Search Results for: ozarks

My Path to Preparedness, by C. in The Ozarks

…years I worked I could see the writing on the wall, my forced early retirement due to disability.  So, I began socking away as much money as possible and paid off my bills.   I was living in Denver, Colorado, at the time and I knew when I retired I would have to move because it would be too expensive to live in Colorado on a fixed income.  I could see the housing bubble coming, so I sold my house, moved into a friend’s basement and saved more money.  Thank God I sold it when I did or I’d still be sitting there, in a house worth far less than I’d paid for it and probably unable to sell it.  I would’ve lost it because my house payments would’ve eaten up my entire disability income. My parents and their parents were all from the Ozarks, and I had spent a lot…


One Way Out of Dodge by Mrs. W. in the Missouri Ozarks

Our story begins enslaved to a job in a middle-class suburb and ends mortgage-free in the Missouri Ozarks with us making ambitious strides toward off-grid living and growing all we eat. Unlike Jed Clampett’s kinfolk who urged luxurious city life, ours would have warned us to stay put, keep our jobs and fit in – if only they had known what we were up to. If you dream of “someday” leaving your weekly paycheck for a more rewarding, self-reliant country life, but think you must wait (because of your “secure” job, societal expectations or whatever else is holding you), consider how we did it. With one $12 an hour job and no savings, we bought a sturdy old house on 30 acres in the woods, now work from home and have no mortgage. Today, begin your dream, even if you only sketch a rough draft. Truly decide and visualize what…


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. (This week with JWR filling in.) Preppers In The Ozarks Whilst doing some web wandering I stumbled into a piece that 417 magazine ran, back in March: Why 417-Land is Mecca for Doomsday Preppers. Here is a quote: “And what better place to prepare than the Ozarks? Strafford got 47 inches of rain last year; the mean temperature was a mild 59 degrees. The Springfield Plateau has a 200-foot-deep aquifer for when rainwater gets scarce. The region is largely insulated from natural disasters—save the odd tornado or benign rumbling from the Bootheel’s New Madrid Fault Line—and the low population density of like-minded folks means preppers and homesteaders get left alone. A Lebanon real estate agent tells me remote acreage is an increasingly…


Making the Move: Retreat Bound, by L.P in The Ozarks

…are willing to give you guidance on animals, gardening, canning, harvesting wood, hunting, and expanding you retreat. In closing: With God’s help we moved from the suburbs to a remote farm in the Ozarks.  We only have a few neighbors, but it is amazing on how friendly and self- sufficient they are and how much we have learned from them this past year.  Our kids have not only adjusted to the move, but really enjoy the life-style change we have made and both are active in 4H and FFA plus we all hunt and fish on or near our property.  Our living costs have dropped by 70%, and our larder will soon be at the two year mark.  The painful hardships of selling in a down market and moving across the country are past us and we have gained a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and peace.  Albeit, a guarded peace. …


Letter Re: The Ozarks as a Retreat Locale

I’m giving really serious consideration to a move to the north-central Ozark area of Arkansas. My reasoning is that the weather is fairly benign – average temps are 40-to-80 F, good [length of] growing season; land is still pretty reasonable. Acreage at $1,000 per acre – sometimes less – is not unusual. The area has springs/lakes/creeks/caves; many smaller towns; living costs are very reasonable; a strong family orientated population; fairly well-developed medical services even in the smaller towns. I realize that this area is more suited for people who do not work or who are not looking for work, but I’m only seven months from retirement and so far have managed to keep most of my retirement funds from tanking. I hope to have in the area of around $4,000 per month coming in to fund my retirement; and this without resorting to IRA withdrawals. I should hopefully be able…


Letter Re: The Ozarks as a Retreat Locale

Mr. Rawles; The Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains are part of a very old series of mountains that runs from the Mississippi drainage to the Red River. This formation has been worn down to its present height by erosion and was more recently split by the Arkansas river. In addition to the generous growing season and precipitation you mentioned, many parts of this area have recoverable natural gas deposits and in is common for farms along the Arkansas river to have gas well heads. In addition to a monthly payment, many of these farms also enjoy free natural gas for domestic use. The Ozark and Ouachita Mountains extend north into Missouri, west into Oklahoma, and as far south as the Texas border. While there are many nice areas in Arkansas, you might want to compare the taxes and regulations in all four of the states in this area. The…


Mushrooms: Surviving Survival Food, by Roy H.

…to make a spore print, I’m not eating it, or anything that even looks like it. Understand that gathering wild mushrooms for food can very easily kill you and anyone else who eats that fatal meal with you, including your wife, your kids, your friends, your kids’ friends, anyone. Think about that very clearly and carefully before you start collecting wild mushrooms to eat. And do not think for a second that what keeps me safe in the Ozarks of western Arkansas will keep you safe in the hills of Northern California, or the wilds of Appalachia, on the Great Plains. You must consult an expert for the specific area where you intend to gather wild mushrooms for food. You must do your own research. To paraphrase Davy Crockett’s advice, be first absolutely sure that you are right, and then go ahead. Whatever you do, don’t put several types of…


How To Title Retreat Property, An Overlooked Item in Your Planning, by John in the Ozarks

I have spent the last eight years building and stocking my full-time retreat. Our family has had a terrific timing putting this together. One thing has happened beyond our control. The area we are located in has grown substantially. Our population has increased substantially, and we have also been slotted to receive Syrian refugees. I have come to the realization that It is simply going to be too hard to depend on this location as my only retreat. So after due diligence and the help of Survival Realty, I have purchased a secondary retreat in a totally different region of the U.S. I decided on a property that was extremely remote and was already built. I really didn’t have the time or fortitude to start all over. It makes you really feel for those who must completely start over due to a disaster. After I found the property and we…


