Hello Everybody, Frank here.
We recently received a comment that I can't quite shake. It wasn't anything major, traumatic, big or little, but I just can't shake one statement made toward the end of the comment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do you have any suggestions or resources you can point me towards, given that we're not in a position yet to make a go at homesteading?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This benign statement, and probably stated with no malicious intent by the commenter, hit me in a peculiar way. You see, there are always things that we can do to prepare ahead of time. Please excuse my exaggeration here, but there are a bazillion things that we can do for a pre-homestead mode. Having a house and a little bit of land does not make a homestead. In my opinion, a homestead is in someone's thought pattern and attitude. If you would, please read my response, and then we'll discuss it more. But please let me qualify, I am in no way or means attacking this sincere comment, or the individual that sent it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hi, I'm new to your blog, over from SSM's. I feel the unease too, but it
seems hard to prepare since my husband and I are paying down debt and
living in an apartment. We're hoping in the next 3-5 years to be able to
pay everything off and get a little house with enough room for me to
have a veggie/herb garden, but that seems remote, and I still worry
about what we can do now. Do you have any suggestions or resources you
can point me towards, given that we're not in a position yet to make a
go at homesteading? Or just soldier forward, paying down what we can,
saving what we can, and getting into a place we own as soon as we can?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sure you can practice
homesteading. You can grow a handful of plants in pots.You can start
changing the way you dress to be less noticeable. You can put a small go
bag in each one of your vehicles, and a larger one for adults and able
bodied teenagers in your house. You can get yourself in better physical
condition. Quit some medications that you can. Lose weight if you need to. Go to a farmer's market and buy 20 pounds of carrots and learnto
can. That'll take a canner, jars, lids, and storage space. Quit buying
useless petty junk, and buy solid tools that you can use for the rest of
your life. Start paying attention to your surroundings, know who you
are and where you are at all times. Study maps of your area, know how to
get out. Start looking at property, go visit pieces of land, know where
water is, and how to treat it. Learn to use a firearm, and prepare
yourself mentally to do
the unthinkable. Study history. Get involved in a
church. If you need to, drive to a country church and get to know the
people. And if I've missed anything, do that too. Beans, bullets and
bandaids. Learn first aid. Learn survival techniques. Take classes at
the local college or vo-tech, but take real classes. Get your ham radio
license. Learn how to use a radio. Make sure your vehicle is in great
condition, and it has in it what will last you at least two weeks if you
have to leave immediately. Know your local laws. Get a concealed carry
permit and practice, practice, practice. Shoot to stop, not to kill. Get
to know your Creator. Ask and talk to people that know what they're
doing. Learn to tell the difference between truth and fiction. You say
there's nothing you can do where you are now? Get a grip, it's near.
Ta-ta."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You see, I know folks that live in the country, have small amounts of acreage, and mow every square inch of it. They have a beautiful lawn. Are they homesteaders? Are they preppers? Are they survivalists? Who knows? So, a house and a piece of property is not a homestead. A homestead is a frame of mind, how we see life in general, what we think about ourselves, our family and our future. I could just as easily use the word prepper or survivalist, but the author of the comment chose the word homestead, and it has a much better ring, and not the negative connotations of other terms.
But let's pick one topic in my response. Let's take the automobile. You're going to put gas in it to drive it, why not keep it full of gasoline all the time? Keep the vehicle well tuned, tires at proper inflation, windshield clean, your to-go bag ready and in the vehicle. We all know gasoline is expensive, but practicing your escape routes and alternative routes, is a small investment in your future.
Pick a couple of areas where you think you might want to live. Drive out to these places, buy gas at the local gas station, go into the grocery store and walk around, see if you like the people and see what their attitude is like. While you're out there, look at the houses. What shape are they in? Are they growing gardens, or are they mowing lawns? Check out the porches on the houses. What kind of fences do they have? Open the windows and listen to the birds. Are they raising horses for show, or do they have goats, chickens, dogs and cats?
