This initial phase is about quality over quantity; make sure you have good people on the team, with a diverse set of skills and expertise.
2. Securing the Land
The group should possess or buy at least two rural/remote properties, ideally in different parts of the country. The plots don’t have to be particularly large, but they should have road access, a flat area, a bit of woodland, and favorable conditions for growing food and keeping animals in later stages of development. The property that is closest to the city/area where most members live is your primary location. The secondary should be in a hard-to-reach remote area.
3. Preparing the Infrastructure
On each of your properties, you should build a well/water collection system, a field toilet, a cooking/fireplace, and a gazebo for communal activities. This basic infrastructure should require minimal investment and maintenance. Don’t make it fancy—someone might steal or destroy it while you are gone. Also, if you can afford it, building an underground bunker could be extremely useful as a storage space and emergency shelter.
4. The "Wagons"
What makes the Wagenburg idea come to life is the use of expandable mobile homes. These structures are basically registerable caravans that can be moved around and installed on the property without permits. They provide low-cost basic accommodation and the flexibility of changing location if the need arises (the lighter models can be pulled by an SUV). They can also be upgraded and expanded for more room or better insulation. The idea is to group these mobile homes on the primary property, connect them to the existing infrastructure, and install additional systems (solar/wind power, internet dish, etc.). The secondary property serves as a backup location and should be visited occasionally.
5. Building the Community
Once the basic infrastructure is in place, you should shift your focus to developing the relationships. In this initial phase, the idea is to create a sense of purpose and to motivate people to start thinking collectively. Ideally, at least one member should be present on the site full-time, while other members start visiting on weekends and bringing their families with them. This should be a gradual process, where everyone gets to know each other and starts treating other group members as part of the tribe.
6. Setting Up Shop
After weeks of spending time on the property and getting to know the land, workgroups should be formed with each member fulfilling a role within the community. Even if most people in the group still live in urban/suburban areas, they can start putting systems in place for securing the Wagenburg’s food, energy, manufacturing, education, safety, communication, health, transportation, and economic needs. Keeping one foot in the towns/cities and the other in the countryside/remote areas will buy you the most time. You need access to resources, services, and information while you work on increasing your self-sufficiency.
7. The Guerrilla Mindset
While you perform your “fighting retreat,” it’s crucial that you pay attention to developing the right offensive and defensive capabilities. On the physical front, you should have a good supply of weapons, ammunition, surveillance systems, drones, barbed wire, and other equipment for protecting the Wagenburg and for mounting attacks on the enemy. Having a member of the group with military experience would be a great asset, as he could teach others about small unit tactics, perimeter defense, and survival. On the informational front, you need to have at least two people who are dedicated full-time to keeping up with the news, sharing information about the enemy, and recruiting others for the cause.
8. Self-Sustainability
By this point, all the basic systems are in place, and your group has created a comfortable and secure outpost. The next step is about making your camp future-proof by building up your food and energy production and also improving your security measures.
