Share your insight into a sustainable shelter, makeshift shelters, feel free to ask questions and provide how-to-guides.

As some of you know I have already completed my shelter, which has took me 1 1/2 years to build. Its entirely underground with the exception of the warehouse which hast been built yet. The warehouse will have essential materials, tools and necessities for building above ground once the worst has passed. However the underground shelter will continue to serve as the main hub of what may well become a colony.

My shelter is self-sufficient and houses a maximum of 16 people comfortably, and can hold an additional 8 more people if needed. However the extra room is for my 3 beagles which are very important both for keeping the breed strong and they are hunting dogs so they earn their keep through work.

I purposely located it 75km from my home city, so that i can get to it easily, its also very much off the grid, with only one service road thats 5km long and in a densely forested area. It's also located near a large river which is excellent for fishing, scavenging, and potential hydro electric power.

When choosing a parcel of land, ensure that it has excellent drainage especially if you are building underground. I used 40ft shipping containers, a total of 10 40ft containers and 1 8ft container, re-bar and concrete for the foundation around the containers and a grain silo roof for the central dome, which looks kinda like a satellite from inside. It was so disorienting we put sheet rock on the top and installed a large halogen light for artificial sunlight. More inviting, less making you wanna throw up.

When designing it, i took into account food production, so i made a hydroponics module. A utility and storage module for storing food, seeds, as well as boilers, electricity and water. Its powered by solar panels and a wind turbine and heated using a wood stove boiler, which isn't the best for hiding yourself, but its only visible in the winter and the trees hide much of billowing smoke. There is two sleeping modules and a sanitation module which has showers, toilets, sinks and a few other perks. The central hub which all modules connect off of, has the kitchen with a small herb garden, a communal dinning area which can also be used for recreation or meetings and a gym to keep everyone fit.

I hide the entrance by building an outhouse, and then installing stairs under it. Basically you lift the seat and walk down... I thought it was pretty slick, "another mans sh*t hole is a another man's home".

I bought 10 hectares of land, took out a small loan of 60k to build the shelter. The original idea was to build my dream house there and have a hobby farm when i retired in 35 years. But after hearing so much about 2012 and doing my own research I decided I should build my shelter first to protect my own self and those i care about and then build my dream home later when I paid off my loan in 20 years assuming nothing happens. Either way I'm safe. Truth is folks, even if in 2012 nothing happens, there is still war, economic strife, fuel shortages, and major disasters that can strike us at anytime. I'd rather have a place to weather it all, then put myself and my loved ones in harms way.

Edited by Xavier Atreides, 5 month(s) ago

I want to get shipping containers, my brother got a 40 footer for $2000 delivered. I want two 20 footers. one for food and one for other stuff. you need to invite me over to see your place. It sounds so cool. We could swap seeds. Good idea, hide the entrance by building an outhouse.