LAND is key

[Diesel]

So the question is how much do you REALLY need, and where should it be?

I've been looking for land for quite some time going back and forth between something like 20 acres up to 200 acres.

Criteria for me is a mix of field and woodlands, and MUST have year round running water on it i.e river/stream

The question is how much is too much.. how much is not enough to sustain a familly... and where in this country would be safe?

Seems every where you look there's a potential target..

[bug_out]

Wind river range is close to the most remote place in the US I think. I am going to Tennessee near the Cumberland plateau. Gets me up in the mountains without having to deal with a large amount of snow. I have offers on 3 places right now in Tennessee. 43 acres, 72 acres, and 177 acres.

All of them have different qualities. The 43 acres has a stream going through it. The 72 acres has great highlands, and the 177 acres is just huge. Would like to have more than 43 but the land is nice and to hard to pass up. Waiting on counter offers etc.

I picked Tennessee for a host of reasons. Land is cheap, its beautiful, still quasi close to the coast if i had to get there, mountains without a ton of snow, unbelievably nice people, etc etc. My wife and I have looked other places but Tennessee fit all of our wants and needs. Easy to get up in the mountains seemingly a long way from civilization and dig in, yet still be conveniently close enough to the "grid" while it survives.

I'd say too much land is tough to defend unless its set up just right. As far as a number of acres per person is concerned...... not really sure of an equation that comes to mind. Like I said, I'm building a farm on mine so i have to consider that. Also, it's a fact my in-laws will be moving in with us when they get older so having the land will allow me to build them a house near enough but far enough if you get what I mean. Also I would like to keep my children on my land when they get married if thats what they want. So need to be able to provide them with their privacy with land. Just some things I have thought about that contribute to my land purchases.

[Visionary]

Sounds well thought out to me.

[das]

Keep in mind proximity to cities and major highways. The theory that people will migrate following a disaster (Golden Horde) would be a major defense consideration. If you can see water or food or civilization or lights then expect visitors.

I've never been able to afford land with a river or year round stream. In Texas these places just don't go on the market and if they do they are snapped up by investors at insane prices. A good well (hand pumped shallow draw) with clean water should be the goal of most people in a survival situation as it can be obscured as an out building to maintain a low profile.

In a starvation situation human life becomes pretty cheap. Imagine trying to defend a water source in LA or Vegas? You would have to climb over the bodies just to escape.

[forever_frost]

If bad comes to worse, I have Cooper lake within walking distance. I can get all teh water I need from there, but I do have a stream running through my place. I just wish it was year round.

[kenno]

Keep in mind that springs/wells can provide good drinking water and possibably irrigation water as well.

[Visinedrops]

Too bad our great and benevolent government decided the homestead act wasn't feasable anymore, now you get to pay for simply owning the land, and any improvements made to it add to the amount you get to pay.

I think the best BOL is one you can't redily get to to actually scope out. Drive up in the mountains to hike a couple hours to me still isn't far enough away. I want to be air lifted to my site, then shoot down the chopper.

[cudalyon]

I have a little over 7 acres, with a 1/4 mile long driveway, so I am fairly secluded. My propery is a hill with the house on top and good bottom land with a creek.

[OneBadPig]

Note to self: never give Visinedrops a helicopter ride.
I live on 20 acres 2 miles out of a small town. Its not as far out as i'd like to be, but has heavy tree cover around the property. No flowing water but there is a small pond stocked with catfish. Supposedly it has never gone dry, although after this drought the level is fairly low.
I dont know what geographic area is best, but i need a balance between being remote and having schools, medical care and WallyWorld within reasonable distance.

[Ulath]

So the question is how much do you REALLY need, and where should it be?

I've been looking for land for quite some time going back and forth between something like 20 acres up to 200 acres.

Criteria for me is a mix of field and woodlands, and MUST have year round running water on it i.e river/stream

The question is how much is too much.. how much is not enough to sustain a familly... and where in this country would be safe?

