Ways to become more free

  • B.Lynn

    Member
    October 13, 2022 at 1:25 am

    We just got a few ibc containers. Have to rinse them out, connect(do not know how yet) them together and connect to gutter system. Too bad we did not fet them a few days before the rain tonight.

    • TagNBee

      Community Leader
      October 13, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      I have said this many times but I think water should be at the top of the list.

      • B.Lynn

        Member
        October 15, 2022 at 4:02 pm

        100% agree. We have troughs for animals and a few small catch barrels, but this should help us out a lot.

      • Squashmania

        Member
        October 23, 2022 at 4:15 am

        When I bought this place, I was an ignorant. Suburbanite. I had no idea the hydrogen dioxide goldmine I fell into. Not nearly as elaborate as your house, but the basement ceiling is an imposing nest of copper pipes. There is a 15K gallon cistern of rain water off the roof on one end under the garage (,totally hidden) and a well at the other end of the house and a quarter acre pond behind that drains into a state scenic waterway a 15 min. walk from the back property line.

    • mousehouse

      Member
      October 14, 2022 at 2:31 am

      currently we aren’t FREE from the system we are tied into municipal water and sewer but I have 2 fifteen gallon water containers and a dozen or so ceramic filters and two distilling setups that i can use to distill water

      • BiggKidd

        Member
        October 14, 2022 at 2:38 am

        Don’t forget drinking distilled water can strip needed minerals out of your body.

    • skainsgirl

      Member
      October 14, 2022 at 5:49 am

      Water has been my primary concern. I have been trying to find used food grade IBC totes for the garden without success. They are all fertilizer and herbicide. I did find that they make liners for them that are really affordable, but they are for reuse of food grade IBC’s. I did manage to get my hands on a few 55-gallon plastic barrels.

      I also saw a video from Arkansas Prepper with some really neat ideas I hadn’t seen before. B Lynn check his video for gutter hookup. Love his clean out system. DIY Rain Barrel System Explained – YouTube.

      You could use the first barrel from his system and tie that into your tote. Lots of videos on IBC connectors and adapters from folks right here on freesteading.

      • mousehouse

        Member
        October 14, 2022 at 3:14 pm

        I found this maybe it will help,

        https://containerexchanger.com/bulk-containers/ibc-totes-for-sale

        I don’t know what state you are in However a simple google search gave me several options for south Carolina

        • This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by  mousehouse.
      • JulieDogmom

        Member
        October 14, 2022 at 3:42 pm

        I definitely want to check that out. I’ve been looking for IBC totes for my preps for a while (new ones are expensive) and I’ve seen many different uses for them too. From storing water for household and garden/animal watering to making an outdoor shower setup. Someone mentioned checking CL and/or Fakebook marketplace for used ones.

      • skainsgirl

        Member
        October 14, 2022 at 7:59 pm

        Thanks. I am in Louisiana, but no one is ever selling them here on that site.

      • B.Lynn

        Member
        October 15, 2022 at 3:56 pm

        Thanks! I will.

      • Squashmania

        Member
        October 23, 2022 at 4:19 am

        I still want to build the IBC water tower to drip irrigate the garden. Only about 10 feet high or so. Nothing gigantic. Something like this.

      • skainsgirl

        Member
        October 23, 2022 at 10:19 pm

        nice! I’m on such a steep hill, I wouldn’t even have to build it that high!

    • HoneysGarden

      Member
      October 18, 2022 at 12:02 am

      There are various methods of connecting totes – a quick search on youtube turned up a slew of videos showing how different individuals got’er done . . . I just searched ‘connecting IBC totes’.

  • Hippocrates_Garden

    Member
    October 23, 2022 at 4:52 am

    This reminds me of a story, many may have heard a version of:

    Once a man was sitting under a tree, fishing with a pole.

    Up walks one known for being “successful” in the community. He asks the man why he is fishing with only one pole, rather than 2 or more.

    The fisherman responds “why would I want to do that?”

    “Well, to catch more fish of course”

    “And why would I do that”

    “with more fish, you could sell some and buy a net”

    “and why would I do that”
    “to catch even more fish, sell them, and buy a net”

    “and why would I do that”

    “Och! to catch even more fish, sell them, and buy boats”
    and so it went until he had would have a fleet of boats and fishermen working for him.

    Finally, the successful man said, “all this, so that you can relax and do what you wish!”

