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 CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: STEP ONE - KNOW YOUR "WHY"
Why Live Off the Grid?
Cons
Who Can Do This?
Ways to Live Off the Grid
Things to Consider Before Taking the Plunge
Start Small
Key Points
CHAPTER 2: STEP TWO - LEARN FROM OTHER'S MISTAKES
Lacking Basic Know-How
Cost
Land
Energy
Food and Water
Waste Disposal
Dealing With Disasters
Physical Fitness
Support Network
Quality Tools
Every Day Needs
How Much Does It Cost to Leave the Grid Completely?
How to Get the Money
Key Points
CHAPTER 3: STEP THREE - HAVE A TASTE OF OFF-THE-GRID LIFE WHILE LIVING ON THE GRID. PREPARE FOR THE REAL THING
Minimalism
How to Become a Minimalist
Mentally Self-Reliant
Why Is It Important?
How to Become Mentally Self-Reliant
Producing Food
Raising Livestock
Preserving Food
Survival
Other Necessary Skills
Key Points
CHAPTER 4: STEP FOUR - FIND & ACQUIRE A SUITABLE OFF-THE-GRID PROPERTY
Things to Consider Before Buying
Things That Can Get In Your Way
How to Find Off the Grid Property
Look Online
Face to Face
Foot Work
Is There a Way to Get Free Land?
Make a Move Away
Financing Your Homestead
Closing the Deal on Your Property
Key Points
CHAPTER 5: STEP FIVE - BUILD YOUR HOMESTEAD
Shelter
Cob House
Bamboo House
Shipping Container
Earthship House
Prefabricated Homes
Building a Cabin
Water
Sump Hole
Wells
Water Storage
Water Collection
Water Pressure and Extras
Cleaning
Food
Soil
 Plants
Pests and Diseases
Livestock
Power and Energy
Heating and Cooling
Composting and Waste Management
Communication and Internet
Key Points
CHAPTER 6: STEP SIX - TRANSITION, INTEGRATE, & FLOURISH OFF THE GRID
Gardening Basics
Getting Water
Protection
Livestock Basics
Preserving and Storage
Canning
Dehydration
Fermenting
Vacuum Sealing
Curing
Preserving Dry Food
Extra Tips and Tricks
Kitchen
Garden
Livestock
Garden
Key Points
CHAPTER 7: STEP SEVEN - MAKE A LIVING OFF THE GRID
Earning Money with Your Homestead
Garden
Livestock
Homemade Products
Pros and Cons
Online Work
Face to Face Work
Key Points
CHAPTER 8: STEP EIGHT - MAKE THE MOST OUT OF LIVING OFF GRID
Power System
Water System
Livestock
Garden
Key Points
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
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 INTRODUCTION

"The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land."
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN

