homestead

20 Reasons Your Homestead Rules

The world we live in continues to get scarier and uglier with each passing day. During any disaster, you want to be as secluded as possible from any looters and punks.

Living on a suburban homestead still places you within the civil unrest danger area because you are located so close to a city but putting your backyard to work for you to increase your level of self-reliance and investing in alternative power, will make you more prepared to live without outside help during at least a short-term disaster.

There are many reasons why a homestead is the ideal place to be during a SHTF scenario. We’ll be looking at the top 20 emergencies you’re more likely to survive on a homestead than in an urban or suburban location

#1. Pandemic

One of the most likely disasters to occur next is a pandemic. Any airborne illness can be transferred rapidly, especially in the city surrounded by a large crowd of people.

On your homestead, you have the luxury of privacy and isolation. While on your homestead, the chances of you catching any airborne disease is very slim.

When the SHTF, if anyone in your family or group has the disease that led to the pandemic, you have the opportunity to use a shed or building on your homestead and create a quarantine. Making a quarantine on your homestead will decrease the chances of the illness being spread quickly.

#2. Power Grid Down

Hackers can easily attack our power grid and people that are not prepared will not have any idea on how to survive.

You can live off-grid on your homestead while still feeding and protecting yourself and your family. Or, if you choose to have different energy sources besides electric, such as wind, solar, hydro, steam power, or natural gas, you will be able to make it when the power grid goes down. If you do not have either of these options on your homestead yet, you can use a generator for a short amount of time while you build yourself a wind turbine or hydropower system.

#3. WWIII

WWIII is very likely to happen with all the chaos from North Korea and Russia. If WWIII would break out, your homestead could protect you from various situations.

If WWIII would occur on our homeland, major cities would be the first targets. Small towns and rural villages would be attacked next. You want to be as isolated as possible during any war.

You will be secluded on your homestead which makes your group less detected and not as likely to become a victim. If you have plenty of acres on your homestead, you can set up traps and be stealthy while on “look out.” The people in your group can also plan for hideouts within your homestead to lessen the risk of you being caught or killed during WWII.

#4. Economic Collapse

During an economic collapse, you will not have to worry as much about the survival of your family because your homestead will already be providing for their basic needs.

If an economic collapse would occur again, people will be looting all stores and gas stations. They will be desperate for food for their family once they run out of food. When people become desperate for food and water, they will be willing to do anything to feed their family, even if that includes killing people to get their belongings.

You also have livestock on your homestead which will provide your family and loved ones to not have to stress about starving. With the livestock on your homestead, you will not need to have you or a member in your group travel to town to gather food and other items, which would possibly save a life.

#5. Civil Unrest

Sadly, civil unrest has occurred more frequently in recent years due to increasing cultural, political, and racial tensions in our society. Even a slight difference of opinion or the uttering of a politically incorrect comment can cause violence and near rioting. The extent of the violence that occurred in Ferguson just a few years ago clearly illustrates how quickly a single spark can turn an entire neighborhood into chaos that costs millions of dollars to repair.

You do not want to be in the city where these riots can break out due to how dangerous they can become. Thankfully, you will be safe and sound on your homestead and not have to worry about punks coming onto your land causing a riot. Your homestead will keep you isolated from the chaotic mess.

#6. Martial Law

If WWIII would begin or if civil unrest goes to the extreme, Martial Law is a huge possibility.

If Martial Law happened in your town, consider all your freedoms vanished. The government can and will walk into your home and swipe your most valuable belongings. Your guns being the first items they take. You will have a curfew and will have strict living regulations.

Thanks to your livestock and garden on your homestead, you will not have to travel to town to gather food which will protect you from being spotted by the government. Eventually when people run out of their food stock, they are going to run to the government for help and end up being sent to FEMA camps. At the FEMA camps, they will basically be like prisoners and many will die. You and your family will be self-reliant on your homestead, so it won’t really affect you when Martial Law is happening.

Make sure to hide your weapons in places they wouldn’t think to look. Such as inside your couch (staple it back up so they won’t be able to tell your rifles are hiding in there), and you can also purchase clocks that open for you to hide your handguns and ammo.

