Molo, Kenya

Forget any romantic notions of life in the Kenyan countryside - the reality in Molo is a chilly 2,506 meters above sea level and rife with environmental destruction. The town's population has ballooned to 156,732 as settlers, some with political clout, have flocked here to grow crops like pyrethrum. But this rapid growth has come at a heavy cost, with extensive deforestation and widespread illegal logging stripping the Mau Forest that the town borders. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the Kenyan government now tightly restricting timber harvesting.

Molo may be a hub for potato farming, but the harsh climate and ongoing environmental crisis make it a tough sell for all but the most resilient and self-sufficient homesteaders.