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Most effective ways to live off the grid
Whether you believe the big one is going to hit and an apocalypse is imminent, or you just want to live a little greener, this list of how to go off-grid, will help you live more independently.
We’re not talking about going off Facebook for the weekend while you go glamping, nor do we mean some self-imposed exile where you become a hermit in a forest cabin never to be seen again. We mean living your life with less dependence on the current electrical, water and grocery store supply.
The added bonus of off the grid living is that it is naturally far more carbon friendly, and you will automatically be able to reduce your carbon footprint as you go.
Starting small and growing into each phase of off-grid living is a great idea, that way you can ease into the lifestyle and really make it work for you.
12 - A reality check
Off grid living seeks to lean less on artificial comforts like fossil fuel electrified heating, cooling and lighting.
Here are some important truths to remember:
Seasons vary; summer is hot, winter is cold. You will have to find a way to live through both.
Night is dark, and you will need to come to terms that without mainstream electricity you might not be able to light every square inch of your home at just the flip of a switch.
Gardens require more than seeds and water. The correct soil is most important for food production, and sometimes this requires building soil up to a healthy level over time.
Water doesn’t run uphill, so location is everything.
11 - Reduce consumption
The first thing to think about when you go off grid is to reduce your consumption of modern municipal utilities like electricity, gas and water. Before you plan to produce your own electricity or gather your own water, it is best to start by reducing the amount you use.
This can be as simple as switching off the heating or turning it down and wearing a sweater indoors. Try replacing your light bulbs to energy efficient ones. Use your oven efficiently and cook a few meals at once when it is switched on.
Water your garden from shower water you collect in a bucket in your shower. Or use some water saving faucet fittings that reduce your water consumption. Flush your toilet only when necessary. The less you get used to using, the less you will need to catch on your own steam.
10 - Find a place to hang your hat
You might be living off grid in the middle of a city by becoming an urban homesteader, or you might consider off-grid as a lifestyle that can only occur far from civilization. Whatever your definition you need to be housed somewhere.
Your decision of where to hang your hat needs to be practical. You can’t be planning an off grid hydroponic farm when you have no access to water. Or a wind powered cabin where there isn’t a breath of wind. First think environment and what it offers in terms of opportunities and natural resources before you fall in love with a place because of its views.
Two of the most important factors will be how to gather enough water to sustain life and produce crops, and how to produce electricity.
Then you need to consider the climate. Consider the seasons you will face, the length of the growing months and the hibernation months. Often a temperate climate is more practical.
Another factor is soil quality, although with time this can be improved.
Further on in this video we will get into the different ways to secure water and electricity supply, so keep watching.
9 - Get used to the outdoors
Before you skip your lease and run off into the forest to live amongst the animals get some real outdoor experience.
Do you even like nature? Because if you’re starting out a homestead from scratch, you will be spending a lot of time taming nature around you, anything from hacking back bushes to finding firewood, it’s all up to you.
Think about the kind of terrain you will feel comfortable in. Are you an open plains person, or do you feel at home deep in a densely wooded area, or will we find you yodelling your heart out on a mountain somewhere?
Be sure to visit plenty of places before laying any roots.
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