#7. EMP

An EMP striking is America’s worst nightmare. EMP catastrophes can end civilization and result to TEOTWAWKI. There would be years of darkness to recreate the power grid. That’s years without hospitals, transportation, gas, grocery stores, communication, and any electricity.

The horses on your homestead can provide you with transportation. All you need to do is saddle them up or jump on and ride bareback to get to any needed location. You can also haul items (such as wood, water, or injured people) on the back of your horse.

Your livestock will provide you with meat and dairy, so you won’t have to worry about anyone in your group dying of starvation or dehydration. You also can live off your garden and receive all your vegetable nutrition.

#8. Job Loss

Many homesteaders and preppers prepare for doomsday events but don’t often prep for personal SHTF scenarios. If you experience job loss, you and your family can get by on your homestead without struggling.

For food, you can butcher your livestock and hunt for deer on your land. For drinks, you can use a water purifier on your creek or any water supply or milk your cow or goat.

If you need money to pay your bills, you can breed your livestock, sell them, or butcher your livestock and sell the meat and their hide. If you have chickens, you can sell their eggs by the dozen for extra income.

If you do not have enough money to purchase hay, you can get your tractor out and take it out to your field and begin making your own.

#9. Drought

If your local area experiences a drought, your family and livestock won’t necessarily have to worry about becoming dehydrated. Your rainwater collection system on the homestead allows you to stockpile water that can easily be purified for both human and livestock consumption – as well as garden watering.

Get into the habit of stockpiling extra water from your creek or pond to help you better prepare for a potential drought in the future. Put extra water in water barrels, mason jars and other containers, and stockpile them up for later. You will also need to gather up buckets to fill up with water to haul down to your animal’s multiple and to haul water down to your garden. You don’t want your crops becoming dry and dying out.

#10. Snowstorm

Wood is one of the most valuable resources on your homestead and will be essential during a SHTF situation. With all the trees surrounding you on your homestead, you can cut them down and start chopping up the wood. Chop and split wood during the spring, summer, and fall so you have a healthy stockpile to use each winter. A home without heat will cause illness and ultimately death, during a winter snowstorm. Frostbite and hypothermia can set in quickly and it is unlikely first responders will be able to reach your home to help the patient due to weather and road conditions.

You can use your wood for your woodstove, make a fire for warmth, use the wood to boil water to purify your water, or use wood to make your food over it. Wood can also be used to build extra shelters for family or anyone in your group, so they can get out of the nasty frigid weather.

#11. Summer Heat Wave

Intense summer heat puts a drain on the power grid because air conditioners are running nonstop. Designing a home to make best use of natural air flow and putting in a basement to retreat to for a break from the heat, will help prevent you and your loved ones from becoming heat stroke victims.

If the power is out for long, generators at grocery and gas stores will run out of fuel. People will not be able to replenish their supplies and can become desperate for food, generator fuel, and water.

Take steps to prevent the creation of additional heat inside your home by cooking your stockpiled and preserved food outdoors. Grill or over a fire in the morning before the heat of the day starts.

Both you and the livestock you are keeping can use the pond or creek on the homestead to keep cool. Take dips in the waterway and mist yourself and the animals with water throughout the day.

For breakfast, lunch, or dinner you can squeeze your fresh fruits or veggies from your garden into juice to cool you off and give you energy. You can also grab one of your homegrown watermelons and snack on that to replace the electrolytes you lost while sweating profusely while doing chores during the hot wave.

#12. Flooding

Your homestead can protect you from flooding because you can dig ditches around your home, barn, and buildings to help direct water away. You can also fill your stockpiled feed sacks with sand or dirt to help prevent water from reaching your home, growing areas, and outbuildings.

If you live on a suburban homestead, make up sand bags in advance to help protect your backyard garden. Storing preps in your basement could be a huge mistake if your region is prone to flooding. Use wall and ceiling mounted storage units to protect your long-term storage food and gear from rising water.

