Very romantic. As much as we can enjoy this idea, reality is way different these days. Truth is hard, as most of them are: we can´t store enough fuel for as long as we would like to.

The reality of storing fuel

No matter if it is diesel or gasoline or some sort of gasified product coming from an industrial facility. It´s economically very hard to do, and those who want to go down that path will find themselves at the end of the day with a huge empty tank they invested a fortune on. A quick calculation will show this to anyone. Sure, some people with the best of intentions will comment below their experiences using four or five years old fuel in some far away Alaskan forest to refill the snow motorcycle and run away from a furious gang of bears in the last second. But it´s something different to the scope of this writing.

Fellows, using fuel too old without proper storage conditions will have a devastating effect on any engine in the medium term. If your heating system relies on one of these engines, THEN you´ll be in trouble when it decides to fail at the worst possible moment.

But we already should know it won´t last for too long if a real disaster stops production everywhere. A couple of years, maybe? If you’re planning for this short term and believe that some sort of fuel will be available afterward, it’s your call if you still need to store it.

Just be aware of what happens when you are surrounded by people and have something valuable. I wrote of it here: Venezuela: Thieves, Fuel Shortages, Hunger, and the Black Market 

After two years, most of the fuel will have gone rancid if it wasn’t stabilized, will be consumed or won´t exist if the catastrophic event that led to the production stopping was large enough.

Politics could play a part in this, too.

Unless someone owns a refinery and wells, production pipes and the money to pay for the specialized professionals to operate it for the next 50 or 60 years, and train the next generation of refinery workers, fuel and other derivatives for internal combustion engines, or ICEs, could become a rarity. Politicians are already, with or without reasonable motifs, working actively in the forbidding of manufacturing new ICEs in Europe. Mind you, if someone 30 years ago someone would have told you, “Cable TV is no longer going to exist” you would have laughed in his face. I see the cable TV companies around here mutating. They´ve all switched to Internet access via optics fiber service.

My take is that the car manufacturers are going to force the market to do as they please. This means the Western world bending and obeying the immensely powerful Asian elites in their pursuit to keep getting affordable products and keep the lifestyle of the masses that vote. Don´t underestimate the indoctrinating atmosphere the new generations are immersed in these days. Those who never identified the bond between the freedom and the roar of an 80 cu. in. Evo V-Twin or a small block Chevy V8 are lost forever.

Take this as you prefer, as I´m not a market researcher or a specialist. However, common sense makes me think this is what they want, and they don´t care what we the customer base want or need.

No matter how hard we try, it´s a matter of the world economy and the changes in the geopolitical environment, at a global level. Don´t get the wrong idea: it´s all about societal control. They need to push the concept of the “15-minute city“.

I will elaborate a little bit about this: the power struggle of the bigger Western economies and the rest of the world (mostly the Asian part of the world) is based on technology and energy source control. Whoever controls these, rules the world, broadly speaking. Period.

Or at least the parts of the world that matter.

Fuel has become hard to acquire where I live.

Based on my own experiences with modern gasoline not produced in my country (which once produced 1/3 of the fuel tank of every car up there in the US), let´s elaborate on why storing “for the future” may not be an option anymore.

The actual formulation of the gasoline is now different to withstand the technology changes with the fuel injection systems. The fuels have evolved a little bit too. Detergent proportions, volatile components, everything works against the long-term storage philosophy. That´s why the unrefined, crude ingredient of the gasoline known as naphtha is the more stable way to store it, before mixing. This is the primary component and the base from which every company produces their fuel. But this is not available to the public, as far as I know, and it will destroy any engine in short if used crudely. I saw this happening in Venezuela.

Sadly, modern gasoline is not intended to be stored for a long time. Can you store it safely? Sure. Let´s see.

How long does modern gasoline last when stored in a home or farm?

The shelf life of gasoline depends on many factors, including the type of gasoline, the storage conditions, and the additives that are used. In general, gasoline should last for about 3 months up to 2 years (stabilized) when stored in a cool, dark place. If the gasoline is stored in a warm, humid place, it will last for a shorter period.

The following factors shorten the shelf life of gasoline:

• Light: Exposure to light (mostly from the sun) can cause gasoline to oxidize and form harmful compounds.
• Heat: Heat can cause gasoline to evaporate and lose its volatile components.
• Moisture: Moisture can cause gasoline to corrode metal tanks and pipes.
• Additives: Some additives can break down over time, which can shorten the shelf life of gasoline. Some additives like detergents or anti-foaming agents can precipitate, too, and cause more problems in the filters.