    To which the fisherman said.. “but I’m doing that now”

  • Jillian

    Member
    October 23, 2022 at 4:53 am

    Until I read Toni’s post I would have had food at the top of my list. Food ensured my kids’ survival and I didn’t want any store dictating that. So I began gardening, to cut grocery costs was able to put more money towards my car payment. I made friends with people who had fruit trees that would let me come pick what I wanted. I would can and freeze it all with jars I got at an estate sale for ten cents a jar. That was how I began my journey and I’ve never looked back. Even all these years later, my neighbor brings me her free range organic turkey carcass every holiday so I can boil it down and can broth. So while I wanted no debt, I knew I had to tackle food first to achieve that goal.

    1. Thought

    2. Food

    3. Debt

    4. Energy

    5. Water

  • Fossilman

    Member
    October 23, 2022 at 11:53 am

    I would add networking with like minded people to the list. (Using this site for example) It is very hard to stand alone. By that I mean it is hard to be an expert at gardening, carpentry, pluming, herbal medicine, raising animals, hunting, etc. So be expert at some items and trade with others who are expert in other areas that you are not expert. I am an introvert by nature, however I do have select neighbors and friends with the same independent nature that I have. For example I have a large garden and about 30 fruit and nut trees. I have a neighbor with chickens, my son in law hunts, so I trade food from my garden with them for eggs, deer meat, etc. I also have what I call online friends. People I have not met in person that are basically freesteaders that I trade ideas with and learn from.

  • DrumminSon

    Member
    January 13, 2023 at 5:59 am

    Do you think today’s government would agree?

    • JerseyGiantChick

      Member
      January 13, 2023 at 6:26 am

      Nope no way, because it is not for (our) freedom Having the governme(s) not behind or on your side but against, is a whole different ballgame.

      Just going to hug pets and plant flowers.

      • DrumminSon

        Member
        January 13, 2023 at 6:46 am

        I Agree…

  • DrumminSon

    Member
    January 13, 2023 at 6:50 am

    Bring ‘em in…

  • KimC

    Member
    January 14, 2023 at 5:15 am

    So many great ideas and discussions here!

  • DrumminSon

    Member
    January 19, 2023 at 4:23 am
  • coyotech

    Member
    January 21, 2023 at 1:40 am

    It does take a mental change to decide to live free. There are lots of things you gain, and also lots of things you give up. Those considerations are different at different stages of your life, too. A young couple with no children are very free, and so is an old person on their own. A young couple with children have different things to consider. If you are middle aged with older children, or middle aged without children … taking care of family members or having no dependents … with health problems, or with good health … liking to work with your hands, or being without mechanical aptitude … having experience or having no experience … being raised urban or raised rural … these all play into it. Anybody can finally make the decision to live free, but there is quite a bit more change and adjustment for some people than others, and probably the majority of people will never get there, or even want to.

    I worked in that direction for years, but didn’t make the full jump. I earned the living, my husband was much older than me and didn’t have the bug, and we had a semi-rural place that I liked. But when I was widowed and on my own, the jump to leave it and start out new and free was very easy. It didn’t take any internal debate or external arguments, and I have no regrets.

  • gods-child

    Member
    February 2, 2023 at 12:28 am

    i am just begging this journey

    i have a small solar setup for medical equipment

    i have my own gas and electric meters installed [yes is is legal here in the UK [contrary to what others say] as i have thoroughly checked out the law

    super fun fact

    electricity can non be stolen

    p4 oxford dictionary of law 10th ed 2022 states

    Abstraction of electricity

    in Lowe v Blease [1975] crim LR 513 it was held that electricity could not be stolen as it is not property within the meaning of section 4 Theft act 1968

    i have a few local sources whereby i can get 12v car batteries anywhere from £10 ~ £40

    i have paraffin lamps and stove and can get used-engine-oil free and paraffin for around £8 a UK gallon

    being mentally and spiritually free is the biggest way to be free, free of fear and worry and stress anxiety and depression etc

  • FortWallCox

    Member
    June 19, 2023 at 12:22 am

    We are in Southern IL, about an hour east of STL. Where did you say you were? I never thought of Kansas for land if/when we leave IL. Always thought it was wide open. Just remember the drive to Colorado. Lol. We are looking for land for homesteading. Open area, water/creeks/wood for milling/land for animals. I know you said northern Kansas somewhere with rolling hills and woods. Is that just in Northern Kansas? It ready to pull the trigger just yet, but just wanting to see where/what would work best for our needs. Thanks!

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