Drive out on a Sunday morning and go to church. Meet the people that are sitting beside you, in front of you and behind you. Pay attention to how they talk to each other and how they dress. Watch their kids play with each other. While you're there, pay attention to the message also. If you go on potluck Sunday, even better. Linger around a little bit after church and shoot the breeze. Pay attention to what kind of vehicles the folks drive. You can tell a lot about a person by how much they try to put on the dog. There are lots of things you can do with a car or an automobile.
Like I said earlier, there are a gazillion things you can do to prepare mentally, spiritually and temporally. Pick another topic, any one you choose. Let me help you. How about food preparation? Just imagine how many different ways you can branch out thinking about food preparation.
So, are there things to do before you make the big move? You say you want references or resources? Go to the right hand side of this blog and scroll down to sites that we recommend. You'll find these folks to be good, decent, honest, reliable people. Most of them are very experienced at what they do. This will give you weeks and weeks of reading, pick something, start with it and change your life now. If you choose to dally, that's your choice. If you choose to change, prepare and get ready, then this instant is the time to do it.
We'll talk more later, Frank
whoah - now that is what i call A RESPONSE! yes yes yes yes and one more yes! and an amen!
ReplyDeleteFrank - you really owned this post! sending much love to you and Fern! your friend,
kymber
i just re-read my response and i feel that it reads like i am attacking this person who sent you the email. i am not attacking them at all...i was just responding to your post Frank. now i feel bad. this person does seem to be asking for direction and i feel that your post shows them a bunch of ways to start prepping and not wait until they get the land. i hope i don't come across as attacking the person because i am very glad that they are reaching out for ideas and ways to start prepping.
DeleteThank you, Kymber. It was just a handful of ideas coming from the hip.
DeleteFrank
Kymber, no one here read it as if you were attacking anyone. I wouldn't feel bad if I were you. Thank you for all of your comments.
DeleteFrank
Everytime we drive by an apartment complex I feel the developers have missed a lot! Landscaped grounds could be used for Apartment tenants to have garden plots! Be bold and see if you can encourage like minded people in your apartment complex to lobby for garden space....start a new trend! We all have the ability to take the first steps to being a modern homesteader in the situation we are in so be brave and we are all here to help! PS: Bucket gardening on a balcony!
ReplyDeleteHi, Fiona, excellent recommendation. There are always more things that all of us can do. Thank you again.
DeleteFrank
Frank, and Fern,
ReplyDeleteYour response to this question was dead on Frank. They're so many ways one can prepare for what is coming.
Sandy
Sandy, you're right. There are many things that we all can do to prepare ourselves, not just for a world collapse, but if the power were just to go off for a few days. I know there are those that struggle, and my heart goes out to them. But when I was still a teacher, I would see families that were struggling with five people in the car, and everyone of them had a bag of chips of some type and a large fountain drink. I realize that for some, this may have been supper, but for most it's poor financial planning. There are ways we can all do better, and we had better do it pretty soon.
DeleteFrank
Good advice Frank.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leigh.
DeleteFrank
This is your best post ever! Opened my eyes to many things to look for, even though we live out in the country. In fact, I am going to print your response so I can refer to it often. Thanks,
ReplyDeleteTewshooz, thank you for the kind words, but we both know that this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Thank you for reading and thank you for your comment.
DeleteFrank
Thanks for this post. Part way through I got out a pen and paper. I often take notes while reading your blog. I guess that's one of my steps in being prepared. I want the information at hand when (not if) the internet and my computer is unavailable.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am landless. I am now in an apartment which is a new experience for me in my late 50s. My apartment is actually a unit in a housing co-op. Perhaps this set-up is unique to Canada. The complex is a not-for-profit and is self-governing. Each 'member' has purchased into the complex and the purchased 'share' will be returned when I move. I bring my living situation up because this structure has allowed me to do certain things that would be unavailable if I was merely renting. The first thing I did was replace a broken kitchen light with a ceiling fan/light combination. This investment helps in cooling my unit. The second purchase was to replace the electric baseboard heaters that were 25+ years old with lower wattage/more efficient units. Both of these purchases were at my cost and should I leave, I can take them with me. My point, though, even as a non-landowner, I have made an investment that helps lower my monthly out of pocket expenses. The heaters have already paid for themselves in lower heating costs in the winter. I also have a backup heating source in the form of a Mr Buddy propane heater.