You have to be really cognizant of these things when storing fuel.

What causes the gasoline to go bad?

A good number of factors, indeed, including:

Oxidation – Gasoline, as a highly flammable liquid is easily oxidized (combined with Oxygen). Oxidation occurs when gasoline is exposed to oxygen, light, and heat as these conditions improve the speed of the reaction. Oxidation causes gasoline to form harmful compounds, such as gum and varnish. These undesired byproducts clog fuel filters, carburettors tiny parts and injectors and cause engine problems.

Evaporation – Gasoline is a volatile liquid that evaporates quickly. In evaporation, the gasoline loses its volatile components, such as octane. This reduces the performance of the engine.

Contamination: Gasoline can be contaminated by water, dirt, and other foreign materials. Water can get into a poorly stored tank. I’ve seen it. Even rain leaks fall over fuel tanks in generator sheds. No Bueno. Contamination causes the gasoline to become unstable and definitely can lead to engine problems.

Modern gasoline is more corrosive than gasoline from 20 years ago.

Gasoline, as a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, additives, and other compounds, will eventually degrade and become unusable. It has been designed to be consumed shortly after leaving the production facilities, indeed. It was never intended to be stored.

20 years ago, our gasoline was typically a blend of straight-chain hydrocarbons. This liquid had an octane rating of 87 or higher. Straight-chain hydrocarbons are less corrosive than branched-chain hydrocarbons, which are more commonly found in modern gasoline.

These so-called branched-chain hydrocarbons, such as iso-octane, are used to improve octane. They are meant to elevate the energy you get out of the liquid during the explosion of the mixture inside the engine. Branched-chain hydrocarbons are more corrosive than straight-chain hydrocarbons because they are more likely to react with water and form acids.

These acids will corrode metals, as they are supposed to do. In addition to branched-chain hydrocarbons, modern gasoline also contains ethanol, which is a type of alcohol as we know. Ethanol is corrosive to metal, and of course, it increases the aggressive behaviour of gasoline regarding corrosion.

This increased corrosivity factor of modern gasoline can lead to several problems, including:

• Corrosion of fuel tanks and lines: Corrosion can weaken fuel tanks and lines, making them more likely to leak. Considering the newest alloys are thinner, to make cars lighter, this is an important fact.
• Clogging of fuel filters and injectors: Corrosion can cause deposits to form on fuel filters and injectors, which can reduce engine performance and efficiency.
• Engine damage: Corrosion can damage engine components, such as pistons, rings, and valves.

There is not so much that we can do to overcome this new conditions of the modern fuel.

The best conditions possible for storing fuel

To help prevent corrosion caused by modern gasoline, it is important to store gasoline properly. Gasoline should be stored in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Gasoline should also be stored in a metal tank or container that is properly sealed to prevent evaporation and contamination.

Some users have reported using marine-grade stabilizers, and it seems a logical choice. You need the best products available to protect this sort of investment, especially thinking about the potential damage it can produce if (or when) it degrades.

Tips for storing gasoline are plentiful, and all of them are based on common sense. Still, in Venezuela, many accidental fires have been initiated because of people storing it inadequately. This being said, here is a disclaimer: Proceed under your responsibility when storing any kind of fuel.

• Store the gasoline in a metal tank or container. Metal is a better conductor of heat than plastic, so it will help to keep the gasoline cooler. In my tropical country, I’d rather go with plastic and protect it from the sun than metal: a cement surface will be enough to corrode the sheet of the can from outside in. I’ve even seen some cans with the bottom adhered to the floor with rust and ripping off when lifted, so this choice is open to discussion based on experience.
• Properly seal the gasoline tank or container. This will help to prevent evaporation and contamination.
• This is important: fill the gasoline tank to 95% to allow for expansion. Gasoline is a volatile liquid and will go into a vapour-liquid equilibrium with the gas phase, too, and this small volume helps with that. If the recipient is airtight and vapours don´t escape, this volume is over the explosion limit as there is no Oxygen in it.
• Label the gasoline tank or container with the date that it was stored. This will help you to track the age of the gasoline. This is a good practice that everyone should manage and not limit to fuels, no matter if he or she is new to prepping and self-reliance.
• Keeping it as far away from any electrical outlet is compulsory.
• Should we store gasoline?

