Unless it's a permanent type building with oil furnaces ....not going to work....can you imagine the cost of trying to grow veggies in the back yard when it's -20
Better to buy up case lots of Vitamin C to keep you from getting Scurvy Haha..
You could use firewood if needed. But something like this might work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd-FOj7cuLc
I seen a documentary where a young couple from Quebec built a commercial greenhouse underground. If I remember correctly, they also used tires for the walls. Can’t remember heat source but they were selling fresh produce year round. Lots of people were looking at it.
What you are talking about is Grayman theory - It is possible for a while, but you be high risk to your own survival. Constant search for food, no security when resting, always exposed to elements. It is possible, but not long lifespan if you either have to take (by force), or steal (by stealth). Eventually the defense will happen.
If you are smart - you develop a group of people now, to become a force post SHTF.
Based on my research of scenario's, 60 days is the golden window - with weeks 3 to 7 the hardest defense. After 8 weeks it then becomes gangs, well armed who are the Negan crowd. (TWD)
Death by weeks
1 week all hospitalized
1-2 weeks food riots
3 weeks Medication dependent people start the die off
4 weeks starvation and water borne illness claims the first weakened people (10-20% of population)
6 weeks mass die offs from disease and malnutrition (30 to 40% more)
7-8 weeks early gangs run out of resource, injuries, super gangs form.
6 months - attrition - 50-60%
9 months 75%
12-18 months 90%
As for running out of ammo - reloading, storing components, making your own BP, casting lead bullets, primers, more primers and powder.
The goal is to outlast.
That lake you speak of will be so polluted within 30 days, you will die from drinking it. Pool shock crystals will go a long way to purifying water, when boiling water is not possible or practical - Life straw, Berkey water filtration system. For well users, hand pump back ups, a slip system of pulling water directly from well.
An Earthship - is what you might be talking about. Friends of mine
www.windchasers.ca
Even little projects you can do now just to save money could make a difference once the power has been off.
Solar window heaters for example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1OWgfzY8s
When my friends restaurant closed up I got a huge bag of rice and several cases of left over pop. As we depleted the pop I tossed them in a box and I didn't add a fan or anything but just poked holes (bottom row in the side, not the bottom) and glued them together, painted a flat black and stuck it in the window. It is just getting in the sun now in the one window but can feel warm air coming out the top (warm air rises), not alot of heat but it's free.
A rain barrel to water plants in the summer, a extra britta water filters put aside (always make sure there is 1 full box when shopping), pick up candles and oil lamps etc. , hand tools as well as powered ones, an axe and other simple things from garage sales or flea markets ... as for ammo.. a simple crossbow (see Tods workshop) to use first, save the firearm and ammo for the emergency SHTF. Panic, fear, anger, hunger ... if those win... you probably die. I mentioned before, a few DIY books on the shelf are probably a good idea... all the best DIY on a CD... with no power is just a coaster for that last beer. An emergency first aid book is a must too
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea...al&n=200000038
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea...al%20diy&sts=t
All great advice, I do have electronic items stored in faraday cages to be able to produce power, for light and battery chargers, small electronics. The goal is not to have the same lifestyle, but the basics. A tablet with 1000 movies can be used for entertainment. For those who think solar based systems, will survive EMP, it is not likely in a EMP. Most new panels are Pulse Wave Modulation (PMW), chip controlled and will more then likely be damaged and no longer function correctly or at all.
Solar pop can wall is awesome and does work. But you have to have a 12V fan to circulate the air more efficiently - it helps.
I can 30 days of a lockdown without worry. 60 with some forethought. Family of 3.