The SIIS System to do Almost Everything

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I talk to a lot of people. Everyone has something they want to accomplish, but they cannot figure out how to even get started. I found myself consistently give a modified version of the exact same advice. I just recently realized that this advice could be applied to almost everything. I myself am applying the principles that we are about to cover on my blog, homestead, and in our families preps. These same principles can be applied in starting a new business, learning a new skill, developing a community, or really anything.

After you have decided something is a good idea you can either jump in half cocked or you can diligently research your idea. I have done a little of both, but after you have done all of the research you want to do you are faced with the action steps. The problem many people run into is they don't have the money to get started, or at least they think they don't. Many people run to the bank and ask for a loan. This is fine sometimes. Sometimes though an idea for a business or homestead is difficult to explain. If you don't have good credit or a sound business plan the banks will not loan you money. Even if they will, you have placed yourself in debt or as I am beginning to view it, you have placed yourself in bondage to the loan company. This is true of every aspect of life. I know that it is nearly impossible to buy a home or land without getting a loan, after that you can do most things on your own with a lot less money.

So What Is The SIIS System?

I am sure that someone else has come up with this concept, only I have not been able to find it anywhere. I know that no one else calls this type of system the SIIS system. How do I know this? Because I have looked and looked to make sure. So at least the name of the system is my own. The SIIS system is a way that you can do almost anything without jeopardizing your financial well being. It doesn't matter if you are wanting to start a business, homestead, get out of debt, or are looking at getting started being more prepared the SIIS system will help you accomplish your goals and dreams.

Small

 Unless you have a significant amount of money and time at your disposal or you have no responsibilities, you may find that you will have to start any new venture off small. Very few things can't be started this way. Most anything can be started in your spare time and with very little money.

What are the benefits of starting small? There are actually many. You will be learning the skills needed in your new adventure. You will be more able to gauge the interest, better than you would be able to otherwise. You will learn a lot about cost management, marketing, time management, and so much more. If you fail you haven't placed your family in jeopardy. You haven't gone into debt. You can start with what you have.

Intentional

This part is a challenge for many. We live in an ADD society, everything is vying for our attention. Flashing signs, billboards, screaming commercials, and even notifications from our smartphones can break through our concentration at times. When we look at the intentional part of the SIIS system, what have to realize that most things are incremental. The intentional stage is when you spend time planning and developing action steps and goals.

 Intentional actions and developing your plan and goals will help prevent us from just doing anything that we think will advance us toward our end goal. We have to have a plan.

Incremental

Each step must build on the last. This sounds simple, but it is not as common as you would think. I have seen been guilty of doing everything and anything that appears to advance me toward my goal.  This sounds like a good idea, but many times this creates chaos. Doing things in a designated order are always better.

Action steps should be small enough to achieve fairly easily. One of the biggest problems many people have is that they set very lofty goals and get discouraged before they reach their goals. They don't have a way to recognize all of the things they have accomplished that have moved them closer to that goal.

A strong building cannot exist if there is not a strong foundation. When building a business or learning a new skill the incremental aspect still exists. Things have to be learned or done in a certain order.

Steps

Up until this point, everything we have talked about has been in the realm of thought and planning. The greatest plan in the world means nothing if a person doesn't act on it. This is the point where we have to get off of our laurels and get to doing something.

Failure is always an option. As much as I hate to say that it is true. I have heard several people say that failure isn't an option, they have placed themselves in a situation that if they fail it will be a catastrophic blow to their financial lives and sometimes even to their relationships.

Failure is part of anything worth doing. I cannot tell you how many times I have done something that didn't work out the way I expected. Some adventures I have completely failed. That is fine. I have learned from every challenge, you can to.

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Things You Can Do Now To Prep for Next Growing Season

Here in the northern hemisphere we are still not officially in winter. Even though there is a good bit of time before spring, I am already thinking about what we will add and grow next year. There are several things that we can do to improve our next harvest and increase our long-term food sovereignty.

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Cleaning up the garden bed

After the growing season has ended there is some cleanup that has to be done. Plants that have played out need to be removed. They can simply be cut off even with the ground. This will leave the roots in the ground that when they rot will add to the soil's structure. The vines and stems that have been removed can either be composted, shredded and used as a component in mulch or burned. 

The only time you shouldn't leave plants anywhere near your growing area is if the plants are diseased. If plants are diseased they should be pulled up roots and all and disposed of either in the garbage or by burning.

This is also the perfect time to remove tomato cages and stakes. Tomato cages may need to be cleaned and stacked up somewhere so they will last longer. Leaving wire cages in the ground will make them rust faster and shorten their usable lives considerably. The same is true for wooden or bamboo stakes. Simply by removing them from the ground and placing them somewhere out to the weather their lifespan is extended. While removing the infrastructure you will want to inspect each component. You may find that some of the pieces will need to be replaced. 

