Hello,
I’m new, but very enthusiastic about the idea of homesteading. Currently it’s not something I can pursue, but I’m planning to homestead in the future. As I said, I’m new, so some of my questions/thoughts many seem silly, but I’m trying to gather information from people with experience in this area so I can make a solid plan.
Ideally, I’d like to get a decent amount of land (10 acres or more, probably), set up a garden/farm, keep animals (chickens at the very least), use solar power for electricity, and generally be self-sustaining. I’m hoping to do this with a group of friends, and one person suggested that I’d need at least five other people to pull this off. We could live in a large house or have separate dwellings – tiny homes, perhaps. I don’t need to be totally cut off from society or anything; I’m hoping keep a job outside of the homestead and I’d like to be able to go out and visit friends, take day trips, etc., but I want all the basics to be produced at home. Obviously, this is all very hypothetical at the moment, and it would take a while to build up to that point.
My main questions are:
How many people would this take? I don’t have a definite upward limit, because if all the current members liked someone and they wanted to join it should be doable, but I want an idea of the minimum number of people I need to pull this off. From what I’ve seen, most people homestead with a spouse and children, but seeing as I don’t have either (and currently have no plans for either) I’d like to homestead with friends/other like-minded people.
Are there any serious flaws/obvious issues with my plan? It’s a little bit crazy for me to picture all that happening, but I think it should be manageable with the right planning. However, I’m not remotely experienced, so there might be problems that I can’t see.
Any feedback would be super helpful! I’m really interested in all this but I’m still a novice, so input from y’all would be great. Thanks!
~Erin
Here is a review of a example organization common to some of the better retreats.
One guy owns the property the rest come only at SHTF.
The "business model" so to speak, is that its not practical for everyone to live at the retreat.. too many folks have good jobs in the city,...
But those folks must preposition the following:
a
)1 Years minimum supply food for everyone in their family, that will come SHTF. Probably the most critical criterium
b)1 years supply of sundries such as, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, spare underwear, t shirts, work boots, combat boots, shampoo, feminine hygiene for the fems, etc etc etc
c)1 tactical rifle for every adult and teenage male, (optional additionally, 1 handgun for every adult and teenage male), each rifle supplied with a minimum of 12 magazines and a couple thousand rounds of rifle ammo (pistol ammo can be much less since its non tactical ammo, same goes for mags). Combat boots, Chest rig or battle belt to support proper employment of said rifle.. Some can bring tactical rifles for women too.
- Doctors and dentists are exempt from requirement c) (though its still recommended)
1)The head of household living at the retreat is called "
the principal".
This is not related to school,
but to military contractor speak of the senior civilian in a location.
His job is to maintain the retreat in good condition and provide enough berthing space for everyone with all their families.
(since it will be SHTF and not vacation when people come.. doing this via shed space, garage space or even tentage is acceptable, you are looking to provide a livable space not the lap of luxury)
To maintain , monitor and protect from vermin, the members pre positioned food supply and the clothing supply, the sundries supply, etc
To engage in some non trivial form of
agriculture on site.
To maintain inventory
To provide at least some temporary alternate form of electrical generation and to store the spare fuel and rotate it as needed, to keep it fresh.
This is no small job, requires a greater degree of personal money invested and this is why he is a "primus inter pares", ie the Senior decision maker before and during SHTF about the affairs of the retreat.
2)The most well trained at the art of violence, is called the "
Sergeant-at-Arms". Invariably this is an ex-military man (preferably ground forces, Army or USMC or USAF Security forces background) of some rank (NCO or Officer)
Pre-SHTF its his responsibility is to train the fire team and develop any site specific tactical SOPs, as far as they are distinct from applicable military SOPs.
In my experience most SaA will standardize, loadouts, etc along common light infantry lines.
During SHTF he assumes tactical Control of the Riflemen that the retreat is capable of fielding during contingencies.
Pre SHTF it is also his obligation to keep himself fit, regardless of his age and to keep up his shooting abilities.
Not everyone who has been in the military is competent to fill this position just from having been in the military. I met a former marine Corporal who fills that approximate position with another group and the guy does not have the anywhere near the mental acuity or flexibility necessary to fill this position as a SHTF SaA.
Use common sense, Ex-Combat Arms of some rank, NCO (preferably Staff Sergeant or above) or Officer.... dont just anoint any ex orderly room Clerk, Spec-4 that wants to participate.
In a pinch if the only ex mil you have, is a E3/E4 after one 3 year tour,... he can do it as a placeholder but let him understand as your group grows he will likely be replaced by someone with a bit more seniority as you gain more "boots on the ground".
Some of the
better cops are also acceptable.
This is an important position, probably the second most important after the principal and is appointed by the Principal (or a vote among senior retreat members, whichever way you guys want to do it)
3)
The Armorer maintains the arms room and its contents. It is his responsibility pre SHTF, to maintain a good and complete armorers tool kit and spare gun parts, keep it pre positioned at the retreat and be able to, as a minimum, fix all common malfunctions experienced by the tactical rifles, that the retreat is standardized on.
He also ensures the retreats ammo and pre positioned weapons are stored properly.
Most retreats are standardized on AR, but a minority are on AK.. I know of a couple of retreats that were standardized on FN FAL or PTR91 (and other G3 clones). But these days ARs are the most common.
The Armorer and the Sergeant at Arms can be expected to work closely together.. so don't appoint folks into those 2 slots that dont like each other.
4)
Communications Chief: Expert with Radios, maintains the radios for the group. programs the channels and creates the call signs list and any code-speak.. also may provide IT support to group members.
5)
Medic: this can be any level of medical expertise the group may get. From EMT, over paramedic , Nurse to actual medical doctor. Whichever you can get.. this is often a hard skill to fill.
6)
Senior Gardener/ Farmer (this is often the Principals wife or the principal himself). Duties are self explanatory.
7)
Carpenter..
Other skills sets such as plumber, electrical etc are of course desirable... but IMO, as a minimum, positions 1-6 ought to be filled. Some positions can be filled by the same individual, for example Sergeant at Arms and , Armorer could be the same individual.
And not all retreats will have all positions filled.
I currently fill 2 out of these positions at my location.. but if someone more competent comes along I will gladly give either, or both of them, up.
Its not about Ego but about being counted, when and where it matters.
As for total numbers.. the more the better, as you can provide berthing..... for as long as everyone pre positions that year of food.
Why prepositon a year of food at whats essentially a small farm?
Because during SHTF agriculture will likely not be possible for a yea,r as hordes of starving people are flooding out of the cities and who can be expected to ambush any farm workers and eat any animals you may want to have pull your plow..... or attack you for your tractors gas or Diesel..
After that first year you can expect all the unprepared to have died off and then things will get back to "normal" (a 19th century pastoral normal at greatly reduced population levels most likely)
The goal has to be enough adults in your retreat that you can cycle one armed person minimum, as night guard every night.. and still get the days work done..
Otherwise everyone may "wake up" with their throats slit.. (everyone of course except the young women that is) and the retreat will have changed hands..
So if you dont have solid security you will be just someone else's free grocery store..
So its both about food security and classical security.
