Long Term Survival - The Earth Sheltered Dwelling

I don’t remember where I found these pictures, so it’s hard to credit the proper owner. If they belong to you or you know where they originate, leave a comment.

One of the problems faced in the Long-Term Survival situation is securing adequate shelter. A brush shelter will be sufficient for only shorter periods of stay, and not something you will want to live in until such time you are able to rejoin the remnants of civilization. Or maybe you never will want to.

The earth sheltered approach helps regulate the temperature inside even without a heat source. If you build in such things as a Rocket Mass Heater it will take only a minimal amout of fuel to heat your space. Pay attention to the construction techniques in the following photos.

This next photo is of a coastal Indian dwelling, I think. It is built to house many members of the tribe and there may be handful in each village. The Chief would have had the largest and most elaborate.

The next series of photos shows a pretty neat, partially earth sheltered dwelling. I hope it sets the imagination into overdrive.

For short term, the evergreen boughs may be sufficient for thatching the roof, but at the very least I would want either blue plastic tarps or greenhouse plastic to keep it waterproof. Perhaps a layer of clay smeared over it all if no plastic were available.

Also, keep in mind the construction aspects of this (from the Down In A Hole blog post)

Do you have a wilderness hide? Somewhere to ride out the 90 days (Part 1 & Part 2).