If you need to add to your garden infrastructure this is a good time to do so. You can find tomato cages and/or stakes an nearly everything else through either the yard sale pages on social media or through Craig's list. Now is the perfect time to look for bee boxes, garden tools, and really any type of equipment. Some people try gardening for the first time and decide that it is not for them. Other people will sell unused or unneeded equipment or supplies to help them pay for the holiday season.

Planning

It may seem early, but it isn't. For me this is the time of year where I think about how everything produced. What varieties did well, what didn't? For the varieties that didn't do well, is there something I could have done to give them a better opportunity to grow? Were they in the wrong place? Did these varieties get enough sunlight or water? 

Now is also the perfect time to think about whether or not you wish to expand or reduce your growing area. If you are planning on adding growing beds, where will you put them? What size will they be? What will you put in them? If you are going to be adding raised beds, doing so now will allow them time to get settled. If you are planning on adding garden space in the ground you can lay them out and begin preparation. 

How would I prep an in ground garden bed for next season? By starting now you can save yourself a lot of hard work next season. Placing plastic or tarps over the area where you are planning on planting next year will help you a lot. This will cause many of the weed and grass seeds to germinate and die throughout the season. This will reduce that amount of weeding that will be necessary next year. This is especially helpful if you are planning on working with a no till system. 

Now is also the time you can order your seed and nursery catalogs. To any hardcore gardener a seed or nursery catalog is as good as the old Sears Wish Book. I may be dating myself a little there. You can check out new varieties of fruits and veggies and see what you might want to try next season. Here is the link to request White Harvest's Catalog. 

Mulching

Last year I moved completely to no till gardening and I was very pleased with the results. Now is when I will be mulching the garden bed heavily. This is also a time of year when there is plenty of resources available to do the job. Fallen leaves make a great mulch and will gradually improve the soil as well. Mulched leaves are best, but just raking leaves and piling them in your garden spot will still help. Whole leaves should be piled 8 to 12 inches deep across your entire garden bed. Ground leaves should be about 4 inches deep. This will inhibit winter weed growth and will be a good base for your spring garden. These leaves will breakdown slowly. As it rains and snows then melts nutrients will slowly leach out of the leaves and into the soil. Doing this alone will improve the quality of your soil. This is especially important for people with heavy clay or sandy soil. The addition of organic matter will move both of these more toward the center and a much more fertile growing environment.

This is also a perfect time for a side business. People everywhere are trying to get rid of this very useful resource. If you live in or are close to an urban, suburban, or even semi rural area there are plenty of people who will pay to have their leaves removed. There will be a few that will want the leaves moved from their yard to their garden, but very few. With a little determination and a blower/vac/mulcher ,a teen or really anyone can turn this into a decent supplemental income. Just think, you could be being paid to obtain a resource that you want. 

What do you need to start this kind of seasonal business? Well, that depends on your area. There are some places that in order to do this you will have to have a business license. I will admit that drives me crazy. The government has to have their hand in everything it can get. Other areas all you have to do is have transportation, a rake and garbage bags or a mulcher. Place some fliers around and it won't take long before you are in business. You might even want to work an elderly neighbors yard for free in exchange for them telling their friends about your service. This can be not only good advertising, but also a good service to your community.

Planting Bare Root Trees

Winter is the best time to plant bare root trees as long as your soil isn't frozen. Bare root trees are bought when the trees are dormant. This means you don't have to be as careful with them. Bare root trees are typically less expensive than potted trees. These trees are normally available December through February. I have found that there is a larger selection of trees available as bare root. I think this may be because shipping is much easier. 

I myself have made my wishlist of fruit trees that I wish to plant this winter and have given them to a friend of mine who works with a nursery to see if they can get the varieties that I am looking for. Some of the varieties would be considered rare and all but 2 are very old, over 100 years since discovery. You can bet there will be several posts and podcasts about them in the future. 

Building Infrastructure

 Due to the reduction of homestead chores, this is a perfect time to build infrastructure. Again this is dependent on whether or not your soil is frozen. Fences, and outbuildings can be built now and be in place for the beginning of the next growing season. The shorter days do create some challenges that we do not have in the summer, but there are so many more things that need to be done in the growing season.

Equipment Maintenance and Repair

I cannot tell you how many times I have talked to a small engine repair person who has said that as soon as the growing season starts they cannot keep up with the workload. If you need to have your tiller, tractor, mower, or whatever serviced now is the perfect time and you won't be waiting while the grass grows or you are losing growing season because the repair guy is backed up.

