Since the start of 2020, the ‘year of vision’, so much has changed dramatically in the world around us.
Why was Elon Musk trying to convince us that putting brain chip transplants into pigs is a smart idea? What is really happening with crypto and the rise of the dogecoin (it has a dog on the coin)? How is life going back to ‘normal’ when robots are so smart they are given citizenship in some countries?
Of course we know the practical aspects of survival, so at least some things won’t change. But we also realized many of our readers are asking about the practical aspects of OFF THE GRID living and how to be successful in this transition to live off the land.
Maybe like some of us, you want that extra freedom.
All of our lives are really broken into a couple of essential parts, right?
First there is our ability to provide for ourselves and our families. Whether you own your own business or you work for someone else you have to have some form of an income. Is it possible for you to transplant your way of life and your entire livelihood off the grid and into greener rural pastures?
Second, the reality that if we are providing for our families, then we have to protect what we have, including those close to us. Of course we all have our own favorite self-defense tools that help protect our families, but also how can we be more proactive to be alerted with intruders or just poor weather conditions?
Third, we want to be connected to our family, to our friends, to our work and to the world. And maybe this isn’t a key need if you really want to be off the grid, but at some point we are all connected – even if you are reading this email on the Appalachian Trail right now you are still connected.
Working off the grid or from a rural community is easier than ever in 2021. So many companies have seen the benefits of remote working and remote teams.
Home security for your family now has evolved so that a very small investment can go a long way to protecting your children and those things you need to keep guarded.
Even things like your families’ homeschooling or keeping up with professional accreditations online is all possible now, no matter how remote you might be living.
So then what are the essential aspects of living off the grid? There are 6 key areas…
1. Land
First off you need a piece of land.
To go off grid, you need a good sized plot of land that will have the essential needs that living off the land will require. Of course you will want a clean water source and you won’t want to be downhill of mudslides, just to name a few considerations.
Plus you will want land that is far from strict building codes and permitting regulations. And just a healthy tip for you, don’t forget about property taxes. A high tax rate for your land can always be an issue down the road if you don’t consider it at the beginning.
2. Shelter
The second question you will face is shelter.
Now in 2021 there are so many options to choose from. Your off grid home can come in the form of a cabin, a traditional wood-frame home, a tiny house, a cob house, a straw bale home, etc.
Almost every month there is a new unique option and it would be wise to do some thorough research.
3. Clean Water Supply
You’re next key element to live off the grid is a good clean potable water source. You will most likely not have access to city water or municipal county water sources on your land so you must choose a piece of land that either has a natural water source, or where it’s convenient to haul water.
4. Food
Now we get to one of the fun parts, when you start growing your own crops and experimenting.
Since you most likely will not have everyday access to grocery stores and convenience stores to shop for food, you’ll benefit by growing your own in a garden and/or greenhouse. Plus you can preserve and can your own food, which will also allow you to store your food away in a safe place and build up a sizable supply of food.
5. Power Generation System
If experimenting with food wasn’t fun enough, now you get to experiment with generating electricity.
You will not be connected to the power grid, so you will need to generate electricity for yourself. This means having a power generating system with backups that can provide you with all the electricity you will need to run all your appliances including stove, refrigerator, washing machine, tv, computer, etc.
Now the options are more affordable and accessible than ever before – solar panels, wind turbines, and micro hydro power systems.
While generating power is important don’t forget you also need to store power for emergencies or in the event that you have a failure with your power generation system as a backup.
6. Waste and Disposal System
Although this isn’t the most fun part of living off the land, it is important to remember that you will need a composting waste disposal system or a traditional septic system. It’s always important to keep your waste far from your water source and any livestock you might be raising. There are a lot of great options.
If you liked this article checkout 5 Off-Grid Power Sources That Can Save You When You’re In A Pickle.
We’d love to hear back from you at insider@survivaldispatch.net if you are living off the grid and what experiences or challenges you might be facing that we can help you with.