Flood waters destroy crops and kill livestock, causing food prices to rise and potential shortages. The food you have preserved and stockpiled will help keep you and your family from growing hungry during the days, weeks, and months it may take the community or region to recover from the flood.

When the roads are covered and unsafe to travel, you will be able to rely on your homestead to provide for all your basic needs and not risk getting in a vehicle.

#13. Wild Fires

If a wild fire blazes across the region it can destroy homes and crops. The stockpiles you have on the homestead survival retreat could see you through a time when you are out of work and protect you from either a food shortage or price gouging. Building your home out of poured concrete, cinder block, and a metal roof will help protect it from wild fire.

If a wild fire breaks out near your homestead, you can rush to your creek, pond, river, lake, or any water source nearby and attempt to get the fire out.

Dig fire breaks around your home, keep brush cleared, and engage in select cutting in your wooded areas to further harden the homestead from seasonal brush fires that destroy properties of people who did not exercise sound fire deterrent practices.

#14. Earthquake

An earthquake can be hard to prepared for if you aren’t warned in advance. For the aftermath of an earthquake, your homestead makes you self-sufficient. If the nearby grocery store or convenience store collapsed, you would still be able to provide you and your loved ones with delicious food on your homestead.

If power lines go down from the earthquake, you will be able to use your alternative energy sources to provide power to the home. You can also make your own alternative fuel run your generator, so your frozen meat doesn’t go bad and any frozen food that you canned.

The homestead will also provide you with trees to cut down for warmth, cooking, and water from your pond, rainwater collection barrel system, or creek.

#15. Tornados

You can use the root cellar on the homestead as a bunker during a tornado. The underground storage area should protect you and your loved ones from the forceful winds and flying debris if both it and the door entry-way were built in a sturdy manner.

#16. Terror Attack

Your homestead would be one of the safest places to be during a terror attack because of the isolation. When you see the headlines on the news of such attacks, you’ll notice that the majority of the attacks occurred in a big city. Cities are usually the targeted location because there are so many more individuals in the city to make victims.

During a terror attack, you will be able to sit cozy on your homestead and not need to travel to town to gather up food, water, or any belongings. If you need anything to eat, you can just walk on out to your barn or butcher shop instead of risking the lives of you and your family members by entering a big crowd of people.

#17. Nuclear War

Not everyone will die during a nuclear war. The further you are away from the explosion, the better. Although, even if you are all the way across the country from the location of the nuclear bomb, you will still have to worry about radiation in the air.

Build a nuclear fallout shelter on your homestead and use it to store some of the food and medicines you grow so it is always stocked and ready for you to live.

Even if you are far from the attack area, the food supply chain will be disrupted, causing a shortage and riots by panicked people desperate for clean water to drink, food to eat, and emergency medical care. Your survival homesteading retreat will provide you with all these things – without being forced to leave the safety of your home.

Plan for nuclear contamination issues and learn how to cover your growing crops and water supply to protect them from radiation and acid rain.

#18. Cyber Attack

Cyber attack could take down power grid or destroy financial system and wipe out your bank accounts. Most people won’t know what to do without having their money but luckily you are prepared.

Your homestead will allow you to survive without money. You won’t need to trade anything for food because you have your livestock and garden. But if there is any other item you want or need, you can also barter or trade your livestock, crops, canned goods, farm equipment, wood, medicine, herbs, purified water, and any other necessities that others would trade with.

#19. Illness and Injury

One thing you do not want to happen to any of the members in your group is to experience an injury or illness. Your herbal apothecary on your homestead will help tremendously on naturally treating the illnesses and injuries. Your additional herbs can also help ease the pain during any illness or injury. There are natural home remedies that can even treat tetanus! Make sure to stock up on colloidal silver and keep in your first aid kit.

In your quarantine, you can keep your loved one safe and sound while you wait for them to get better to reduce the risk of other loved ones catching their illness.

#20. Food Shortage

During any type of disaster, people will eventually experience food shortage and will result to death.

