im thinking about leaving society completely and moving into the woods. sometime around spring so i can begin planting crops to sustain life throughout the winter. i just want to go to some remote location in the middle of a beautiful forest. and just live peacefully. build my own house or houses. is anyone down to do this? or have any suggestions where would be a great place? trying to find somewhere that doesnt have an extreme winter. and hopefully by a lake or stream or river.
I think it would be pretty hard to find a place where you wouldn't be bothered. First, any viable farming land would either be owned by someone, or part of a government reserve of some kind. Either one of those would be trouble for you, if you were to squat on them. The only places I can think of would be mountainous regions that are not easily accessible. They probably still belong to someone, but it would be harder to find you. The down side is, it would be a pretty inhospitable place to live and far from the comforts of civilization - no roads, medical aid, tap water, electricity, people, etc., and plenty harsh in the winter. If you broke your leg, it would be as good as a death sentence. Then, on top of that, if you get caught you'll lose everything you've built. There are so many people that want to do this that there wouldn't be any of those places left, anywhere, if it were legal. One place where you might be able to play the pioneer is British Columbia. Years ago, you used to be able to acquire wilderness land simply by homesteading it. Don't know if that's still possible, though. You'd better be a very good survivalist and outdoorsman, if you plan to do something like that. It's not so easy as you might think. I suggest you read "Into the Wild", about Chris McCandless and his (eventually fatal) experiences in Alaska.
yes ive read into the wild its one of my favorite books and i know there is a risk and as for the comforts if i wanted those i would just stay where i am obviously im not looking for the easiest way to live and i know there are fairly big national forests that i could get lost in people have done it before. i dont plan on living in one place permanetly maybe every couple of years move to a different spot maybe different woods and unlike Chris i plan on going with people and using their knowledge and expertise along with mine. im not saying this is going to be easy and im defiently not expecting it to be i know that im going to have to work harder then i ever have before just to survive but eventually i will get use to it and adapt =] and when that time comes all my hard work and efforts will have been totally worth it =] im going this spring with a small group as a trial run. or i might go live with these hippies that have been doing it for a couple of years in my area and learn before i go havent decided yet =]
If you're going with others, then you'll probably do okay. At least you won't have to worry about getting sick or injured and having to make your own way back for help. It's a good idea to tag along with others who have experienced this kind of living, until you get a taste for what it involves. They can probably give you tips on how to squat on land without being discovered and chased out. Every time I tried it, we always got run off. Of course, we usually tried places like the middle of the Saguaro National Park. Hard to hide out there; the ranger always found us in a couple of weeks. Good luck and keep yer powder dry!
Yeah, hey give it a try - why not? Just be sure and have an exit plan in place in case things get bad. This is the best way to learn about the cost of freedom. Good luck to you!
I never seriously subsisted on the land but did enjoy living in the woods. When I got back from San Francisco in '70 I stayed at my dad's place in Mississippi. It was isolated and he was back in Illinois. I built my own place down in his woods a tin roof, pole shack with pine trees I cut down and covered in insulation board and tar paper. Had windows in it that were discarded by the local church. I had a pickup truck while building it so I could get material to the woods to tote in. I did have a garden of mostly greens & onions up by my dad's place on the hill. Remember, plants need sunlight. He also had a drop-bucket well where I got my water and hauled in to my home. I had a wood burning stove and lived quite comfortably with no running water or electricity. Kerosene lamps are nice and warm. Learned to cook on an open fire out front in summer and the stove in winter. It was great to be by myself in the woods. A nice retreat, but not for serious long-term survival. For that you would have to become Amish or something.
There are a lot of risks involved with doing this but agree that it is a very wise decision to do so with others alike. Into the wild was a great movie and book, (thanks Josh ) Although like others have stated, it would be horrible for you and others to have invested so much time into building a homestead for yourselves just to have it taken away. Guess you could still be happy knowing that you did however accomplish your goal even if you werent able to enjoy it! Also, I really don't suggest living off rice and have a firm knowledge of the proper way to process the meat wild animals! What is it that makes you want to live with just what nature has provided for us? Tired of the government or do you just want the feel of real freedom in comparison to what America calls 'freedom'?
Not to dampen your spirits, but no matter where you go these days, someone will probably discover you before long. At the very least you can be arrested for trespassing. If you dump waste on the land or cut down any trees or other vegetation, you're vandalizing the property. If you start a forest fire, you're committing arson. All national forests are regularly patrolled and laws enforced. Hunting or gathering illegally in national parks are arrestable offenses. I suggest you consider more practical and legal alternatives, such as finding a land owner who needs help around the farm, and is willing to let you camp out on their land in exchange for labor. Or, you might also consider doing what I'm doing... work a regular job and save up to buy land on which you can someday construct a cabin or house. Good luck, whatever you decide.
