Rural folks - School me on homesteading safety

[CRAMBONE]

If you don’t want to fence your property lines at least paint them. Im not sure what the legal standard in FL is but in MS purple paint on trees means property line. And if buying land try to work out a new survey with the sellers.

A lot of game camera companies make cellular game cameras now. There are also metal anti-theft mounting straps available.

But if financially feasible I would at least do a 3 or 4 strand bard wire fence.

[docsherm]

I will be living there full time in a house. I’m not going into it assuming I’m going to be growing my own vegetables and living off the land. That may come in time, but I have no idea what I’m doing and I would starve to death.

Why can’t I live on 20 acres in the middle of nowhere and still get my food from a grocery store?

Where you are looking, I do not think that will be an issue. If you have to drive more then 30 minutes then you need to take it out of 1st gear.

FYI...... Step #1- Get the appropriate vehicle.

[DG23]

I need to “protect” my land, crops, self, animals, before I can actually raise them.

The biggest worry I have about living rurally is burglary. As tanksolder mentioned, a simple trip to the grocery store is about 2 hours. In a neighborhood, there are 1000 other houses. A neighbor lives 15 feet away and can see a big truck pull up and start unloading your belongings. You also blend in a lot more.

In the country, I’m not sure that’s the case. Trailer trash mixed with a few nice houses look like easy targets to me. Hence the gate, cameras, etc. maybe I’m overthinking it.

Current Dobermans are trained / desensitized to random odd noises outside, doorbell rings, knocking at the doors, etc. They might hear something and perk their ears up but other than that not a peep out of them so long as whatever it is making the noise stays 'outside'.

That training took a while as that is not how they would normally behave otherwise... Enlisted the help of a 'good' neighbor to assist with that training by having them come by at random and ring doorbell, knock on the doors, etc. while I was here and could supervise the girls and 'adjust' how they responded to those sounds.


If a would be criminal was to come by while I was out (notice no vehicle in driveway) and 'test' to see if there were any dogs present by ringing the doorbell or knocking on the doors they would never hear a peep out of them.

Same potential criminal could easily be a bad neighbor that sees your truck is gone (and likely you in it) and has also seen your dogs running around on your property previously but wants to 'check' and be sure they are not inside before they try to break in and steal your stuff...

A dog that gives warning barks or growls when they hear those sort of noises around the outside of your home can be good if it happens to be the sort of criminal that is not willing or prepared to deal with a dog. They may hear the barking and move on elsewhere in search of a more easy target.

If the criminal is determined to break in and steal your stuff + knows you have dogs inside because he just heard them barking at the doorbell - He might take steps to be ready for and deal with them once inside or once he has access to them.

There is a definite upside to training your dogs to NOT give a warning over little stuff.

[vandal5]

Figured a moat filled with alligators...

Joking aside, 20 acres is a good amount. Would it make sence to do something like no trespassing signs up around the whole perimeter, then a hard fence within say around your finishe yard portion as a final "don't cross this line". Then you can set up alerting systems to cover what you want of the outer area and then cameras and such for the closer more restricted part.

[tanksoldier]

NO TRESPASSING/PRIVATE DRIVE/BEWARE OF DOGS/PITBULLS ON PROPERTY ect ect...

"THAT OLD BASTARD OVER THERE WHO'LL SHOOT YOUR ASS IF YOU COME ONTO HIS PROPERTY". We had dudes like that back in the day..AND THEY DAMN SURE WOULD & DID.

.... YOU ARE BEING WATCHED & TRESPASSERS WILL BE KILLED

I agree with overkill on trespassing signs. If you really don't want ANY visitors, post a sign that says that specifically.

In most states knocking on your front door to conduct business or contact the property owner for other reasons isn't a trespass even when fenced or signed absent a locked gate or signage specifically stated no entry by anyone for any reason... and sometimes not even then.

I advise to be VERY wary of posting signage that acknowledges the harboring of dangerous animals or predetermined intent to use deadly force.

[SeriousStudent]

Purple paint is a thing here in Texas, and often used to mark a property boundary. Rural folk know not to walk past a tree so marked without permission.

You could do the fencing in stages, starting with the perimeter closest to the road, since that is where your mostly likely threats will come from.