Now is also a good time to clean up and care for your hand tools. Hoes, axes, and scythes may need to be sharpened. All wooden handles can be wiped down with boiled linseed oil.

As you can see there are several things that can be done in the winter, especially before the weather gets too bad or you have had too much rain or snow.

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Developing a Violence Response Plan

The world can sometimes be a violent place or at least it seems so. Fairly often we will hear reports of everything from terrorist, to workplace violence, to riots, and we haven't even mentioned normal crimes. The way we present ourselves can reduce our likelihood of being involved in a violent interaction. But if something were to occur how would you react? What would you do? A little bit of self evaluation will help us determine how we are likely to react. I know that none of us really know until something like that occurred, but making a plan in advance will help us be able to react in the way we would hope.

What is Your Action Type

Your personality determines the way you respond to stimulus. Knowing a little about yourself will help you determine the way you are most likely to react.

The Spectator

Everyone knows at least  one spectator. These are the people who will go out of their way to see a wreck or will drive across the state just to look at storm damage. These people are unwilling to help others out. These are folks that are interested in their own entertainment above all else.

The Self Preservationist

I know a lot of these people. Some are risk averse, others are very fearful. These people make every decision based on the least risk. These are the people that their automatic response to nearly every situation is flight.

The Opportunist

I really hate even having to cover this, but these are most of the people who participate in riots. These folks wouldn't start anything by themselves, but they are very willing to follow along if they see some way to profit from a situation. They wouldn't break the window but they would take something they wanted if everyone else was doing it too.

The Fast Talker

Even as I write this I automatically think of salesmen and politicians. These are the people that honestly believe they can talk themselves out of any situation. They will try to negotiate their way out of a situation.

The Hider

This one can be closely related to the self preservationist. Only this person under stress tends not to think of evacuation. They however will look for somewhere to hide until an event has passed. Driven by fear almost to the point of paralysis. Not capable of full thought: just hide.

The Victim

Victims are very easy to spot. They do not think ahead. They only react to whatever is happening and they do so in a none active way. They just let whatever happen to them and if they live through it they will talk about how horrible the situation was. No action, no planning, no nothing.

The Agitator

These are the people who in and of themselves wouldn't start anything, but will quickly encourage others to start something. These people may also be opportunists, but take on a greater role in the beginning of a violent action. The first person that comes to mind for me is Al Sharpton. He doesn't participate in violence, but is very willing to "stir the pot".

The Warrior

These are the people that when something occurs, go charging in without thinking. Sometimes the results are good and sometimes not so good. These people are very brave and have a good heart, but do not think things through. They are likely to get hurt trying to help others.

The Would be Hero (aka the Buffoon) 

I am not real sure how many of these exist, but I do know a few. One person comes to mind immediately. They have a good heart and are very brave, but either lack strength or presence of mind to properly evaluate the situation. They are a warrior who just happens to be clumsy or not very bright. 

The Hero

The hero can be somewhat of an anomaly. They do not have to be overly brave or even strong. They are normally people who are stirred to action by the suffering of others. They tend to evaluate the situation and find the best way to respond. Not slow to action, but also not rushing in foolheartedly. 

I am sure there are more, but I think that is enough for us to do a quick personality evaluation. 

Corporate Training

Lots of corporations have initiated workplace violence training. What do they suggest you do? Well, you know in advance that an organization in not going to tell you to put yourself in harms way and most of the training is for prevention. The answer to almost everything is "report it to management", like management has some magical way of dealing with every situation. In a dire event call the police. While in most circumstances this may be a good idea, it is not really going to help in an active shooter situation.

One of my favorite recent quotes is from a friend of mine and fellow coworker. During the workplace violence training, the video stated "don't try to be a hero". His response was epic, "I don't have to try, it is who I am." There are a lot of people out there just like him. Some people have what I call a hero complex. A hero complex should not be confused with hero syndrome. 

Wikipedia defines hero syndrome this way.

The hero syndrome is a phenomenon affecting people who seek heroism or recognition, usually by creating a desperate situation which they can resolve. This can include unlawful acts, such as arson. The phenomenon has been noted to affect civil servants, such as firefighters, nurses, police officers, programmers, and security guards. Acts linked with the hero syndrome should not be confused with acts of malicious intent, such as revenge on the part of a suspended firefighter or an insatiable level of excitement, as was found in a federal study of more than 75 firefighter arsonists.[1] However, acts of the hero syndrome have been linked to previously failed heroism. The hero syndrome may also be a more general yearning for self-worth.[2]

A person with a hero complex does not cause a situation that they can resolve and does not necessarily seek glory. They are simply moved by action based on an inner feeling that they are supposed to respond to those who are in need. I believe that there are lots of people that if they honestly look at themselves will realize they have a hero complex.