Your livestock gives you the gift of meat and dairy. You will have a lot of food and milk to get you and your family by. You can freeze extra meat and can your milk to make a stockpile for when you run out of your current supply. You should also can your garden goodies for easy access!

For additional meat, you can grab your gun or bow and hit the woods looking for deer on your homestead.

Final Word

Living on a homestead gives you so much more access to food rather than living in a city. People will be out scouting the streets, breaking into houses, and rioting in grocery stores with empty shelves, while you and your family will have a food supply that you are living comfortably with.

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The world we live in continues to get scarier and uglier with each passing day. During any disaster, you want to be as secluded as possible from any looters and

Powering Your Survival Homestead

A perennial problem faced by suburban and rural dwellers is obtaining water in the absence of utility provided electric power. Standby generators require fuel of some type, which will eventually run out, and deep drilled wells are poorly suited for use with hand pumps of most types.

As a prepper, this has always been a concern for me as I live in a rural setting, but in a house constructed with the modern “central-everything” design concepts. I do have a gasoline-powered generator, and maintain supplies enough for a few weeks of continuous running. After that, it’s carrying buckets to the stream.

This has led to my experimenting with some alternatives for my survival homestead, and based upon my current deployment I may just go off-grid for water completely. Most of the components I had lying around with the exception of the pump, and the batteries: those items set me back around $450.

The basics of my survival homestead:

Frame house with a huge, unfinished second story, currently just storage.
Drilled well: 270 finished depth, water table at approximately 50 feet down
Standard 220 VAC submerged pump at 100 feet depth
The usual captive air pressure tank with associated plumbing and pump pressure relay

So the conundrum is: how to extract perfectly clean water from this well at minimum cost, and without completely changing the plumbing. (I may want to sell and move further out, so any new owner will probably want things as standard as possible)

What I have come up with to date, experimental at this point is a solar/battery-powered pump that stores water in an elevated container, allowing gravity to supply the pressure. Keep in mind though: water is heavy! Be sure to reinforce your structure as needed! I’d consider this a relatively high level overview as opposed to a design doc, so tailor as needed for your own situation.

Stuff.

A 12/24 VDC submersible pump with 230 foot lift:
100 feet of 1/2 “ pex tubing
Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit (Amazon. Harbor Freight, etc)
2 – 12VDC marine deep cycle batteries, connected in parallel
A second pitless adapter installed on the well casing
2 – ½” Pex to brass adapter sized for the pitless adapter being used, (1/2 <> 1” in my case)
Pitless adapter top plug
A second strain relief for the well cap wiring pass through.
SharkBite check valve ½”
SharkBite Tee for ½” PEX
A used but good queen water-bed mattress (for experimenting only! Gets brittle when cold)
I will probably use plastic 55 gal drums for anything permanent.
100 feet #8, 2 conductor, jacketed, direct burial stranded wire
2 – reducing adapters – ½” pex > 1” brass
Zurn pressure reducer (had on hand – Zurn 1-NR3DU Wilkins 1-Inch Pressure Reducer Valve 15-75-75PSI)
2 – SharkBite ½” gate valve
Limit switches (Amazon Model: a14061600ux0543)
Assorted connectors, plumbing bits, and crimpers

Installing the new pump

Drawing 1 – Well details:

The first thing is to install the new pitless adapter in the well casing, just follow the instruction that came with it, In my case, I needed a 1-3/4” hole saw.

Using a string with a weight on it find the depth of the torque arrestor above the standard pump.

Using the same string with a float find the water level in the well casing.

Cut a piece of PEX approximately three feet shorter than the depth of the torque arrestor but be sure it’s still well below the water height. If it very close you may have to re-examine the well suitability.

Connect the two-conductor wire to the new pump following the instructions meticulously: you do NOT want the fitting to leak.

Connect the piece of pex to the new pump. Use stainless clamps or crimp collers.

Connect the PEX to the pitless adapter using suitable adapter hardware.

Run a piece of paracord through the lifting eye on the pump, either use twice the needed length so you can pull it free later or a bowline if you want to keep it in place.

Secure the line to something sturdy, it’s there in case the pump slips out of your hands.

