shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
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Post by shinester on Jun 23, 2015 17:19:58 GMT 10
Well I've got prepper envy  That's a sensational price for the size of it, is that investment including the initial purchase? Approximations on upkeep? In terms of crops, fruit trees are an excellent option and you could 'trial' pump-less [kransky method] hydroponic veggie growing in deep tubs with volcanic rock. The roots grow down into the medium and keep your plants going without watering, though you'd still have to be there monthly to sort them out if you care about disease or infestations, but even so, you usually don't loose everything. I've literally not touched some lettuce for a couple of months [well I did put a couple of extra holes to drain out rainwater] now and they're still doing fine. I'm still testing myself and summer and in a greenhouse will be a better test, particularly on water and growth but water can be topped up with a IBC tank and float valve on a larger system easily. Aquasol, which you can get from almost anywhere, a suitable fertilizer, as used by growers. |
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Christos
Senior Member
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Post by Christos on Jun 23, 2015 18:48:59 GMT 10
Frostbite, Thats amazing, most people would be lucky to have that as their house down here in Melbourne let alone their retreat. You have done well and im sure you will add more and more too it in no time. So jealous.
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kiwi
Junior Member
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Post by kiwi on Jun 23, 2015 19:15:45 GMT 10
Love your setup. The cabin looks great
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Post by Aussie_Scout on Jun 23, 2015 19:46:29 GMT 10
Livin the dream there by the looks of it frostbite ...DTA aswell what cal ?
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Post by Peter on Jun 23, 2015 20:22:45 GMT 10
That's the dream. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Paul on Jun 23, 2015 23:26:36 GMT 10
Very nice setup you have there Frostbite. Very jealous,
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Matilda
Senior Member
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Post by Matilda on Jun 24, 2015 5:48:21 GMT 10
Fantastic setup!! I have gleaned quite a few ideas from reading Paw Fiction. One is to cache food, equipment etc around your bug out property and either take its co-ordinates or 'family pics' standing on top of the cache. In digging the cache, the hole was dug then the cache was buried in builders sand then back filled with the rest of the soil from the hole. The builders sand made it easy to pull the cache out. This way you didn't run the risk of loosing items to thieves when you are not there and you had a good supply in place if you had to "flee" with just a BOB to the property.
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Post by graynomad on Jun 24, 2015 8:45:35 GMT 10
Yeah you have a great place there frostbite. $135k is a small price to pay IMO for such a good alternative living space, and being able to spend $1000 per week on preps is just a dream for this self-funded retiree. OTOH I think work is vastly overrated  We seem to agree on the nature of SHTF in Oz, ei a slow but severe economic collapse, and as such you will have plenty of time to move out to the property if required. Not to say that a Cyprus-style "bank holiday" could not occur, but if we keep our eyes open we should see that coming. I don't know how defendable that place is, being wide open is a two-edged sword, but I don't really see us in running gun battles here in rural Oz, and you obviously have weapons appropriate for that terrain. Re PAW fiction, I've been reading it since I was a teenager, I think it's a valid teaching tool for a prepper, if for no other reason than you are getting information from somebody that has put a lot of thought into various scenarios. |
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shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
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Post by shinester on Jun 24, 2015 11:02:55 GMT 10
Thanks for the info about your retreat, it makes my own dreams a little closer than expected, albeit at the cost of being further away. I'd agree debt free is the way to go, as I was reading the other day, in most contracts, banks can ask you for the money you owe for a house at any time and they own it till such time. Whilst it's not good business to be doing so, it does add an element of concern.
I might be well read, but I'm 'no' military expert and education is no replacement for experience, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Security's a tricky task and being on security 12hrs a day will take it's toll on the people you have. It also doesn't leave a lot of time for those other tasks such as growing food, farming, digging fox holes, patrolling, time off [morale]. Some supplementing of security might be done with cameras [need power], trip wire traps [fires a 12 gauge blank], break beam detectors [needs power]. Ideally having more people would be advantageous, though of course comes with other concerns and potential problems.
Obviously having a mutual defense pact with your neighbors would be an excellent plan [Got CBs and a means of charging for them in case they don't?] and it would give you time to react and a place for them [and you] to retreat to if they needed to. Having camouflaged positions dug so if you need it, you can form a defensive line as you said, layered defense. SouthernPrepper1 has some great recent videos on just that.
