On occation I read through the forum and to my surprice I never see anyone talking about homesteading in Saskatchewan, Canada. Did you know that Saskatchewan is one of the best temperate places in the world to farm, and land prices are the lowest on the continent. Most of the farmland is within 5 hours drive of Montana border. Let me give you a little bit of introduction on Saskatchewan. After the Amarican Civil War Canadian government feared the Yankees would claim the Canadian West. To prevent American claims the government passed Dominion Lands Act, where every male(or head of the household) could get free 160 acres of farmland. Government agents advertized extensively in Europe, and the United States, attracting two million settlers with promices of free land and government protection. Many of the settlers were from Mid-Western states. Americans proved to be excellent farmers and settlers with farming experience, common language and culture, and capital, and lots of it - they could sell their Iowa or Minnessota farms for $50/acre. So what made Saskatchewan so attractive to settlers? Free land. Government protection and orderly settlement. But Saskatchewan is blessed with great fertility. Soils high natural fertility, adequate rainfall and warm, long summer days. Timely rainfall during May-August growing season makes possible cultivation of diverse crops: wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, potatoes, peas, fruits and vegetables. Agriculture in Saskatchewan now is in relative decline due to low commodity prices and urbanization. There is profitable opportunity though, for small scale farmers growing specialty crops, fruits and vegetables, animal breeding, and food proccessing. Agriculture remains the most important industry in the province, and yet Saskatchewan is trying to find a new place for itself in this new world of high tech and internet. Buying Saskatchewan land for Americans is no problem. The government encourages would be american farmers taking up farming in Saskatchewan. Let me give you a couple of examples of the property I offer for sale in Saskatchewan: *Saskatchewan, Canada, 3h from Montana border, 40 acres: gently sloping, nicely treed, fertile, productive farmland; 19ac aspen woods, 1ac pond, 21ac cropped in peas/barley/small pasture/2ac orchard: blackcherries, seabuckthorn-valuable and marketable fruit suitable for wine, jam, and expensive health products; well on property!; partially fenced, stones for building, deer on property, yearly taxes about US$80; good acces with approach to this former yardsite; no neighbours, no well or septic permit required, no building or land use restrictions; Preeceville-full service town 10mi nw; excellent area for homesteading, farming, logging, hunting, fishing; US$19500, $500 down, $200/month, exchange privelege, other properties for sale; e-mail for beautiful pictures: morsealexlevin@hotmail.com * *Saskatchewan, Canada, 220mi from Montana border, 25 acres: 10ac aspen and spruce woods, 15 acres organically cultivated in fall rye/winter wheat; good access with approach to this former yardsite sheltered by tall trees; dugout-pond 35by90 12 feet deep-full of fresh water year round-suitable for irrigation or household use if treated; Crown Land 1,5mi north: huge wilderness of forests and lakes; Choiceland-full service town 10mi se; commuting distance to Nipawin 30mi east; no well or septic permit required; no building or land use restrictions, no neighbours; excellent area for homesteading and farming, hunting, logging, fishing; yearly taxes about US$50; Price US$14500, $500 down, $200/month; exchange privelege; other properties for sale; e-mail for beautiful pictures* Doesnt it sound like a swell farmland! I am a Countryside advertizer since 1997. Contact information: Alexander Levin, 515 Toews street, Morse, Saskatchewan, S0H 3C0 ph 306-629-3664; fax 306-629-3665; e-mail: morsealexlevin@hotmail.com

-- Alexander Levin (morsealexlevin@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001

Answers

The first question that comes to mind are the legal aspects of US citizens moving to Canada. Are US citizens allowed to own property there? Are they allowed to move there with resident alien status, are they required to become Canadian citizens, or what? It may not be practical for a US citizen to move there to farm or ranch and have to leave periodically so they don't end up staying with an expired visa. Where could one find out what the requirements are for such a proposition? I have heard of a couple of horror stories, one from a lady who writes for another 'homestead' magazine, whose family spent two years making what they were told by Canadian immigration officials were the necessary preparations to move to a homestead they purchased in British Columbia. They were given information to comply with, bought land there, sold their homestead in the US, and on the day they attempted to cross into Canada, were turned away and denied entrance. They had to sell their land in BC and buy more land in the US. Apparently were not given proper information. This would be a financial nightmare few would be able to recover from.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

Also...

we've been reading the yr 2000 edition of "Finding and Buying your Place in the Country." The author has a chapter that addresses Canada, and I believe that he states that non-citizens can purchase no more than 10 acres in Saskatchewan. Do you have any information on this issue or the other poster's issues?

thanks.

