AlbertaPrepper, you should be very grateful for that support you have from your spouse. I see a lot of couples where one or the other is secretly prep'ing. That is a hard situation no doubt. Sounds like your well on your way though, welcome.
Briden Solutions, proudly helping Canadians obtain high quality Survival supplies. Visit us online https://www.bridensolutions.ca
probably one of the best forum's posted here. Nice job Alberta prepper...
Better to have it and not need it; then to need it and not have it...
I'm just curious, i've noticed several times the word BoB, can someone explain it to me please?
Thank you.. i have so many questions. Is this a good place to post them or will i get into trouble?
Thank you.. i have so many questions. Is this a good place to post them or will i get into trouble?
As long as your not the media.....
Better to have it and not need it; then to need it and not have it...
OK, so here's a question. I am about to build a garage and am thinking of putting a redoubt under it.. disguised of course. but i am torn as to wether this is a good expenditure of my assets. I live in a rural area with 80 acres of land, and about 200 km from a major City and about 20 km from a medium, size town. thoughts? Also any ideas as to how i should build and prepare this structure would be greatly appreciated.
OK, so here's a question. I am about to build a garage and am thinking of putting a redoubt under it.. disguised of course. but i am torn as to wether this is a good expenditure of my assets. I live in a rural area with 80 acres of land, and about 200 km from a major City and about 20 km from a medium, size town. thoughts? Also any ideas as to how i should build and prepare this structure would be greatly appreciated.
mabey dig a hole and Bury a 48' shipping container.. 3 to 4 feet of earth on top with 12 inches of reinforced concrete have a hidden access[ containers are cheap]...if you have a colony.].Hutterite colony] close get them to dig the hole and Bury it, it will be more secretive..Contractor will be telling everyone about the idiot that bured a container under his garage........be sure to cover it with waterproofing [tar] or something cheap... http://cratexcontainer.com/main/?Edmonton&gclid=COyqrOTe5K4CFWYJRQodJ1zGVw
Better to have it and not need it; then to need it and not have it...
As far as contractors are concerned, most would be thinking you are starting a grow op like that big one with all the train cars a while back. Having an underground bunker sounds great but you run into all kinds of problems and even more questions from contractors and cops. Instead.. build a house. My idea was to take a few shipping containers placed in a star formation, connect them so you can walk from one to the other with ease.. put one in the middle vertically like a tower and bury the rest with soil from around the structure thus creating a moat. This setup is heavily fortified and when people ask questions you can just say you are building a castle. While that may raise some eyebrows about your sanity, it doesn't carry the same stigma as a "bunker"
ok trapper69 now that we know you are in nirvana is there anything around for sale lol. I am trully looking for a place to buy, like west side of sask, east central alta, or where I can afford to buy some productive land and maybe be close to others of similar skills?
I love the idea of the cratex container and making a little fortress out of 5-10 of those 20' Containers as a BOL out in the country? Has anyone else looke into this or has anyone else done this already?
"It's better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it!"
this is something I had given some thought to. Here are some links I had been looking at:
This was my starting point and had some intersting info and links out to other spots
http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html
This one is AWESOME in my opinion for a bug out location you do not live at all the time.
http://gracie-senseandsimplicity.blogspot.ca/2012/01/shipping-container-cabin-update.html
Although I really like the "castle" design mentioned by Grim.
Crashed,
I like the link to the second one better than the first, only, because we have few tropical rain forests here in Canuckland. The tropical one could be made to work for our environment.
The retreat cabin idea presented on the second link has much to offer. I, especially, link the idea that the cargo doors close over the windows and front door, so you are given a warm fuzzy feeling when you are not there, that some arse is not using his BB gun, blasting out your windows when you are not around.
Another possible layout that might work, for those with the land would be to get 7 containers, the length you need. lay them out on the prepared ground in the shape of a 8 pointed star. Of course, one of the points would not have a container, that would be your entrance. You would have a central courtyard +/- at least 16 feet in diameter, maybe closer to 20 feet in diameter. Sorry, I am not sketching this out on paper, just working the rough details out in my head. The front corners of the containers would be touching, welded would be better. The courtyard would have an octagon shape. Either plant a power pole in the centre or set up trusses that can span the courtyard. With the trusses you could have a permanent metal roof or with the pole setup a semi-permanent 18 ounce vinyl tarp roof. Now, the space between the containers, which will be more the longer the containers are, you can locate plastic cistern and fuel tanks, run tall fill tubes and vent stacks. Next waterproof the containers and back fill. Landscape and contour to make the area look like a mound in the field, except where the entrance is. You will know which direction to locate the entrance, probably SW or SSW, as these direction receive the most favourable sun and warm winds. The ground will dictate. The only visible part will be the metal or vinyl roof. If the roof is raised a little and over hangs the mound by 6'+ on each side you should be able to have a row of windows to let sunshine into the courtyard. Not as sunny and warm as a home, but possibly a little less stigma than a full out & out bunker. With the exception of a mortar landing in the courtyard, most of the containers should be shielded enough from casual shelling. Anyone out there enjoyed casual shelling???? Living in a hole in the ground it did not feel very casual. 🙂
Maybe someday, I could sketch this idea out and post a picture of the drawings. I am a little short on cash today, so I can't build a full-scale demo to photograph. However, if you were to build such a structure now, in a season, the natural vegetation will have it looking like a mound in the field. The tarp type roof could be made to look like a large teepee. Role camouflage.
Mountainman.
These are some good ideas and these containers only cost around $3K/each so i'm better off getting these than building a cabin!!! I would love the idea of the second link you have posted (Crashed) because it feels and looks more like a cabin and if you have a family (wife & kids) it would make them feel more normal almost like still being at home in the city (minus the city!)
How much is a small piece of land cost that's in the woods out in interior B.C by the big lake does anyone know??? Also any prices for a piece of land by a lake here in Alberta outside/near Red Deer???
"It's better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it!"
The first link was just kind of a starting point. It was thru links from there that I found the second link I posted and I agree I really like that it looks and feels normal for the wife and kido's, while still being secure when you are not out there.
Mountainman, I also really am intersted in your idea and makes me think of some of the original homes settlers built into the sides of hills. The design sounds very secure, and a great bunker idea without being overly obvious when you are building it (to a point at least) and once it is done of course.
The first link was just kind of a starting point. It was thru links from there that I found the second link I posted and I agree I really like that it looks and feels normal for the wife and kido's, while still being secure when you are not out there.
Mountainman, I also really am intersted in your idea and makes me think of some of the original homes settlers built into the sides of hills. The design sounds very secure, and a great bunker idea without being overly obvious when you are building it (to a point at least) and once it is done of course.
I love the little cabin in link 2 as well. Having an earth covered abode would keep the inside warmer in winter and cooler in summer. For example in Cooper Pedy (South Australia) more than 50% of the homes are underground (due to excessive heat) but the concept would work with your chilly climate too. No-one needs to know it's a bunker - the earth covering could be to cut costs on running your "holiday cabin".
Cooper Pedy link FYI
http://35mm.instantfundas.com/2008/11/underground-houses-of-coober-pedy.html
Russell Coight....outback legend