### Climate & Environmental Factors (30% weight) #### Growing Season Metrics - Length of frost-free period (minimum 150 days) - Growing degree days (base 50°F) - USDA hardiness zone (> 4) - Precipitation patterns and annual rainfall (30+ inches) - Solar insolation (minimum 4 kWh/m²/day) #### Land Characteristics - Soil quality and drainage - Topography (gentle slopes preferred) - Water resources (groundwater, surface water) - Natural hazard risks (flood, fire, tornado frequency) - Existing ecosystem health - Native species diversity ### Legal & Regulatory Environment (20% weight) #### Zoning & Building - Agricultural/residential mixed-use zoning availability - Alternative building code acceptance - Composting toilet regulations - Greywater system permissions - Solar access rights - Food production/processing regulations #### Business & Community Structure - Community land trust laws - Agricultural cooperative regulations - Property tax structures - Home-based business regulations - Food safety regulations for community production ### Economic Factors (20% weight) #### Land Costs - Price per acre (target: under $10,000/acre) - Property tax rates - Water rights costs - Development costs #### Local Economy - Distance to markets for surplus production - Local food economy strength - Employment opportunities within commuting distance - Cost of living index - Local economic resilience ### Infrastructure & Access (15% weight) #### Physical Infrastructure - Road access quality - Grid power availability - Internet connectivity options - Distance to emergency services - Distance to medical facilities #### Market Access - Distance to population centers - Farmers market access - Food hub presence - Agricultural supply availability - Building material availability ### Social & Cultural Environment (15% weight) #### Community Factors - Local food movement presence - Alternative community acceptance - Educational resources - Cultural amenities - Political climate - Demographics diversity #### Support Networks - Existing intentional communities nearby - Agricultural extension services - Permaculture networks - Alternative education options - Healthcare options ### Red Flags (Any One May Disqualify a Location) - Water scarcity or contamination - Severe building restrictions - Hostile local government - Environmental contamination - Extreme natural hazard risk - Prohibitive development costs - Poor soil quality requiring extensive remediation - Inadequate legal protections for community structure - Excessive distance >20 minutes from markets/employment - History of significant social conflict