Access to land and water

Survival Boards ^ | 3/9/12

[Kartographer]

While watching Doomsday Preppers last week, I observed one major difference in the various plans, and that was if the plan included access to land and water.

Its one thing to stockpile 2 – 3 years of canned goods, food in mylar bags, freeze dried food, have a rainwater collection system, small backyard garden,,,,.

Its another thing to have access to several acres of land, able to have chickens, a nice sized garden for a variety of fresh veggies, various types of fruit trees, access to fresh running water and access to land to hunt on. Maybe even have access to water to fish in.

Two of the main differences I see between the various long term SHTF survival plans, is access to fresh food and access to fresh water. People may argue there are lots of other differences, but for this article I wanted to talk about two main topics – water and fresh food.

[blam]

"Man has not survived without dogs for at least 50,000 years and now some scholars are saying 250,000 years. There's a R E A S O N for that. Their loyalty and their senses. They can be indoors and hear a cat sneaking around across the street. "

All excellent advice.

I have about a years supply of top-of-the-line dry dog food stored in very tightly controlled temperature and humidity conditions. And, you know, if things get really bad, I can eat that food too.

Anyway, click on my name to see my dogs.

[RegulatorCountry]

Try Henry Country, VA. Gently rolling east to foothills west, only one town of any note, Martinsville. Nice pastureland, dirt cheap. Caswell Country, NC, too.

[driftdiver]

Pool water isn’t a good source for drinking water. Most of the algaecides used in pools contains copper.

[RegulatorCountry]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Joshua-Rd_Rosman_NC_28772_M53423-48095

Good price for 15 acres remote lakefront vacant land in Rosman.

[Chode]

thank God i have one twenty feet from my back door... and a creek ~100' away

[bgill]

Pretty and cheaper than land here but how many snakes per acre?

[driftdiver]

I live in suburban Tampa. Its not the best location but could be worse.

We would like to relocate out west. Love the idea of being in the mountains but can’t see how we can afford it. Second choice is somewhere in the TN, Kentucky, South Carolina areas. Population density in that area is still pretty high.

[4everontheRight]

I wish you good luck then!!!

[AlaskaErik]

I found the show to be interesting, but most people seem to be single-scenario preppers. The looniest one was the New England lady who wanted nothing to do with firearms. Does she really think no one will take her food at gunpoint when the SHTF?!

If the SHTF, city dwellers are pretty much screwed. Those with the best chance are those who are the farthest away from civilization who have planned for sustainable sources of food and water.

Personally, I believe in preparing for multiple contingencies. A powerful earthquake would just have me hunkering down in my house. A financial collapse that leads to widespread unrest would have me going remote to an area that would provide me with isolation, water, lots of game, fowl, and fish. Very doable in Alaska if you have an airplane.

[Mariner]

Rice and vegetables combined should not exceed 33%.

Liver, fish oil, bone meal and un-cooked bones should be added.

Alfalfa pellets and sprouts when you can find them. Fozen Blueberries...chopped or pureed...2-3 tablespoons (1 teaspoon for a chihuahua) at least twice per week.

Access to the great outdoors for the other stuff.

Cod Liver oil, meat, and bone meal are almost a complete diet if they can roam the woods.

[Vigilantcitizen]

If I hit the lotto maybe, but I’d be looking in the area where GA, NC, SC, and TN all come together.

We camp up there fairly regular...Warwoman WMA near Clayton. Very desolate....and plenty of fresh, clean, cold water.

[Mariner]

"What about crisco?"

Sure, but there's zero protein, minerals or vitamins in that.

Spam and grass (if chewed well) can keep you alive and healthy for at least two years.

[driftdiver]

“If the SHTF, city dwellers are pretty much screwed.”

I think thats a myth. Sure if you live in a high rise your chances will be slim. Otherwise the remote farmstead is highly vulnerable. Whether its the govt forcing you to relocate or looters seeking to steal what you have.

In a mad max scenerio it will take a small community working together to survive. In anything less there are advantages to living in areas more likely to receive aid or emergency resources.

[RegulatorCountry]

I attended university nearby, and just don’t recall seeing all that many snakes, even during summers when I worked as a whitewater rafting guide on the Nantahala River.

The climate there is unusual for the east coast, a “thermal belt” with very mild temperate weather unless you’re well up the mountain, in which case you can find near alpine species and get a pretty decent annual snowfall. This makes the creeks, rivers and lakes cold, even though the climate is moderate in the valleys and hollers, warm instead of hot summers, mild winters with light snowfall.

Maybe that has something to do with it.

[ronnie raygun]

I use only backing soda and chlorine for my pool 7646 gallons.

[Kartographer]

"how many snakes per acre?"

Just look at them as fresh meat.

[RegulatorCountry]

You got me looking at land, dang it, lol.

Here’s 24 acres in Caswell County, NC, less than 2k per acre. Looks like much of the timber has been cut over and sold in the past five years, some former ag fields that appear to be something that could be put back to productive use with a bush hog and a good plowing. Creek on the property, but it is on a through route, so it’s not as removed as I’d prefer if I were looking for this sort of thing.

All in all, you could do worse and pay more for it, it’s not an ugly piece of property, just your usual parcel of an older, larger farm.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Nc-86-Highway_Yanceyville_NC_27379_M66435-64231

[Uncle Ike]

” Looks like much of the timber has been cut over and sold in the past five years, “

This isn’t the best news - in a long-term collapse situation, you’re gonna need a good-sized woodlot, since wood will be your only energy source for heating and cooking.. (Something to keep in mind when you outfit your house - wood-burning heating and cooking stoves are going to be more than cutesy household accents...)

[RegulatorCountry]

The entire thing wasn’t cut over, and there were poplars and pines coming in about ffifteen feet tall or so. It’s servicable.

I just got to looking in areas I know to be very affordable, even cheap, as far as vacant land and have posted a few examples.

Here’s another and the last one I’ll post, Henry County, VA, town of Bassett, 23 acres for just over $1,000 per acre. You don’t find that every day in anyplace you’d actually want to live.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2953-Riverside-Dr_Bassett_VA_24055_M65731-92039

[Oztrich Boy]

Pretty and cheaper than land here but how many snakes per acre?

Snakes are a good source of protein.