There is a proven method for testing your fence for goatproofiness. Toss a bucket of water at the fence. If the water goes through, so will the goats.

We find that 4x4 inch galvanized panels work fairly well. Regular cattle panels do not. Also, don't ever toss an escaped goat back over the fence. He'll then know, "Goats can fly!" He will teach the others to fly over the fence, and you'll have to install taller fence or put a mesh cap over the entire goat pen. Sometimes we just leave the goats out to wander around. They know where home is at dinner time.

Some people train their goats to electric fence. Electric works very well for horses, because even if the fence is off for a couple of weeks the horses will respect it. Not so with goats. They test it frequently and sometimes just duck underneath it regardless. Or perhaps irregardless.

You know, I had to laugh about the goats. They may be safer than cattle, but the little devils are sneaky and determined. They can and will expose every possible weakness on your property. Mine are boer goats, and I love them best when they are far out in pasture :-).

Very much so. If you have a vegetable garden you will need to keep varmints out of it, and electric fence, which your livestock neighbors already understand, will be a good choice. Your own private Gulch should include enough people that you can accomplish division of labor. Also, some of the work needed for your Gulch will be things such as wrangling livestock, putting a new roof on your house, and shearing sheep that are all "a young man's job" and cannot be done well by folks my age. Helping livestock farmers is a good idea. You will learn how to avoid dangerous or expensive blunders.

For a long time "city folks" have made fun of farmers as ignorant dolts. Going out and doing a bit of agriculture can change one's opinion.

150 is a great estimate. I put up about 250 jars/person in 2021, about 2/3 of that was from canning.

Great point! That is certainly a good idea. Before I started homesteading, I picked up about a supply from Mountain House, just so I'd have something to grab for emergencies. I did that after an awful and expensive hurricane experience when we were on the beach in Florida.

Everyone should have a supply like that. I still have/keep "25-year food", but now it is from my own recipes.

I keep a good supply of quality "prepper" foods on hand for emergencies and bugout, just in case. I don't rely on them to get me through a major mess, but they really come in handy for quick, healthy meals and for barter.

Try American Book Exchange. They are a huge network of book sellers, mostly used, with good to great prices.

I was thinking about the social/meetup aspect of this thread. I never had much luck with finding a group based on politics, but then I’m a bit of an introvert anyway and I am probably married to the only person whose opinions match mine line by line.

So, FWIW -
What I have done though, is connect through a group focused on a lifestyle and it worked out well for me. It wouldn’t be the same for any of you, but it worked out for me.

I belong to an online group of homesteaders… it is more of a skills group than social, and has members worldwide. Many homesteaders (and non-homesteaders) also receive supplies (from organic animal feed to groceries) from Azure Standard (https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=..., via a truck delivery to a local drop point. Azure has drop points almost everywhere in the US.

So I reached out to some of the local folks in the homesteading membership group and suggested that we meet at the monthly Azure drop. It gave us a simple meeting venue that works into what we're already doing. That worked out really well for me – we are all at different places in life but have a shared desire to learn how to live a better lifestyle. It is not a political group, and in truth we’ve never discussed politics specifically, but IMO, people who are seeking this kind of a lifestyle certainly have a few other things in common.

Anyway, we chat off/on about things of interest – solar, bread-making, gardens, preps and whatever else makes us tick. The monthly Azure truck comes in this Sunday, and we’re planning to meet up for coffee in advance. It is a refreshing outlet and source of both support and inspiration. In truth, I’m glad we are not politically affiliated. There’s already too much of that for my taste.

Amazon sells it. I read it decades ago but it is listed as 2014. Maybe a reprint.

HAHAHA That sounds like you should pick a new state to live in before you start your Meetup group. But you're living there. I think that website it worth it. Actually it was started in California. I don't know to what degree the leadership meddles. Have a title of "White Heterosexual Men For Prosperity and see what happens and who walks in...I'd put NO DRUGS on your website to keep the kooks out. Some of them.

Thanks. "Going Galt in place" is exactly the direction I'm aiming for. It will be a process and a journey, and a spectrum I'm sure.

Ha, thanks. Sad but funny and predictable.

Not sure what my theme would be but since I'm in California, it would probably be something like "Pursuing the American dream in occupied territory." How does that sound to you?

Thanks again very much. How to start living this life that is enjoyable and healthy - not just the extreme prepper food that can't be replenished on my own - that is the whole point exactly!

Thanks! This sounds very relevant and value to me.

Thanks very much for this comprehensive answer! I'm working my way through all the others now... saving notes for homework later.

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not ready or able to get into the livestock world... maybe helping local people do that and become friends with them would be smart.

Thanks! :-) I'll take credit for starting it but it's great answers and examples from people like Idiocracy42 who I was hoping would pick up the ball and help move it forward. Onward!

Thanks. I tried to order that book but ran into trouble... I forget - maybe I could only find copies for over $100 because it's out of print? I'll have to try again.

Those sound like very good strategies. Rewarding in more ways than one. Thanks.

Yes. There really is something to "going Galt in place". I started a few years ago. I just recently finished a career in the government-science complex and what I saw there pushed me out early. Not surprised one bit to read that the CDC is withholding public information on vaccines now. The government, with its connection to the healthcare industry, will kill you deader than a door nail and not bat an eye. I left. Now, I'm living in a state where the government leaves us alone, where normal citizens go just outside city limits and target practice in the countryside, where fat trout swim 10 minutes from my house. It's important to maintain fiscal viability. So, I understand why some people do what you're describing. All the best...

"This is one rocking post:)" Yes, it is!

You might get some ideas on changing some ideas on living from Harry Browne's
"How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World: A Handbook for Personal Liberty"

LOL, all I can say is that it is a journey. Prepper is such a loaded term these days. I suppose I am one, but for me, I am just trying to rely less on systems that I don't fully trust and find a bit of satisfaction in learning and having (some) success with new things.

The Square Foot Gardening method is probably the best method to grow more in less space. It's all organic, too. Please see www.squarefootgardening.org for information about our system and/or get a copy of All New Square Foot Gardening, Third Edition. I'm a Certified Instructor and can answer most questions you may have.

I believe that you have struck upon the correct answer here and this is why I have moved to the field of education. I know that this seems counter intuitive but I work within the system and do everything that I can to save the few students that I encounter with the ability to think for themselves. The rest I ensure that they are exposed to a different way of thinking while I stand back and watch it all burn.

In April of 2020 I moved everything that I have into oil stocks and predicted that oil would do exactly what it is currently doing. I will never be rich but I also won't go hungry.