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Twisted Avatar | 02-25-2009 01:10 PM
Making the Transition to Country Life Making the Transition to Country Life, by Bois d'Arc Many readers of Survival Blog are either in the process of moving to a lightly populated area or actively planning to bugout to such an area when the balloon goes up. Twenty years ago I moved from the edge of a large city to a fairly remote property, and have been quietly setting up the doomstead and perfecting skills ever since. In the process, I became part of the fabric of country life here and have learned some valuable lessons which may benefit the rookie country dweller. Most full-time country residents are descendents of frontiersmen who ventured into the wilderness with little more than a rifle, axe, team of horses, and a large supply of guts. Country people hold many of the same attributes as their forebears; competence, toughness, perseverance, and a willingness to help their neighbors, be it for common defense or a barn raising. Many of these traits are at odds with modern city life supported by a specialized full-time job. Your transition to country life will be smoother if you consider the following: Country People are Closet Doomers: They can do lots of useful things such as shoe a horse, grow corn, weld, back a trailer, milk a goat, make tamales, catch a wild cow, troubleshoot an electrical problem, can a tomato, and shoot lights out. And that's just the women. People here are armed every day as a matter of course. Most have been shooting all of their lives, so the level of firearms proficiency is way above average. I see lots of casual ARs and scoped bolt actions, so if my neighbors and acquaintances are any barometer, potential rampaging MZBs are in for some exceedingly tough sledding. On a related note, there are a few bad apples in the country, but most tend to migrate to the anonymity of the cities. The outlaws who remain are generally well known to both law enforcement and the population at large, and are easy enough to avoid once you plug into the local grapevine. Be Scrupulously Honest: Country people don't care that much what you think or how you wear your hair as long as they can trust you. Lie or stiff a merchant one time and in 45 minutes everyone in the county will know it, guaranteed. On the flip side, if you've been given too much change or an error is made in your favor with a bank deposit or charge purchase at a merchant, politely point out the mistake and insist on paying the correct amount. While such a gesture will usually be met with stunned disbelief in a large city, in the country it will be acknowledged with a nod and sincere appreciation. And never doubt for an instant that the country grapevine will work in your favor as the word spreads. When I first moved here, I was able to open an account with any business in town simply by asking if I could charge a purchase. No references, no questions, no credit check, just an address so they could send a statement at the end of the month. Such an accommodating policy would most certainly not have been the case had I been late in paying those first bills. Money is Overrated: Country people never forget a kindness; they also rarely forget a transgression against good manners or honesty. The most valuable commerce in the country is not conducted in dollars but in trading, gifts, being owed a favor, and goodwill. Become Part of the Community: Self-sufficiency is a worthy goal, but in truth perhaps the most useful survival skill is contributing to a community which has a stake in your well being. To my mind, being able to call upon neighbors for specialized assistance or trade is just as important as beans, bullets, and Band-Aids. Schools and churches are the glue which binds a country community. If you have children in local schools or choose to attend church, tapping into country networks will be greatly accelerated. Also, small communities run largely on volunteers, so consider volunteering at the library, as a fireman, at sports fund raisers, community cleanup, or meals on wheels. JWR Adds: If you homeschool your kids, be sure to join the local homeschooling "co-op" group. You will be sure to meet the preparedness-minded folks in your community. The Country is a Time Warp: Time passes slower here, as it's based more on the seasons than on a clock. Fight the city urge to hurry everywhere. Tasks are completed when time, required supplies, and any needed help are available, and not on an arbitrary schedule. Parts are generally not