I was always told that life was about studying, getting a good job, and keeping at it until I ran out of days to live.
This was considered an everyday and perfect life. And so, that is precisely what I did. I studied and worked hard as
a youngster. And I even managed to get that perfect job. But was I happy? How many people can say that they are
happy with their jobs and their lives? I would get up early to try and beat peak hour traffic. If I somehow managed
to beat the traffic, I was at work at a ridiculously early hour. Which I never got any credit for. And if not? Well,
then I was stuck in traffic with blaring horns, people with short tempers, and the very real chance of being in a
traffic accident.
When I finally managed to get to work, my boss would be there, ready to yell at me for being a couple of minutes
late. Honestly, I'd have quit that job then and there if I had been able to, but I needed the money. So, I took the
abuse silently because, in my mind, the old conditioning was what drove me- I needed the job to be “happy”. Every
time I turned my computer on, I would find what felt like hundreds of emails waiting for me. They were all
complaining about something that had nothing to do with me, yet somehow I had to fix it. I worked endlessly with
no appreciation from people, all for a salary. A salary that only just covered my living costs. I wanted to get fitter
and healthier this year, but the cost of eating healthy and working out was just too much. I eventually found myself
turning to junk food more often. I convinced myself that this was saving time and was convenient, but I was only
lying to myself. This was not helping my cholesterol. Yet, I would mutter to myself, "I need this job. I have to do
this. I have two kids to support."
How many other people have felt this way? Do you need a job like this? Do you? Ask yourself. Why do you need
this job? The security? Is it the money? Everything is so expensive! Food, electricity, rent, absolutely everything.
But what if there was another way- a way to lower your stress, improve your health, and get back in touch with
nature?
Our world is driven by a consumer economy. We are forced to believe that we can only be happy if we earn enough
money to buy the latest phones, computers., and high-tech gadgets. We have become brainwashed by this. We have
started to believe that if we cannot have the newest products, we are not seen worthy by those around us. Why?
When did that become a way to measure our self-worth? And every year, these notions are getting worse. Taxes are
increasing, the cost of gas is skyrocketing, and our stress levels are not coming down.
Whether in the corporate world or some fast-food chain, you are part of a rat race to get enough money and
possessions to feel that you matter to the rest of the world. You feel there is always someone at work trying to take
your role, and your stress contributes to your unhealthy lifestyle, high blood pressure, and any number of diseases
that you won't know you have until you are already suffering from them.
Get out of the rat race while you can. Whether it is permanently or for a couple of months out of the year, but get
out while you can. Many people worldwide find themselves in situations where they no longer can deal with what is
happening in the hustle and bustle of the modern world. The truth is, modernization is not something everyone
wants to or can deal with daily. Many people want to "unplug" from this world and seek other ways to live, and so
can you.
I carried on like this for years before I eventually said, "No more." I was done with this way of living. I needed to
get away from everything. This was when I heard about off-the-grid living. It sounded like something I needed in
my life, so I took a gamble and tried it. Now I am not saying that it was easy, cheap, or that there wasn't some
emotional cost, but I can tell you that it was worth it. I have been living off the grid since 2011, and I couldn't be
happier! During this time, my family and I became wilderness survival experts, and we learned to live based on
methods that are self-reliant and living close to nature.
It took some time and work. I made many errors along the way. Now, I think it is time to share all my knowledge to
help you get off the grid and live a stress-free life without suffering the failures I did when I started this journey. In
this book, I will share all the practical knowledge I have acquired in the last decade. This is everything from
understanding why you want to live off the grid to how you can make the transition. My goal is to help you
transition from the city life you find unfulfilling to a life far better for you. One where you can enjoy the comforts
of nature and maybe earn some money while doing it. It doesn't matter if you were born in a city or a suburb;
anyone can make this transition and flourish off the grid. You need to have the courage to take that first step and
begin preparation. Turn the page to see the benefits of learning how to live off of the grid. Join me on this journey
and get the most out of your life once more!
 CHAPTER 1
STEP ONE - KNOW YOUR "WHY"

Before delving any further into this book, you should be asking yourself, "What does it mean to live off the grid?"
And before this question can be answered, you first need to understand what the grid is. Originally this was the
electricity grid that everyone would belong to. However, this isn't the only public-sourced utility that binds all of us.
Most homes have access to water, natural gas, and electricity, all provided by the municipality for a fee. This fee
covers what you use as well as the maintenance to keep the necessary cogs turning. Even the food you eat is part of
this grid. By living off of the grid, you are no longer using or paying for these utilities. You can become
autonomous by living an independent life from the grid.
However, there is no need to achieve this all at once. You do not need to move to the mountains and live like a
monk. Unless, of course, that is precisely what you want to do. You can still live a comfortable life; you just
become free from relying on public-sourced utilities. A great place to start would be to stop using one of these
utilities one at a time until you are entirely free from all that you will not need. So to answer your first question: To
get off of the electricity grid, you will need alternative energy sources.

Why Live Off the Grid?

