There has been a good deal of email interest in this piece of land since I posted it on coyotecottage, especially regarding possible owner financing. The answer to that is yes: With a minimum of $50.000 down payment my brother-in-law will consider to carry the contract.
Some folks also wondered if there is room to build a cabin without disturbing the working orchard. Again yes, there is at least an acre of open fields to the south east, plus numerous sizeable building spots among the trees.

Property details:

It is 8.9 acres of level, fertile land with 500+ older apple trees and some cleared space.

The good:

Irrigation shares!! These are worth gold for anybody wanting to cultivate the land. You can't buy them, there are only so many available in the valley and they are yours for as long as you own the property. The ditch is running along the highest elevation of the orchard, so gravity irrigation is possible.

Location. Can't write a real estate add without that word. The orchard is in the laid back lower half of our valley, an area of farms and ranches, open space and blue skies. Less snow and longer growing season compared to the near unaffordable properties in the too hip upper reaches. 7 miles from the social and commercial hub, a small town of some 2000 people. The school bus already has a scheduled stop right at the door.

Silence. The paved county road flanking the east side of the property is very quiet. I bike here at least 3 times a week and may encounter 4-8 vehicles in the 40 minutes or so it takes to ride its 10 miles. Not bad in a society governed by petrochemicals.

Privacy: The neighbors are not too far away, but not in your face either. The closest house is to the north, and has just changed hands so we know very little about the folks. To the south is a little fine looking cabin on another large piece of land with an older couple. Across the street are the river front properties, with their predictable mansions and seldom seen owners. But these are down the sloping ground near the water and hard to see. Between them and the road is another, closer row of properties, one owned by a young family with 6 kids, 4 of which are adopted. Good people and fine neighbors. To the west, beyond the ditch, are the empty hills.

Solar: Excellent for a photo-voltaic power plant. Full winter sun while the western hills will provide late afternoon summer shade, an asset not to be scoffed at. We don't have that here at coyotecottage, and it can be be brutally hot at dinner time in July.

Well in place.

Electricity on property.

The bad:

The asking price. $265.000. Times have changed.

Apple trees are old and badly in need of pruning. Big job.

Underground irrigation pipes and sprinklers need a serious overhaul.

The installed septic system may or may not be serviceable.

A previous owner started a barn project that is mostly a worthless eyesore, but could provide a couple of seasons of firewood.

Same people left a fair amount of junk, which may or may not be junk to you.