Preparing to Go Gulch
Posted by Beardedbass 6 days, 7 hours ago to Going Galt
Making long term preparations on what it'd look like to Go Gulch, on a level just for my family and I. I'd like to ask the Gulch for input on possible things I'm missing, as I move forward towards my goal of eliminating as much reliance on government and their provided systems as possible. Here's some of the steps I anticipate taking:
1.) Having no mortgage. This is an important one, as once I accomplish this, I only have to worry about paying the municipality their yearly theft (property tax) and then I can't have my property taken from me.
2.) Owning a business that will continue to generate income. While I acknowledge that Galt's Gulch is the goal, I'm unaware of any place that this exists in practice. Unfortunately, I will have to continue doing work for those who don't share my philosophical beliefs. Once I accomplish goal number one, however, I have the ability to get much more choosy on who I do business with. At that point, I can start making the move to a more Agorist type of business relationship.
3.) Being self sufficient on all utilities. I already have well water and a septic system, the only other one is electricity. I'm making provisions to install solar on my rooftop next year (I'm an experienced electrician, I'll be doing this work myself). Once the solar is complete, the next step will be an energy storage system. My wife and I both own electric vehicles, so this will help to greatly reduce any expenditures as it relates to transportation. I have two streams on my property, and the idea crossed my mind of making a mini hydroelectric dam. However, the last thing I need while pursing this dream is getting slapped with fines from the DEP! On a side note, I recently got rid of our oil-burner and replaced with electric heat. I'm now looking at utilizing the chimney that the boiler used, and putting a wood stove in its place. If anyone knows of what I need to do to utilize the existing chimney with a different fuel type, please let me know!
4.) Homesteading. I have about 5.5 acres of property, mostly wooded with some clear cut areas. We will be getting chickens in the spring, and I'm currently cutting trees and prepping land for a decent sized garden in the spring. I also have the ability to hunt on my property. In the future, it is my intention to start raising pigs as well. The biggest issue is going to be getting water up to the garden area, as it sits a good ways above my house where the well water is. A easy solution may just be a rain barrel catching rain from the chicken coop roof, which will be much closer to the garden!
5.) Making connections with like-minded folk in the area. Ultimately, it is impossible to produce every single one of your needs by yourself. I'm always on the lookout to make connections and relationships with those who think like me, they're just not always the easiest to find.
1.) Having no mortgage. This is an important one, as once I accomplish this, I only have to worry about paying the municipality their yearly theft (property tax) and then I can't have my property taken from me.
2.) Owning a business that will continue to generate income. While I acknowledge that Galt's Gulch is the goal, I'm unaware of any place that this exists in practice. Unfortunately, I will have to continue doing work for those who don't share my philosophical beliefs. Once I accomplish goal number one, however, I have the ability to get much more choosy on who I do business with. At that point, I can start making the move to a more Agorist type of business relationship.
3.) Being self sufficient on all utilities. I already have well water and a septic system, the only other one is electricity. I'm making provisions to install solar on my rooftop next year (I'm an experienced electrician, I'll be doing this work myself). Once the solar is complete, the next step will be an energy storage system. My wife and I both own electric vehicles, so this will help to greatly reduce any expenditures as it relates to transportation. I have two streams on my property, and the idea crossed my mind of making a mini hydroelectric dam. However, the last thing I need while pursing this dream is getting slapped with fines from the DEP! On a side note, I recently got rid of our oil-burner and replaced with electric heat. I'm now looking at utilizing the chimney that the boiler used, and putting a wood stove in its place. If anyone knows of what I need to do to utilize the existing chimney with a different fuel type, please let me know!
4.) Homesteading. I have about 5.5 acres of property, mostly wooded with some clear cut areas. We will be getting chickens in the spring, and I'm currently cutting trees and prepping land for a decent sized garden in the spring. I also have the ability to hunt on my property. In the future, it is my intention to start raising pigs as well. The biggest issue is going to be getting water up to the garden area, as it sits a good ways above my house where the well water is. A easy solution may just be a rain barrel catching rain from the chicken coop roof, which will be much closer to the garden!
5.) Making connections with like-minded folk in the area. Ultimately, it is impossible to produce every single one of your needs by yourself. I'm always on the lookout to make connections and relationships with those who think like me, they're just not always the easiest to find.
I don't know what your current chimney is made of or its size, but be careful with converting to wood stove because you can't usually just pipe a wood burner into an existing one. Expensive, but you may just want to put up a new stainless steel triple wall (all three of my fire places use this) and will last "forever". If your existing chimney is brick or stone and is big enough inside you may consider a stainless steel sleeve. Check local codes as you don't want to screw this one up.
Learn how to preserve food without refrigeration (canning, root cellar, etc.) before you may actually need it.
Refrigeration/freezing: choose a model without the bells and whistles. No plumbing for ice makers or drink dispensers and no digital crap needing repairs. Probably less strain on the solar panels, too. Unfortunately, these basic food preservers are getting harder to find. My old fridge lasted almost 40 years before saying "good by", but I was able to find a basic one to replace it with.