Developing a Plan

Okay, I hope you have done some evaluation and determined your most likely action type. With this information we can begin to develop a plan. You may not fit into one category perfectly and that is fine. You probably have at least two that you could easily fit into. With this in mind we will talk about how to develop a plan for a couple of different situations.

Home Invasion

In this situation I am an unashamed warrior. I am going to do whatever in necessary to put myself between my family and any danger. It doesn't matter if you believe in firearms or not, most parents are going to rise to the challenge and defend their children. If you are going to own a firearm I really want you to think about it and not just from one side. If you keep your firearm locked in a safe time yourself and see how long it takes you to get to your firearm. Is that quick enough? Probably not. What is the average response time of your local police office? Is it quick enough? Again probably not. If a person breaks into your home, especially while you are there, you have to act under the assumption that they mean you harm. My suggestion on firearms is to train your children. Don't teach them that firearms are bad, teach them that they are to be respected. I got my first BB gun at around 5 and my dad taught me how to shoot it and to never point it at anyone. After the children are old enough to understand, no problem. I really believe that and am unwilling to discuss it. Don't worry, we are going to talk about other ways to defend your home. Please consult local laws before attempting to purchase a firearm and seek out professional training especially if you were not raised around firearms. 

Pre-Evaluation

By looking around and thinking in advance you can develop a plan in your mind of what you would need to do and the tools you have on hand in the event of a home invasion. Think, "If necessary, what here could I use as a weapon to protect my home?" Most people will think about kitchen knives and while they are very good weapons, you will have to make it to the kitchen to retrieve them. I do not suggest that you sleep with a butcher knife by your bed. There are other tools that you may already have or can acquire that make for better weapons. Something as simple as a ceramic planter in a dire situation can be pressed into service and used to protect your family. But if possible you do not want to have to improvise. We are going to talk about some alternative weapons that you could use in the case of a home invasion and some pros and cons of each.

Baseball Bat: A bat can be an effective weapon. It has the ability to do a lot of damage and still give you a little distance between you and the perpetrator. It can be used as an offensive and a defensive weapon. You can use your old softball bat or you can purchase one specifically for home defense like the Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher. Drawbacks are you still have to be fairly close to the bad guy and your strength level and speed determine the effectiveness of this type of weapon. Practice helps so hit the batting cages.

Pepper Spray: I like pepper spray. Why? This is something that you can have stuck to the bottom of tables throughout your home with Velcro and the only people who will know they are there are the ones you wish to know. I like the ones with a longer range like this one SABRE RED Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Professional Size with Flip Top, Belt Holster; 18' Range. With an 18 foot range you would not have to get too close to a bad guy. Since this one is a gel it is more targetable than a spray. Another one I like is the Cold Steel Inferno 3.5 oz. (112 gram unit) Pepper Spray. It has a finer propellant so more of the agent is absorbed by skin or inhaled. Both have benefits over the other. The Cold Steel Inferno is a foam so it is also highly targetable, but only has a range of 10 feet. Still a lot better than a bat. The Inferno has been shown to have more stopping power but you do loose 8 feet of range. Drawbacks of pepper sprays are that there are some people who are not affected by them. This is a small percentage of the population, but worth noting. One major benefit is if a child were to get a hold of it and had not been educated in its use or even not to mess with it till older, it would be none lethal. Yes it would hurt and yes it would be bad, but no one would die because the parents decided not to educate their children. Yup, I said that. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children about everything.

Stun gun:A stun gun can be a highly effective non lethal defense weapon. What a stun gun does is pushes high voltage through the perpetrator's body, many times rendering them incapable of movement. This one is the one I purchased my wife VIPERTEK VTS-989 - 19,000,000 V Heavy Duty Stun Gun - Rechargeable with LED Flashlight. They are reasonably affordable and are not as restricted as firearms. You will still need to check local laws to see if you can even legally own one of these. Drawbacks are you have to get really close to the bad guy to use this and there are some people that can power through the shock, but the ones who can are mostly so geeked out on drugs that only lethal force will stop them. Still, I feel better knowing that my wife has a way to defend herself and I would not be concerned in the least if she wanted to sleep with this by her bed. If a child were to get a hold of it and were not taught to respect it (again because we as parents failed to educate our children), it would not be lethal.

A Riot

A riot is a toughy for me. There is really no way to actively defend yourself or your belongings when mob mentality takes over. I do not care who you are or how much ammo you have, this is a dangerous situation. You cannot set yourself up in a window and mow people down. These people may be acting like zombies, but they are not. This is one situation that I suggest you be a hider or a self preservationist. Lock and bar your doors and window and hunker down or get the heck out of Dodge, but have a plan in place a head of time. 

