Home on 20 Acres: fully equipped for maximum family protection, with proven preparations in a safe location. Yet it’s convenient to amenities, and beautiful as well – all at a price much lower than you might think.
If you are someone who understands the need to protect your family from the turbulent times we face, but lack of employment opportunities, your family’s objections, a million dollar price tag, or various other reasons prevent you from being able to find a place that provides for your (valid) concerns.
I may have the optimal solution for you – or someone you know.
I have worked hard for over 15 years to build the absolutely most secure place to protect my family and myself – and still be a place where my family is happy.
Now circumstances dictate that we have to sell and I want to find someone who is like-minded – someone who wants to be able to protect their own family with maximum protection. But I also know that it’s important to have your family be happy where they live and for some family members, it’s important to avoid the stereotype and stigma of “survivalist” or “prepper”. (It helps that the ability to blend in has always been a priority for me because, in a crisis, it can literally be a matter of life and death.)
Perhaps this is the ideal strategic location, property, and home for you.
This property is an excellent value based on general area real estate market alone.
But, for the same price, I am including the bulk of my prep work for three reasons: a quick sale will help me in my plans (and avoid a listing agent), I’ll avoid most of the moving costs, and it will greatly reduce my workload (plus, I think it’s a good thing to do.)
So for the individual who understands the value of preparation (and doesn’t want an expensive learning curve or be pushed to find something on short notice), you will find peace of mind knowing that major and essential protective systems and supplies are already in place.
As I said, our circumstances have changed and we need to sell.
Let me repeat: There is no extra cost above general area real estate market value for the extensive equipment and supplies – all tested and proven as a working, sleep-well-at-night, long-term protective solution.
I will leave key supplies – supplies which truly make this place a one-of-a kind family protection home – but I want to leave them for someone who “gets it” since I’ve put so much into developing this property over the years. You will benefit from the results of my years of work – and the added bonus that your family won’t feel like they’re living in some sort of quirky “survivalist” or “prepper” compound (an important variable when I had teenagers).
So before I list our home with a real estate broker and am forced to move out our key supplies, I wanted those of you who understand the dangers we face (and the value of buying a property already proven and established) to have an opportunity to consider it. I have set a limit of 30 days for your response or the response of someone you might introduce me to.
Let me tell you about our place...
Our fully integrated and operational property has a beautiful, fully equipped home on 20 acres in Northwest Washington. It’s a lovely 6 bedroom, 4 bath 1928 farmhouse (approximately 3600 square feet). In the 15 years we’ve lived here, we’ve “slept well” with great peace of mind. This move–in-ready home is safe, secure, and at the same time, will appeal to a woman who wants a lovely place where she can care for and enjoy her family.
Because I am looking for someone who would appreciate all that is “behind the scenes” (some features are even hidden) of our beautiful country home, I’m going into depth to describe what is in place.
As a brief background, since 1974, preparedness has been an important priority for me in all the places we’ve lived. In the late 1990s, I found this location and pulled together all of my ideas of preparedness, protection, safe community and a place that is agreeable and works for everybody.
I have researched, tried out, and even published information to help others prepare – primarily because I believe that preparedness must be a priority in case of any kind of emergency.
In a sense, our place has been the “Betty Crocker Test Kitchen” of preparedness for our family as well as others. For this reason, and because of my own careful nature, I have multiple redundant protective systems. Most of them were good solid solutions. The ones that have remained over the years are the most useful and workable solutions. In retrospect, I am very happy that the things I recommended for others were tested and proven by me personally. (And as an added benefit, our home and property still looks “normal”; a fact that has made it work well for our family.)
Our home is on 20 acres and adjoins private timberland. For those of you concerned about nuclear attack, the hill behind us (at 1,200’, that’s “mountain” to some!) protects from any likely direct blast. Fallout I’ll discuss below. There are two seasonal streams on the property that could provide essential hydro-electricity. Summertime brings sun and makes solar panels a good option (we have lots of solar panels here!).
Location wise, I consider this place to be excellent. No, it’s not a remote mountain location in Idaho or Montana with the nearest 7-11 four hours or more away. However, it is half an hour from small cities with shopping and jobs (over the years, the most frequent reason I have heard that people have to give up their survival property is the lack of job opportunity).
