to the Homefront to get Ed settled in. We’ve got a lot on our plates these days, Ed. We could sure use an extra set of eyes and hands around here. I’ll catch you up on everything else over the next few days as you get settled.”
With that, the men spent the next few hours getting Mildred’s horses taken care of, the airplane hidden securely in the barn, and their things ready for the ride back to the Homefront. Ed packed his most important items in his backpack for the ride, along with his Springfield Armory M1A rifle slung over his pack and his Smith & Wesson M&P 40 pistol on his side. They planned to retrieve the rest of his things from the Maule over the next few trips to the Thomas farm and as time permitted.
Before they left, insisting that they begin their ride on a full stomach, Mildred fixed them all a nice lunch to send them on their way. After they ate, as they began to climb onto their bikes, Ed looked at Evan and Jason and said, “Guys, I think I’m gonna be a diehard country boy in no time. I’ve not eaten this good or been treated this well since it all started to go down.”
“We’ll see if you still feel that way after we put you to work,” joked Evan in reply.
Chapter 8: Prepping for the Move
Over the next few weeks, Ed settled in to the daily routines of the Homefront with ease. After having been mostly alone in Ohio after the collapse, and with no family to turn to, his spirits were higher than they had been in as long as he could remember. In addition to helping them work the land and the livestock, Ed was filling in with the security duties at the Homefront. With Jason, Griff, and often times, Evan, away on a regular basis working on community-wide projects, preparing the Murphy and Muncie homes for Jason’s and Griff’s families, the extra manpower was a true blessing. If they were going to have time to get crops in the ground that season at their new homes, in preparation for the following winter, the moves needed to be accomplished as soon as possible.
Jason and Griff both agreed that Jason’s family would take the Murphy home and the Vandergriffs would take the Muncie home. Both were similar in size, acreage, and condition, so it was a relatively easy consensus to reach. Both men were just happy to have the opportunity to provide a home for their families and their potential future generations.
Virtually everyone from the neighboring homesteads contributed to the effort. Those who were physically able, helped with the laborious duties involved with repairing the damage and neglect to the properties. Others donated supplies and materials, as well as items to help get their households up and running. Both were extremely generous contributions, as the homesteading lifestyle didn’t leave much free time to give, and supplies had been running thin for virtually everyone.
The need for additional supplies and resources for two new households, made it clearer than ever that the men needed to venture out beyond their community in search of what they needed. They also hoped this would lead to a broader coalition of trading partners, connecting them with other homesteads in the region. The men decided that once the families were squared away in their new homes, they would put together a plan to do just that.
One day, while Jason and Griff were both away, working on their homes, Molly was going through the canned goods with Sarah and Judy, dividing things up equitably to help get their households running. “I feel like we are robbing you blind,” said Sarah, feeling guilty for leaving Molly’s pantry so bare.
“Nonsense,” Molly replied. “Where do you think these canned beans, tomatoes, and everything else came from? They came from the garden that you and your families put a lot of work into. Just because the seeds weren’t sewn into your own soil doesn’t mean you don’t have rights to it. The same goes for everything else that we have all chipped in and raised
With that, the men spent the next few hours getting Mildred’s horses taken care of, the airplane hidden securely in the barn, and their things ready for the ride back to the Homefront. Ed packed his most important items in his backpack for the ride, along with his Springfield Armory M1A rifle slung over his pack and his Smith & Wesson M&P 40 pistol on his side. They planned to retrieve the rest of his things from the Maule over the next few trips to the Thomas farm and as time permitted.
Before they left, insisting that they begin their ride on a full stomach, Mildred fixed them all a nice lunch to send them on their way. After they ate, as they began to climb onto their bikes, Ed looked at Evan and Jason and said, “Guys, I think I’m gonna be a diehard country boy in no time. I’ve not eaten this good or been treated this well since it all started to go down.”
“We’ll see if you still feel that way after we put you to work,” joked Evan in reply.
Chapter 8: Prepping for the Move
Over the next few weeks, Ed settled in to the daily routines of the Homefront with ease. After having been mostly alone in Ohio after the collapse, and with no family to turn to, his spirits were higher than they had been in as long as he could remember. In addition to helping them work the land and the livestock, Ed was filling in with the security duties at the Homefront. With Jason, Griff, and often times, Evan, away on a regular basis working on community-wide projects, preparing the Murphy and Muncie homes for Jason’s and Griff’s families, the extra manpower was a true blessing. If they were going to have time to get crops in the ground that season at their new homes, in preparation for the following winter, the moves needed to be accomplished as soon as possible.
Jason and Griff both agreed that Jason’s family would take the Murphy home and the Vandergriffs would take the Muncie home. Both were similar in size, acreage, and condition, so it was a relatively easy consensus to reach. Both men were just happy to have the opportunity to provide a home for their families and their potential future generations.
Virtually everyone from the neighboring homesteads contributed to the effort. Those who were physically able, helped with the laborious duties involved with repairing the damage and neglect to the properties. Others donated supplies and materials, as well as items to help get their households up and running. Both were extremely generous contributions, as the homesteading lifestyle didn’t leave much free time to give, and supplies had been running thin for virtually everyone.
The need for additional supplies and resources for two new households, made it clearer than ever that the men needed to venture out beyond their community in search of what they needed. They also hoped this would lead to a broader coalition of trading partners, connecting them with other homesteads in the region. The men decided that once the families were squared away in their new homes, they would put together a plan to do just that.
One day, while Jason and Griff were both away, working on their homes, Molly was going through the canned goods with Sarah and Judy, dividing things up equitably to help get their households running. “I feel like we are robbing you blind,” said Sarah, feeling guilty for leaving Molly’s pantry so bare.
“Nonsense,” Molly replied. “Where do you think these canned beans, tomatoes, and everything else came from? They came from the garden that you and your families put a lot of work into. Just because the seeds weren’t sewn into your own soil doesn’t mean you don’t have rights to it. The same goes for everything else that we have all chipped in and raised
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