As the world becomes more modernized, globalized, and atomized, life lived on the margins becomes increasingly attractive. Existing under the webbing of arbitrary rules, zoning, and social pressure catalyzes some people to consider living off the grid. It’s easy to romanticize living on a secluded plot of land, growing your own food, and requiring no societal systems to live your life to the fullest. That said, living off the grid is a serious investment. It requires hard labor, trying times, and a foregoing of creature comforts.
Even if you consider yourself something of an adventurer, it’s easy to underestimate just how much it takes to live off the grid, much less make it sustainable. It requires a careful consideration of location, shelter, energy use, water use, waste disposal, and food production. For that reason, let’s look at all the steps required to live off the grid in a way that can be sustained for years and allows you the independence and freedom you desire. (For people who truly lived off the grid, learn about some of the most famous hermits in history.)
To compile an article detailing the various considerations for an off-the-grid lifestyle, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of lifestyle, homesteading, and sustainability publications including Sunnysimpleliving.com, Cnet.com, and Ecoshack.com. Next, we researched the various elements required to make off-the-grid living sustainable and manageable. After that, we confirmed aspects of our research using sites like Nature’s Generator and Off-Grid World.
Location, Location, Location
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and live off the grid. The first step is finding the best plot of land for your new lifestyle. This requires careful research as the wrong type of land could spell disaster for living sustainably. Your slice of paradise needs to be legal, adequate enough for your living and food growing needs, and well away from developed areas (otherwise there’s not much point in off-the-grid living). Take into account the various requirements for good, fertile land. It must feature a proper bedrock for constructing your house, accessibility, and ideally, a natural water source like a spring or well. Furthermore, many off-the-grid’ers find it helpful to have a type of sun engagement for harvesting solar energy.
Size
No matter how you calculate it, ample size for your homestead is imperative. Though size requirements vary from situation to situation, ideally you’ll want at least a quarter-acre of land for your new plot. This will give you room for a shelter, power generating systems, and space to grow food. You still have to buy the land, however, so ask yourself how you will generate income. If you already have a chunk of change to fund your new lifestyle, keep in mind that it will slowly dwindle the more you develop the land.
If not, you may want to consider how to make money away from society. You could build some kind of passive income stream or even use the plants you grow to fund your lifestyle. The latter may seem implausible, but plenty of people generate good money growing fruits and vegetables on small plots of land. If growing more food than your mouth will need seems a bridge too far, there is always cattle grazing. Plenty of ranchers will pay property owners for the right to let their cattle graze on other people’s land.
Climate
With the advent of global warming, it can be hard to predict exactly how a plot of land will fare climate-wise over several years. Extending that forecast a decade or more and estimating a piece of land’s viability becomes even harder. That said, there are a couple of rules of thumb to help you gauge whether or not land will be sustainable as time passes. For one, make sure your plot has year-round access. Then consider the conditions necessary for proper food growth. If the land features year-round sunlight, moderate to ample rainfall, and a growing season of at least six months out of the year, you’re probably in good shape.
Modest House or Thereabouts
You’ve figured out the best plot of land to use for your off-the-grid lifestyle. The next step is deciding what kind of shelter or house you will build or purchase to make the situation more palatable. Living in a tent for months at a time is hard for even the toughest of survivalists. You can make your off-the-grid house as large as you’d like but consider that the bigger it is, the harder it will be to construct, much less power or heat. A mansion in the wilderness may seem like a romantic notion, but it will break the bank and your back in the process of bringing it to fruition. Luckily, there are plenty of options for modest housing that will meet your needs and fit congruously with your off-the-grid lifestyle.
Premade
With the rise in off-the-grid lifestyles and tiny houses, there are a plethora of options for premade houses. These prefab homes are built made-to-order in factories via efficient means. Once it’s ready, the premade house can be dropped off at the site of your choosing. All that’s required beforehand is a proper foundation for the premade house to rest upon. This is a viable option for those lacking in time or construction skills. There’s no reason to build your own home if you’re woefully unprepared for what it requires. If you have the money to buy one, premade homes can make the transition to off-the-grid living quite seamless.