The weather here is always moderate. Winters won’t kill you and you won’t wilt in the summer. This part of the county is fairly conservative in a hippie/redneck sort of way (think organic gardening in Carharts). Nearby is the Bible-belt of the region. (Down south the Western Washington University campus is one of the few areas I would endorse the reintroduction of wolves and Grizzly bears – just to give the Liberals a real run for our money! ;-)
The property is in a relatively rural area (you pass a dairy farm to get here) and down a dead-end road, and tucked behind a ridge of substantial hills (all in timberland – no building). This region is the least populated region between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C. (Canada). Skiing and hiking at Mt. Baker (the best!) is one hour to the East. The portal to the spectacular San Juan Islands is an hour to the West.
The house is a 1928 farmhouse (built at a time when people had money) remodeled in the 1980s and then remodeled several times after we bought it in 1998. Recent, yet traditionally styled, HardiePlank (high quality and long-lasting cement board) siding. It has 6 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms. There’s also a 1928 barn (loose hay-loft style) that now has a large office and lots of storage.
Another barn (with a full cement-slab floor) was built to accommodate horses, but serves as a mechanic tool shop and party room (with one of those Amish built Pioneer Maid wood fired cook stoves... it bakes, heats water, and is air-tight efficient. Really nice!). There is a Park Model 400 square foot mobile home on the property that my in-laws own and would be open to selling at a reasonable price. There is also a three-stall tractor shed. The hill behind provides a safe shooting backstop.
There is an orchard on the property... apples, pears, plums, and cherries, as well as blueberries and walnuts. The soil is sandy-loam and excellent for growing anything. The land was used as a small dairy farm for many years. We have traded hay for the neighbor’s secret-formula composted cow manure for our garden. Everything grows here! (USDA Zone 8a, Sunset Zone 4) Local farmers raise blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, dairy cows for milk, potatoes ($10 per 50lb!), and more. Deer are abundant. There is a local elk herd. There is great fishing in the many rivers, lakes, and salt water nearby.
The Nerd stuff (my favorite!)...
The well is slightly artesian (flows without pumping). I’ve been running it on a 12 volt pump for 15 years now. There is a redundant gravity 1,000 gallon backup water tank. The gravity system automatically takes over when the main pressure drops to 22 psi. Solar panels will totally power the gravity system or main system if you want. If off-grid, you can use solar or run the generator once a week to fill the gravity tank. Oh, and there is an extra well, too (each well is fully rated for an individual dwelling). The property is already divided into two 10-acre (technically, 9.97-acre) parcels, so each well could provide water for a parcel if you ever decide to sell one of them.
A 15KW Deutz (German-designed and bullet-proof!) air-cooled diesel generator readily runs the whole house, even when we are running the hot tub. This powers the main power panel with a generator connect switch. There are Trace inverters (either 120 or 240 VAC) and lots of big L-16 batteries. About 1/3 of the house is wired into the inverter system. This is done through a “Gen-Tran” connection. With this system, when the “Grid” goes down, inverter power switches so fast that even computers stay on. If you watch consumption, there’s about 4 days of power before needing to turn on the generator (or you can just run the generator when doing the wash, or other heavy loads). The generator uses about 1/3 of a gallon an hour of diesel fuel, depending on loads.
There’s also a small diesel battery charger – this is slick – a 5 hp Kubota single cylinder diesel with a 100 amp alternator attached (like on a big pickup truck). This will charge the batteries directly at 12 volts (specifically, 14 volts). If this little diesel gets throttled back, it “sips” diesel at 1/10th of a gallon an hour (a hundred gallon tank would last 1,000 hours!). At this fuel-conserving rate, it puts out about 40 amps to top off the batteries or replace what we use in the house. The little Kubota solves all the problems of trying to keep batteries topped off using a full-sized generator without wasteful fuel consumption.
Fuel
We have quite a bit of fuel on the farm… (Someone considering this place for protection during uncertain times will find this extraordinarily valuable).
All fuel has been treated for long-term storage.
• 4,800 gallons capacity of diesel
• 600 gallons capacity of unleaded gasoline
• 2,500 gallons capacity of propane
• 9 cords of firewood (wood stove insert in living room)
• Two tons of wood pellets (To fuel the pellet stove for the basement. This stove uses only a very small amount of electricity, which the alternate power system easily provides. It will heat the entire basement and most of the rest of the house if needed (a back-up to the back-up to the back-up!).
• 200 gallons of kerosene (kerosene lamps are backup to the backup inverter lights!)
• A year’s worth of charcoal briquettes (good for outdoor cooking on a small stove like a Volcano or a Rocket Stove (I have a few of those, too... ask!)
Tools and parts (far more than can be listed here... all ready to go!)