My apartment is all electric which is tough when the power goes out. However, I have alternate cooking sources (a BBQ outside with side burner, a camping stove and candles). I also have all of the components to make a rocket stove. And propane.
I have stockpiled food to some degree. Not nearly what I had when I had a house and family to worry about. But enough. Certainly more then some of my neighbors who were absolutely in a panic last year during an ice storm. The one neighbor did not even have a can of soup to open, nor a manual can opener to open a can with.
I also have water stored - enough for me and the dog for about a week. And I have a plan of where to source water and a way to sanitize the water and to carry it home. Just in case. I hopefully will never need that knowledge, but if I do, I am prepared.
This list goes on - food growing in buckets, more food 'guerilla-planted' in the common beds of the complex, community garden plots, a go-bag in my car.
And I am always learning. This post in particular opened my eyes to having a two-week supply in my car (food and water).
So to the person asking the question of what to do - start today, don't put it off. Good for you to ask the questions and to have the awareness. Your mindset is truly the starting point, the rest of it is just details to work out. If I can do these things on my own, you can too. Don't try to do it all at once, but work at it steady and you will accomplish a lot.
All the best to everyone. SJ in Vancouver BC Canada
SJ, thank you for sharing your thoughts and your situation. If we try, we can always do more. Some people can do more with less, most of the time it's a matter of budget and priorities.
DeleteI once knew a man that couldn't pay his bills, and the financial councilor recommended he shut off is monthly TV/cable service. He cried, telling the councilor that he couldn't live without cable TV. Just imagine what he could have done with the money if he read a book to his family each evening, or if they played a board game, or better yet, if they just talked to each other. People tend to have their priorities confused about what they truly need.
I see 1st graders with cell phones. Why? But the current presidential administration believes that cell phones are a RIGHT. You know, right there with liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness? We've got ourselves in a sad situation and it's going to be painful when we deal with it.
Thank you for your excellent comment.
Frank
Excellent post. We moved out of the big city to a smaller city, not in the country but more rural and livable. Decent yard but lots of shade trees. So the biggest thing is you have to start. I have planted apple trees and a peach tree. Worked on the existing plum tree and fig tree to get them producing. Put in raised beds in the sunniest areas in the back and learning to get the soil right so I can grow veggies. Figuring out what will grow in the boxes. Relearning to can since I had not done any since a teenager. Finding the fresh food stands and watching for bargains can really help you fill those canning jars when you are still learning what grows in the garden. The biggest thing for me was just taking the first step then you look up one day and find you have walked a good bit. Thanks for posting Frank & Fern.
ReplyDelete"The biggest thing for me was just taking the first step then you look up one day and find you have walked a good bit."
DeleteExcellent analogy. We all have to start somewhere. Sometimes that first step is the hardest thing to do. We have a friend that is afraid of canning, and they should be. A pressure canner can be very dangerous. This person needs to take that first step, cautiously. We have another friend that was also afraid of the pressure cooker. When the season is right, she cans just about daily. Cautiously.
There are lots of little towns that are liveable. Thank you for your comment. It was inspirational.
Frank
I can't help but think about what was written today. I keep thinking that everyone can do "something ". We don't all have a fifty acre homestead, but we can all do something. Most of us don't have unlimited money, but there are lots of ways to cut corners. How many stops are there for a latte in the morning, or eating lunch at a cafe? We can do without these things. Pack a lunch. Remember sandwiches? And leftovers are always good. How will you feed your family if you can't have pizza delivered? If it's not safe to leave your apartment? What will you do? There's lots of ways to save. I guess I just want everyone to be ready. It's coming.
ReplyDeleteGrace
Thank you, Grace. It is coming isn't it? Some would say it's already here.
