Finding, Buying, and Building a Sustainable Bug Out Location: Lessons Learned

I started this process over 30 yrs ago and I'm not done yet. But I thought it might be helpful to others to share what I've learned about finding a large enough piece of land, well suited to survival. What I learned about buying it. What I learned (to date) about developing the basic infrastructure to sustain life.

Step one, Funding. I saved for over 20 yrs before I started shopping for land. Since having a loan on a survival property kinda defeats the purpose, I was prepared to pay cash.

Step two, Climate. I considered things like rainfall, growing seasons, land prices, property taxes, and state and local regulations. Others may choose a different balance, but my recommendation is the Ozark and the Ouachita Mtn areas of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Step three, Size. I decided to retire and operate this as a viable ranch. This meant I needed enough grazing areas and some pasture suited to hay production. I bought 64 ac, but if I only planned on growing a garden and raising some chickens and sheep, I would look for 10-15 ac.

Step Four, Location. My land is not off grid, but it is seriously remote. There is next to no traffic on the dirt road leading to my ranch, and the buildings are located away from the road. You litteraly can not see or hear what is happening on the majority of my place from any public road. There is only one road in, it leads straight up a steep hill, and I control it.

Step Five, Infastructure. When I bought the land it was nothing but grass and a fence. No power, no buildings, and the old driveway was a rutted muddy mess. My priorities when I started building this place were Access, Electric Power, Running Water, Septic, Dry Shelter, and Secure Storage. I lived in a tent for several months while I built the shop building.

Step Six, Food Production. I moved in with several large dogs, and a Flock of sheep. I had planted a number of hardwood nut trees, but the wildlife seemed to devoure the Pecan trees I planted. The state forestry dept offers low cost seedlings, and I going to replant fruit and nut trees in 4-5 separate small groves. I currently have Goats, Sheep, Guinea Hogs, Chickens, Rabbits, and Rocky Mtn Horses.

What did not work very well.

I Hired a contractor to repair the entrance road before I moved here. I should have insisted that no work be done before I got here.

I tried storing some tools on the property before I had secure storage. Every thing I stored was stolen. Now I have a 20 ft Conex container.

I tried using a couple of older water wells when I first moved here. I ended up redrilling them and I invested a total of $10k on my wells.

I completely misjudged the effect of parasites and predators on my livestock. I lost 1/3 of my older sheep in my first year from round worms and liverflutes, and two young guinea hogs were attacked by a 90 lb predatory cat (black panther).

What worked terrific,

I bought a medium power 4 WD tractor with a front loader and a backhoe. This allows me to complete all the water diversion, drainage, and trenching work myself.

I built a shop building with room to park my 5th wheel camper, before packing and moving the biulk of my good from California.
I also installed a septic tank, leach line, and purchased a 2,500 gal water tank for storing drinking water.

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Finding, Buying, and Building a Sustainable Bug Out Location: Lessons Learned