• Motor oil, hydraulic oil, parts (belts, filters, etc.) for equipment
• Hand and power tools. Most hand tools and basic power tools, wood splitter, chain saws, chokers, welder available (and accessories), hardware, building supplies, canning jars (lots!) An extensive capacity for anyone wanting the ability to be self-reliant to make, repair, or replace just about anything needed to turn a potentially life-threatening crisis into a protected adventure.
Other important supplies
• Food storage (very basic, but longest-term storage) 15 people for 10 years – in an undisclosed location ;-).
• Fence materials
• Kubota diesel tractor (with implements) and Kubota diesel lawn mower available at a reasonable additional price.
Small Cabin on the Back of The Property
There is a very nice “camping cabin” with a wood-burning stove, propane cooking, and kerosene lamps up on the hill for, well, “camping” or just as a strategic back-up location to the backup location.
And there are a couple of “root cellars”. One of them bears a striking resemblance to the ones sold at KI4U.com (based upon the designs by the same people at Oak Ridge nuclear laboratories) but with more angles to make a horizontal entrance for easier access and additional “fallout” protection. The other has an entrance reviewed by radiological expert, Bruce Beach (this can make an excellent walk-in root cellar, too!). Both have power; one has plumbed water. Both are appropriately, if austerely, supplied.
An Ideal Place To Raise Animals For Self-Reliance
There is the Taj Mahal of chicken coops (it sits on top of the underground 1,000 gallon propane tank – no smoking by chickens allowed!). It’s fully insulated, with dairy-barn washable ceiling and walls, and a concrete floor. Power and water, of course... nothing but the best for those hens!
The property has extensive fencing. We did this to slow down our dogs. It would not take much to fence for cattle, horses, or other animals. The land in this area can support a high density of stock. Plus, the weather is mild year around. With the big cedar trees, additional shelter may be unnecessary. We have a large pigpen area left over from our kids’ 4-H days.
Work From Home: Fully Equipped Private Office
On the ground floor of the large, original barn is the office. (The “barn” itself is primarily used for storage and was redesigned and remodeled from a shelter for animals to pleasant office space many years ago.) It is a highly efficient, quiet place to manage business. It’s bright with excellent lighting, windows, and a full-glass outside door (a “barn-slider” door can completely conceal and secure this entry). So far, the best Internet connection is by satellite, with DSL “soon”. There are land-line phones and cell service is excellent. Both UPS and FedEx provide service to the driveway. For inside access, another office door gives entrance to the barn’s interior with extensive shop and storage areas. The office is fully insulated and it’s heated by a cozy, free-standing direct-vent propane stove. As someone who has worked from home for many years, the advantage of having a separate building to “go to work” has been a real plus in balancing work and home life. Whether managing personal finances or operating a business, the space has worked comfortably with privacy yet gives easy family access.
Neighborhood
The neighborhood has a number of similar houses. A few are higher priced; a few are about the same. There is a nice cross section of people: school administrator, business owners, airline pilot, farmers, retirees, contractors. Some are horse owners. Many have extensive vegetable gardens. People don’t live in the country to go for the high-polished look. I’d say that folks are friendly but live their own lives.
At the end of our dead end road is a “land trust” (what we used to call a “commune”) where the folks are into solar and hydro energy and organic gardening. Some of them homeschool. Especially at a local level, I find I have quite a bit in common with them, even given my Conservative – Libertarian inclinations. Energy independence and gardening may be valuable skills in the future. I see them as a community resource. There are good potluck dinners at the local community hall. There are two churches a mile away, plus “Everybodys” – a tiny general store for gourmet cheese, grocery basics (a good wine selection), and some of the best deli sandwiches ever!
Aesthetics (a.k.a., How to “sell” the home to your wife!)
This is not just an exceptional property that is safe and secure. This is a home. We bought this place to have it be a home where our children would grow up, be happy, and become responsible adults.
Towards that end, my wife has worked to make our home appealing and comfortable. It really is a charming, old farmhouse that has been updated with modern conveniences.
As you drive up to the gate, there is a traditional and well-kept yard fronted by a picket fence. Heading to the red front door of the house, there is a large welcoming front porch with expansive yet comfortable stairs. (In the front yard, a strong wooden swing has provided many hours of play for happy children.)
Let me describe the outside first…
The house has two extensive decks, one of which is covered. Towards the back of the property, up on the hill, there is a grotto fairyland of waterfall and fern. From the lilacs, daffodils, and snowball shrubs in front, the curb appeal of this home says “welcome” with lots of space to entertain, ample places for kids to play, and teenagers to gather.
