you again for serving the Kingdom. Many blessings, – K.H.
JWR Replies: I really like the low population density and conservatism of eastern Oregon. I would much rather live in a semi-arid region than live west of the Cascades, even if it means hauling in top soil and building a greenhouse. Most of the western counties in Oregon have California-style politics, too much rain, crime, high property taxes, traffic, restrictive zoning ordinances, and insanely expensive building permits.
There is a surprising amount of timber in eastern Oregon, but most of it is in the upper elevations. But I recommend looking for land in the lower river valleys.
Just be sure to pick a piece of land with plentiful water. They are scarce, but you can find properties with springs or that have frontage on rivers or year-round creeks. Pray and search diligently. Trust in God’s providence for that perfect piece of land.
See my Recommended Retreat Areas static page, and the maps in my book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation”) for some details on the portions of Oregon that I recommend.