OSEC Land Selection Criteria

Choosing land for an OSE Community requires an understanding of what the land will be used for. The following use assumptions are made:

• Farming - Crops, animals, food forest, etc.
• Shelter - Housing for the people living and working in this community.
• Light Industry - Fabrication, workshops, small lot production, etc.

Selection Criteria

• Lay of the Land
  • South facing in the northern hemisphere (north if in southern)
  • Gentle slope with some flat places

• Conformance
  • A simple plot outline is easier to deal with
  • Good access from a county/state/federal highway

• Water
  • Year-round, running water from stream or springs
  • Bodies of water: pond/lake especially if spring-fed
  • Good quality - potable - test before buying
  • Test for bacteria, etc.

• Soil
  • Fertile top soil to good depth
  • Get the soil analyzed for pH, minerals, etc.
  • Existing prepared fields are a plus - are they organic?
  • Good drainage - consider a perc test

• Organic Resources
  • Mature trees, especially hardwood, are a plus
  • Existing food sources such as fruit and nut trees
  • Wild food sources such has herbs, berries, roots, etc.

• Mineral Resources
  • Stone
  • Clay
  • Gravel
  • Sand

Rejection Criteria

• Conformance
  • Avoid "keyhole" plots with a long driveway to access the land

• Water
  • Check up-slope and up-stream for sources of pollution

• Legal
  • Liens or other legal attachments
  • Questionable ownership