readily available as they are in a city, you might have to order a particular part and wait days or weeks for it to arrive, and perhaps have to improvise in the meantime. The two main time-related lessons you�ll learn is that weather can throw a kink into any plan, and maintaining household water supply trumps almost every other concern. You�ll soon adopt a ma�ana attitude about most other projects, as there is always plenty more to be done while waiting for specific parts or supplies. Slow down enough to take time to talk about the weather, trade recipes, talk gardening, help a neighbor with a project, and to watch a sunset. Seek Out Those with Useful Skills Now: Country life requires a generalist rather than a specialist, so trading your particular skills � whether carpentry, electrical expertise, or knowing what�s wrong with a row of beans - with neighbors in exchange for their skills just makes sense. In fact, there is even a term here, �neighboring�, which refers to a group effort of working each landowner�s livestock in turn without hiring outside help. I have also become acquainted with various people who have huge gardens or dairy goats or sheep or hogs or teams of horses and mules or a small band saw mill for making lumber. Such people often don�t advertise and they may be hard to find, but the search is potentially of huge benefit to the astute survivalist. As an example, there is a man here who has an old steam-powered grain mill. Another has a tiny combine for harvesting wheat and oats in the scattered small plots where it is grown in this area. Up until now, I haven�t used their unique services, but still make it a point to give these men a quart of honey from our hives every summer. You will choose to help many of these people in time of trouble, just as they will choose to help you, but in the meantime always exercise OPSEC about your underlying motivations and preps. Country people have a wide independent streak so your desire to be more self-sufficient will never seem out of place. Country People are Provincial: But largely by choice, which doesn't mean they are stupid or uninformed. The vast majority are Internet savvy and many are exceptionally well-traveled and well-read. More than a few have made the decision to leave a lucrative city existence in exchange for country life. The level of overall awareness is high, so you'll hear more commonsense over a cup of coffee than you'll ever hear from Washington. A few recent quotes I�ve heard regarding our current economic meltdown: �I was going to sell all of my calves last fall but held back four in case my freezers start to look empty.� �We�re breaking some new garden ground this spring, going to plant a lot more potatoes than we usually do.� "I bought two more cases of .223 ammo, just in case the rabbits go on the warpath.� Listen and learn. Never Underestimate the Amount of Work Involved: Few farms or ranches here are entirely self-supporting, with one or both spouses usually working a �regular� job. The pay scale is considerably lower than in a city, so often people work two or even three jobs in order to live well. This is in addition to farming and working livestock on their own places. People work hard, and that�s in relatively good times. If this economy continues to unravel, more subsistence-level farming and ranching may well become the norm, and that�s when the work really begins. Growing and processing most or all of your own food requires a tremendous amount of labor and expertise, with constant effort from everyone involved. Have no illusions about some idyllic country life of sitting on the porch all day, chewing on a grass stem while contemplating the vista. The trick for making subsistence agriculture work is for everyone to always be doing something constructive, whether it�s hoeing weeds in the garden, building a chicken coop, shelling beans, cleaning a firearm, playing with a toddler, or rereading one of your how-to books. With that said, no family or survival group can possibly be competent at all of the skills required. This is when being on good terms with neighbors becomes essential; give them half of a fresh beef now for the cheese they can provide later on; the pickles you made are a fair trade for his baskets of peaches; your stash of supplies may well allow you to trade for a rooster and five hens (along with some expert advice on getting started); if you can provide the diesel, your neighbor might plow your garden plot after your tractor has thrown a rod. - Bois d'Arc http://www.survivalblog.com/