There are many reasons that people decide to start living off the grid. Most of the time, people are just tired of how
they are being treated by the government and want to remove themselves from where they can be controlled (Eric,
2021a). By leaving the bustling cities, they take ownership of themselves and their actions as they become
independent. Other people simply want a greener way of life. They feel that using renewable energy sources instead
of fossil fuels, they are helping the environment.
There are many pros to leaving the electricity grid alone, much less the other grids that tie people down to their
stressful lives. By using renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, you save money in the long run as this
energy is freely available. You may even decide that you want to do more than just cut yourself off from the
electricity grid. You may find you want to grow your food or even move to a more rural setting. This is all possible
if you remove yourself from an economy that is obsessed with buying things. Most of those things you may not
even need. When you buy fewer things, you learn to recycle or even upcycle when filling a need. You will learn
that nothing goes to waste. How often do you throw vegetables out because you never got around to eating them?
Learn to compost to create fertilizer for your crops.
Growing your food is rewarding and healthy. You know exactly where it is coming from and how it was treated
during its growth. You reap what you sow. The more work you put into your land, the more it will give back to you.
By putting the hard work into growing your food, you get fresh air and a lot of exercise. There is no need to pay for
a gym membership when you are out in nature every day. By doing this, you are returning to the roots of your
ancestors. Humans didn't start with shops on every corner. Any food they ate came from what they hunted and
gathered themselves. By cutting yourself away from the grid, you become a hunter-gatherer, a prepper, and a techno
junkie all rolled into one. Too many people are losing touch with their roots. This causes the loss of precious
knowledge for how to survive out in nature. Luckily, with today's technology, this knowledge is still at your
fingertips. You can teach yourself and your children.
Coming to the topic of children- today's children have become spoiled with technology, and they barely want to
play outside. However, with violent crime increasing every year in the cities, do you want your children playing
outside? Children who grow up growing their food and having responsibilities understand the true value of a day's
work (Eric, 2019). They can see that their hard work is paying off, plus they have their parents with them daily
instead of barely seeing them because they are working so hard.
There is far less pollution if you aim to move to a rural area, which helps with your health and safety concerns.
Vacations can be taken in your very surroundings, as you can hike, hunt (if you are lucky), fish, climb trees, and
enjoy wonderful star-lit nights, which are generally hidden by pollution in the cities. You can even get that dog you
always wanted, maybe a cow or two, and a handful of chickens. You will hardly be bored as there will always be
something to do. You are entirely in control of your own life. You can even benefit your local community. If you
are growing more produce than what you and your family can eat, think about giving back to the community by
supporting farmer's markets and food banks. Share your experience with those that live close by and build a
community of people who no longer want to be sucked into the so-called "freedom" of the electricity grid and
others.

Cons

I'd be lying to you if I said there was no downside to living off the grid. The idea of living this way seems to be the
ideal way of life, but it has been heavily romanticized (Bugetnbargains, 2014). Don't let the idea of being free from
the grid fool you. Living off the grid is a lot of work. The first thing you need to consider is whether to convert your
current house to be off the grid or if you will move away to a different area. However, if you decide to leave, you
will have to build a new home to accommodate your new needs. If you plan to convert your current home, you may
find it challenging to keep a larger house running on solar power. After all, larger houses require more energy to
heat and cool. There is also the future implication of trying to sell your converted house. Although many people like
the idea of living off the grid, they may not like the idea of solar panels all over the roof and a small wind turbine in
the garden.
If the idea of moving to a rural area is more appealing, you will need to build your new home upon land that you
can use. This isn't only limited to fertile soil, but the environment needs to be conducive to the renewable energy
sources you want to use. If you are building your new home in the middle of a dense forest, you may not get the
required energy you need from solar or wind power. The house you are building needs to be large enough for your
family but small enough that your energy usage isn't more than what you can generate. Special attention should be
paid to the size of your roof, as this is where you will likely be placing your solar panels. An A-frame house is a
possible solution to have ample roof space while keeping the size of your home small.
The upfront costs of getting off of the electricity grid alone can be staggering. Although the cost of solar panels is
becoming less over time, the batteries to store the energy are still very high. You become responsible for managing
your energy needs. You may have to create a budget for your energy use. You will need to decide if some of your
previously necessary items—such as aircon and television—are worth keeping around as they are energy vampires.
You will have to learn to conserve your precious power supplies for only the most important of appliances.
Those expensive batteries need a place to be stored, and they are not small. You must take responsibility for
maintaining all your energy sourcing equipment. No one will come out to do it without you paying extra for it. You
may even need to have a backup energy source such as a generator to help you get through mechanical breakdowns
or maintenance. This can be a lifesaver if your primary energy source malfunctions in the middle of winter. The
nights can be very dark, and winter is frigid, so this generator isn't a luxury but a necessity. You will need a good
quality one with spare fuel.
If your intentions are to live in a more rural area, this comes with its own negatives. You may be leaving friends and
family behind, which can contribute to feelings of loneliness. Make an effort to join the community in the area so
that you do not develop these feelings. Although rural living saves on some of the costs you had in the city, you
may find that your travel costs and maintenance on your vehicle are higher. You may even have to service the roads
you drive on as no one else will do it.

Who Can Do This?

