Original Oil Painting by: Grandfather’s wife
Grandfather says he thinks there are some tough years ahead.
He says be creative and live better as those years go by.
B F Goodrich & Co. built a specialty rubber plant here, fabricating mostly aircraft and military equipment, about 50 years ago. It has long since been gobbled up by an international conglomerate, of course. Anyway, about twenty years ago the plant was expanded and had no further need for a forty-foot long, ten-foot diameter heavy steel chemical storage tank, which Grandfather bought for $2000.
It’s used as a cistern, storing 12,400 gallons of rainwater off a barn roof.
No need for gov’mint-supplied water, nor a drilled well — just atmospheric filtration, plus nominal purification, beats that of most municipal water supplies.
Observation: Most jurisdictions outlaw such independent water systems. Rule one: Get out of town!
Your opportunities will be different, but you need to be of a mindset and in a place where your imagination can sustain you in the years ahead.
Grandfather says he remembers how long the great depression of the 1930s lasted. Don’t waste time wishing you were better prepared now — start your new life and you will gradually get ahead with time.
Blue 55 gallon drum contains filters for rainwater off the barn roof.
Water hose and electrical cord are connected to the pump in the tank.
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
Very wise man!
Thank you, Belinda.
There were three of them who visited the Christ Child in Bethlehem.
Wish I could be sure wise men are in 3:1 ratio to the thoughtless in the U.S. today.
Sadly, I don’t think it is a 3:1 ratio. 1:3, perhaps.
Prob’ly so, Jason.
Wisdom can’t prevail when the wise of old are scorned. Example: One pejorative aimed at them: “Dead white males”.
Well, I hate to say it, Dave, but that thing looks more like … a submarine. 😀
And in your neck of the woods, I’m sure it works just fine. Up in my colder state, it would have to be buried, and not much melts in the winter.
We have a drilled well literally under the house we bought, filtered by a whole lot of granite, so we’re good to go with backup for the pump.
But we all have to figure out our own situation, which, unfortunately, people are no longer taught to do. A whole generation has been taught to take every problem to the government, which gives the government more power. Suspicious minds think that was the plan.
And you’re right, of course. The times, they are a-changin’.
Good to here from you again, akaGaGa!
Looks terrible, doesn’t it? Like the tree falling in the forest beyond earshot making no noise: who cares?
Demonstrated here and by earlier posts of yours, you’re a kindred spirit – your solutions are well done – unique to you.
My hope is that the tough times to come will ignite the kindred spirit in many more folks.
Maybe this ol’ boy now in Shakespeare’s sixth age should get out his grade-school spelling book. “here”? Nope: HEAR.
RD,
Good setup.
We use a spring high enough on our mountain that it will gravity feed to the house and farm. I started with a 1,000 gal in ground concrete tank, and later went to a 10×20 building just below the spring in which I installed a couple of 1500 gal poly tanks.
Ran a line off the top of the tanks for an overflow since the spring constantly fills the tanks, and ran it parallel to the supply down down the mountain. The overflow waters our chickens and cows with constantly fresh water and the excess dumps into a fish pond to allow us to raise catfish.
Lot to be said for independence in resources like water, food, energy, heat.
andy
Well, we’ve all known for a long time that you are a kindred spirit, andy, and your solutions for independent living are about as comprehensive as any I’ve come across. Kudos!
Dave and Andy: You are both an inspiration to me when it comes to self-reliance and building your own real-life versions of Galt’s Gulch. Thank you both for sharing your experiences and wisdom.
(Andy: Thank you for all of the great photos you recently sent me of your beautiful farm and mountain — and all of the amazing things you have done there over the years.)