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I came across a Mother Earth News article on building a home from a kit, had Montgomery Wards catalogs way back in the early 1900's sold plans and actual pre-fab homes for veterans coming home from war, so the housing boom could be implemented in Earnest. Many of these homes are still being used for habitation.
But you can, with materials on hand build shelter for you and your family. Sure it'll be basic but it can be snug. Our pioneer ancestors built homes from logs, rocks, raw lumber, mud and even cut blocks of sod. Roofs in England were made of thatch, a little experimentation, a little checking around to see what materials you have available can yield a completely habitable home in case of emergency.
a few things to consider
(2)Shelter site
If possible choose ground:
- that is dry, well drained and reasonably flat.
- that is a comfortable distance to water and has a supply of firewood.
- that has building materials for your shelter.
- that provides protection against strong winds.
I'd add- make sure you have water fairly close but not so close that it will overflow and overwhelm you, High ground is good if you don't mind winds, low ground is where you'll have more mosquitoes high water and other critters.
The soundness and elaborateness of your shelter will depend upon how long you plan to stay, your climate and environmental hazards in your area.
Here are a few ways to make emergency shelters:
(3)**Bough Shelter Look for branches that sweep to the ground or fallen boughs that offer protection from the wind-ensure they are secure enough not to fall on you though! You may want to secure them by lashing (see diagram). Weave in other branches to add supplemental protection, conifers are more suited to this technique than broad leaves.
**Root Shelter The spreading roots and compacted earth at the base of a fallen tree form a useful storm barrier, if they are facing the right way. Filling in the sides around the roots will increase it's potential and provide a solid base for construction of something more elaborate.
**Natural Hollow A shallow depression in the earth will provide some protection from wind immediately, and provides a natural basis for construction of a shelter. However care must be taken in damp areas or on hills or you'll end up under water! Lay a few light logs across the hollow and then a larger bow across them, this will give pitch to short branches laid across the top to keep out rain. Finish with turf or twigs and leaves.
**Fallen Trunk A fallen trunk alone provides a good windbreak scoop out a small hollow on the leeward side and construct a lean-to roof of boughs.
**Stone Barriers A shelter is more comfortable if you have enough headroom to sit up in it. So build up a low wall of stones around a hollow or shallow excavation. Caulk the walls with mud, leaves, twigs and turf, finish with a roof of branches and turf.
**Sapling Shelter If you should happen upon a growth of saplings, clear the ground between them and lash their tops together, weave branches between them and consolidate with ferns and turf. A similar effect can be gained by driving pliable branches firmly in the ground.
Buy a Home Kit and Build Your Own House
Building your own house is much easier if you start with a house kit. Kit home packages include all the materials you need (sometimes they’re even pre-cut) to build the outside shell of a house. Learn all you need to know before you start shopping for kit homes.
The very first thing to do before building that shelter is to ask God. Find out from Him what to build, how to build, and to give you the strength to build. So build your shelter on the Rock.
MT 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
See the fourth url below on how to build a shelter in the woods [video]
Here is a good site to find some garden tips so you will have a successful garden
SECRET GARDEN TIPS
A good place to buy seeds from is:ORCHARDHOUSE HEIRLOOMS
Lord, Be the center of our homes, guide lead and protect us, Lord and teach us what we need to walk in your ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
sources
(1) http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Kit-Homes-Kit-Houses.aspx
(2) http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/survivalshelter.html
(3) http://www.solareagle.com/PREP/SHELTER.HTM
(4) http://www.uncooped.com/Chrisjob/posts/79-Survival-Tip-Build-an-Emergency-Shelter-
