My Doomstead

[18hammers]

Here is a little glimpse of my doomstead. I can say I have been here decades, more than a couple, trees I have planted now give me shade. I will be staying until that tap on the shoulder comes. I am just going for comfort now, as much as I can, where I can, how I can. Looking for the easy button while still maintaining some autonomy.
Big changes over the last 4 years, switched to Lifepo4 for batteries. I know, that is not sustainable or renewable, guess what? neither am I. I would be lucky to make 20 years, at least I am covered for power during my time left. Diesel air heaters, the cheap Chinese ones, discovered them 4 years ago and knocked a chord off my wood use for heat. Have one set up to blow hot air on demand right onto the sofa I sit on. Great for the shoulder seasons. Looks like a problem with the picture I was adding, saying file too large, looks like I can't post the picture.....hmmmmm
 

[RE]

Most of the Diners with Doomsteads no longer participate.  Not sure why that is.  I think most of them still  have them, particularly the ones who live on them full time and have made it a lifestyle choice.  Not sure about those who lead typical urban or suburban lifestyles but maintain an off grid Doomstead as a retreat for when SHTF Day arrives.  Perhaps they have become tired of or disinterested in sharing their ideas and plans.  Also, there's always a decent amount of negative feedback from the Denier faction who consider the whole idea of maintaining, or even worse living on a Doomstead to be foolish.  You can extend that to prepping in general, being repeatedly told how you are wasting your time, there's no way to really prep for it.  Or it's a waste of time because it's not going to happen in your llfetime, because everyone who predicted it was going to happen by now obviously has been proved wrong.

For the long term, commited Doomsteaders, there's a lot of Know-it-All that makes it kind of boring to go over all the ideas and methods they are using or building.  The permaculture methods, the 12V electric systems, the composting toilets, wealth preservation attempts with Gold or Crypto, Gunz & Ammo, location choices etc, etc, etc.  Those who consider it worthwhile do it, those who don't, don't and neither can ever convince the other to change.

The only thing left on the discussion front are the Newbies who are only just becoming aware of the real depth of the problems our society has and how intractable they really are.  Committed Doomsteaders want to encourage the newbies to prep up, deniers want to convince them not to waste their time and energy or change their lifestyle to try and prepare since all the predictions of collapse have been wrong.

Here on the Diner in its current incarnation there aren't any real newbies participating, and all the Diners who are chatting fall into one of the other 2 categories.  As a consequence, there's not a whole lot of discussion going on about Doomsteading.

RE

[18hammers]

A lot over the years have gone quiet or given up. Frankly 95% of the doomers/preppers and such I know of or have met have been disappointing but I am sure to be equally so to them.
There are a few reasonably sane ones about, few and far between though. I just keep plugging away, not looking to change the world, just my little patch of ground, not looking to make converts to the cause either, but I always like learning how people adjust and adapt. Always something to learn. I stay at it living in the country  just because I need the elbow room and enjoy the nature around me (such that it is).
 

[RE]

Generally speaking, the ones I know still at the game have a similar approach, at least as far as not really concerning themselves with anything more than their own particular patch of ground and the people close to them, family and close friends with a similar mindset.  Most if not all efforts to develop a larger consensus and efforts on a society wide basis have met with very entrenched resistance by the vast majority of people unwilling to make changes to the lifestyle they have become accustomed to as the Industrial Civilization grew and progressed.

Although most of the discussion forums where Doomsteaders share idea seem to have thinned out lately, most of the reference material is still up on the net somewhere, so you can always Google to find different ideas and methods to accomplish whatever prepping job you're working on for sprucing up the Doomstead and adding some resilience.  The great thing about being a Doomer is your work is never done.  It's a lifetime hobby. 

RE

[18hammers]

A bad day on the doomstead, smoke so thick I have a pounding head, and can taste the smoke. Such may be our future.

[RE]

If the floods don't getchya, the wildfires will.  Locating a doomstead completely free of climate related hazards is pretty close to impossible.  Any spot with enough water for long term survival is at risk for either drought or flood. Coastal areas at risk of hurricanes, tornadoes inland.  Then of course you have your earthquakes and volcanos.