-- Cathy in MN (catcrazy@somewhere.com), July 29, 2001.

I will try to answer previous two writers concerns about americans owning land in Saskatchewan. There are hundreds of European and American non-citizen farmers living and farming in Saskatchewan. My wife who is Japanese owns land with me. You do not need to be a Canadian citizen, nor do you need to lose your American citizenship to own land in Saskatchewan. Americans can enter Canada vise-free for six month at a time. Land purchase/ownership in Saskatchewan is simple. No one will ask you for ID or where you live. The restrictions are directed mainly toward large scale absentee landlords, even from other Canadian provinces. The law makes no distinction between citizenship of the landowner, only the residency. If you wish to purchase say 40 acres of land and will farm it yourself, and ready to reside, or intent to reside, you are most welcome to own land, even the premier of Saskatchewan will welcome you himself! Saskatchewan needs farmers like the readers of this magazine. The writers of two previous comments are scare-mongers and are full of crap! Come and see for yourself Saskatchewan is a good place to live and best place to farm!

-- Alexander Levin (morsealexlevin@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

As a hillbilly from near the Mason-Dixon line, that's too much snow and cold for me too many months out of the year!!! Even if it's no colder than Montana, that's too cold! Been in Montana in September, and had to put tire chains on the truck to get over the mountain passes, I think I like it here! We still have reasonably priced land here too, under 700 an acre, with livable house and barns, no zoning, only 12,000 folks in the county,check out www.swisslands.com for more info on SE Ohio land and houses for sale.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), July 29, 2001.

I should also mention climate. The harshness of Saskatchewan weather has often been exaggerated. Cold spells in winter last but afew days. The cold when it comes is moderated by warm Pacific winds(Chinooks), dry air and brilliant winter sunshine. There is enough snow for skiing, no more. I remember Boston where neighbourhood guys waited for you in the morning with a shovel to dig your car out for ten bucks. Ohio is not far from there...Spring thaw comes in mid-March. Field work begins in late April. Cherry and apple trees are in full bloom in early May. Summer days last from 4am to 10pm when whole of Saskatchewan retreats to their cottages on the lakes; harvest starts in August; fall arrives in September until November when first snow is due. September snowstorms are rare in Saskatchewan, unlike in 6000ft elevation Montana. In general climate in Saskatchewan is full four-season not unlike that of Mid-Western states that lye far to the south.

-- Alexander Levin (morsealexlevin@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

So if a non-citizen can stay six months at a time, how long do they have to be out of Canada before they can re-enter?

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

Just re-read the last couple of lines of your post and you are EXTREMELY RUDE to say that myself and the other person who posted are full of crap. Since when does asking intelligent, important questions make one full of crap? A person would be full of crap to jump at a perceived opprotunity and NOT ask questions. Think about it for a minute and see who's full of crap, buddy.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

Well, I know someone who lives there. There is one magic temperature which is the same, Fahrenheit or Celsius, and that's minus forty degrees. Winters routinely get below that there, and with unobstructed wind over prairies as well. I'm sure there are good things too - you can get summer temperatures above 100°F. However, with that sort of variation, I'd sure look closely before I made the decision to move.

Alexander, I don't believe I've ever seen a style of salesmanship quite like yours before. Hope I never do again either. Can't quite believe the salient feature has a positive impact on your prospects.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 29, 2001.

Also check on the firearms restictions, and the health care before moving north across the US/Can line. True you can get perscriptions cheaper in Can but the medical system is all goverment ran and we know how well the goverment, any goverment can run anything. I had some people come down and stay with me a few years ago to get some medical treatment. Mabey its better but dout it.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), July 29, 2001.

40 bellow or 100 above thats your record highs/lows, average temperatures are far more reasonable...In Canada there is prohibition on hand guns; everybody I know still have hunting rifles including myself; the government run medicare is not perfect, but its FREE-nobody in Saskatchewan pays for medical care!; we moved here from Calgary three years ago, it is cheap to live here, I really do like the four-season climate; chances are in the States you are eating Saskatchewan-grown oats, rye, pasta, and drinking beer from Saskatchewan-grown barley, because these crops just cant take the heat in the south... Anybody out there can put the record straight about Saskatchewan!

-- Alexander Levin (morsealexlevin@hotmail.com), July 29, 2001.

Seems that Canadians don't complain near as much about the cold as we do the heat. Are 'Nadians tougher than we are, or do they just not comprehend mild winters. And speaking of winters, the way people in Ohio, West Virginia and Canada talk, you have warmer winters and less snow than we do in Texas. I live deep in the heart of Texas and we have at least 20 to 30 freeze days each year.

