Not so very long ago, living off the grid would have meant total isolation and daily life would have been tough. An increasing number of people are now making this lifestyle choice because it’s become so much easier. If you want to live a life that’s more self-sufficient, here are some tips on how you can get started.
Pick the Right Location
It is possible to live off-grid virtually anywhere; however, there are certain locations that lend themselves better than others. There are certain factors you need to bear in mind, for example, the local climate, whether there are any natural resources nearby, the availability of wildlife, whether the soil is good enough for cultivating, where the nearest supply of water is and how often it rains. You don’t have to settle for one location, however, if you make use of a tiny house trailer. With one of these, you can simply pack your things together and move to another location whenever you want to.
Don’t be Reliant on One Power Source
Thanks to technology, you don’t have to go without many of the conveniences of modern life. You can charge your mobile devices using a solar charging system. Things that require energy can be powered using solar, wind, or water power, with a generator as a backup. It’s always a good idea to be able to use a variety of different power sources, just in case one doesn’t happen to be working well on a particular day. It will also be beneficial if you lower your usage as much as possible, so that the precious power you’re generating doesn’t go to waste.
Grow Your Own Produce and Raise Animals
It’s possible to be even more self-sufficient by growing your own produce and raising animals. Chickens are relatively easy to keep and can provide you with eggs. Rabbits are another favorite with people living off-grid because they’re also very easy to raise, breed quickly and yield meat.
Collect Rainwater
You might have found the perfect location for off-grid living that’s close to a clean supply of water, but an even better way of supplying your family with water is to collect rain. Constructing a rainwater collection system is a big task, but it’s something that will continue to pay off for many years to come.
Digging a well is another option, but this can be a very difficult and expensive project to undertake. It’s also something that’s very dependent on the quality of the groundwater.
Stay Connected
Just because you’ve decided to live off-grid doesn’t mean you need to live in total isolation, unless of course, you don’t want to have anything to do with civilization. Invest in a satellite phone because you’ll be able to keep in touch with the rest of the world and call for help should you need it. It might also pay to use a satellite Wi-Fi hotspot because you’ll be able to keep in touch via email and keep up with world events and the weather. If you really feel the need to, you’ll also be able to keep your social media feed up to date.
Now you realize how easy it can be to live the dream there’s no time like the present to get started.
