For most people, living off the grid is a well-thought-out decision, but it is spontaneous for others. Living off the grid means you are living away from civilization of any kind from water supply, electricity, communication, gas, and other essential amenities. It is a very nice idea for someone who is adventurous and unafraid of being alone. You can do some things to make the transition seamless from living a civilized life to living off the grid. Below are the things to remember.
Find a Suitable Land
The land is an amenity you will need to set up your new home. Depending on the regulations in your country, acquire land appropriately to avoid any misunderstanding in the future. Secondly, choose an appropriate location for your new home. Not every location is suitable for human living; go for one near water bodies like rivers or lakes to ensure you will at least have a clean supply of water.
Moreover, consider wild animals when choosing your land. Some wild animals are easy to live around since you can handle them, but some are very dangerous. Don’t put your life at risk just to fulfil your desire to live off the grid. It is better to do your due diligence before settling.
Provide Shelter
Shelter is a basic need for humans to survive, so you will have to think of where you will live in the wild. Since you are going off the grid, you might have to develop simple ideas for your house. Not many people will help build a complex house out in the woods that might take months. For this reason, choose easy to build material for your house. You can do it alone or have a few friends to help you out.
Popular ideas for an off-the-grid house are a wood cabin, a container house, a bamboo house, and a mud house. A container house is a wise option because there are different kinds from detachable ones, foldable ones, etc., and they are also straightforward to transport.
Power
Living off the grid does not mean forgetting some luxuries. You will have to provide power for yourself to run your electrical appliances. Since you are living away from any power grids, think out of the box and develop ideas of how you are going to operate your machinery and provide light at night. You can use generators, but with this, you will set aside time to drive to a gas station to refuel it.
Another better option is investing in a solar system. The trick of living off the grid is relying on the environment. The sun will still reach you regardless of where you are, and a solar system will come in handy in providing energy and solar lighting. Also, remember to have a weatherproof metal box to house your electronics and electricals that cannot fit in your tiny house.
Water Collection System
Come up with a system that will supply you with fresh water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other house chores. Living off the grid means you will not do not have running water from the central system. Collect rainwater since it is safe for drinking and has fewer contaminants, especially in the natural environment. Use gutters and tanks to collect this water, and you can use chlorine or other water purifying methods to ensure it is safe for consumption.
River water can also help if the rain is on the low. Water from rivers and some lakes are usually freshwater. Build a decontamination system to help make the water pure.
Provide Food
The easiest way to ensure there is a constant supply of fresh produce is by practising farming. Create a garden where you will grow vegetables, fruits, and grains. While packing for your new home, carry enough food to help you start life but in the meantime, ensure you plant more food that will last you in various seasons. You can also have canned food if you have a refrigerator or freezer; this way, you will have a constant supply even before your new produce grows.
Build a storage facility where you will keep the produce from your farm. Learn the best way of building a food storage facility that will keep pests and rodents from your food. Furthermore, if you are not a vegetarian or vegan, you can have some farm animals for meat and dairy products. Take care of these animals and let them reproduce; eventually, you will have a constant supply of animal products and farm produce.
Disposing Waste
Build a wastage disposal system that will allow for waste disposal without disrupting the ecosystem. For this, you can liaise with your local government to not go against waste disposal regulations. You can segregate your waste into recyclable and non-recyclable to ease disposal. Also, do not set your disposal area near water bodies or animals; it will lead to pollution and contamination.
You can also learn how to change your waste into fertilization for your farm. Biodegradable waste can be helpful since your plants also need an additional boost to flourish.
Conclusion
When you decide to live off the grid, be sure it is not a walk in the park as you may have thought. It requires dedication and attention to detail to enable you to live well with all the needed amenities. It is a good idea that can challenge lots of people in taking chances in life. However, before making that tough decision, be sure you are cut out for it. Living off the grid means you will be dependable on yourself for practically everything. Take a chance now and enjoy the serene environment of nature.