All you can do is try to mitigate the risks and stay flexible.  Have a Plan B in place in case you need to evacuate or relocate.  Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

RE

[18hammers]

Finally a day 1/4 as bad as the previous few. Days of having a low grade headache takes a toll.

[K-Dog]

Finally a day 1/4 as bad as the previous few. Days of having a low grade headache takes a toll.

Yes some summers in Seattle are like this.  Great sunsets don't make up for the headache.

A chicken little will say this is a tipping point.  With half the Earths original forests already gone I can't agree.  But death by 1000 cuts it is.



A current map of wildfires in Siberia and the Far East of Russia

[RE]

No wildfire problem around here this summer.  Rain just about every day in SE Alaska.  Not sure what's going on in the interior though.

Big Mosquito problem tho.  lol.



RE

[18hammers]

I am going to have to think about a positive pressure air filter system for the house. Just another thing to add to my might get done list.

[18hammers]

The first year I have seen distress in the Poplar trees, I think they are called Aspen or Cotton wood in the US. The fir trees have long been showing distress, Spruce trees the last couple years, now the Poplar. It it not so much the lower rainfall but it's irregular nature. Spring rains don't come anymore, it is not unusual to only get a misting of water until mid June when some amount can be measured by the inch. There was a time when April showers were a thing, now a memory. Now my planting of trees is to the lower parts of the property that can collect the snow melt run off.

[K-Dog]

Trees that can survive erratic rainfall and cold winters.  I found a list.

• Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum): Silver maples are known for their adaptability and can tolerate a range of soil types and moisture conditions. They are also cold-hardy and can thrive in colder climates.
• White Spruce (Picea glauca): White spruce is a coniferous tree that's well-adapted to cold climates. It can tolerate a variety of soil conditions and is drought-resistant once established.
• European Beech (Fagus sylvatica): European beech trees are hardy and can tolerate a range of soil types. They have a dense canopy that provides good shade and protection in varying weather conditions.
• Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris): Scots pine is a hardy evergreen tree that can tolerate both dry conditions and cold winters. It's well-suited for your latitude.
• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia): Black locust trees are known for their adaptability to different soil types and their resistance to drought. They can also withstand colder temperatures.
• Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica): Siberian larch is a deciduous conifer that's cold-hardy and can tolerate dry conditions. It's well-suited for regions with erratic rainfall.
• European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia): European mountain ash is a small to medium-sized tree that produces clusters of berries. It's cold-hardy and can tolerate varying moisture levels.
• Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera): Paper birch trees are known for their distinctive white bark and can withstand cold temperatures. They prefer moist soil but can adapt to different conditions.
• Amur Maple (Acer ginnala): Amur maple is a smaller tree that's well-adapted to cold climates. It can tolerate a variety of soil types and is suitable for urban environments.
• Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra): Swiss stone pine is a slow-growing evergreen tree that's cold-hardy and can tolerate dry conditions. It produces edible pine nuts.

* It would be fun to write software to match images of the foliage of these trees with their names.   And to match identifying taxonomy to the pictures and names.  (Leaves are arranged opposite each other in pairs.) Stuff like that.

[18hammers]

I have three types on that list, need to add more. One tree on that list grows fast, The Siberian Larch, feet per year.

[18hammers]

We have had hot weather, my area around 32-33 C yesterday. That is hot for here, maybe not for those in the southern states. Warnings about power usage have been on the news due to air conditioner use. I just chuckle when I hear that because our provincial government, bought and paid for by the oil companies have a halt on approving any alternative energy development. That's right, no commercial solar projects will be approved. They put a halt to that when they were elected, and power cost's are threw the roof (well, not for me). I have to say I am feeling pretty comfortable being energy independent, I do have AC that I could run off my solar system but it turns out that one of the benefits of having solar panels covering the south facing surfaces of my home is that they provide a passive cooling of the home negating the need to run any AC ( so far).

[18hammers]

It is Oct 1, I made a grocery run into Camrose today and could see the haze of smoke in the distance. I have not been complaining about the smoke but it is still here. It has been a continuous thing all spring summer and fall, I must be getting used to it. Over the summer, at the local Re-store I picked up a motor blower unit that I suspect came out of a furnace. I plan to use this to pull in fresh filtered air into the house. Like most my projects, progress will be measured on a glacial scale.