Darkside | 02-25-2009 01:29 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life I wish I can make the transition to country life. Unfortunately good land is expensive and hard to come by.

Twisted Avatar | 02-25-2009 01:53 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quoted for truth DS. :banghead::banghead: T

Stealinator | 02-25-2009 05:57 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life That was a great read. Thanks for posting.

GreenSpirit | 02-25-2009 07:29 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Have you seen "Deliverance?"

Atahualpa | 02-25-2009 07:53 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life 1 Attachment(s) by Bois d'Arc,....hummm. I lived in a place for many years that had 150 year old Bois d'Arc trees...this is what the females dropped every fall, they will put a dent on your car roof.

GreenSpirit | 02-25-2009 07:55 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Typical females.

CrufflerJJ | 02-25-2009 08:00 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Atahualpa (Post 1593887) by Bois d'Arc,....hummm. I lived in a place for many years that had 150 year old Bois d'Arc trees...this is what the females dropped every fall, they will put a dent on your car roof.
Hedge apple or osage orange trees are pretty neat. Lots of thorns, very tough wood (hard to split, but good to burn in a fireplace). I believe the wood was also used to make bows. I can see how their "apples" would do a number on your car!

Atahualpa | 02-25-2009 08:46 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by CrufflerJJ (Post 1593898) Hedge apple or osage orange trees are pretty neat. Lots of thorns, very tough wood (hard to split, but good to burn in a fireplace). I believe the wood was also used to make bows. I can see how their "apples" would do a number on your car!
You're right, the wood is very tough...one of the densest in N.America, the name Bois de'Arc is french for "wood of the bow"...it makes the best long bow around. The "Bodarks" that were in front of my place started out as part of a hedge...they originally planted them to keep the milk cows within the settled area of the little village. As hedges, with those thorny branches, they were as good as barbwire. Later on the hedges were thinned and the trees grew big. Unfortunately, the trees were cut down by a guy who bought the property from the people I sold to...it made me sick to my stomach where I saw them gone...forking idiot. They were some of the last trees from the hedge and were historic...and this was in a National Historic District, what a shame.

Twisted Avatar | 02-25-2009 08:49 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life You cant eat that fruit can you?? Or is it just for farm animals?? T

CrufflerJJ | 02-25-2009 09:14 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisted Avatar (Post 1593982) You cant eat that fruit can you??
You try it first and let me know!

Twisted Avatar | 02-25-2009 09:19 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by CrufflerJJ (Post 1594037) You try it first and let me know!
I may be crazy........ But I am not THAT stupid. T

Atahualpa | 02-25-2009 09:22 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisted Avatar (Post 1593982) You cant eat that fruit can you?? Or is it just for farm animals?? T
The only thing I ever saw eat them were squirrels, they would tear away the flesh and eat the seeds. Some old timers used to tell me the horse apples kept away roaches...they would slice them and lay them around the perimeter of the house. I didn't do that myself, but I can't remember ever seeing a roach inside.

tyusclan | 02-25-2009 11:15 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life We've always lived in the country, grown a big garden, and raised our own meat. We butcher our own chickens and rabbits, but usually take the hogs and steers to the slaughterhouse. We have butchered our own larger animals, and could if we needed to. I just prefer to have those done as long as the option's there. I've taught my kids how to do all those things as they've grown up. My aunt gave me one of the best compliments I've ever had a few years ago when she told me that she knew if things ever got really bad, my kids would be able to survive.

Goldeneye | 02-26-2009 01:24 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life It seems 'some' things in The Okanagen, Canada are getting snapped up .. My friend was due to look at a property tomorrow however, she's been told it's sold and for OVER the asking price !!! I think there are more people out there than we think that are feeling the need to transition to the country.. I tried to find the MLS however it's already been removed... Here's the skinny... This was my friends description... It's a 17 acre organic farm(4 acres in apples) It's already got a large organic Veggie garden plotted...It's a beautiful modern house with 2 self contained suites, a walkout basement, The basement has a large packing room for the apples and a cold room,and is zoned for a carriage house. The potential would be for 4 rentals there,which would cover most of the cost I would think. It's 995k but seems like good value for what it is. I drove by today and can get in on Thurs.. So it seems there is a demand to 'escape' to the country !! .. ..

Tn...Andy | 02-26-2009 02:16 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Transition to Country Life 2% of the population of this country feeds the other 98%. Which side of that equation do you REALLY want to be on in tough times ?

scyth | 02-26-2009 02:37 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn...Andy (Post 1594547) Transition to Country Life 2% of the population of this country feeds the other 98%. Which side of that equation do you REALLY want to be on in tough times ?
Andy - At present, 98% of the population is fed by AgriBiz. The other 2% is homegrown. I do not equate Agribiz with being the 2% that feeds the other 98%. Comment? scyth

Tn...Andy | 02-26-2009 02:48 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life So am I "agribiz" if I raise a few extra cows a year, sell them at the local stock market, and they are bought by a local packing house, processed and sold in a local store ? Or what about the guy down the road from me that raises 300ac of tomatoes.....most of which he packs and ships to markets in the Northeast, but he also runs a "pick your own" on part of the property for local folks. The terms get rather confusing at some point, and I think, don't really matter. The fact is, the BULK of the population is far removed from food production and has no idea HOW it happens, nor are they capable of replicating it if they do have some clue. And that is a bad position to be in when you means of buying food ( money ) is getting ready to be destroyed Zimbabwe style.