Outside, there’s opportunity for many “hangout” parties with kids of all ages (especially popular with young adults!). There’s a covered barbeque area by the house back porch, the “New Barn” with a covered porch becomes our Party Central with its large, Amish-built, wood-burning cook stove and the addition of twinkle lights for atmosphere.
When it’s time to say goodnight, you can send your in-laws or other guests 200’ away to their own accommodations in the Park Model... far enough for your sanity, close enough so you never have to feel guilty (this is also for sale by my in-laws). There is a fully serviced RV site available for guests as well.
Now, let me describe the inside…
The house looks nice, but does not look extravagant on the outside (a prudent attribute of a protective home!), yet inside it is quite large with 6 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms and multiple large living spaces (approximately 3600 square feet).
For many women, the heart of the home is the kitchen and this is true for my wife. Our large, updated kitchen has held our family of 9 quite comfortably (over 20 at family dinner festivities!) yet still feels cozy now that the majority of our kids are not living at home.
There is a large gas stove, large double door refrigerator, and cabinets and counter space galore. There is also a prep island in the center of the kitchen with more storage space. The window over the kitchen sink and the sliding glass doors by the kitchen table look into the far mountains for a breathtaking sunrise view.
The main floor is truly both charming and functional. The master bedroom is on the first floor, an advantage for those not wishing to do the stairs, but it could easily be moved upstairs. There is also another large bedroom on the main floor. Both bedrooms have walk-in closets. Near the bedrooms, there is a full bath with a spacious closet.
Off the kitchen entry is another full bath, a large laundry room and an office (our “school room”).
The living room is truly that… it is a great place for a family to live. With full-width crown molding and traditional trim patterns, the wood burning fireplace with an efficient air-tight insert, and wood floors throughout the main floor (except in “wet areas” – the kitchen, laundry, and baths), the decor makes this home always feel warm and inviting.
On the top floor, there’s another full bath and two enormous bedrooms, both with multiple sleeping areas and a large community space.
The finished basement has two bedrooms, a full bath, kitchenette, family room, two fully insulated canning pantries, and a complete outside entrance... an entire living space for a family. Perfect for grown children living at home or visiting with their own spouse and little ones.
An added benefit is the house can be big or small... both the upper and the lower levels can be closed off allowing for heating, cooling, and cleaning as if it were a two bedroom, two bath home, yet still have the ability to expand.
A huge plus is that there is storage... LOTS of storage! Closets for every bedroom, basement shelves, two good sized canning pantries, and even a secret closet or two (perhaps three...!).
Did I say our home and property is peaceful? That is the most frequent comment we hear from guests. They can hardly believe the sound of peace.
But for me, the real peace comes from knowing my family is fully protected in the event of a crisis or an emergency.
So to review…
The property is 20 acres with a home that has 6 bedrooms (two on the main floor, two in the basement and, upstairs, two enormous bedrooms upstairs with multiple sleeping areas and each with a large open room in the center. There are 4 full bathrooms and a finished basement with a family room, kitchenette and more than enough storage. There are 5 out buildings (two barns with a large office, a party room, two workshops, secure storage, a generator – well house, a tractor shed, and a palatial chicken coop). There is a small cabin at the top of the property. Added to this are the multiple redundant protection systems and supplies.
And our home certainly does not look like a “survivalist” or “prepper” property. That’s the last thing you want when there are turbulent times. It looks like what it is... and what it has been since 1928, a charming, but not flashy or foreboding, comfortable home.
This home provides protection and peace of mind. And even though we have to sell, nothing would please me more than to have a like-minded family benefit from what I’ve done to protect my family in order to protect theirs.
We are selling for $599,000 – by owner without real estate broker commissions.
That’s a fair estimation of market value given the home, acreage, and the value of the additional parcel (with water), and all the essential “extras”: the extraordinarily well thought out location – privacy with proximity, protective forestland hill, dead-end road, and solar and hydro potential. And then there’s the extensive equipment, supplies, and improvements – all ordinarily unseen behind a beautiful home.
I have researched, acquired, and incorporated these safeguards into this property to make it a place of protection and I hope it may be of huge benefit to you. With these safeguards already in place, you will not have to locate and acquire them in a time of crisis when the cost may be prohibitive or, worse, they are unavailable at any price.
Again, we are pricing this property based on the general area real estate market value without the value of the ordinarily unseen protective improvements. It saves time and effort for me and it benefits you in ways most people wouldn’t understand.
Here’s the bottom line: this is a great deal for someone who, like me, believes it is important to protect their family, keep them happy, and live a “sleep well at night” lifestyle.
Please let me know in the next 30 days if you or someone you know may be interested – and please, only in a discrete fashion (for them as well as for me).