Solar power doesn't actually need batteries, that is if you're prepared to use it only during the day. Available current levels will fluctuate depending on sun and cloud cover. Solar panels themselves have been shown to last at least 40 years with only a 20% reduction in capabilities, so no issues there. Charging radios and a powered camping washing machine for hygiene to my mind are essential. Up until washing machines the act of washing your clothes took one person all day for a family, so a massive labor reducing element, particularly since security is of issue. Whilst you can go without washing, good hygiene will help reduce potential medical issues. The sink could be powered by an on call 12V pump that turns on when you use the tap. There's certainly benefits to having 'some' power, and whilst you have a genset, fuel is not ever lasting and it might be better used in a chainsaw and possibly short runs in transport. I don't think it's necessary to have large banks of batteries for the things I've mentioned, but having about 200Ah [$300] of anytime use and 200W [$200] of panels would be very useful. That fortnightly budget would most likely set you up with enough power and the ongoing costs for batteries if you're bank is that small would be in the order of $30/year.
That mountain peak is prime for over watching, you could own that valley especially if there's a local on the other side looking into that valley. I assume you could camouflage that position and it's down from the peak a little [no silhouette] so nobody could see him?
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Post by Paul on Jun 24, 2015 22:39:38 GMT 10
Hey Frostbite, If you need a hand getting rid of some pigs I would be keen to give you a hand, Iv never done it but keen to learn.
Paul
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shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
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Email: shiny@ausprep.org
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Post by shinester on Jul 26, 2015 22:03:40 GMT 10
Did you choose to put insulation in bud? Oh and I'm curious what your permits *cough* cost you if applicable.
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Post by graynomad on Jul 26, 2015 22:57:05 GMT 10
Man that looks like a great spot. I see you have the sofa lined up in front of the "bush TV" |
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shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
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Post by shinester on Oct 31, 2015 13:50:51 GMT 10
As my wife asked after I visited Gasman, 'Do you have prepper envy?". I do indeed, ha.. though it's more inspiration than envy, similarly here. Well done.
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shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
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Post by shinester on Nov 2, 2015 7:31:02 GMT 10
Oh no doubt I'll get there, it's only time, slow and steady has got me everything I've aimed for to day. As I said, it's inspiration. Got a later start than most for many reasons, and kicking ass now in lots of ways. Can't really aim at something you don't set your sights on, which is why it's good to get some details of such things, even if I have some slightly differing ideas in the implementation.
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Frank
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APF Life Member
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Post by Frank on Nov 2, 2015 15:02:57 GMT 10
Top looking spot frostbite, sounds like you have worked hard for it.
We are in the process of paying off our first mortgage, hitting it as hard as we can so we can be debt free ASAP
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Post by graynomad on Nov 3, 2015 9:56:07 GMT 10
...But I do have my trusty assistant, always lending a hand, ... And wearing the regulation Japanese safety boots I see, good. The place is looking great, as is that nice 30-30. |
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ChernobylWolves
Full Member
"We fight, we dare, we end our hunger for justice.” ― Suzanne Collins
Posts: 53
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Post by ChernobylWolves on Nov 10, 2015 16:26:26 GMT 10
Looking at your retreat and how you started out financially gives me hope. I'm 23 and just started saving for my dream property. I currently work 2 jobs 60 hour per week, it's the first time I've been financially stable enough to put savings away for the long term.
At the moment, I'm helping Elle pay off her a small mortgage, we agreed that we want to be debt free as soon as possible. Only cover any future costs with our own money.
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token
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Post by token on Aug 22, 2017 20:41:43 GMT 10
Nice spread mate.
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Post by graynomad on Oct 7, 2017 17:44:33 GMT 10
...Known them for about 14 years, but nothing like living with them for a few days to see if they make the grade. Yep, you gotta spend time with people to find out things like this, and the worse the conditions the better. |
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Post by selfsufficient on Oct 20, 2017 9:12:28 GMT 10
Looks like it is all coming into place nicely. It is good to see you place alot of emphasis on the relationship. Mine is in tatters now, waiting to see the outcome.
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