Building
For those prepared to build a livable structure with their own hands, there are plenty of options for design. For one, tiny homes make a great addition to any plot of land. Despite being trendy and even adorable, tiny homes can give you all the space you need. Plus, they require less power and water and are easy to build, considering their small dimensions. Typically, tiny homes range in size from 60 to 500 square feet. That said, they can range even larger depending on your preferences.
A huge home may provide more comfort but will require more manpower, energy, and materials. A minimalist approach will likely give you the best outcome for off-the-grid living. Plus, tiny homes make clever use of space. By taking a vertical approach to space, employing clever storage techniques, and using convertible methods for different interior aspects, tiny homes can feel much larger than they appear on the outside.
Time Constraints
If you’ve decided to build a small, modest home for your new off-the-grid plot, you’ll make your life easier if you consider the time constraints on construction. Building your own house in the dead of a New England winter will be miserable, if not impossible. Construction of the house should probably happen in the warmer, dryer months to prevent bone-chilling labor and molding of wood. With tiny homes, many can be transported to the location of your choice. For that reason, it may be easier to build your tiny home elsewhere before delivering it to your homestead. Stepping it up to a cabin or more conventional home will probably require outside experts like foremen or contractors.
Passive Heating and Cooling
There are plenty of methods to ensure your property receives enough heat or cold to sustain your lifestyle. While various power generation options exist, first consider the layout of your new home and how it can generate passive solar power. A home built within a nest of trees will likely stay too cool for comfort. A home built in the blazing sun will probably become tortuous during the long summer months. With the idea of keeping summer heat out and winter heat in, plan the orientation of your house in the most effective manner.
Sun Salutation
Understanding the placement of your home in relation to the trajectory of the sun through the sky is an important aspect of off-the-grid living. A good comparison is greenhouses, which are usually built on a north-to-south axis. This helps get the most sun exposure throughout the day. For that reason, it’s best to build your off-the-grid house in a similar style. If you live in the southern hemisphere, add large north-facing windows. If you live in the northern hemisphere, implement large south-facing windows. These elements should not be overlooked in the placement of your home. Save for adding a large tree to provide shade coverage, layout is a free and easy way to get the best climate conditions.
Insulation
A basic understanding of heat transfer and insulation can also provide an added benefit to living sustainably. By choosing the right insulation, coupled with your home’s layout, you can prioritize good energy efficiency. Keeping an eye on maximizing passive solar power and picking the best materials minimizes the loss of natural power. You’ll know you made the right choice if your home stays cool in the summer, heats up in winter, and loses little heat through your home’s walls, floors, or ceilings.
Thermal Mass
Similar to insulation, an understanding of thermal mass can help ensure only the smallest amount of heat is lost. By definition, thermal mass is the ability of any material to absorb and retain heat. For your purposes, good thermal mass can be achieved by incorporating tried-and-true materials like concrete, brick, or tiles. Another way to ensure maximum heat absorbency is by building your off-the-grid home into the side of a hill.
Power Prerequisites
Now that you’ve got your home’s layout formulated, it’s time to consider your off-the-grid energy requirements. Be honest with yourself about how much power you will likely need — not to enjoy yourself 24/7 but to provide the least amount of power to live. A full home theatre setup for your off-the-grid property is probably not in the cards unless you have some serious firepower to keep it running. You may not be able to live in extreme luxury, but with the right power generators, you can live relatively comfortably and sustainably. When people think of off-the-grid living, their minds immediately go to solar power. It’s probably the best option for this lifestyle but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to sustainable energy generation.
Energy Requirements
Walking into your new off-the-grid homestead without a basic energy understanding can spell disaster for your new lifestyle. You have to take stock of the energy you use now and the energy you’ll likely need once you make the transition. To do this, purchase some kind of electricity use monitor from a store or online dealer. They aren’t expensive, but if the cost seems prohibitive, many libraries allow you to rent these monitors for free. From there, employ the device throughout the day.