People hear what they want to hear, and believe what they want to believe. And sometimes I think they say what they want to believe.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), July 30, 2001.

winter temps and snowfall varies alot in Montana, it's a diverse state in the terrain and elevation. Overall I had alot more snow in central and southeast Pennsylvania than I ever had in Yellowstone county, Montana. Of course up in the high elevations they accumulated 10-12 feet by winters end but not too many live up that high. We had some sub-zero days, even -20/-50 wind chills but only a handful of days out of the winter and it never lasted long. Most roads stayed icepacked but you get used to it. Climate is only one factor to take into consideration. Every area has it's plus and minuses. If it's got a perfect climate, it likely has a large population which brings all kinds of drawbacks. I've lived in ks, central and se pa, al, mt, north and south va, and now southern ca and have yet to find what I'd call the all-around perfect place to live. The quality of life can be just as good in somewhere like Montana as it could be in Indiana, Texas, Costa Rica or anywhere else. The perfect homestead is where you make it. Alexander, keep telling us about homesteading in Saskatchewan, it's always interesting to hear about other places regardless of their good and bad qualities.

-- somebody (something@something.com), July 30, 2001.

a big factor in temperature is humidity. I'll take a 105 degree day out west over a 90 degree day back east any day. Same goes for cold temps.

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 30, 2001.

Well, that ad looked real nice, Alexander, till I went and looked at a map and got a few more facts on the subject. I was rather surprised that it equaled Northern Ontario in climate, pretty well.

My sister and brother lived in Northern Ontario for a while, with the natives. It was quite an exciting life, from the stories they told us. Living where the fish ran four feet long, and easy to catch... miles and miles of wonderful skating in the winter, (which lasted quite a while, too.) Snowmobiling to go anywhere in the winter. Living in log cabins like the indians did. Learning from the indians how to cure caribou and moose hide, and making moccasins from it. My sister made my little brother some beaded, rabbit fur lined moosehide moccasins. They could grow some garden up there, but no corn or tomatoes. There were just a few hot days each summer, but not very many. The winters were not that hard for them, they just had to plan for them. Of course, they were beyond civilisation, so they had to get their supplies flown in. They had a small plane instead of a car, with pontoons for landing on the lakes.

My brother is a logger at heart, and cold doesnt bother him in the least. In fact, he gained a reputation for cutting wood in his shirtsleeves when it was 40 below. He said he got too hot for his coat.

Such a life would highly appeal to me, but not to my husband. He needs warm weather because of his arthritis. But I wonder if perhaps the drier climate wouldnt offset the cold. Winter here in Virginia is so bone-penetrating because of the high humidity.

Of course, some people would really enjoy living in Northern Saskatchewan. I for one. But hubby says he just isnt that rugged.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 30, 2001.

Hello, Just thought I'd contribute my 2 cents. I was just surfing along and came across this most interesting conversation. I live in saskatchewan, and I grew up here. I have lived a few other places too, in Costa Rica, in Calgary, Alberta, and near Vancouver, B.C. I feel I must set the record straight here. True, other places are warmer in the winter months. But Alexander is being truthful when he says the cold snaps only last a few days at most, and January is the worst month. Other than that the air is fresh, unpolluted and unspoiled. And not too cold either! You people are laboring under some serious misconceptions about the weather. Summer is incredibly warm here. And it lasts for quite awhile, about 8 months. Winter is about 4 months of theyear,I don't really care what you all are reading on maps or encyclopedias.

I've lived in tropical places, and they were beautiful. I've visited all over the states, and it was interesting. But I want to live here, where the people are kind, where the air is clean, where there are no earthquakes, hurricanes, anthrax scares or serial killers. Nope, here I can watch my kids explore without fear, I can watch deer while I drink my morning java and I can make conversation with anyone I meet. I can drive for an hour and be in deep and total wilderness with all of creatures that have been here since before it was settled. The lakes are clean and accessible, fishing is terrific, and the culture of the aboriginal people of this place is second to none.

About the healthcare system, I've never had any complaints, and neither has anyone I can think of. Its free, thorough and competant. recently though we have had a shortage of nurses. You might have to register your firearm, but so what? Are you planning to kill anyone?

No, you people seem to have your minds all made up. And thats fine with me! I like Saskatchewan the way it is, relatively empty and unpopulated, and full of people with OPEN minds. Alexander, it sounds like you have a real nice place, but don't sell to a naysayer. Keep Saskatchewan beautiful.

Hope to never see ya, Solange

-- Solange delamer (solange@shaw.ca), November 09, 2001.