Preparing the Homestead for 4 November 2020

Here at Campfire Homesteading, we try our hardest to stay out of the political fray. Our approach is to vote for your interests, whatever that means for you.

It is no secret to anyone that America is in the midst of significant domestic turmoil. It is not our intention to argue the merits either way. The reason we raise this is because we are homesteaders and preppers in the sense that we have invested in our own ability to weather a crisis.

As a U.S. Army Combat Veteran, I still look at the horizon and scan for potential threats. If you are reading the tea leaves of this year, you will see that there is the potential for significant domestic disruption regardless of the results of the election. Although we have our own thoughts on how we would prefer it to play out, the main concern is the ability to sustain ourselves on our Homestead and the implications for widespread civil unrest in major population centers.

The 1st Amendment does not protect this…

What are we doing?

• We have taken a second and third look at our food storage and filled holes in the pantry and deep food stores.

• We have ensured we have the proper means for home defense.

• Earlier in the year, we purchased things that would enable us to have redundant energy production.

• We eliminated what little debt we had.

• We have generally planned for what a ‘bug in’ scenario looks like. However, we also have ‘bug out’ bags prepared in the event that we would have to leave our current location.

• We have also gently nudged our loved ones to make reasonable preparations for the potential for disruptions to normal life, even more so than what COVID-19 has caused.

In the U.S. Army context, we “Improved our Fighting Position.” We are about a month away from election day and we pray and hope that cooler heads prevail, and that America observes a peaceful conclusion of an election season.

Regardless of who wins in November, our hope is that the American citizenry can accept the results, and engage with their elected officials to voice their concerns. This is what separates America, our Founder’s vision, our Constitution, and our nation from third world nations.

Sadly, if I were a betting man (I am not), I do not foresee a calm resolution to this year’s political happenings.

What do we expect?

If you are several dozen miles away from a major population center and believe that you will not be affected by civil unrest, you are wrong. We don’t exactly know what may happen but we will not be caught unprepared.

Anyone that is familiar with how disruptions in major population centers happen, you know that what starts in the cities moves to the suburbs, and then to the countryside. This may not happen over night or even in the days immediately following a significant event (depending on the event). However, as people flee major unrest in a big city, they will not make it as far as they think they will… the major lines of communication (roads) become parking lots… the supply chain fails and the 72 hours of food that exists in a major city disappears… and chaos ensues shortly after that.

What highways look like as people flee in the midst of a disaster…

Don’t get us wrong, we do not believe that America is facing a Mad Max scenario. However, we do expect for emotions to run high, some people will engage in violence, and for there to be unrest in select areas of the United States.

So what!? I am sure some are saying.

Here is why this matters. As if preparing for a bad storm to hit, there will be those that simply react. They will rush to the store and purchase as much eggs, milk, toilet paper, and bottled water as they can fit in their shopping cart. Vehicles will be lined up at gas stations as people fill up and fill their gas containers. And people may also empty ATMs so that they have cash on hand just incase there are issues with electronic payment systems.

If you are like us, this make our monthly trip to town problematic. We don’t like problematic.

What do we recommend?

• Plan now. Make reasonable preparations for the potential for your life to be disrupted.

• Have a means of self and home defense.

• If you are in a population center where you foresee civil unrest, go hang out at Grandma’s house in the country for a bit.

• Stay calm and avoid situations that may devolve into chaos.

• Have a bag packed in case you have to leave your home.

• Have the means to bunker down in your home for a while without leaving.

• Link up with like minded individuals.

You lose nothing by being prepared!

As I was taught in the U.S. Army, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” This does not mean that your plan will work out perfectly, but you will be in a great position for what may come.

If you have ever wondered about the many reasons homesteaders homestead and preppers prep, you have arrived at just one of many reasons. Even if nothing happens, you have gained the ability to sustain yourself in the event that a bad winter storm comes this year or if next year mirrors 2020.

“Failure to plan on your part, does not constitute an emergency on mine”

- Lamare’s former Platoon Sergeant in the U.S. Army

As we stated before, we are hopeful that nothing crazy happens; no sane person would want America to suffer domestic unrest. But we are unwilling to bet our homestead that nothing will.