Measure how much energy you use through your lights, refrigerator, laptop, and more. Don’t forget the bigger appliances either, like water heaters, electric stovetops, and washers or dryers. By taking these quantitative measurements, you’ll get the best sense of what devices use the most energy, what should be prioritized for your new lifestyle, and most importantly, what appliances can be swapped out for more energy-efficient or even gas-powered alternatives. You may like cooking on an electric stove, but using a gas option will save you tons of energy day by day. Plus, a solar power water heater is expensive but can provide hot water anytime since it stores energy like a thermos.
Solar Power
Unless you have an expert-level understanding of power methods, you’ll probably be using solar power to keep your off-the-grid dream running. It remains the easiest and most practicable method for power generation. While solar technology has advanced a considerable amount in recent years, the initial investment will still cost you a bit of money. A comprehensive off-grid solar power system costs between $10,000 and $75,000. Some states provide tax deductions or rebates for using solar power to offset the costs. That said, most tiny homes aren’t eligible for solar rebates because they aren’t classified as permanent structures. It costs a pretty penny to get started, but solar power can pay its dividends the longer it’s employed.
Once you’ve decided to make the solar investment, consider the three main types of solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient but cost the most money. Polycrystalline panels are the middle option in terms of effectiveness and price. Thin film, however, sits at the bottom because it gives the worst efficiency at a cheap price. To decide what panel is best for you, consider electrical output. Panel wattages range between 100 to 400 watts. Since less sun peaks through on cloudy days, a higher wattage may be required. Furthermore, if your off-the-grid property resides in cooler climates like the Pacific Northwest, you’ll probably need the most expensive type of solar panel to siphon the most energy. On the other hand, a desert homestead will likely require the least expensive solar panel since these regions get ample sunlight.
Battery Power
While solar power is a must, there are different ways of storing it. Homes in urban areas using solar power typically go “on-grid,” meaning their solar panels transfer energy to a centralized grid. Living off the land, however, won’t provide that kind of luxury. Instead, you’ll use an off-grid system whereby solar panels store energy right on your property in a series of batteries. Flood leaded acid batteries are cheap but require a lot of maintenance and must be stored outside. AGM batteries have a middle price point but can be stored inside. Nickel iron batteries are similar but have a longer lifestyle. Lithium-ion batteries are the premier option since they cost the most but have the least amount of maintenance and the longest lifespan.
Backup
Solar power remains a pretty dependable energy source, but Mother Nature can be fickle. An extended winter period or a turbulent storm could prevent solar panels from siphoning any sunlight for weeks, leaving you with no power. That’s why it’s important to keep backup power sources in mind. This can take the form of off-grid wind turbines, biodiesel or gas generators, or even extra battery banks stored around your property. Even with those on hand, it’s important to keep extra candles and firewood on hand for emergency conditions. (For a sense of regional weather, discover climate-vulnerable areas where Americans are moving to.)
Water of Life
Water may seem a given in more developed environments but it’s an absolute imperative when it comes to off-the-grid living. You must take stock of the water usage required for living off the grid. This extends from drinking water to washing or agriculture needs. Once you have an accounting of estimated water usage, create a solid water system with a backup plan in case anything goes wrong.
Systems
Luckily, there are several handy systems for creating or storing water. A well remains the best option but the most expensive. Digging and constructing a well can cost over $5,000 with the price increasing depending on the depth required to hit water. It also requires an off-grid pump to get working, but these can be hand-powered if necessary. Once a well is dug, however, it costs not much more in upkeep and provides mineral-rich water forever.
Spring water is another option for hydrating your off-the-grid property, but getting land with these natural formations can be hard to come by. Springs function as natural wells and all that’s required are large jugs to store the water they produce. That said, you’ll still likely need another water source for non-drinking needs.