Drop the pump and attached wire down the well. Be very sure it doesn’t come to rest on the torque arrestor! If it does, pull it and adjust the length of the PEX.

Install the solar array where ever you want: mine are on a south-facing roof with a 45 degree pitch.

Install the solar panel charge converter somewhere out of the weather; connect the wiring as described in the instructions.

Run #8 stranded wires from the charge converter to the battery bank.

Turn the charge converter on and make sure the batteries are charging. A voltmeter is sufficient. Mine reads 13.8VDC across the battery terminals in bright sun.

Connect the new well wires to the batteries to ensure the pump works correctly.

If yes, disconnect the pump for now.

Drawing 4 – Water Flow Detail:

Connect the remaining PEX to the pitless adapter outlet, tape the pump wire to the PEX, and bury the entire run below the frost line for the area.

Run it into your basement or crawlspace using whatever critter-proof method you wish.

Install a large water container in a location above your typical faucet height. The higher the location the greater the water pressure.

I’ve been experimenting with a water-bed mattress because, 1 – I had it already, 2 – it distributes weight well.

Drawing 2 – Storage Details:

Run the PEX and wiring up to whatever storage container you are using, install the check valve, (flow toward the storage tank!), then the PEX Tee after the check valve, and then from the check valve outlet side into the tank, using suitable fittings to provide for a secure, leak free connection. Inside the container, if it’s not flexible like the mattress, install an addition piece of tubing that just barely reaches the bottom of the container.

Install the limit switch with a float or similar to open the pump circuit when the water level reaches the maximum desired height in the container. Typically you would use the normally closed contacts that will open when the float is lifted. There is a multitude of ways to do this, I happened to have the switches already.

Drawing 3 – Charge Details:

Now run the wiring to the batteries, and connect, observing the correct polarity as during the initial test.

On the original house water supply plumbing cut and insert a tee in the line from the pressure tank going to the house plumbing. Install one of the gate valves in the Tee side going to the new storage. The object is to connect the new storage container outlet Tee to the standard supply plumbing after the pressure tank check valve, see drawing 4.

Other self-sufficiency and preparedness solutions recommended for you:

Healthy Soil + Healthy Plants = Healthy You

The vital self-sufficiency lessons our great grand-fathers left us

Knowledge to survive any medical crisis situation

Liberal’s hidden agenda: more than just your guns

Build yourself the only unlimited water source you’ll ever need

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Secure your privacy in just 10 simple steps

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A perennial problem faced by suburban and rural dwellers is obtaining water in the absence of utility provided electric power. Standby generators require fuel of some type, which will eventually

We need to prepare for the worst

The truth is although you may get some advanced warning of a SHTF situation, no one will predict it with absolute certainty. There are however some predicted behaviors and events that experts can predict may happen leading up to the chaos and afterwards.

These predicted behavior patterns are important to understand for anyone who is trying to protect their family and homestead during and after a SHTF event. If you are aware of the changes that could take place, you can prepare your homestead for SHTF and its aftermath. The more steps you take to prepare, the better off you and your family will be.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to use this book. Details here.

What Could Happen When SHTF

extended power outage
widespread panic and looting
overwhelmed emergency services personnel
stores and businesses are wiped out or closed
shipping delays or complete stop
pandemic due to poor sanitation or lack of medical care
spoiled or stolen food and other supplies
injuries, illness and/or mass casualties or death

Plan for Food and Water

One of the big issues following a SHTF event is going to be having access to enough water and food to sustain you and your family through an extended period of chaos and possibly indefinitely. Below are some steps you can begin to take now to help ensure that you and your family have an ample supply of food and water when you need it.

Most people may not be able to do all of these at once but it’s a good idea to make a plan for implementation over a period of time. Do what you can the first year and gradually add to your food and water resources when you can.

