5 Tips for Off-Grid Living
Living “off the grid” is the epitome of sustainable living. But it’s not always easy to accomplish! These 5 tips can help you successfully transition to an off-grid lifestyle.
First of all, let’s discuss what it means to live “off-grid.” To be truly off the grid means that your home is not connected to electric power lines, and that you do not access a city or county-provided water supply. Most likely you would also not access community utilities such as trash disposal.
In the 21st century, however, off-gridders can still have access to many modern conveniences, including electricity, clean water, and telephone and internet connections. They just utilize modern technologies to provide these for themselves in a more sustainable manner. Solar, wind, and hydro power are often used to provide electricity for appliances and household use. Composting toilets, efficient heating and cooling options such as the use of passive solar design, and large rainwater storage tanks are all available to help the off-gridder maintain self-sufficiency, without feeling like they’re living in the stone age!
However, those pursuing an off-grid lifestyle will still be faced with a number of unique challenges.
This helpful article shares 5+ tips for making off-grid living more enjoyable and sustainable:
Over the years that my family has been homesteading and becoming more self-sufficient with our orchards and vegetable gardens etc, I have often been quizzed by individuals and families seeking a more independent and sustainable lifestyle.
People ask me what are the most important things to know before making the move off grid. They want to make lists, but don’t know where to start.
Well, here’s the five key points I decided provide the best starting point. Keep these five facts in mind, and focus on them to inspire and compile your own list of what you’ll need to cope with your new lifestyle.
– Summer is hot.
– Winter is cold.
– Nights are dark.
– Gardens need good soil, and
– Water doesn’t run uphill.
If you can meet the challenges associated with these five basic facts, you can develop a plan for sustainable living.
Here’s a few more helpful tips for successfully living off the grid …
How will you stay warm when you are living off the grid?
Generating heat is always a major challenge when living off the grid. Solar power solves most problems, but you’ll find it difficult to warm an entire house if you are simply relying on photovoltaic panels and deep cell batteries.
Our main strategies for keeping our home warm in the winter include:
– Slow-combustion wood fire in our main living area
– Insulation – walls and ceiling
– Passive heating – large glass doors in kitchen face positive sun direction
– Clever home design – including window size and placement
– Appropriate garden design – don’t let evergreen trees block your winter sun
– Interior design – including choice of window coverings.…………………………………………………
Off-gridders recycle with a passion
When you live off the grid, recycling becomes much more than just separating your glass from your plastics and putting them out on the curb for collection.
Suddenly everything is viewed with the question, “How can I put this to good use?”
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A garden is essential when living off the grid
Nothing keeps fruit and vegetables fresher than leaving them on the trees or in the ground. Once you are living off the grid, you will definitely need a garden.
When you are looking for a place to buy, consider the climate and take a look at the soil. If you can successfully grow organic fruit and vegetables, you can feed your family and still have enough left over to barter with others.
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