The cheapest option, without a doubt, is rainwater harvesting. Since water rights required for wells are rare, this may be your best option. It’s easy too, as all you need are buckets to collect falling water. That said, you’ll need other materials like filters, water level indicators, and pump systems to ensure the water you collect is clean and safe to use. In rainfall-rich regions, a single square foot of roof space can collect over half a gallon of rainwater from a good storm.
Waste
No matter how you slice it, waste will accumulate on your off-the-grid property. Sure, you can set up a modern toilet, but with your careful water requirements, it would be a fool’s errand to flush all your precious water in one fall swoop. Luckily, there are several options for dealing with your waste simply and sustainably.
Compost
Composting toilets are a great way to get rid of waste without using much water. These systems typically run dry, which means liquids are diverted from solids at the outset before the solids are broken down using natural materials like peat moss, sawdust, or ash. Furthermore, this method usually gets rid of the unpleasant odors associated with waste. Many companies make composting toilets for use in off-the-grid vehicles. These systems come with a price tag but can be great for staying self-contained as the leftover waste is easily diverted to a trash can or even compost pile.
If you’re feeling adventurous or really want to adhere to an off-the-grid lifestyle without modern trappings, there is the outhouse option. These are cheap to make and require little expertise. The only downside is they have to sit far away from your home to prevent contamination, meaning you’ll have to make the journey out there on cold winter nights. Outhouses also require a pit dug deep enough to keep waste quarantined as it’s broken down by aforementioned materials like peat moss or sawdust.
Septic
Septic tanks are arguably the most luxurious form of waste management for the off-the-grid lifestyle. These on-site facilities divert wastewater into the soil and process the solid matter. These systems, however, require a certain type of soil and use much more water than other options. They aren’t cheap either.
Agriculture 101
Now that you’ve gotten a sense of what’s needed to live functionally off the grid, you need to consider food. A sustainable method of sourcing food is required to live, but doing so off the grid can be a rewarding experience. Even if you have a bad record with houseplants, you don’t need much skill to grow food. Like most farmers, you’ll learn how to do so through a process of trial and error. Plus, nothing says sustainable and independent like growing everything you’ll ever need.
Better Garden, Better Home
There are several ways to build a good garden on your property. It can take the form of in-the-ground planting, using raised gardening beds, or planting lasagna style, which means layering organic material and building soil naturally. Whatever you choose, it’s important to create a solid irrigation system to feed your plants. Drip watering remains the most efficient method but requires extensive plastic tubes across your garden plots. Overhead irrigation can produce more weeds but provides the best germination for certain vegetables like carrots. As such, it’s important to take stock of what your food needs might look like and what vegetables will help sustain your off-the-grid lifestyle long term.
Even if you’ve got your fruit and vegetable seeds picked out and your irrigation system constructed, no plant will grow without good soil. Buying soil might be helpful in a suburban property but you won’t have that luxury out in the wilderness. Raw manure is an option but it comes with the drawbacks of foreign seeds and harmful pathogens. Compost, however, can be used to build garden beds, fertilize crops, and mulch the area. Be sure to do your research about compost soil to understand the best color quality (typically a dark chocolate tone) required for sprouting healthy, harvestable plants.
Animals
If vegetables and tubers don’t seem to provide enough sustenance, there are always animals. Some animals, like hens, are great starter creatures for your off-the-grid homestead. They produce eggs, sometimes daily, and require little maintenance. Other animals like goats, ducks, or cows require much more maintenance but provide more food. We don’t recommend jumping right into cattle agriculture, but over time, you can get a sense of what your dairy needs might be. Once you’ve mastered the off-the-grid lifestyle, more and more animals can be incorporated.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that off-the-grid living requires money, sweat, and time. Living in the cities is easier, but off-the-grid living provides the type of freedom and independence that’s hard to find in the modern world. If you make the leap of faith into this lifestyle, you might have some hard years but in the end, it will teach you a type of resiliency most people envy. (For unique greenery, discover strange and unusual plants you never knew existed.)