Start a food garden to grow vegetables and fruits to sustain your family when grocery stores shut down.
Plant an orchard now so that you’ll be able to harvest fruit for pies and jams to boost morale following a SHTF event.
Grow an herb garden to supplement your food stockpile and for medicine when pharmacies and professional medical services are shut down.
Start a compost pile to use to fertilize soil so your garden will flourish.
Gather/Buy manual kitchen appliances and equipment so you can cook without electricity.
Stockpile food for livestock and pets when shipping is delayed or stopped.
Create a hidden food forest to sustain your family if your garden and stockpile are confiscated or wiped out.
Build a rainwater collection system to use for watering the garden, for livestock, personal hygiene, and if necessary for drinking.
Build or buy a solar oven for cooking without power.
Make a smokehouse for preserving meat if refrigeration fails.
Gather/Buy manual tools for gardening and other homesteading tasks.
Install an aquaponics or hydroponics system to supplement your garden
Plant berry bushes so they can mature and be ready to harvest following a SHTF event.
Stockpile home canned food to create a sustainable food supply without refrigeration.
Build a root cellar for preserving harvested vegetables to extend shelf life through the lean winter months.
Stockpile as much water as possible to prevent dehydration.
Identify nearby fresh water sources to supplement your water stockpile.
Begin raising livestock for food that can enhance the nutrition level of your food stockpile.
Save seeds from garden for future crops in the event shipping is shut down.
Identify wild game and fishing resources on and around your property to supplement your food stockpile.
Identify wild edibles on and around your homestead as a backup food supply.

Plan for Security

Another major issue when it comes to a SHTF event will be shelter. Whether it’s an extreme weather event or something else, steps you take now will mean you can quickly protect your house and livestock shelters against extreme weather or intruders.

Build storm shutters to protect windows and doors to protect against extreme weather. Have these ready and accessible or even installed so they can simply be closed and locked with very little warning.
Reinforce door locks to keep intruders out of your home. This is a step everyone should do anyways to protect against burglary and home invasion.
Build a safe room to use in the event intruders do get into your home or in the event of a tornado or other extreme weather event.
Clear out brush around your home to create a clear line of site to protect against intruders sneaking around your property.
Stockpile firearms and ammunition and other weapons for self-defense.
Consider forming a “survival group” with trusted neighbors or family/friends.
Build a secure fence with locked gate around the perimeter of your homestead to secure against intruders.
Establish early alert systems and other perimeter deterrents to protect against intruders.

Additional Ways to Prepare Your Homestead for SHTF

Prepare for waste disposal (Composting Toilet/Humanure) when sanitation systems shut down.
Install a fireplace for heating your home and for hot water.
Install a solar power system to run critical appliances if the power grid fails.
Stockpile batteries of various sizes to use during a power outage.
Install a wind turbine for supplemental power in case of a grid failure.
Buy/Build a generator to run critical systems during short term power outages.
Bury backup supplies in hidden cache locations on and around your homestead as a backup in the event your supplies are stolen or confiscated.
Stockpile personal medications or identify natural alternatives to treat chronic medical conditions when pharmacies are closed.
Buy/Build a ham radio system for communication with family or group members and to monitor news and events happening in your area.
Make any repairs to house and livestock buildings regularly to safeguard your shelter.
Stockpile replacement parts for vehicles and manual equipment in the event of a mechanical failure.
Create plans and assign duties for possible scenarios (in case of fire, tornado, intruders, etc.) so each family can act quickly in a crisis.
Consider bulletproof options for your vehicle and house to safeguard against an intruder attack.
Establish a method for properly storing gasoline and other fuels for vehicles and for heating your home.
Begin growing your own fodder to feed livestock to sustain them if feed supply stores are wiped out or shut down.
Improve insulation in your home and barn to increase your ability to stay warm in cold weather and cooler in hot weather.
Establish a system for washing clothes without power.
Stockpile firewood to use for heating and cooking in an extended grid down situation.
Pay off as much debt as possible, use excess to enhance your stockpile.
Create ways to make money from your homestead even in a grid down situation.
Stockpile items (honey, cigarettes, sugar, coffee, etc.) that can be used to barter for other items you may need to survive.

Is your homestead prepared for SHTF? What steps have you taken to prepare? Which of the 50 ways to prepare will you consider?