The Plan

Many people feel that something enormous in impact is about to occur. With me it is a feeling that I must flee from the populated areas to a remote location somewhere, in hiding as it were. At times this feeling becomes almost overpowering, and I want to load up and go. Since I do not have my retreat property yet, I will only be able to plan for the day I do get it.

My plan is to buy 5 – 20 acres in a semi-remote area and place a travel trailer there. Yes, this is being done by others, and is overall a good plan. Once purchased, the land will be placed into a Trust to protect it financially. By not building permanent structures, I hope to keep the property taxes down.

If I do drill a well, it will not be recorded with the county. I plan to harvest rainwater for much of my needs. I will use a greywater/blackwater system to reuse as much of my water as possible. A greenhouse or 2 will help with my vegetable gardening needs, as I plan to container garden to a large extent as well as use the square foot gardening and companion planting methods.

I plan on a small orchard of dwarf fruit trees, and a vineyard of various types of grapes. I will plant nut trees such as Filbert, Pecan, Almond, Walnut, Oak and Chestnut; berry bushes such as Blueberry, Raspberry, Currants and Goose Berries. As many varieties as possible. I will plant a woodlot on one corner for a firewood supply, using fast growing poplars. I will also include Alder and Sugar Maple.

By not building a house, I will avoid the mortgage trap, leaving any income free for supplies and such. This will allow me to pay cash for items and not leave a paper trail. For storage I will use earth sheltered CONEX containers (re-inforced with channel iron).

I will raise rabbits and chickens, as well as geese, turkeys and ducks. If I feel adventurous enough, I will try sheep, goats and perhaps a beef or two. I will raise fish in a small pond or will try it in a barrel as I have read about. I will raise earthworms (vermiculture) to make compost from my kitchen and yard wastes, and to supplement either my chicken's or fish’s food.

My energy consumption will be reduced to what I can provide with Solar, Wind, and Generator. I will have a root cellar or if near a stream, a spring house. My refrigeration will be either springhouse, 12volt or propane. My heat will be either hydronic/solar or wood. I will use evaporative cooling to keep the living quarters cool in the summer.

These are all great aspirations, to be limited only by time, money, energy and my ambition. The goal is to be as self sufficient as possible for my food supply.

Next: The Starting Point.