DeleteWe all need to be reminded that we can always do more. That latte you reference? A hot cup of Folgers made at home is significantly less expensive. Just like taking a brown bag lunch. Sam Walton took one everyday to work. It wasn't that he was just saving on his lunch, his sweetie packed it for him everyday. Guess old habits are hard to give up.
Now, where is my 25 year old Stanley thermos? Good, right there where I left it. The paint is gone off of it, but it will keep my coffee hot all day long. Thanks for the reminder.
Frank
Your post itself is educational, Frank. Thank you. One can never stop learning when we are "homesteading". I never thought I could do it either, but started with an extra can of tuna, beginning my journey to self reliance. I have never looked back and at this point, never will. Everyday is a new day to try something new that will help myself and my family. I enjoy reading your blog, a big thanks to Fern too. ~Kathy in Maine~
ReplyDeleteKathy, thank you for reading. Fern and I started buying in bulk decades ago. Yes, it helped save a few dollars, but the main reason we started was that I hate going in stores. And we didn't have any money, so it did save some dollars.
DeleteSo, when we got the inspiration to write this blog, it was tough at first, because Fern and I are an extremely private couple. And I still do not like going into a store. But Fern and I learn a great deal by putting information on this blog. We learn a great deal from the folks that comment. We learn something new everyday.
Right now I'm teaching a radio class, and that means I have to talk to people, which is okay, because in four more weeks, we'll be finished. But the reason I'm teaching this class, again, is for selfish reasons. I want and need to be able to communicate with my extremely rural community, because someday that ability to communicate might save my life. You see, it's all selfish, and I still don't like to go in stores. Thank goodness for the internet and UPS. Thank you for your comment.
Frank
Every one can build community, even in an apartment complex. Start getting to know your neighbors, help to keep an eye out for each other, pray for each other, help our elders, know who lives nearby, who is out of place, what resources are there and what's missing, where are the bottlenecks and where are the water sources as you mentioned, what plants are growing nearby that are edible, learn to barter and trade w/the neighbors, share our excesses, start a free trade/swap room, build up an essential skill, make a community emergency first aid kit, etc. Everyone can do something to help themselves and those around them. Host a 'get acquainted' potluck - lightly discuss some of your concerns, you'll see who is receptive. Educate yourself by watching online videos while you can. Piece by piece make yourself a small solar setup. Make enough emergency handout bags for a few immediate neighbors containing water, pull top fruit, hot chocolate, potted meat, a few hard candies, etc. When we lived in a condo complex we were part of the 'neighbor to neighbor' team. We housed one of six water filtration units that would be used in a water emergency. Being in an all electrical unit we had a portable butane cooktop for us and one extra for a neighbor that we could share should someone need it. We were one of the few who kept firewood for our fireplace.
ReplyDeleteThere is a little used today phrase called 'tightening your belt'. There are places to save. Every time you go to the grocery take a long hard look at what's in your cart. What in there could you do without - say a splurge item like chips. Put it back and in it's place buy a LOT of one something cheap but essential, say Salt up to the purchase cost of the chips. Next time do it by buying OATMEAL, or Sugar, Dry Milk Powder, or Tuna, or other potted meat or those dreaded carbs Noodles. Over time those little steps lead to big progress. Put a date label on them as you bring them in, First In, First Out. Or as my Scottish Mother-in-Love would say, "Mony a mickle maks a muckle." (mickle = small thing, muckle = big thing). ~~Sassafras
Sassafras, excellent recommendations. You're right, there are always things we can do. One simple thing is getting to know our neighbors. There are folks that live right down the road from me that I have never met or talked to, and that family has lived there since before dirt.
DeleteI remember when someone moved into a neighborhood, for the first week or two you would see the neighbors stopping by with a plate of cookies, or something like that. You just don't see that anymore. But then, people used to leave their front doors unlocked, too. Now most doors have a double dead bolt lock. We all need to know our neighbors, and you brought up some excellent points.
City folks can prepare, too. Not all disasters last forever, but I'd still keep my car full of gas and in good shape, with a to-go bag in it somewhere. A change of clothes and two weeks worth of granola bars could come in real handy if you had to leave quick.
Thank you for your insightful comment.
