Are you ready to take your life off the grid? While it is tempting to break off from today’s typical life and reclaim your freedom and peace of mind (like NOW), effective preparation is completely essential.
Knowing what you need to successfully live off-grid makes for a must easier transition. Even though the idea seems easy enough to execute, off-grid living requires a great deal of work and maintenance.
Making the process as simple and effective as possible begins with having the right resources and tools. The list below highlights the most important things you need to start living off-grid as soon as possible.
Take a look to see what you already have and what you may need so you can start your new life off the grid ASAP.
9 Things You Need to Live Off the Grid:
1. Money
Money is usually not one of the first things you think about when moving off the grid. After all, the primary purpose of living off-grid is to remove yourself from the confines of needing money to live sustainably.
However, unless you plan on camping out somewhere in the wilderness, you will need money to get started.
Many of the things on this list require some form of investment to get things up and running. For example, the land is often a necessary purchase for those hoping to create an off-grid lifestyle, but you need financial resources to acquire the desired land.
Money certainly helps you secure the many supplies and resources you need. Without sufficient funds, you may be stuck in a constant cycle of living paycheck to paycheck – effectively thwarting your off-grid plans before they can even get started.
2. Land
Before you can begin to determine how you would like to build your shelter, you need land! There are many factors to consider when choosing a property far from the grid.
Of course, you will probably use some means of natural energy to produce your own power. This can include either wind or solar. So, it is important to consider natural weather patterns and climate.
The land you choose is the base of your off-grid life. Therefore, it is essential to consider how well it suits your new lifestyle. You may wish to choose a parcel of land that is in a remote area offering more freedom from strict codes and violations.
Land in remote areas also tends to be more affordable with lower property taxes and less demand.
3. Shelter
While we are discussing finding you a new place to call home, now is a good time to consider shelter. While cost is often a significant factor, it is also important to create or find a shelter that is both energy-efficient and safe.
A few common shelters sought by those wishing to live off the grid include:
- RVs
- Log Cabins
- Yurts
- Tipis
- Tents
- Converted Buses
- Recycled Shipping Containers
Some of these provide permanent residence, while others are most mobile or temporary. There are many various sorts of shelters, so it’s a smart idea to decide which one you’ll build or buy before you move onto your property.
Dig around in your chosen location to find out what off-grid housing options are available. Could you afford to own an off-grid cabin? Or will you have to make one yourself? What kind of construction materials would be the most suitable? And how big will you need your house to be?
Take a drive near the neighborhood if feasible to see what other people are using for construction supplies. When it comes to shelter, cost, climate, and the logistics of moving lumber, brick, stone, or soil, all have an impact.
4. Food
You’ll need to eat while building your off-grid homestead. The majority of people who wish to live off the grid intend to grow and scavenging their own food.
Growing food takes time, and the fastest crops only take a few weeks to a month to mature, so you’ll need to stock up on staples to tide you over until your first yield.
Rice, beans, oats, and other dry foods are a nice place to start and to keep on hand in general.
Home-canned items such as vegetables, preserves, jellies, dried fruits, and smoked meats will keep for a long time. These foods will feed you while you wait for your own food to grow and serve as a backup in case of an emergency.
5. Water and Collection
Pay great attention to the accessible drinking water quality. You may have to manage water delivery, well drilling, pumping, or hauling from a body of water depending on where you plan to live when you go off the grid. Examine the price, time, and feasibility of each option.
Purchase land with an established water source unless you intend to transport your water. A well that has previously been drilled, streams, a river or creek, a pond, or a lake could all be sources.
You can arrange to have a well-constructed, but wells aren’t always feasible in all locations, and the cost could be prohibitively high if the well needs to be very deep.
6. Power and Energy Generation
Off-grid energy is truly where the off-grid aspect begins. You’ll have to generate your own electricity because you won’t be linked to the power grid. This entails having a backup power system that can provide enough electricity to run all of your appliances, including your stove, refrigerator, washing machine, television, laptop, and chargers.
Solar and/or wind power will most likely be used to power your off-grid home. If you live off the grid, you probably won’t use much energy, but that doesn’t matter because you’ll be generating your own sustainable solar and wind power instead.
If you need time before constructing your own power sources, consider a generator. A good gas or even better bio-diesel-powered generator can provide the necessary power until you’ve sustainably generated your own.
7. Knowledge
Living off the grid requires many skills and expertise that are rarely taught in traditional skills and society. While books and websites can provide an abundant wealth of information, taking a few classes before embarking on your off-grid lifestyle can make your transition that much more successful.
A few courses to consider include:
Gardening
Cultivating and growing a vegetable garden requires an understanding of many factors. These include soil, environmental influences, and seeds. The list is truly endless. Taking a course in gardening helps you develop a deeper knowledge and can help provide better yields.
First Aid
It could take hours to go to the nearest medical institution, depending on your chosen location. Learn a few basic first aid skills as a favor for yourself. After you’ve completed the course, you should purchase a First Aid Kit.
Mechanics
Someone in your household ought to have some basic mechanical abilities for self-reliance. You will save time, money, and aggravation by repairing a car, truck, tractor, generator, or other vehicles on your own, particularly if you’re a long way from the closest town.
8. A Disposal System
You’ll have to cope with garbage management. Unless you have a composting system for your waste, you’ll have to dig a regular septic system. In either case, you must adhere to local and federal garbage disposal regulations.
Dumping your trash into a ditch and hoping for the best is just not sanitary. This isn’t to say it’s improper; just don’t do it near your water source or the water source of your animals. Construct a sound septic system.
More power to you if you want to use your own trash as fertilizer. Just be aware that city, county, and federal regulations are unlikely to permit it.
9. Commitment
Yes, money, patience, planning, and preparation are required, but most importantly, commitment. A real dedication to living off the grid, disconnected from our system’s burdens, is essential. You must be dedicated to following through.
Also, double-check that you have all you need before taking that step. This isn’t going to be a vacation. It’s a shift in mindset.
The mindset and will to live off the grid are maybe the most crucial requirements. It’s easy to fantasize about living off the grid, free of the constraints and tedium of modern life. The prospect of such liberation can be appealing. It does, however, necessitate a great deal of effort.
It takes a strong commitment, precise focus, and passion for living sustainably. Self-sufficiency is at the heart of independence, and it comes with responsibility, not only for your lifestyle choice but also for your family and those who rely on you.
Final Thoughts on How to Live Off the Grid
Making the switch to an off-grid existence could be one of the most beneficial choices you ever make. You’ll be more efficient and rewarding than you’ve ever been before.
However, if you don’t set the basis for a safe, healthy, and pleasant homesteading lifestyle, you risk endangering yourself and others.
The best thing you can do to ensure a positive outcome is to spend some time getting ready.
Related content:
Reasons For Living Off the Grid
Homesteading: Things You Need to Know to Get Started
