I've lived most of my adult life so that I am set up to be fine if and when the grid fails. If there is going to be any attack against the USA, it will be on the energy grids and communication grid, I figured out back in the late 70's. I have wood power, for heat and cooking, been unplugged for the home heating. I have land I bought in 1987, but it is not all cultivated, I tried, I was married for a few years and I thought my husband at the time, and I, were moving in that direction, he seemed dedicated. We did work though, in the health field, both of us. He left. I managed to stay on the land full time while working, by taking in people who needed a home with care due to disabilities, was able to grow a lot of food for storing for 20 years, but not all of it. Root crops and food for canning. A solar system is out of my economic possibilities, and this far north with weeks of cloudy gloom would not be enough. A small windmill would work, but, again, lack of $$$$$. I have enough food to feed 3 people for a few months, by prepping. Chickens are great, eggs, meat, etc, they can eat corn and jerusalum artichokes, scraps, dried peas and beans, all easy to grow. Foraging for some medicinal roots and herbs and barks. Rabbits are an easy protein to raise, probably one of the easiest. Predators happen, up here it is weasels in the barn which can do the worst damage. I am not a pioneer, but I can live off grid. To live remotely, you need a vehicle to get to market for things you cannot grow, flour, rice, etc. I have the same clothing for decades, "dress up clothes" stay in the closet for years, barely used. I am too old to hunt, but my son does, there is enough game, thanks be to God, and plenty of fish, lots of water. Enough wood too, for fuel. Homesteading definitely requires a certain mind set. You have to love the land, eschew the modern world, enjoy your own company, reject societies idea of what is succesful and what is not, and pinch every single penny, seriously pinch. You have to ask yourself with every purchase "do I want this or do I need this?" Cows require too much land, I prefer goats or sheep, both produce milk and cheese, sheep are more prone to diseases and hoof problems, goats are devils, but are pretty self sufficient and hardy, they do need hay through the winter. There are people who have a nervous breakdown if they can't live with all the conveniences, they will never make it , period. I am not responsible for them. I don't care where you live, get a wood stove, most pellet stoves require electricity, do research on them. Build for passive solar, same with placing your gardens. Stop with the lawns already, dig it up and plant for food. Ask yourself what you rely on, try to rely on as little as possible that is out of your control, it will give you peace of mind.
I've lived most of my adult life so that I am set up to be fine if and when the grid fails. If there is going to be any attack against the USA, it will be on the energy grids and communication grid, I figured out back in the late 70's. I have wood power, for heat and cooking, been unplugged for the home heating. I have land I bought in 1987, but it is not all cultivated, I tried, I was married for a few years and I thought my husband at the time, and I, were moving in that direction, he seemed dedicated. We did work though, in the health field, both of us. He left. I managed to stay on the land full time while working, by taking in people who needed a home with care due to disabilities, was able to grow a lot of food for storing for 20 years, but not all of it. Root crops and food for canning. A solar system is out of my economic possibilities, and this far north with weeks of cloudy gloom would not be enough. A small windmill would work, but, again, lack of $$$$$. I have enough food to feed 3 people for a few months, by prepping. Chickens are great, eggs, meat, etc, they can eat corn and jerusalum artichokes, scraps, dried peas and beans, all easy to grow. Foraging for some medicinal roots and herbs and barks. Rabbits are an easy protein to raise, probably one of the easiest. Predators happen, up here it is weasels in the barn which can do the worst damage. I am not a pioneer, but I can live off grid. To live remotely, you need a vehicle to get to market for things you cannot grow, flour, rice, etc. I have the same clothing for decades, "dress up clothes" stay in the closet for years, barely used. I am too old to hunt, but my son does, there is enough game, thanks be to God, and plenty of fish, lots of water. Enough wood too, for fuel. Homesteading definitely requires a certain mind set. You have to love the land, eschew the modern world, enjoy your own company, reject societies idea of what is succesful and what is not, and pinch every single penny, seriously pinch. You have to ask yourself with every purchase "do I want this or do I need this?" Cows require too much land, I prefer goats or sheep, both produce milk and cheese, sheep are more prone to diseases and hoof problems, goats are devils, but are pretty self sufficient and hardy, they do need hay through the winter. There are people who have a nervous breakdown if they can't live with all the conveniences, they will never make it , period. I am not responsible for them. I don't care where you live, get a wood stove, most pellet stoves require electricity, do research on them. Build for passive solar, same with placing your gardens. Stop with the lawns already, dig it up and plant for food. Ask yourself what you rely on, try to rely on as little as possible that is out of your control, it will give you peace of mind.