What Hearthfire site do you like best for building your estate for an alchemist and why?

I am sure this has been discussed before, but not recently, all the recent threads I could find were about which one was best for kids. That's been discussed before, so this thread is about which is best for alchemists (which is not a kid friendly activity what with all those poison ingredients lying about).

I am thinking Winstead for the fish pond and proximity to the Morthal alchemy shop. It's also not too far away from Solitude, where you can get lots of services.

But it's kind of swampy and I like the sunny clime of Lakeview for gardening, so I am a bit torn, but leaning towards Winstead. Thoughts?

The plot near Morthal is likely a better choice since there are lots of Alchemical Planets in the swamps including a massive amount of Deathbell. The Falkreath plot also has an entire forest to search through for supplies. The Pale plot is the least appealing choice as it is in a snow zone which doesnt have many plants

My alchemists always build windstaad for the fish hatchery.

The fishery makes Windstad my main goto place just so I can raise River Betty. I like dark n gloomy. It reminds me of the Bayou in Louisiana with all of the Voo-Doo Shaman.

I agree with WIndstead, if only becuase my current hedge wizard uses it as his home. I found that the misty swamp fit his theme perfectly.

Then again, I'm inclined to only grow mushrooms and the native plants out in the garden and had resorted to building a greenhouse for everything else. Also, the alchemy reagents that grown naturally in the area are much more useful than Lakeview, IMO.

The only problem is that there isn't a reliable source of Salmon Roe nearby unlike Lakeview. (Can you get roe from hatchery salmon?)

The swamps around Morthal reminded me of the dead swamps in LOTR. Hadn't thought of the Bayou. My mom grew up in New Orleans and has a little Creole blood. My current alchemist character is a Breton. So, maybe the Creole/Bayou influences would be a good choice. If I think about the swamps as a Bayou rather than a "dead" swamp, than maybe I will be more fond of the gloomy place.


I am pretty sure you can get Salmon Roe from the hatchery if you stock it.

The Bretons are thought to be modeled after the French. So your RP influence/inspiration/ connectivity should fit well.

The fishery should only spawn the "static" ( from lack of a better word ) Salmon, like is found just swimming along.

The Roe is only collected form the "jumping" Salmon, simulating the spawning migrations upstream, thus full of eggs.

EDIT :

Still... one can collect upwards of 12-15 Roe in a single trip from the Lake to Whiterun. That alone can advance a Well Rested character into the L40 range.

Really? Well that makes sense, but I thought I read somewhere that you could harvest the Roe from the hatchery . . .

UESP says you can, but I haven't tired it yet. I gotta remember to get some Roe and try it out.

Granted, it's been a while but you may be correct, my friend.

EDIT :

double post...