How much? Storing fuel depends on your situation.

Your needs are known only to you. Given the current state of things at a global scale, I would say that yes, store it. As much as we can afford, and do it safely within all the regulations.

With the actual shelf life, maybe storing more than one year of your actual consumption for each type of fuel is not worth it. Maybe with diesel, as it lasts longer, and we can always resource to WVO, Biodiesel, BioGas, or wood gasification, which I strongly recommend for those with space and regulations flexible enough.

A generator needs about 60 gallons of gasoline for 30 days if used sparely. I want to emphasize here that alternative technologies like solar or wind are a must if you want to make your fuel supply last.

After all that has been said, not everything is lost. There are always alternatives to use your ICEs without having to refill at the local fuel station. For those with enough firewood, it would be a waste not to attach a wood gasifier to their gensets.

Stay tuned and join me at Patreon, follow my YouTube Channel, and you will see how it is possible.

Be safe!
J.

What about you?

Have you had good luck storing fuel? What is your best advice to others who want to do so? Have you ever had fuel go bad? Did it cause damage or did you catch it beforehand?

Let’s discuss storing fuel at Late Prepper.

About Jose

Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.

 Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151

Just imagine a scenario where your ability to make (and receive!) payments is suddenly halted. Not because there is no power. Not because a nuke exploded. Not because of an EMP attack. Not even a deadly virus spreading (again).

Your cards become little plastic thingies in your wallet overnight, and our money, even when it is in the account and visible, we can’t use it. It has become a frozen asset inside an unbreakable glass exhibitor. And I include myself because I own a bank account up there, albeit being a non-resident.

The modern Ice Age

A global-scale bank account freezing is a hypothetical scenario that would have significant consequences for all of us. Individuals, big and small businesses, autonomous workers, farmers, NGOs, and all sorts of institutions and governments all around the world. While such an event is unlikely, it is paramount to understand the potential implications of such an occurrence. Because the odds of such terrible events are there.

In recent years no one could believe that an emergency state would be declared because of the migrants getting into the US through the southern border. Look what has been happening in the recent months. So, I would say, as a foreigner, as a bystander, as a simple outsider and external observer…yes, it can happen. Without any previous warning.

What can cause this?

The freezing of bank accounts can occur for several reasons other than a global conflict. This includes legal or regulatory action, fraud investigations, or security breaches. In a global-scale instance, there could be plenty of factors leading to such an event, including a major cyber-attack on a large banking system. Which, if you ask me, is the most likely identifiable threat. And yes, I’m sure it has happened before, but it was covered up to avoid panic. Because if panic levels climb up beyond a threshold, the catastrophic events following could be much worse than the consequences of the banking system going to a halt.

The bank run, or the funds freezing could be the result as well of a coordinated effort by governments to combat money laundering or terrorism financing, or a financial crisis that necessitates extreme measures to stabilize the global economy.

Logically, the first and immediate impact of a global-scale bank account freezing would be a disruption to daily life for individuals and businesses that rely on their bank accounts for transactions and financial management. Many people use their bank accounts to pay bills, receive salaries and make purchases, and a sudden freeze could leave them unable to access their funds or conduct necessary transactions. The consequences of impeding access to these activities for just two weeks or one month would be unthinkable in most of the cities of the developed world.

Who would be impacted by this?

Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, would be particularly vulnerable to the effects of a bank account freeze. They may not have the financial resources to weather a prolonged disruption to their cash flow and could be forced to close or lay off employees. Large corporations could be severely impacted, as they may have significant amounts of cash reserves tied up in bank accounts that would be inaccessible during a freeze. Frankly, it should be here where we should evaluate how vulnerable we are to a situation like this.

The freezing of bank accounts could also have a significant impact on the global financial system. Banks rely on the trust of their customers to function, and a widespread loss of faith in the safety and security of bank accounts could lead to a run on banks and a broader financial crisis. This could be particularly damaging in countries with weak or unstable financial systems, where a loss of confidence in the banking system could have dire consequences for the entire economy.

