What used to be reserved for people that wanted to live as they did back in the old days, off-the-grid living is now starting to get mainstream. The reason is that we now have access to the modern conveniences we expect at home without having to be hooked up to the electrical grid or any other city or county services. It’s no longer required to rough it in other words.
If you are looking to get back to natural living and still want to have the creature comforts of a modern home then you have to understand how to go about things. You can’t just buy some land away from things and set yourself up without knowing what you are getting into. In this article, we will go over several factors to consider before you go off-grid.
1 – Get Your Energy Sorted
Having electricity is going to be your main concern so it is helpful to have a plan before you set out. The most obvious source of electricity is going to come from the sun. Solar panels and batteries are extremely popular with off-grid enthusiasts.
This is because the sun is a continuous resource and solar panels are extremely efficient these days. Another option to consider too is a portable solar panel which is very handy and easy to use.
The only problem is that there are areas that don’t get sufficient sunlight to power your home consistently. You may need to have a portable generator in that case.
There is also the possibility of using water to power your house. If you are lucky enough to live next to a water source that runs like a stream or river then you can set up a mill. Just like back in the old days, you can use water for your power and the nice thing is that it never shuts off.
2 – Grow Your Own Food
When you are buying produce at the supermarket, you are contributing to a supply chain that relies a lot on fossil fuels. If you are off-grid then the ideal thing to do is decouple from this kind of system.
This means that you should grow as much of your own food as possible. In just about any part of the globe, you can grow vegetables. Obviously, if you live in a favorable hardiness zone, it isn’t much of a challenge to grow vegetables year round.
You can feed a family using just your homegrown produce if this is the case. In less favorable conditions you can set up a greenhouse to grow vegetables that need longer growing seasons.
3 – Drill a well
Having your own water supply will give you a lot of resilience. When there is a drought and water bans occur frequently, then you will always have your own supply regardless. Most places will give you access to be able to drill an artesian well and a constant supply of water.
In addition to that, try collecting rainwater to be able to water your garden without needing to use any of your water supply.
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