Twisted Avatar | 02-26-2009 09:37 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn...Andy (Post 1594572) The fact is, the BULK of the population is far removed from food production and has no idea HOW it happens, nor are they capable of replicating it if they do have some clue. And that is a bad position to be in when you means of buying food ( money ) is getting ready to be destroyed Zimbabwe style.
Which is why I see two thirds of the American population being wiped out before this is over. AT THE MINIMUM T

Tn...Andy | 02-26-2009 11:04 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Although it could happen late this year...things can certainly happen fast....I really don't see that kind of mass upheaval until 2010 or maybe a bit later. The price of oil will be a key indicator. When the oil producers finally stop taking dollars as payment, and the price shoots to the moon in dollar terms, you'll know we're near the end. Once that key ingredient to current society gets priced out of reach for the masses, it's game over, ( to borrow from HT ) IMHO....but as long as they are willing to pump it out and sell it for under 100/barrel, the game can continue quite a while, the printing press solution will work. That said, I would certainly waste no time transitioning to the "simple life" if you ever plan to do so. The economy could take a KO punch of a several other sources as well just about any time. I wouldn't screw around thinking it can't....you might well be betting your life.

gasilat | 02-26-2009 11:09 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisted Avatar (Post 1593207) Be Scrupulously Honest: Country people don't care that much what you think or how you wear your hair as long as they can trust you. Lie or stiff a merchant one time and in 45 minutes everyone in the county will know it, guaranteed. On the flip side, if you've been given too much change or an error is made in your favor with a bank deposit or charge purchase at a merchant, politely point out the mistake and insist on paying the correct amount. While such a gesture will usually be met with stunned disbelief in a large city, in the country it will be acknowledged with a nod and sincere appreciation. And never doubt for an instant that the country grapevine will work in your favor as the word spreads.
this is quite true... i might add that if someone does move into a small relative rural area to never, ever say anything bad about anyone to anybody...in a small community what you said will be common knowledge to everyone in short order... there is relative anonymity in large population centers...but in a small community your reputation whether good or bad could, and most likely will be established including things that happened 20, 30 years ago... your reputation is a very important thing indeed...and the favors you give others can be cashed in for favors from them several years apart...people don't forget... one of my remote cabins is unlocked and i let people stay in there whether i know them or not...you can't do that near the road system but way out in the boonies its okay...i have shown up before and found a couple dollars worth of change on the table for a can of food of mine someone else ate...no note from anyone, but i know who it was, i can read tracks and sign...that honesty from that person will go a long way with me if he ever asks me for any favor...

Twisted Avatar | 02-26-2009 11:16 AM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Dam you didnt tell a lie on that .......... My Momma would beat into my head YOUR WORD IS YOUR BOND AND IF YOU DONT HAVE THAT.....YOU HAVE NOTHING

Goldeneye | 02-26-2009 12:39 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn...Andy (Post 1594572) The fact is, the BULK of the population is far removed from food production and has no idea HOW it happens, nor are they capable of replicating it if they do have some clue. And that is a bad position to be in when you means of buying food ( money ) is getting ready to be destroyed Zimbabwe style.
I was one of those people.. Believing 'fruit and veg' came from supermarkets and looking on anything 'homegrown' with suspicion ! Over the years as I saw my supermarket food loose all it flavour I started buying organic only to go Wow .. as I discovered it had flavour and bought back childhood memories of 'real food' My first attempt at growing food from seed was last year.. Just a few containers of Tomatoes and herbs on my deck... This year I'm planning a garden and have got hubby involved asking him to PLEEEEZE set up some irrigation for me.... (In such a way that if we sell our house we can take with us) I have my eye on a nice home on a 5 acre parcel of land with outbuildings, workshop and woodshed... Two fireplaces can be run of wood or conventional fuel. There is also a self contained suite over the garage. It's about 4 hrs away from where I am now, but I have a few 'like minded' friends that live in the area and if needs be we can pool together. For a City Slicker I'm learning what I can about as much as I can and I am slowly bringing hubby around to my way of thinking.. He's now saying, being self sufficient and not relying on the system can only be a good thing regardless of if TSHTF or not... .. ...