Plant some fruit trees that are hardy in your area. If you need to, consider dwarf types to get more variety on less ground. Look for disease resistant if you can.
Utilities, electricity- it is easy to under-estimate the capacity needed.
Calculate an estimate for production from your location- latitude, tree cover, cloud cover.. Plan for replacement of solar cells every 15? years, and for batteries, - lead-acid about 5 years, efficiency about 60%, LI-ion replace every 8,9,10,15? years, efficiency 70-80%.
I've seen estimates for electricity consumption per av family, 15 kWh per year, I bet yours will be double that. - vehicles, workshop..
Get an emergency diesel generator. Diesel has better life than gasoline.
Most estimates on the variability of actual sunshine hours, are too optimistic.
you need to understand variability as well as averages.
Fines from DEP. ! there was a case in my area, owner of rural property put a footbridge across a stream, had to be removed by court order, native something or other were not consulted.
Heating, without local knowledge, check out timber: local, free or cheap, legal.
Good luck!
https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com
I'd also look into the concept of growing food in the wooded areas. I've seen some livestock raised in forests in order to clear brush.
Winter solar production is about 1/3 of summer production (Northern US, will be different in Texas).
Cloudy/stormy day production can be 1/10 of a sunny day.
Battery storage to get through nights and a couple cloudy days is doable (if somewhat expensive), especially if you can get by powering only high-priority loads part-time.
Battery storage to get through 10 days of cloudy/stormy weather .. not so much.
Battery storage to get through winter's lower production rate .. fagettaboutit.
Scaling the system so that winter production is enough, even factoring in extended lack-of-sunshine .. fagettaboutit.
You will need to scale the battery properly for both Kw (flow rate) and Kwh (storage capacity).
I think you're positioning yourself well. I envy those who have private water and sewer.
should super-insulate all your heated/air-conditioned living space.
If your home has any large windows, find a way to completely cover
them with insulated shutters that can be adjusted for outdoor conditions.
Indoor lighting is very energy efficient compared to space heating/cooling.
Rain catchment from your home roof is an good idea. Add a cistern and
use it in addition to your well. Clean water is essential to your health.
If you aren't already doing so, switch to line drying your clothes.
Add building a greenhouse to your plans.
I admire your goal. đź‘Ťđź‘Ťđź‘Ť
I’ve switched my thought process to offshore, what I mean is a catamaran, and GTFO. A group of like minded cruisers could still generate income and not be on the hook for the taxes. Switching my citizenship to Ecuador.
I have many broad interests and can do about anything, I work in IT as a systems architect and developers for cloud companies, I build automation. I’m also handy with tools, welding, I’d like to try my hand at hydroponics on the boat or a float of some type.
Like you, property, well water with multiple ways to lift the water without electricity. Animals, backup food, garden, greenhouse, solar. The most important thing I did was to pull my money out of cash, do that now. I invested in precious metals, in my possession. Guns and lots of ammo.
Good luck...
2) Yeah, be ready for the crack downs. A business license is public info. I would get a PO Box and register the mail to go there. (Things you don't think about)
ALSO, have backup bank accounts at different banks, not likely to merge.
3) TEST everything for at least 7 days straight. My friend learned his pile of wood was in the wrong place, for example.
4) Remember it takes 2-3 years of homesteading BEFORE you can eat what you grow. The seeds have to get comfortable in YOUR soil. Our Banana Trees took 5 generations before they were 8 foot tall and produced anything other than Baby Bananas. THIS ONE Surprises most people.
But similar things with Chickens taking 1-2 years before you get eggs.
Also, you will lose some of them. Will you buy or "grow" your own?
The Joel Saladin advice is strong.
My friend said it took 2yrs to grow his chickens to the point of more than enough eggs. They get about 12 a day. And they learned to send some chickens to "Freezer Camp" ahead of schedule based on bad behavior.
5) Peak Prosperity breaks down the types of Wealth. Connections is a form of wealth.
Upon review, it wasn't the people who saved the most that survived the longest. It was the ones that had wealth in the form of relationships/trust/knowledge.
I recommend hand-held radios, shared bands and regular check ins if you are rural.
Also, some great advice. Most people practice switching over in the middle of the day with the sun out. Can you do what you need to with a flashlight because it happened at 1am? Do you have the quick checklist for just what you need for the first night when power is out?
You know to have spare panels. I would have those PLUS the ground stands, PLUS the battery (Jackery Style) backups that can power things "off-site". I have a few, one for the freezer and one for the fridge. I would do that EVEN if I had Solar Power, so those devices always have power.
Also, I pack/season/freeze food that is ready for a Sous Vide. The energy required to run a sousvide and mostly cook my meat is PENNIES. easily from a UPS type battery. Then I can eat it like that, or finish on some fire. So it's a renewable source for cooking, since I can't burn wood where I am at.
Remember... Have fun... Pack some Calvin and Hobbes... Remember, this is NOT a dress rehearsal... But it doesn't have to be painful (unless you elect Democrats, LOL)