Governments would also be affected by a global-scale bank account freeze. They rely on tax revenues and other forms of income to fund public services and infrastructure projects, and a freeze on bank accounts could significantly disrupt their ability to collect revenue. This could lead to austerity measures, reduced public services, and potentially unparalleled social unrest.

Everyone downstream would be affected. Something similar happened here, as our main income (oil industry) is destroyed, and whatever little money gets into the country is immediately deviated to foreign accounts of the mobsters, in Spain, Andorra, and other countries sponsoring the looting. As a result, nobody wants to make business with the government, not even local authorities.

What are the odds of it really happening?

It is important to note that a global-scale bank account freezing would be an extreme and unlikely scenario. However, a global pandemic was an “unlikely scenario” for most people back in, say, 2005, right? The world banking system would never intentionally take action to generate such a situation. However, some hypothetical scenarios could lead to a global-scale bank account freeze.

One potential scenario is a major cyberattack on the banking system. As more financial transactions move online, the risk of cyberattacks on banks and financial institutions has increased. Compromising the security of customer accounts would be a motif to the widespread freezing of bank accounts to prevent further damage. To prevent such a scenario, banks and financial institutions need to invest in robust cybersecurity measures to protect against cyberattacks and strengthen their risk management protocols.

Here’s what the government might do.

Another scenario that could lead to a global-scale bank account freeze is a coordinated effort by governments to combat money laundering or terrorism financing. As odd as this could sound.

Governments around the world have become increasingly concerned about the use of the global financial system for illicit activities, and there have been efforts to tighten the regulatory framework for banks and financial institutions. In extreme cases, governments could take coordinated action to freeze bank accounts suspected of being used for money laundering or terrorism financing. However, such actions would need to be carefully targeted and balanced against the need to maintain the integrity of the financial system and protect the rights of innocent customers.

A financial crisis could also lead to a global-scale bank account freeze. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, many governments took extreme measures to stabilize the financial system, including freezing bank accounts and imposing capital controls to prevent a run on banks. While such measures were necessary to prevent a collapse of the financial system, they also had significant economic and social costs. To prevent a future financial crisis, governments and financial regulators need to strengthen their risk management not only at the financial level but in the cybersecurity area, oversight banks and financial institutions, and take steps to ensure that the financial system is more resilient to systemic shocks.

There are several policies that governments and financial institutions can implement to mitigate the risks of a banking system collapse. Some examples are:

• Adequate capitalization requirements: Governments can require banks to maintain adequate levels of capital to absorb losses and maintain their solvency. This can help ensure that banks have sufficient resources to weather economic shocks and unexpected losses.
• Strong regulatory oversight: Governments can establish and enforce strong regulatory standards for banks and other financial institutions. This can include requirements for risk management, internal controls, and transparency. Regulatory oversight can help identify and mitigate potential risks to the banking system before they become systemic.
• Deposit insurance: Governments can establish deposit insurance programs to protect depositors in the event of a bank failure. Deposit insurance can help prevent bank runs and maintain public confidence in the banking system.
• Liquidity support: Central banks can provide liquidity support to banks during periods of financial stress. This can help ensure that banks have access to the funding they need to meet their obligations and maintain their solvency. If this liquidity is enough for customers to keep up with their duties, so much better.
• Crisis management and resolution frameworks: Governments and financial institutions can establish crisis management and resolution frameworks to manage bank failures and other financial crises. This can include plans for the orderly resolution of failed banks, mechanisms for coordinating with other regulators and stakeholders, and provisions for recapitalizing or restructuring troubled banks.
• Stress testing: Governments and financial institutions can conduct stress tests to assess the resilience of the banking system to various economic and financial shocks. Stress testing can help identify potential vulnerabilities and inform policy responses to mitigate risks.

These are just a few examples of policies that can be implemented to mitigate the risks of a banking system collapse. In practice, a comprehensive approach to risk management may involve a combination of these and other measures, tailored to the specific circumstances of each country and banking system.

What can we do?

In summary, while a global-scale bank account freezing is an extreme and unlikely scenario, there are potential scenarios that could lead to such an event. To prevent such a scenario, banks and financial institutions need to invest in robust cybersecurity measures, governments need to balance the need to combat illicit activities with the need to maintain the integrity of the financial system, and financial regulators need to strengthen their oversight of the financial system to prevent future crises.