Frank
Boy, there is not one single wasted word in that excellent post! Such great encouragement to someone who is just getting started.
ReplyDeleteHeck, even I'm feeling energized after that pep talk!
Just Me
Just Me, a lot of people think that time may be short. If you have the time and the energy, then I would focus all of my extra time and energy on getting prepared. Complete the basics first, water, food, shelter, and from there expand. Choose your friends wisely. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteFrank
Little by Little and Day by Day
ReplyDeleteWe are a somewhat more prepared
Hi, Rosco. Thank you for the comment. A bunch of little steps put together can cover a long distance. Don't lose focus.
DeleteFrank
Another thing you can do in the "meantime": take introductory courses in the local community college - carpentry, plumbing, electricity, mechanics, gardening, etc.
ReplyDeleteChap, you are exactly right. They offer all of the things you mentioned plus bee keeping, pasture rotation, and the list goes on. Your local county extension agent is a great source of information. Thank you for the comment.
DeleteFrank
Thank you so much! I am pleasantly surprised to see a few of things were already on my radar, but there's plenty that wasn't before. And I appreciate the comments with regard to what other people have/could do while in an apartment complex. I will be bookmarking this for future reference, and probably make a high light list to print too!
ReplyDeleteSorry not to have responded sooner - I expected to get an email from blogger when you replied; I didn't expect to get a whole fresh post chock full of ideas and leads! I am glad to see there's still stuff I can be doing!
We rely a great deal on our comments. There is information about things we missed, things that we got wrong, and additional, supplemental material. Fern and I learn a great deal from the comments. Thank you for yours.
DeleteFrank
Frank,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, chockfull of great ideas, reminds me of a post I read many years ago to help newbies get started. It was full of good ideas and your post brought back memories of it.
Anonymous,
Best to you and your family. I pray you are blessed as you move forward!
Thank you, Mary. Reminders are good for all of us, because if we don't get it done, it's not going to happen. Thank you for your comment.
DeleteFrank
Frank this is off subject but we have just gotten an acre of land out of town and would like to get a solar pump for the well. Do you have one and do you have a recommendation? This is a subject that most people we talk with think we are crazy. Thanks for any help you can give.
ReplyDeleteI use two deep water, hand pump systems. The company Simple Pump was the manufacturer for both, and they do have a solar system attachment. I have not used this attachment yet, but it gets pretty good reviews. I am more than happy with the Simple Pump well system. Give it a look.
DeleteFrank
http://www.simplepump.com/
Hi Frank,
ReplyDeleteThat was a very good post on " Homesteading" , it really is a mindset and a way of living . It does begin in the brain , and with a commitment to remain on course .
The homestead lifestyle can easily begin in an apartment situation by simply accumulating books on all the various subjects , if books are a financial issue then go to the public library, but I would recommend a personal library for reference reasons in a SHTF situation .
We have found that being able to think "outside the box" is an important skill to develop . If we were apartment dwellers we would be dehydrating food , expanding our first aid supplies , and paying down debt as fast as we could and getting familiar with an area we may plan to move to .
In our particular case we rely strongly on our belief in God , we go to Him often for guidance and direction . Attendance at a good Christian church has been a tremendous blessing for us , especially moving to a new community .
Thanks for the post and many blessings to you both .
The public library is one of those assets that is grossly underused. You can download ebooks, and like a hard copy book when it is due to be returned, you do not have access to it any longer. They have free ebooks also, yours to keep. More people need to check out their public library, it's a great source for information. And if you find a book that you really like, then buy it. It's like a free trial period. The term is what it is, it is your public library. When Fern and I used to travel, we used the library a great deal. Good place. No pun intended, but, check it out.
DeleteFrank
Just ran across this site today. Not affiliated in any way. They have lots of thought provoking articles. ~Sassafras
ReplyDeletehttp://apartmentprepper.com/
Thank you for sharing this site with us, Sassafras. I hope it has some great information for those living in apartments.
DeleteFern
"We've become a nation of PhD.'s who can't fix a screen door."
ReplyDelete-- Paul Harvey