Preparing for Economic Instability: Six Ways to Ready Yourself For the Inevitable

SHTF Plan ^ | 3/28/14 | Tess Pennington

[greeneyes]

Well having some pasture in already would be nice, but you could always have someone come in a clear some of the trees, especially if they are larger trees, they are valuable.

They will make a deal with you to cut the trees and share a percentage of the profit which you can then use to pay someone to build whatever road you need.

As to how many acres, that will depend on your goals. There is a book called 5 acres and independence. Another called one acre and security.

Smaller acres you might be restricted to raising a few chickens and rabbits for meat and eggs/protein. Maybe a goat for milk. If you plan on using wood for heat, you might want more acres so that you can plant replacement fast growing trees to keep a long term supply coming along.

How do you intend to make money? Will you have a dairy herd, and sell milk? Will you raise pigs or beef to butcher?
Will you plant crops to sell/barter?

I bought 25 acres, then the state changed the road and left me with 22 acres. My grand parents had a small farm of 20 acres. They had a small dairy herd, milked by hand about 6 cows. They sold milk to a local dairy processing plant.

They had chickens for eggs and meat. They also had a sow that had piglets every year which they raised. They butchered one and sold the rest every year.

They had a pond for the livestock and one horse. They heated with a wood stove, and pumped water by hand until very late in life. They finally got water in the kitchen sink, but never had hot water on tap.

Their kitchen stove was propane, and they had a big tank for that. They also had electricity and a refrigerator. No indoor bathroom. They had more than enough acres to have become even more self sufficient.

If you are going to have an indoor bathroom, then your state will have requirements as to how much land you must have for appropriate septic drainage field.

I read that 7 acres can actually be enough for a small winery. One horse needs to have a minimum of 1 acre. You need approximately 4000 sq. ft. per person to grow your own complete diet, and have enough compost to keep the soil from being depleted.

Does your season allow for two crops? Will you be able to grow your wheat in the winter? You may need less garden space if your answer is yes. So these are all things to give some thought to.

Hope that helps to give you some ideas on how you can figure out what is the best size for you.

[yorkiemom]

The house is already there so no issues with bathrooms. I figured we’d harvest the trees ourselves, using the wood to heat the house. I suppose for a quicker pasture-making endeavor, we can hire someone as you said. They could also remove the stumps.

I wasn’t planning on making money or bartering with crops or livestock, not until times get worse. If I need extra, I can expand production then - as long as there land is available.

There are basically two types of properties we can get - open farmland, about 10-20 acres or this more wooded hilly property. The former is probably more usable. But I’m drawn to the wooded one for privacy, security, and the beauty of it.

[greeneyes]

Well the Hilly area can be excavated to make some level spaces, or else you can make permanent raised beds/terraced garden spots.

It takes a long time to grow some trees. Are there walnut trees, and other trees with edible stuff already growing? That’s where we have really lucked out.

Our lot just has a lot of native trees that give us such good crops. They were here when we bought the lot, and we made sure to keep them: Butternut, Walnuts, Hickory Nuts, persimmons, blackberries etc.

[grania]

re: the paid off mortgage

I was able to do that. I like

- having the deed in my possession.

-not having to worry about banking errors

-being in total control of my homeowner insurance decisions

-the flexibility I'd have if I had to get rid of the house

Besides that, it just feels good to not have a mortgage.

JMHO