Cash is king, then? It seems it is. Especially after all the push for digital currency. If this initiative proliferates, just by ticking a box in a database, ANYONE could be blocked from “The System”. It can be done right now, but in a world without cash, anyone subject to this treatment would be left stranded on site. The concrete bases for a totalitarian world regime are slowly being poured as we are here sitting down…

Can you see this happening? Is all of your money in the bank? What do you think we can do to prepare for this? My course of action will be to make an extra effort to improve my place, pray to the Lord, and keep my chickens dry!

Stay safe, and keep tuned!

About Jose

Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.

 Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151

Article cross-posted from The Organic Prepper.

In this article, we will discuss the steps you can take to create a food forest in your own backyard.

Step 1: Assess Your Site

The first step in creating a food forest is to assess your site. Look at the soil type, topography, climate, and existing vegetation to determine which plants will thrive in your environment. Consider the amount of sunlight your site receives each day, as well as any natural water sources or drainage patterns. You may also want to conduct a soil test to determine the pH and nutrient levels.

Assessing your site is a crucial step in creating a food forest, as it will impact the success of your project. You need to consider several factors such as soil type, topography, climate, and existing vegetation.

Soil type: The soil type will determine what kind of plants will thrive in your area. For example, if you have sandy soil, you will need to choose plants that are adapted to grow in that environment. To determine your soil type, you can conduct a soil test and look at the soil texture.

Topography: The topography of your site will impact the water flow and drainage patterns. You need to consider how water flows through your site and where it collects. This will help you design your food forest to capture and manage water efficiently. Another important point here is concealment. Using the terrain in your favor you can avoid many problems.

Climate: The climate of your area will determine what kind of plants will grow well. You need to consider the average temperature, rainfall, and growing season. You can research your area’s USDA hardiness zone to determine which plants are suitable for your area.

Existing vegetation: You need to consider the plants that are already growing in your area. If you have a lot of trees, you may need to design your food forest around them. You can also incorporate existing vegetation into your food forest design and choose plants that complement them.

By assessing your site, you can determine which plants will thrive in your area and create a food forest that is sustainable and low maintenance. It is important to choose plants that are adapted to your area to ensure the success of your food forest.

Choose your plants

Once you have assessed your site, you can start choosing the plants you want to include in your food forest. A food forest typically includes seven layers of plants, each providing a different function in the ecosystem. These layers include:

• Canopy trees – tall trees that provide shade and shelter for the other layers
• Understory trees – smaller trees that grow beneath the canopy and provide fruits and nuts
• Shrubs – medium-sized plants that produce berries, fruits, and nuts
• Herbaceous plants – plants that die back to the ground each year, such as vegetables, fruits, and herbs
• Groundcovers – low-growing plants that provide erosion control and weed suppression
• Vines – climbing plants that produce fruits and nuts
• Root crops – plants that grow underground

Choose plants that are native or adapted to your area, as they will be better suited to your climate and soil conditions.

Here are some examples of each layer.

Choosing the right plants for your food forest is a crucial step as it will determine the success of your project. A food forest typically includes seven layers of plants, each providing a different function in the ecosystem. Here are some tips for choosing the right plants for each layer:

Canopy trees: Canopy trees are tall trees that provide shade and shelter for the other layers. They are typically slow-growing and long-lived and can include species such as oak, maple, and hickory. Choose canopy trees that are adapted to your area and have a deep root system to improve soil health.

Understory trees: Understory trees are smaller trees that grow beneath the canopy and provide fruits and nuts. They can include species such as apple, cherry, and peach. Choose understory trees that are adapted to your area and have a shallow root system to avoid competition with the canopy trees.

Shrubs: Shrubs are medium-sized plants that produce berries, fruits, and nuts. They can include species such as blueberry, raspberry, and hazelnut. Choose shrubs that are adapted to your area and have a deep root system to improve soil health.

Herbaceous plants: Herbaceous plants are plants that die back to the ground each year, such as vegetables, fruits, and herbs. They can include species such as tomatoes, kale, and basil. Choose herbaceous plants that are adapted to your area and have a shallow root system to avoid competition with the other layers.

Groundcovers: Groundcovers are low-growing plants that provide erosion control and weed suppression. They can include species such as clover, thyme, and creeping phlox. Choose groundcovers that are adapted to your area and have a shallow root system to avoid competition with the other layers.