Seems every where you look there's a potential target..

Our old family farm was 50 acres. This was enough land for my Great Grandfather to support the family growing corn and cotton as main crops and a garden for veggies. This would also depend on what climate you are looking to move to. Our location averages over 25 inches a year. Highest amout is 80 inches. It was a swamp. They did not have running creeks but relied on an underground cistern beside the house that caught rain run off from the roof. It was good water too
I don't think there is anything such as too much land but the taxes will eat you alive on the larger places.
As to where it should be that would depend on what you are being safe from? I am setting mine up for economic problems and hurricane hide away. Zombie invation and I'm going to be in a bind. :eek:

[free2bme]

I was wondering if maybe buying a rather large place like maybe 400 acres and setting up very small hunting cabin type places and having others buy in for thier families might be the answer. In the end we would have more people to help defend the place as well as work the fields. In the mean time it would be a great place for everyone to go for a week or two here and there to kick back fish hunt and relax! What do you guys think of the idea? Are we better of by ourselves or with others? Figured it would help max our skill sets as well.

[sd allen]

Sound like a really good idea.I have also entertained the same ideas with others.

[Stahlberg]

Yes, when shtf we will need to stay together in small communities, single families spread out and isolated won't be able to rebuild as fast.

this is what I see happening, in a worst case scenario with zero infrastructure in the entire US:

First the tankers will stop coming, and gas stations will be empty within a day or so.
Most people will be out of gas within a week or 2 or 3 from that day - this time span will depend on how long before the water supply dries up in people's houses. Before that, they will sit tight and only go out occasionally for food, but after that, the unprepared will need to fetch water every one or two days. For most people this means a car ride. So, they'll be out of gas, and walking, soon after that.

This is where it gets dangerous for those who have prepared. Now you have perhaps millions of people wandering around dying from thirst. It carries a brief immediate danger of being attacked if you have water, but the bigger danger comes later. Many will find their way to water - lakes, ponds, etc. The bigger the lake the more people will camp there. They will not leave again, even though they starve, because leaving means dying from thirst. So they die from starvation right there, poisoning the water with feces and rotting corpses.

Land is key, it's true, and the key to the land is to stay away from cities and towns, yes of course, but also large lakes with easy access for people on foot. If anyone disagrees and sees a different scenario please let me know.

[KY_Longrifle]

I have about 15 acres in an area approx 15 miles from the closest city with a population of 10,000. It's not really near any 'major' highways but its still very assessable if you know where you are going. On the land there is a 3 tier tobacco barn, and a dairy shed. The smaller shed can easily convert to a comfortable size shelter.
On the property there are 3 independent springs, 2 of which are tied into a spring house with manual pump. There is the other one feeds a fairly good size pond. There is about 8 acres of wood lot and the which the 2 springs going through the spring house form a creek that get get to decent sizes in the fall-spring. There is one home that borders the property, but they are very like minded and I trust them quite a bit. I wish I lived closer to it, but it is a very close (6-7hrs) drive from my current spot.

[herbalpagan]

We looked for two years before we found this place and moved in last year. We have 37 acres, with another 33 that is vacant and they are thinking of selling next door (no one has ever lived on that land). It's mostly wooded, lots of water, surounded by state forest on three sides. Our drive is literally behind the neighbors barn and is about a quarter mile long. The neighbor's house is at the end of a dead end dirt road just before the next town over. He's also the ONLY neighbor we have. Litterally only him and one part timer on the road. We are close enough to town for a commute to wrk for my husband, but far enough out to avoid unwanted visitors. No one comes accidentally, you have to know we are here to get here. We are pretty much on top of a mountain in garden zone 5. I have a large raised bed garden and have started planting fruit trees and bushes. I can't grow grain, but I can handle pretty much everything else. Eventually, we are going to build "guest cabins" for the kids (5 grown)
We are away from most anything that a terrorist would want to hit, far enough off the beaten path to avoid most refugees, and just open enough to see anyone who approaches.