Building the Refuge
Practical independence, one system at a time.
Follow the real-world process of building resilient power, water, food, shelter, communications, and self-reliance systems.
A real-world refuge project focused on practical power, water, food, shelter, communications, and self-reliance.
Latest from the Refuge
The Beginning: Turning an Old RV and a Piece of Land Into a Refuge
Every project has a beginning. Sometimes that beginning is a carefully designed plan, a perfect piece of property, and a construction crew ready to start. This is not one of those stories.…
Read moreCurrent Projects
Placeholder: Rainwater Collection System
This placeholder project represents a future rainwater collection and storage build. It is here temporarily so the homepage project grid can be tested with…
Read more
Placeholder: Pallet Shelter Wall Test
This placeholder project represents a future shelter-wall experiment using pallet lumber and practical materials. It is temporary content for visual layout testing.
Read more
Portable Clamshell Solar Array
Design Concept: Portable Clamshell Solar Array The original idea behind this build was simple: create a solar power system that could be deployed quickly while at the refuge, but closed, protected, and…
Read moreGear Tested
No gear reviews yet. Nothing has been dragged into the field and judged properly.
Field Notes
A Stationary RV Is Not an RV Anymore
Stop Fixing the Wrong Problem An old RV sitting on a piece of land creates an interesting question: Are you restoring a camper? Or are you building a small cabin? Those sound…
Read more
Mouse-Proof Storage From Forgotten Office Cabinets
Sometimes the Best Homestead Gear Was Never Designed for Homesteading Spend enough time planning a cabin, homestead, workshop, or off-grid refuge and one problem eventually appears: Something else wants your supplies. Food…
Read more