Vines: Vines are climbing plants that produce fruits and nuts. They can include species such as grape, kiwi, and passionfruit. Choose vines that are adapted to your area and have a deep root system to improve soil health. Passionfruit usually grows like crazy here in Venezuela, and its very high content of Vitamin C makes it one of my favorites. They are useful for concealing buildings, too. We have them available the whole year.

Root crops: Root crops are plants that grow underground, such as potatoes and carrots. They can be planted in between other plants or in dedicated beds. Choose root crops that are adapted to your area and have a shallow root system to avoid competition with the other layers.

When choosing plants for your food forest, it is important to select native or adapted species that are suited to your soil, climate, and microclimate. This will ensure that your food forest is sustainable and low maintenance. You can also incorporate beneficial companion plants, such as nitrogen-fixing plants, to improve soil health and increase biodiversity.

Plan your layout

Once you have chosen your plants, you can start planning your layout. A food forest is typically designed in a naturalistic way, with winding paths and irregular shapes. You can use the existing topography and vegetation to guide your design and incorporate features such as ponds, swales, and berms to manage water flow.

When you plan your layout, please consider the spacing and placement of your plants. Trees should be spaced far enough apart to allow for their mature size but close enough to create a canopy. Shrubs and groundcovers can be planted closer together to create a dense understory.

Prepare your site

Before you start planting, you will need to prepare your site. This may involve removing any existing vegetation, improving the soil, and installing any necessary infrastructure, such as irrigation or composting systems. You may also want to install a perimeter fence to keep out deer and other wildlife.

Plant your food forest

Once your site is prepared, you can start planting your food forest. Start with the canopy trees, and work your way down through the layers. Plant in groups or guilds, with plants that have complementary functions and can support each other. For example, you might plant a nitrogen-fixing shrub next to a fruit tree, or a groundcover that attracts beneficial insects next to a vegetable bed.

As you plant, be sure to mulch around each plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds. You may also want to add organic matter such as compost or manure to improve the soil.

Maintain your food forest

Once your food forest is established, it will require minimal maintenance. You may need to prune trees and shrubs to maintain their shape and promote fruiting, and weed around young plants until they are established. Some layers will need to be replanted yearly, for your annual vegetables. You can also add additional plants and layers over time to increase diversity and productivity.

A food forest is a long-term investment that will provide food and other benefits for years to come. By following these steps, you can create a sustainable, low-maintenance system that will enhance your micro retreat, homestead, or mini compound.

What are your thoughts?

Have you begun adding any kind of permaculture to your property? Do you have a food forest? Are you interested in creating one? Do you have any pros or cons to add to this or advice to someone just getting started with it?

Let’s discuss food forests in the comments.

About Jose

Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.

 Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151

Article cross-posted from The Organic Prepper.

I will be posting more articles with more useful tips and tricks. To be fair, I’ve been so busy during election season that I haven’t had much time to work on my own preps, let alone offer tips. But the election is done so it’s time for me to get into it all again, especially considering the election means we’re closer now to whatever might make us use our preps.

For those who are actually considering moving to a safer area, it may behoove you to consider one of our newest sponsors and their amazing bunkers. I covered the article below in a short segment on the latest episode of The JD Rucker Show. Below is the article by J.G. Martinez at The Organic Prepper.

Most of us are not exactly farmers and will have a hard time growing or raising what we intend to eat if we just one day decide to start living off our harvests. It is a fact. Hunters and fishers obviously will have an edge after the collapse, but sadly, I am almost sure that in a tribal environment, my social position would not be too high.

That said, maybe joining a tribe after some age won’t be as romantic as it seems. Maybe a better idea, in order to live longer, is to stay low profile and semi-hidden, with only a few close friends and family nearby. At some age, you need some peace.

For many old-school survivalists of times already gone, the proper approach was a complete farm. The amount of work involved with this path is plenty.

The more land you have to take care of, the more problems!

I’ve seen this a few times. Hard-working people who made a few bucks with three or four crops in a row expanded their business by buying another farm somewhere else, and…bang!

With twice the land, their problems multiplied exponentially, and the need for further investment followed.

However, maybe for many of us, the ideal location is not a full-size homestead or a large compound.

A micro-retreat may be the solution.

The word “micro” suggests that something minimal should come to mind. My technical background immediately clicks when I think about anything related to a production facility, and I imagine a highly productive but compact environment.