If the Ferguson riots have taught me anything it is that violence spreads, but it doesn't spread as quickly as some people want to believe. Where I am riots are not very likely to occur, but I do live within an hour drive of a major metropolitan center. If riots were to occur anywhere in our state that is where I would bet they would happen. Most of the rioters moved on foot so I would have plenty of warning that the hordes were coming. Just pay attention and have a plan. If violence made it to a particular small town that is twenty minutes away from here, we would be ready to evacuate.

Workplace Violence and an Active Shooter

I am lumping these two together for a reason. Normal workplace violence is limited to two people. One person has a problem with another and has come to kick their butt. In that scenario I would just deal with it and move on. An active shooter is a different animal all together.

Developing an active shooter plan takes time and attention. The likelihood that you will ever have to deal with this type of event is very small, but if it were to occur it can pay off to think about it in advance. Know all of the possible exits for evacuation. Know all of the good hiding places either for self preservation or for ambush. When you have time and opportunity walk your area and familiarize yourself with everything and anything that you can use as a weapon. A stapler may not be your weapon of choice, but it sure beats just your fist. A broom can be a great weapon in a pinch. Know your companies weapons policy and your state and local laws. 

Thinking about events before they occur is the heart of preparedness. Take some time and think about it so you can plan your response.

I wish you Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes

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Plans, Hopes, and Goals for 2015

The New Year is a blank page, make it what you want. TRE

A Very Brief History

We have made the start of a new year a big deal. New Year's has been a big deal for a fairly long time, but not as long as you would think. January and February were added to the calendar by the Romans. The first calendar only had 10 months. March through December. Before the Julian calendar, New Year's was celebrated on March 1st. New Year's was celebrated by the offering of sacrifices and raucous celebrations.

Prior to the addition of two additional months, the dates were based on the lunar calendar. As a result, even though an event occurred on the same date did not mean that it would occur in the same season. It was not a very accurate calendar. The Julian calendar is a solar based system, so it is much more accurate.

New Year's Day has been celebrated in March, on Easter, and even on Christmas Day. January 1st wasn't declared the official New Year's Day until the mid 1700's by Britain and its colonies. So the US started celebrating New Year's on January 1st at that time. Many Protestants refused to celebrate the new year due to its history.

New Year's Celebrations Today

Today New Years celebrations range from quiet reflection to wild New Year's Eve parties. In the past I have gone to New Year's parties where champagne was served and when midnight struck you looked around for someone to kiss in the year. Last year I honestly think we slept through the dawning of the new year. A lot less exciting, but a lot more fulfilling. 

But a large part of the modern celebration is the making of resolutions. You know those promises that we make to our self that are normally broken by the first of February? The most common resolutions are weight-loss, getting in shape, making more money, quitting smoking and things like that. Normally self improvement based. Resolutions have almost become a joke, so much so that many people will not even make them at all.

Homestead Goals for the New Year

I am really excited about the new year. My wife has asked for us to add pigs to our homestead. We have measured off where the pen will go and I have even started designing a movable shelter for the animals. This will be a huge addition to our self sustainability. I think pigs will be a great addition. Right now I am thinking two different pastures, rotating each year and following up with a garden spot in that area. Let the pigs do the work for us.

I am eager for the growing season this year. 2014 was a pretty good gardening year, but was not as good as it should have been. I allowed the garden to grow up too much and as a result lost a lot of produce that we could have realized. I am hopeful that this year will be our biggest yet in terms of food production.

We are also working together, my wife and I to try and simplify our lives. We have the best relationship that I have ever been in. Having said that, we are not going to let it go to auto-pilot. A relationship is one of those things that if you do not continue to work on it, it starts to degrade. Keep working on it.

Blog Goals

2014 has been huge for the blog. We have honestly accomplished more than I ever thought possible. That is not meaning that I did not have goals. I did and we have surpassed all but 2 and both of them are so very close that I am giving credit for effort. My goal for writing this year is to bring you even better content than I ever have. My goal is to work harder and dig deeper. I really enjoy sharing everything with you. In 2014 we will have shared right at 100 different blog posts. Some did great, some not so much, but that is part of the deal.

I am very happy to announce our newest affiliate, White Harvest Seed Company. A family owned all heirloom seed company. Check them out. 

Classes

2015 will see the addition of two classes taught by The Rural Economist. Shortly after the new year we will be teaching a basic preparedness course and once spring has set in we will be teaching a foraging class. We already have the syllabus prepared for the basic preparedness class. It will be a 4 week class and will cover several topics. We will see how much interest there is, here is hoping for the best. I already have some people who are interested.

