How to build a great family bug out camp on the cheap.So you want to build a bug out location and maybe a family camping spot, but you are short on money well I can help with this simple plan that is fully expandable.
Lets say for the sake of this blog that you are a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids.
If you go to Home Depot or Lowes or Tuff Shed you can purchase the building kits below assembled or un-assembled.
For a family of 4, you would need to purchase 3 of the large barn kits ones and 1 small regular shed kit.
Add insulation and plywood with varnish to each one to make the inside look great and stay warm & cozy.
1 of the large barns will be used for a bedroom/sitting room for the adults, the second of the large barns will be used for a bedroom/sitting room for the kids, the 3rd of the large barns will be used for a kitchen/dining/storage for everyone. The small shed will be used for the sanitation station.
You can build a platform for beds and add a futon mattress for sleeping. You may want to add 1 or 2 of the shelving units that are shown below in the kitchen section for clothes & bedding storage in each of the sleeping buildings. Add a few camping chairs & tables and you have a very comfortable living & sleeping areas.
Place all of the buildings in the rear of the property so they appear to be just storage sheds for your future house.
This is the living & cooking buildings:
This is the sanitation building:
Make sure this building has operating windows.
For the sanitation building add a composting toilet. I like this one as the compost materials are out side which reduces the smell and makes disposal easier.
http://waterlesssanitation.com/For cooking you can add one of these portable wood stoves (you can place a cast iron dutch oven on the top. Make sure you get enough extra stove pipe to vent the stove outside. These portable wood stoves can be purchased for under $100.00 each. If you family camp/bug out location is in cold weather area you can also install these in the sleeping buildings.
For washing clothes add a laundry tub like this for under $100.00. You will also need to purchase one of these laundry tubs for the kitchen building.
For bathing you can use the solar shower bags that you can purchase at your local camping store, they can be purchased for $30.00 to $50.00 each depending on the size. Purchase a minimum of 1 per family member. The more the better.
For preparing & cooking food, you can purchase a couple of used s/s restaurant work tables. Try and purchase the ones with the extra lower shelf for added storage space.
For food & supplies & equipment storage you can purchase a few of these shelving units. Add S Hooks to the sides for added storage space. These are module units so extra shelves can be added. These units can purchased for around $100.00 each at Home Depot & Lowes. For the living/sleeping barns the S Hooks can be used to hold laundry bags.
Add 5 gallon buckets under the laundry tubs for easy removal of gray water.
Make sure that all of the buildings have metal roofs and add gutters and down spouts, then add 55 gallon drums to each of the down spouts to every building for you rainwater catchment system.
This setup can be built over time as money permits. For example you can build just one sleeping barn and cook outside until you can afford to add the kitchen & sanitation buildings. As your family grows additional buildings & the water catchment system can be added (if there is sufficient local water available or the water catchment system will be required ASAP).
If you are building these buildings they can be completed in a weekend with 2 to 3 people. If you are purchasing them assembled they will be completed in a single day you will just need to add the insulation & plywood inside walls. If money permits you could have a fully completed family bug out camp in as little as one week.
As time & additional money permits other buildings and improvements can be added such as a covered wood storage area, an outdoor dining pavilion, an outdoor kitchen & expanding & improving the water catchment system.
If you do not have land, check out your County Tax Sales for cheap land during their annual sale.
Good luck & have fun dreaming & planning & building your family bug out camp.