I have always been fascinated by those overlanders’ custom-built rigs over a Mercedes Unimog chassis. They are compact and space-efficient but comfortable enough for prolonged stays. This is a remarkable example of a well-done micro-habitat.

Also, think about the tiny house movement. Some of those properties are designed for boondocking – living away from civilization and services. (Want to know how to keep your family fed when you have to use a micro-retreat? Check out our free QUICKSTART Guide to building a 3-layer food storage system.)

A micro-retreat doesn’t have to be a micro-producer.

Depending on your family group, or whatever the flavor of “clan” you may have, you could craft a small place quite productive with proper planning, provided you know your climate and your skill level. You could even disguise it as a “vacation” property. The beauty of this is that nobody has to know that your gun safe is in a hidden portion of the basement in your “hunting cabin.” Or, nobody has to know that those PVC DIY empty shelves in your basement will be to grow microgreens to complement your food supply.

Such planning will make your life easier. There will be less investment to make, you will work smarter and not harder (something that will make your senior years more pleasant!), and generally, it will be much easier to keep your place clean and well-maintained.

A “micro-retreat” doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself to the bare minimum land for your needs.

A plague could attack your crops. Someone could arrive unexpectedly, and you will need some extra. The ideal setup would be a place secluded enough, but where unexpected visitors will be able to stay, if needed.

As an example, you could think of a small greenhouse. You must think in terms of vertical expansion (upwards and downwards)if you want to keep the initial cost of a micro-retreat low enough and to maximize the space. I like to think the positive part of a small setup is that it will be much easier to keep hidden. Planting thorny bushes around will make it inextricable in a few years and will hide your orchard, gardens, and buildings. You may combine this with earthbag DIY construction that you can cover with dirt and some weed or grass grows over an ingenious layout, and it will be almost undetectable.

You may want it as a semi-permanent, permanent, or temporary residence.

The size will depend on what you want, what you need, and what you can afford. That’s the compromise.

Planning includes thinking thoroughly and drawing a sketch with the layout you believe you’re going to need. By dividing your needs into sections, or compartments, you will make sure it will be easier to make a much more complete analysis of what you need.

You need to know what is next to you!

Neighbors? A cliff?

A mountainside that could generate a mudslide? A lake? A river that could flood your place under several days of heavy rains? Hunting/fishing areas? And, by extension, you need to know what you don’t want nearby!

Try to keep things at a proper size using scaling.

What I like about the concept of a micro-retreat is that you don’t need too much space if you are on your own or have a small family. However, having space outdoors will be a big deal, even if your bedroom is a bunk bed on top of a study or desktop. And, if you build an area to hang out, even better.

You may want to use some advice from those who are professionals at living in small spaces.

Use vertical space.

You may even think on three levels, provided you’re in a place with plenty of sunlight:

• Level 1: A terrace with a pergola on top. Place solar panels here for Level 3. Have planters all around with spices or flowers. This level could double as a place to drink coffee, have dinner, or hang out. Or work as a watchtower. Make it easy to access with round stairs. Build it pretty, and make sure the water collected by this roof is collected.
• Level 2: Maybe some tanks for tilapia or more plants that don’t need too much sun? Perhaps you may want to start the microgreens growing at this level?. A secondary walk-in pantry? Materials storage, like plumbing, wiring, and car spare parts? Your woodworking shop? Butcher room? Smoker/dry food storage?
• Level 3: This is a basement.

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Here are a few final thoughts of mine on micro-retreats…

LED grow lights, a small pump for the water/nutrition solution mixture, and shelves with the greens will improve your capabilities to produce highly nutritive vegetables in a reduced space. You don’t need to dig too much. Just do good research on this topic.

Even better, if you can afford more than one, isn’t it always a good idea to have some redundancy in your survival assets? Why not build yet another micro-retreat in a place further away, just in case, then?

You don’t have to “think big.” Especially if the economy forced you to do with what you have.

Wise use of small spaces can be a challenge but very rewarding in the end as well. Let us know what you think in the comment section below and keep tuned for more!

Have you considered a micro-retreat?

What do you think about going small-scale for survival? Have you thought about downsizing instead of creating bigger and more elaborate plans? What do you see as the pros and cons?

Let’s discuss the concept of micro-retreats.

About Jose

Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.

 Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151

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