It might also be worthwhile to rig some perimeter lights you could manually trip from the house.

I'd definitely work on the water supply first thing, and a then backup power source. A CPA without a electrons is a medieval bookkeeper.

And since you were an Infantry Sergeant, no one should have to remind you about the rule "No crew serves taken outside the wire after dark."

[Diamondback]

Figured a moat filled with alligators...

Joking aside, 20 acres is a good amount. Would it make sence to do something like no trespassing signs up around the whole perimeter, then a hard fence within say around your finishe yard portion as a final "don't cross this line". Then you can set up alerting systems to cover what you want of the outer area and then cameras and such for the closer more restricted part.

Precisely what I was thinking of, concentric rings of defense with layers and levels of exclusion, and different alerts at the edge of each zone so you have an indication about severity of the breach from "outer perimeter crossed, you have time to throw some pants on but hurry" vs "GRAB RIFLE AND ENGAGE RIGHT NOW"...

[ubet]

Haha. I absolutely want to get to that point.

I’m still on step 1. I don’t know what I don’t know.

I need to “protect” my land, crops, self, animals, before I can actually raise them.

The biggest worry I have about living rurally is burglary. As tanksolder mentioned, a simple trip to the grocery store is about 2 hours. In a neighborhood, there are 1000 other houses. A neighbor lives 15 feet away and can see a big truck pull up and start unloading your belongings. You also blend in a lot more.

In the country, I’m not sure that’s the case. Trailer trash mixed with a few nice houses look like easy targets to me. Hence the gate, cameras, etc. maybe I’m overthinking it.

Where I live now is the closest I’ve ever had for neighbors, they’re about 400 yards away. In fact this is the first time I’ve ever been able to SEE my neighbors.

We don’t even lock our damn doors, never have. If someone wants in and you don’t have bars on your windows, and hardened doors, they’re getting in fairly easy.

I don’t know why people think their is a need to protect land, crops, animals etc. If people are going to trespass they’re going to do it. You just have to deal with it. Are you going to land mine the perimeter and attach full auto movement sensor activated weapons inside of it? No. If you catch someone hunting just tell ‘em to scram. And 20 acres isn’t that big that you’ll have to worry about any of that.

I’m sorry but a lot in this thread screams “I live in a city but am talking about living in the country” on the subject of security and stuff. Part of it is, their isn’t as much crime in rural areas. And what are you protecting livestock from? You think someone is going to come steal cows? Not going to happen unless the world goes really sideways then all the electric doodads won’t work very long anyways.

Best advice, good fence if you have stock, know your neighbors, and just be a decent person. Having a way to draw water without electricity is a good idea. Get a good wood stove, and just live your life. Don’t over think any of it.


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[Ironman8]

I’m sorry but a lot in this thread screams “I live in a city but am talking about living in the country” on the subject of security and stuff. Part of it is, their isn’t as much crime in rural areas. And what are you protecting livestock from? You think someone is going to come steal cows? Not going to happen unless the world goes really sideways then all the electric doodads won’t work very long anyways.

Best advice, good fence if you have stock, know your neighbors, and just be a decent person. Having a way to draw water without electricity is a good idea. Get a good wood stove, and just live your life. Don’t over think any of it.


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This x1000. Read this at least a few times and digest it.

These concentric rings and layers of security sound good on paper but you’ll likely be turning that sh*t off due to wildlife tripping sensors all day. Secure your house like you normally would. Maybe a driveway sensor if you have a longer driveway. Perimeter fencing is good if you can afford it. Manual gate, or electric if you must. Like I said before, most people in the country are good people that are more like minded than not. Just know your neighbors and surrounding area.

[utahjeepr]

I advise to be VERY wary of posting signage that acknowledges the harboring of dangerous animals or predetermined intent to use deadly force.

This is unfortunately good advice. It's all fun and games till a lawyer gets a hold of it.

Best I ever saw. "I have a gun and a backhoe. Trespass at your risk." Funny as hell, but I wouldn't post it.

Not to nitpick on Euro or anyone else, but 20 is a might small. I ain't much better, but just saying. Florida has like, let me google it, yeah... zero good natural backstops in the entire state. 20 isn't much range even if you do build one. Its Euro's money. Go big or go home!��