I'm re-locating to Oregon - going to purchase a small home with a big backyard and start fulfilling my lifelong dream of growing a home orchard (berries and a garden too). I'm considering both Albany and Eugene. Which one is better for growing more varieties of fruit? It appears that Albany gets a little less rain and therefor a little more sun:) Any advice? Thanks!
Land in Albany is much cheaper. They are very different. Eugene is probably the most liberal, eco-aware, hip small city you could find, and it has the U of O. Albany is a smaller, more conservative town. If you want live music or speakers, go to Eugene. If you want down home, country music and NASCAR people, Albany is better. It just depends on what you like. They are probably so close that it doesn't matter which is better for fruit, although you'll probablly get much more land in Albany for the same price.
John S
PDX OR
Out of curiosity… I spent several (extremely hot) days in Klamath Falls this summer. My first time there, I noticed fruit trees all over the place! Generally noticing the same everywhere I go, there seemed an abundance in K-Falls.
Also, they were watering their green lawns, in August! Is water cheap? Is the soil good? Is their growing season long enough to ripen their tree fruit? – Actually, I ate a Gravenstein over there, about two weeks ahead of mine back home! Not far from Ashland or Medford, it looked pretty nice…
John, if you are saying Albany and surrounding area is redneck, I will agree wholeheartedly!
Eugene and Corvallis are much less redneck, in my opinion. I really like Corvallis, but my budget for land is in the redneck area. 
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[quote="John S":3cu7909t]Land in Albany is much cheaper. They are very different. Eugene is probably the most liberal, eco-aware, hip small city you could find, and it has the U of O. Albany is a smaller, more conservative town. If you want live music or speakers, go to Eugene. If you want down home, country music and NASCAR people, Albany is better. It just depends on what you like. They are probably so close that it doesn't matter which is better for fruit, although you'll probablly get much more land in Albany for the same price.
John S
PDX OR[/quote:3cu7909t] " title="Laughing" />
I didn't mean it in a negative way, plumfun. I like fishing, working on cars, small town bars and inner tubing. Some people call me a redneck. I just meant to say that people should know what kind of area they're choosing before they buy a house, which is a huge committment. I chose not to live in SE Portland because I don't want to be surrounded by only one kind of person. I like hip people, but I like rednecks too. Mainly I like being around a mix of people. My neighborhood here on the west side is mostly middle class people, but we get all kinds around here. That's what I like the best.
John S
PDX OR
Eugene certainly pricier, and most certainly possessed of a critical mass of conscious souls. But polarities abound here, as everywhere.
Three local realtors with a well-deserved rep for integrity, who all specialize in finding land for back-to-the-landers, urban and rural-hereabouts are:
http://www.spradorealty.com/agents/gwen
http://www.kathyging.com/home.html
http://nicolacalvertproperties.....efault.asp
All very different characters. I'm sure you can find someone who resonates. Good luck!
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