Letter Re: How To Title Retreat Property, An Overlooked Item in Your Planning, by John in the Ozarks

HJL John in the O is right on. It is important to make it hard to track you down. He talks about insurance in a figurative sense. My day job is independent insurance agent. In the literal sense it is important in insurance for names to match. Not named? Then there’s no coverage. Find an agent that preps, confide in that agent, and get the coverage right. No one ever comes to me looking for one of my clients, particularly lawyers. Even if the insurance company is not paying attention to details, handling a check with the wrong name on it is a real problem. – RV o o o Hugh, A couple things you might want to consider before you title your property under an LLC or any other corporate entity. If things go bad for you in a lawsuit or for any other reason you have to file…


Surviving a Move to the Middle of Nowhere, by Ozarks S.

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One women’s view on leaving the city behind and enduring tough lessons of love in training to become a “warrior mom.” The Move Moving from the city to the middle of the woods has done a lot to change my thinking on preparedness. I have studied survival training, read all the JWR (James Wesley, Rawles) novels, and practically majored in understanding the preparedness movement, from the reasonable to the extreme. However, reading and living are two very different things. My dear husband and son have been helping me to improve in areas that I have less exposure. They have both exhibited great patience and perseverance, and for this I am grateful and blessed. I’ll begin with a quote: “If you are serious about preparedness, then it is time to get out of your armchair and start training and preparing. It will take time. It will take some sweat. It will…


Letter Re: Suitability of Missouri as a Retreat Locale?

Dear Mr. Rawles, In response to your post replying to ‘Marie R.’ regarding Missouri as a retreat location; here is some information that other families on this blog may find interesting. I’m writing this as someone who has a wide venue of travel and associations across the country. I am a professional trucker, a licensed ham radio operator for over 35 years, and was employed in the defense electronics industry for many years. I have been preparing for TEOTWAWKI here in the mountains of the Arkansas Ozarks for some time. With no disrespect to your research and personal choice(s) for retreats, one of the best kept secrets for quality living is the Arkansas-Missouri Ozarks. Our attributes have been many in this region for years and some improvement in the dynamics and demographics in recent times. In my opinion, the best area of Missouri is the area south of the I-44…


My Solar-Powered Dankoff Slow Pump System – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

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…gallons of IBC tote storage as needed. Next year will be much more secure for food production. Thanks again and God Bless. Tunnel Rabbit Some one has a sense of humor, because I did not make it up! Yep, it is not looking good. I would pick a chair, and go for it, because the music can stop at any time. The NW is no longer cheap. Check Joel Skousen’s Strategic Relocation, and perhaps he identifies the safest spot in the Ozarks, or Eastern Oregon/Washington. There is a valley in the north eastern part of Washington that I would check out too, but the Ozarks are still affordable. I would not presume this is for you, yet it could be a place for others. It could be as cheap as $20,000 that could get some dirt ,and trailer, or a converted garden shed. Many Christians have chosen the Ozarks. Some…


Budget Retreat Security, by Pat Cascio

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Nurse kim I’ll have to investigate these more. Since I don’t have a German shepherd, what I want it to do is set off an alarm that sounds like one, as well as turning on perimeter lights, preferably solar powered. Sis So, living in the woods, we get lots of wildlife wandering through. How would you handle the wildlife activating your alarms? Just wondering? We currently have lights as they’re not noisy but make us aware of something out there. Just wondering MJ Exactly what I’ve been thinking about. Great article Ozarks Tom We tried several inexpensive alarms, and were disappointed in every one of them. Some you couldn’t point west or the afternoon sun would set them off, others didn’t have the range needed for our property. The old saying “You get what you pay for” should be followed by “You don’t get what you don’t pay for.” We…


A Greenhouse for Your Homestead, by Ozark Redneck

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…you how the poly sheeting is attached. (Pages 33-39 show the kerfed wood). They brought the greenhouse frame (without the poly sheeting attached) on a flat bed trailer. We lifted it off together and determined our exact placement. Next, we worked to attach the poly sheeting, very similar to the above-mentioned pdf. We used a white batten tape instead of folding so much to staple the poly-sheeting in place. Ready for Wind Storms? Living in the Ozarks, we get our share of high wind storms and an occasional tornado. So, they told me how to stake down the greenhouse to keep it from blowing away. I cut a 6’ t-post in 4 pieces. I purchased 4 large U-bolts that would hold a muffler on. I drove the t-post stakes next to the wooden frame on all for corners, and drilled holes thru the 2”x6” and attached the stakes to the…


An Elderly Prepper Moves On, by L.T.

My husband and I started following the writings of Jim Rawles many years ago and his advice helped us find our ideal location in the Missouri Ozarks. Then, unexpectedly, my husband passed away and now Jonathan Rawles’ SurvivalRealty website is helping me sell my homestead. The tapestry of life. My husband and I loved the challenge of creating a sustainable lifestyle, a productive homestead, and learning the rural life. We took a piece of rather rough land and created a beautiful place. Not finished when he passed, but I’m not sure it would ever be finished, that was the enjoyable part. (Not an enjoyable part was living in a camper with four dogs while building our shop/house “shouse”.) We built a metal-clad shouse with a large patio area under a roof. Perfect for sitting during rainstorms; cleaning garden produce out of the sun; drying off wet dogs who went swimming…