Many people have started looking at living ‘off-grid’. With all the excess expenses of living in a town or city, and with countless bills for energy, water and local taxes, it can be tempting to go out on your own and become self-sufficient. There are environmental reasons driving this change in culture too, with many young families choosing to live a more rural life and do things like generate their own electricity, and grow their own food.
Another temptation is the opportunity to build your own home and own your own land. When beginning a life of living off-grid, it can be hard to find a suitable existing building without overspending. Most ‘off-gridders’ find a piece of land and begin to build their own home there, tailored to their needs. Here we have three quick steps to take to start an off-grid life, and begin living the self-sufficient way.
Prepare and Plan
It will take a lot of planning to successfully move your life off-grid. You will find that many of the comforts you take for granted will have to be abandoned. You will need to plan for a great deal of things you may never have had to think of before, like water and power. How will you cook and clean? It is best to plan things in stages, and slowly move your life from on-grid to off.
Find Your New Home
You need to have somewhere to go when you move off-grid, and this will require some investment. Buying your own land protects you in many ways, and not just legally, as you will own the land that provides you with food and shelter. You should look for farm land for sale in the area you want to move to, and begin the process of buying your land. Be sure to check local building regulations, as any structure you intend to build will be subject to governmental approval.
Power, Water and Food
If you are going to be truly self-sufficient, you will need to grow your own food. It is worth remembering that food can be bought if you need to, so you don’t have to completely rely on farming your land, but water and electricity are a different matter. Without the expensive connections to the water and electrical grids, and the bills that come with them, you will have to generate and store your own electricity and collect and supply your own water. Waste water and sewage also need to be dealt with. There are lots of systems on the market today to help off-gridders solve these problems with modern technology, such as solar panels and battery packs.
It can be incredibly rewarding to forge your own life off-grid. Many people feel much more connected to the planet, and to their own lives, having taken on extra responsibilities like growing food and collecting water. With these extra challenges comes an extra independence that some people find changes their lives, and how they see life itself. Are you thinking of taking the leap? Let us know.