The foraging class I am sure will be a hit. We have started assembling a waiting list. Just due to the topic, the content will be weather and season specific. This will be just a day course that will cover everything that we come in contact with. I think this class will be a hoot.

We are also considering offering wilderness survival courses. This one is still up in the air, but I do have someone who is jumping at the chance to be an assistant. 

As you can see we have a busy year planned, but should be very satisfying. I would love to hear about your plans. 

Working toward our and helping you achieve your

Rural Dreams and Homestead Wishes

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Affiliate Link Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive compensation for links, endorsements, testimonials, or recommendations for any products mentioned on this blog. Any time you use one of our links for Amazon, if you purchase something The Rural Economist receives a small commission and it doesn't cost you any more. Even if you do not purchase the items I list. In this way you will help support us trying to teach people about self reliance and homesteading. Thanks for your consideration.

Planning on Bugging Out? Some Things to Consider

This like so many of the things I write started out as a conversation, actually several conversations with many people. We have all heard and possibly said "If things get bad I am getting out of Dodge". This sounds like a great idea and could be if we use proper prior planning. Without prior planning we may be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire so to speak. We are going to talk about several aspects of bugging out and how to make them work if we need them. Ready? Great!

When to Bug Out?

This question can have several answers. The reasons we might feel like we need to bug out are many and greatly depend on where you live. If you live in an urban area some of the reasons you might want to evacuate are different than someone who lives very rural. My family and I are somewhere in the middle so we will talk about both.

Civil Unrest

We are about an hour out of a major metropolitan area and not really on a major route either, but if civil unrest were to occur I will be watching to be aware if it starts spreading. Something centralized like the riots that occurred in Ferguson Missouri, I would stay put. But if the violence were to start spreading to the outlying areas, I would be watching. If I lived closer evacuation plans would go into action sooner, a lot sooner. There is a town between where I live and the major city that if violence spreads to it, we are out of here. Every person has to figure this one out on their own, but as a guide, I would say that if violence started say 50 miles from where you live and has spread to 25 miles from your location be looking to get out. 

I will be totally honest. If civil unrest becomes a concern for us something else very big has happened. We are far enough out that I can be certain of that. Even though I am convinced of this, it doesn't mean I do not have a plan.

Natural Disaster

For us a natural disaster is a statistically more likely reason for us to have to evacuate. Natural reasons to bug out include things like major storm damage, wild fires, and even floods. Floods would not commonly be a concern of ours. We are up on a hill and if we have to worry about flooding we will already be out looking for neighbors because some of them will have been swept away. Not a nice picture, but true. Storm damage is another issue. Storm damage can happen to anyone anywhere. We have to deal with tornadoes. They are not fun. The problem with natural disasters is there is very little advanced warning so you have to be ready at anytime during the times of the year that these types of events are likely to occur.

Where to Bug Out?

Here is where prior planning gets some big time consideration. There are several ways a person or family could bug out to. Each have their pros and cons. We will talk about each and where they excel and where they do not.

Hotels or Motels

I know this doesn't sound very "preppery". Yes I know that is not a word. There are several times that you do not have to have a definite location. A flood or even a semi truck spilling chemicals comes to mind. If a tractor trailer spills a chemical in your community and you have to evacuate it will be very short term, generally only 24 hours or so. Being able to go somewhere and turn something bad into an adventure is a great opportunity. You and your spouse should know of a couple of hotels in each direction away from your home and have their phone numbers handy, so in the event of a needed evacuation you can just call and make reservations. By having this information handy you will have a place to stay even when everyone else realizes they will need one as well. It is a great thing to have reservations when all of the hotels fill up because people waited till the last minute. A clean bed away from a toxic spill turns into a true preparedness asset.

Family or Friends

If as I talked about above civil unrest were to spread or say our home was damaged by a storm, my family would need a longer term, but still temporary place to stay while things calmed down or repairs are made to the house. Friends or family may be the answer. We have two directions we could go, but one would not be preferable if the reason we were leaving was civil unrest. One place we could stay would take us right through the edge of the large city that we talked about earlier. That direction is also completely reliant on the system. If grocery stores were to be emptied that family member would have to come to us not the other way around. But for smaller events that would be an option.

The other direction are family members that are also of the preparedness mindset. No need to run to the grocery, they have it covered. There is room though it would be cramped. Fishing and hunting are an option to add to the food stores and in this area we could hunker down for a much longer period of time if needed. Why would we not go there automatically? Well in order to get there we have to go through a smaller town and if say we were facing a winter weather event, it would be very difficult to get there if we waited too late.