RealJack | 02-26-2009 12:56 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Atahualpa (Post 1593887) by Bois d'Arc,....hummm. I lived in a place for many years that had 150 year old Bois d'Arc trees...this is what the females dropped every fall, they will put a dent on your car roof.
When I was in Boy Scouts in Texas we used to have Horse Apple fights. I got clocked in the back of the head by one and it nearly dropped me. I was happy it didn't hit me in the face... lol. Those things are heavy, sticky, and spiky. Didn't know the name Bois d'Arc. Thanks for the info.

elroy | 02-26-2009 01:06 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life One of the first things I was told when I moved to the "country" was don't judge people by their looks/clothes. That old guy that pulls up to the coffee shop every morning and comes in the coffee shop with pig manure on his boots and holes in his overalls may be the largest farmer in 3 counties and a multi-millionaire. He could also easily be a county commissioner or even the town drunk. Our little town has a hardware store, family owned and run by 3 generations. The store recently was sold and the old owner is helping out the new owner. Yesterday while in the store a customer came in, guy about 60 years old, dressed ok, looked alright. He headed toward the back of the store. I was dealing with the old owner at the time. The old owner immediately grabbed the new owner and said don't trust him and told the new owner to follow the guy to the back of the store. These small town business people know EVERYBODY.

Tn...Andy | 02-26-2009 03:11 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Goldeneye (Post 1595285) I was one of those people.. Believing 'fruit and veg' came from supermarkets and looking on anything 'homegrown' with suspicion ! Over the years as I saw my supermarket food loose all it flavour I started buying organic only to go Wow .. as I discovered it had flavour and bought back childhood memories of 'real food' My first attempt at growing food from seed was last year.. Just a few containers of Tomatoes and herbs on my deck... This year I'm planning a garden and have got hubby involved asking him to PLEEEEZE set up some irrigation for me.... (In such a way that if we sell our house we can take with us) I have my eye on a nice home on a 5 acre parcel of land with outbuildings, workshop and woodshed... Two fireplaces can be run of wood or conventional fuel. There is also a self contained suite over the garage. It's about 4 hrs away from where I am now, but I have a few 'like minded' friends that live in the area and if needs be we can pool together. For a City Slicker I'm learning what I can about as much as I can and I am slowly bringing hubby around to my way of thinking.. He's now saying, being self sufficient and not relying on the system can only be a good thing regardless of if TSHTF or not... .. ...
Welcome over to the country life.....you'll like it !:biggrin:

Darkside | 02-26-2009 03:31 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Yeah I've always had an intense interest in growing my own food. In fact my dream is to be completely self sufficient. I dont care about big houses, fancy cars, swimming pools, etc. etc. I just want a nice fertile plot of land out in the country where I can grow my own food raise my own livestock harvest my own fuel and live off the land off the grid. But like any other dream the reality is im stuck in a lousy small parcel suburb with no way out. I cant hope to make enough money on my honest hard wage to buy such a property plus money to finance the start of the farm in terms of livestock, equipment, feed etc etc. There just isnt enough time I'm afraid. All I got is under 400 sq ft to 'experiment' growing veggies. I grow a wide variety of stuff but its difficult because the land is on a north facing slope with trees so sunlight is scarce. Cant cut the trees cause the neighbors complain about enviroment or shit like that. I feel like I got the green thumb but I just cant exercise it enough.

ctrl-z | 02-26-2009 07:07 PM
Re: Making the Transition to Country Life Quote:
Originally Posted by Atahualpa (Post 1594057) The only thing I ever saw eat them were squirrels, they would tear away the flesh and eat the seeds. Some old timers used to tell me the horse apples kept away roaches...they would slice them and lay them around the perimeter of the house. I didn't do that myself, but I can't remember ever seeing a roach inside.
Horses love them, we always had a good time throwing them over the fence to them. My brother broke one of my teeth with one. we were throwing them back into the tree to knock others down, well we were on opposite sides of the tree,and he said watch out ..... a little too late. :banghead: You can buy them on ebay, they sell them for anti bug applications. that and tumble weeds, lol

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