In the past, many people have thought of a homestead as thousands of acres and a red barn out in rural country, but the truth is, the modern homestead takes many shapes.
You could be living in a tiny urban flat with solar panels and a balcony garden.
You could be in the suburbs with a few fruit trees and some backyard chickens.
Or, you might be out in the bush, 100 miles from everyone, with large livestock and trout ponds.
The key element between all these situations and more however, is that in every case, a “homestead” is using whatever real estate you have, to do productive things.
Your homestead can be anywhere, and fit any living situation.
If you are interested in establishing your homestead, check out my friend Dan’s new website. Dan is a real estate agent in Utah, and specializes in buying and selling homesteads, cabins, and land. His new website, Homestead Launch, was created to help you get your homestead going.
In particular, the website has a free assessment to help you start your homestead plan. It takes 3 minutes, and then gives you some great suggestions at the end, custom tailored to your situation.
If you are looking for homestead land, he can also connect you with real estate agents in your area that specifically focus on self-sufficient homesteads. Pretty cool!
In short, no matter what your approach is, where you are located, or what your life situation is, think about how you can use your real estate to be more self-sufficient today than you were yesterday.
a question he raised about food and water storage, reminded me that I had an unfinished video of my food preps to publish, so I have put it together and here it is!!!
Living in an apartment doesn't mean you don't have room to store food and water! by being creative there is always some where to place a few items.
In my case it was under my bed!
Why store food?
Well the most important thing we all need is Shelter/Water/and Food, and something most people take for granted that they can always just pop down the store and get what they need.
I must admit a lot of people think you have lost the plot when you mention you have 6 months to a year of food, but I always say is it crazy that you insure your car against an accident?
You can live without a car, you cant live without food or water....
So take some insurance out for your self and family by having some basic food storage.
Look at Greece right now with all the financial problems, one of the major problems people are suffering is food and medicine shortages. And not just because people haven't the money, there is also a supply deficit.
Reasons to Have food storage?
Financial Crisis
Loss of Job
Natural disaster Storm/Earthquake/Flood
Pandemic and self isolation
Crop failure
Petrol/Gas shortage cut supply to stores
As an Investment.
Any number of reasons could cut off the food supply and you dont want to be standing in long lines waiting for handouts when a few changes now can not only protect you but save you money.
How to Start Food Storage?
"Eat what you store, Store what you eat"
That is the golden rule start off by buying extra cans and packets of what you already use.
Start by listing everything you purchase for your regular meals and expand from that.
Once you get started look for your items on sale, I normally purchase a single item every 1/2 months when its discounted, sometimes as much as 50% off, then I buy 2/3 months worth at a time and use them weekly as I need them.
That's your financial investment and gain right there, nothing wrong in making a 40/50% return on what you are going to spend anyway!
Where to Store Food?
I use under my bed as storage and surprising if you organize it well there is enough space for a years food for 2 people, and I always put purchased food in from one side of bed and take out from the other side giving me somewhat of a rotation system.
I tend to move the line along on laundry days and flip up the mattress to make it easier, but this could also be made easier with a simple wood frame to roll cans along, but i find its not a problem.
I also use a sharpie to put month and year on each item when i purchase!
Under the bed!
Water Storage?
Its also a good idea to have some water stored in case of loss of water supply.
again this can be caused by many unforeseen circumstances. On average you will need about 2 liters per person per day for cooking drinking ect.
I keep 2 liter Juice bottles filled with water in my bathroom and have managed to store about 6 weeks supply, covered with towels behind a laundry basket.
Another item we keep is empty wine casket bags, after enjoying the contents we wash them out and store them flat. each one holds 2 LTs and we must have a 100 of them in a closet, we could easily feel them in a few hours if needed in emergency, there's also a plastic sheet to line the bath tub, to create another source of water storage.
2 Liter juice bottles
Wine bags used as back up water storage, also ideal to keep in bug out bags / camping bags
Storage Dates?
This is one of the areas most people don't get!
The food suppliers don't want you to keep food they want you to buy more!
don't fall in to this trap, a "Best before date" is only a guide to when the flavor may start deteriorating this is not an expiry date! Most cans are perfectly fine for 4/5 years.
Now a "use by date" is an actual guide to when the food must be consumed, this is normally on perishable fresher items like meats/ Dairy ect and shouldn't be kept beyond that date.
As long as an item is stored in a cool dry place and has no damage to the packaging or can, then it is normally safe to eat. This is only a guide and (DISCLAIMER) always check with the manufacturer on storage dates.
Well I hope that inspires everybody to think about having some sort of food and water backup, and again thanks to Dan for bringing up such an important topic.
I wanted to try a new experiment making planter for seedlings using egg shells.
First I saved my breakfast eggs and only cut off the very top of egg.
Once I had 12 I made 2 small holes in the bottom of each washed and dry egg shell.
then I filed each one with a good potting soil mix and placed back in a egg carton tray.
I added the seeds, In this case Coriander / Cilantro and lightly watered.
I placed the carton with eggshells in a tray and filled with water so it could self wick and keep moist.
Having a safety map is an essential part of any emergency plan.
If there's ever a earthquake or another natural or man made disaster having a place to go BOL (Bug out Location) or a meeting point for family members is important part of planing.
This great website helps you do that by creating and printing an online emergency map
go check it out at http://safety-maps.org/
Well the Garden on the Balcony was doing really good, but we have had a poor summer so far weather wise, and some bad storms.
Last week after a very strong winds tore threw the city it played havoc with my Tomatoes, although they have survived they are all now lying flat in a blanket mesh across the balcony.
One part of me wants to hack it down to small bushes but the other part says just leave it till its finished with all the fruit, as it is producing lots of cherry tomatoes.
One of the reasons I grew cherry Toms was because of the smaller size they grow, but even at about a meter high, they still got beaten by the winds, something that is hard to avoid when your so high up!
anyway heres some pics and video on the journey so far.
Little bit different from the gardening videos but something I think is important to have..
EDC or Every Day Carry, a small collection of items that can be used in a an emergency situation
Mine is specific for my inhabitant Urban city Life and the things I feel will be most useful.
This is in addition to a BOB - Bug Out Bag that everyone should have packed and ready at home in case of emergency departure from storms, earthquakes, fire. a 3 day bag with food and preps, I will do a follow up video on a BOB.
If You like this sort of Survival topic I strongly suggest you take a look at fellow prepper Dan, at his Blog The Daily Prep
My HTC Android phone, access email, contacts, A watch with mini compass, Sun glasses Wallet with ID and cash, BG gerber Pocket Knife, Mint strips, Key fob with USB Thumb drive encrypted with copies of Passports , Birth certificat and photos, Dog Tag mirror for signaling, Whistle, and Hand crank mini torch.
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