Into the Wilderness

This is the one that every time I hear it I have several questions for the folks who claim they are going out to live off the land. For the majority of people trying to do this is a really bad idea. Here is why.

Do You Have the Skills?

Unless you are a very avid outdoors man there are certain times of year that living off the land is difficult at best. I have no doubt that I could live off the land in late spring, summer and even early fall. I know enough plants and how to get game that I could feed my family at least enough to survive during those times. The winter months would be way more difficult. People who live completely off the land full time stock up all growing season long in order to have enough to make it through the winter. There are still things out there you can eat, but they are fewer and farther in between and during the winter you and everything else that is still awake are competing for the same things. You are not promised game or even a dry place to stay unless you can make it yourself. If this is an idea please take this advice. Go camping during each season. Do not take anything with you that you wouldn't take in an emergency. Try it. It is more difficult than you think.

Do You Know the Area?

Even if you have the skills to make it with nothing in the wilderness not knowing the area amplifies the difficulty level. If I were planning on escaping to the national forest I would do better than someone who just had a map and was going to "make a go of it". Why? I know where there are caves and bluffs that would give protection. I know where there are streams that, depending on time of year, could supply fish or even crayfish. 

A warning about caves and bluffs, they are wonderful sources of natural shelter, having said that every animal out there knows that too. I have walked toward a cave that I had camped in before only to find that it had been taken over by a pack of coyotes, wasn't going to use that again until they had moved out.

Do You Have the Gear?

Surviving in the wild unless you are REALLY used to it requires a bit of gear, especially if you have a family. Now that I have gotten older I really do not want to sleep on a rock slab. I have done it and when I was younger it was no big deal. Now it would be a huge deal. Things you might want to have are a tent (the tent you would want will depend on how many people will be with you, the terrain you will be setting up in, and the climate in which you are), sleeping bags (climate plays a major role in sleeping bag selection), definitely a way to start a fire (a friend has an incredible tool to help start fires and so much more you can see them HERE), and some cooking utensils also known as a mess kit each person should have at least some if not all of these items. You really do not want to have to make a burn bowl before you are able to sterilize some water unless you absolutely have to.

A Bug Out Location (BOL)

A bug out location take prior planning to the max or at least it can. BOLs can be a different as the people who have them. A BOL can simply be some land that you own or lease that will be the place where you pitch your tent all the way up to a small home where you can ride out any storm and anything in between. I know several people that their hunting property is also their BOL. Some of these have older houses on them that if needed could be used, heck I know of one hunting property that the people who own it actually had barracks and a mess hall built on it. 

A BOL can be just the basics or fully stocked, it is up to you. A BOL should be close enough that you will visit it often. I have heard of people that their BOL is hours away. Every time they go to visit their home away from home there are so many repairs that have to be made. I just don't think it is worth it unless you are willing to check in fairly often. This is a goal of mine. I have family that have enough land that are willing to let me put a tiny house on and get everything ready in case we need it, but I am wanting some land of our own.

Has this post made you think about your plans?

What would you do if you had to evacuate your home?

Do you have a plan?

Does your family know what your plans are?

Think about it. I want you to be able to live your

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The Homestead and Gardening Expo

I am just going to be covering my thoughts and observations on the recent Homestead and Gardening Expo that was held in Oxford, AL and hosted by The Southern Preppers. I only attended on Saturday, so keep that in mind.

I would consider this a fairly small event. The Oxford Civic Center is not a very large venue, but it was almost filled to capacity. The gymnasium portion was covered quite well with vendors. Two classrooms were running continuously. There were classes on several homestead and preparedness topics. I was only able to attend two classes, but I would have really liked to attend almost all of the classes that were offered.

The Classes

The two classes I attended were Go for Green Living and the suturing class by Armageddon medicine. I really wanted to be in the herbal medicine class, but I was talking to someone and lost track of time. There were lots of classes and had I had more time I would have attended as many as I could.

Both of the instructors knew their topic, the only thing I would suggest for the Go for Green Living guy is please have an outline in the future. I still learned things from him, but I was told that the class was going to be about greenhouses. He did mention greenhouses, but that is all. The best tip I got from this guy was for blossom end rot. Whenever you see blossom end rot ,crush some Tums into your watering can and water the plants. Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium. Great tip.

Armageddon Medicine hosted the suturing class. This was cool. I loved this class. I have taken a suturing class in the past, but this one was ran a lot better than the first. I really enjoyed adding this skill and am going to teach my entire family this skill as well. Will I ever use this skill? Don't know. Don't really care. I just like knowing that I know how to do this.

The Vendors

There were a good number of vendors. I am going to talk about the ones that I noticed most. Also I am giving my opinion only. Just because I do not think something is cost effective for me does not mean that it might not be good for you.

The Biggest Winners

Without any doubt there were a couple of big winners for me. 

White Harvest Seed Company. I love talking about seeds, gardens, and growing things. The folks with White Harvest were good down to earth people that I really enjoyed talking to. I found myself going to their booth just to hang out and talk. I am hoping to work with them in the future. Heirloom seeds are where the future of sustainability lives. Guys, if you read this I am very happy to have met you.

The Aquaponics guy. I really enjoyed looking at the aquaponics set up that they had at the event. Very informative presentation. This is something that I have thought about doing, but I am not real sure how I would add this to my homestead. You may be able to add this system more easily to your home.

The Southern Herbalist.  I had actually heard of Mr. Patton from several people. If you have followed my blog for any period of time you will know that foraging and herbal remedies are very high on my want to learn more about list. I consider myself an advanced beginner at a minimum. This guy though is a master. He had a tincture of American Pokeweed. I loved talking to him about all of the different tinctures and extracts that he had for sale. I am hoping to learn a lot from this man. Below is my video on American Pokeweed.

The Vendor That I had the Most Questions For

Without any doubt the vendor that I had the most questions for was the company that was selling the home freeze dry system. There is no doubt that freeze dried food tastes better than dehydrated food. The company is Harvest Right. The equipment is very impressive. I really like the idea, but with an entry price of $3900.00 the big question is, would it be cost effective for a family?  The answer is; it depends.

If you have lots of fruit or even a lot of leftovers, maybe. I would have dearly loved to have been the lucky person who won a freeze dryer. I can easily see an extended family or a close nit community taking advantage of this technology. 

There are lots of benefits of freeze drying, a 25+ year shelf life of your food is a big plus. The nutritional benefits are also a big plus. 

The unit plugs into a 110 outlet and it takes about a day to a day and a half to freeze dry the food (depending on what you have in there). This is an item that I am looking at in the long term. Is it right for me right now, no, but it could be in the future. I have included lots of pictures below.

The Biggest "You Have Got To Be Kidding Me"

Okay. This one is my opinion only. The item I am going to cover next is without a doubt the coolest product that was at the event, but it was in my opinion also the biggest overkill. The item I am talking about is the Bug-Out Survival Trailer.

I love the basic idea behind this trailer, what I do not like is the $19,000 price tag. This is a bug out camper on acid and is designed for the people who are worried about everything. Now first I am going to tell you everything I like about this trailer and there is a lot.

I love the energy system. This trailer was designed with self -sufficiency in mind. It includes propane, solar, and wind power generating capabilities. Not only that, but also has the traditional ability to charge the batteries from you vehicle or being plugged in. This was very well thought out, my hat is off to you on this.

The kitchen was very intelligently designed. I could cook almost anything with this kitchen. The trailer comes with built in water storage and even a water still. The shower and bathing facilities are more than adequate. 

The trailer will easily sleep, say three, without having to add the outside tent. If the outside tent is added and turned to sleeping quarters, I would say it would sleep 5 maybe 6. The salesman said 8, but in order for it to sleep 8 several would have to be small children. The upper sleeping quarters looked comfortable, but here is one major issue. No air conditioning or heat. Air Conditioning is not a necessity, but sure is nice especially here in the South where we can see near 100 degree days with very high humidity, heat on the other hand is a necessity. I know you can bundle up and cuddle, but adding heat would be a really good idea.

The storage of the trailer was well thought out. It even includes a gun safe. According to their website this trailer fully supplied will provide 30 days of self reliance for 2 people. I can believe it. If it had heat, I wouldn't mind having one for a hunting cabin.

The Overkill

Alright, here is where I am going to deviate from many. The entire electrical system is enclosed in a Faraday cage. I just do not think an EMP is very high on my worries list. Also the side door has what they call a grab and go area. This area is where the first aid kit is kept, great idea. It is also where the gas masks are kept. If you need gas masks you have not gotten far enough out of the big cities. In our situation, if we were to want gas masks we would basically have to fill the door up with nothing but masks, because if our whole family were together we would need 7 masks. I could not put myself in a situation where I had to decide which member of my family would have to do without a mask. 

Conclusion on the Trailer

Great idea, still needs some adjustment and cost is out there for most people. I would rather have a nice travel trailer. I can do most of the same things with it.

Ending Thoughts

I loved the Expo and plan on going again next year. I may try to attend all three days. It was well worth my time and effort. I strongly encourage you to find a homestead or preparedness show near you. Go and learn all you can. 

Preparedness Expos

Preper Shows

Or maybe come join me next September at the Homestead and Garden Expo hosted by www.thesouthernpreppers.com 

Learning will help you achieve your

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