Anyone can live off the grid. However, to do it correctly, some things are needed to aid you to do it correctly. Many
people believe that you need to have a particular personality type, but that is not true. There is not one particular
personality type that would do better living off the grid compared to another. At the very least, you should love
being in nature, want to get away from the shackles of modern society and be willing to work hard to get what you
want. If you are planning on completely living off the grid, you are in charge of everything that happens to you.
You need to resolve any conflicts or issues intelligently and not have a complete meltdown or become
overwhelmed by your responsibilities, which is sadly seen too often in many adults nowadays (Williams, 2016). No
one is going to come to your rescue if you live an isolated life. Learn to cope. Loving nature isn't good enough; you
must learn from it daily as this will help you survive in the long run. An attitude to try your best will also be in your
best interests.
However, it is more than just trying. This is not something you can do lightly. A lot of work needs to be done before
you can even consider creating a homestead. If you have a partner, this must be discussed at length. This allows
both of you to be on the same page about what you want from life. Especially if you have children; because they
need to be educated. This gives rise to important questions like whether they will be homeschooled or live in a
hostel. You will also have to think if they can cope with this new style of living. The decision to move off the grid
is not one tiny step. Several aspects need to be considered before you can even step a single toe out into the
wilderness.

Ways to Live Off the Grid

The first is to decide how you want to live off of the grid. Are you planning on roughing it out in nature? This could
be as simple as camping in a tent for an extended period or perhaps living in a small wooden structure (Poindexter,
2017), neither of which has running water. This is very difficult to do as there is very little if any electricity. You
will have to think about designing an outhouse and carry water to your dwelling whenever you need it. There is
nothing convenient about this lifestyle. Even cooking cannot be done quickly as it will involve finding food and
wood before cooking and then eating. Many people can do this, and it is often referred to as living an Alaskan
lifestyle. However, it is not easy and will take a lot of willpower to remain in this situation.
You may even decide to hybridize a homestead that may still be attached to one or more of the grids while being off
of others (Poindexter, 2017). This sort of living allows you to become self-sufficient by growing your own food,
having a septic tank, and a well. That way, you are cutting your costs by dealing with sewerage and water, with the
bonus of having fresh foods you didn't need to buy. You may still be attached to the electrical grid and use it to
power some appliances. This is one way to get started on moving away from the grid. Alternatively, you can
remove yourself from the electrical grid with alternative energy while still using the water and sewerage grid.
Then you have the modern-day off-the-grid way of living. You can convert your entire current home to use energy
from wind turbines, solar panels, or even hydropower. Your indoor plumbing runs straight into a septic tank, and
with the generated energy, you can use a well to have water pumped into your home. The excess power can even be
stored in batteries to be used in an emergency. However, many states do not allow you to do this. You will need to
check the laws and regulations in your state before taking this leap, as you do not want to spend the money to
convert, only to be told you are not allowed to do it at all. Even with states that do allow you to live off the grid,
they have their own rules you will need to abide by.
Living a self-sufficient life is tough. It takes money, patience, and a lot of hard work (Aro, 2019). It is you against
the elements, and if you are not fully prepared for this lifestyle, it may not be the one for you. However, if you
believe the pros outweigh the cons, then, by all means, move to a more rural setting. If you simply want to get off
the electricity grid, there is no need to move out into a rural area. However, you do have to consider your options
for producing and saving energy. You can start small. Many electrical appliances can be replaced with hand-
powered options. There is no need to use a drier when you can hang your clothes on a wash line.

Things to Consider Before Taking the Plunge

To move off the grid successfully, you need to take full responsibility for looking after yourself, especially if you
plan to move to a more rural settlement. Regardless of which way of life you want to follow, you will need a lot of
money. If you remain in the urban setting, this money will go towards the setup and maintenance of various
alternative energy sources or the installation of wells and septic tanks. When moving to rural areas, you will need
even more money as you will have to purchase a piece of land. This land is what you will build your new home on.
Not only that, but it is also the land that you will have to cultivate for food and rearing livestock.
The land that you purchase should have access to water, or a well should be dug. Next, you need to consider the
type of shelter you want to place on the land. Don’t go by the philosophy that bigger is better. When you have
limited energy to power a few necessary items, heating a large house is unnecessary. Some of the potential homes
you can live in include trailers, Ecocapsules, shipping container homes, underground homes, and even small
wooden cabins you can build by hand. Trailers and Ecocapsules are moveable and force you to have fewer things as
you have limited living space. The Ecocapsules are more adventitious as they are a self-sustainable home for at max
two people. It can generate energy through a wind turbine or solar panels. Its design collects and filters rainwater
which is stored at the bottom of the container as greywater.
Shipping containers are large enough to be a decent-sized home for two people and are a great way to avoid paying
excessive mortgages. Several containers can be placed close together to create larger living areas. They are
adaptable to have windows, but a wood stove is necessary to keep them warm.
Underground homes, kept to a reasonable size, are a great way to conserve energy as the soil the house is built into
is isolating. This will keep your house warm during the winter as well as cool during the summer. Unfortunately,
this can only be done in a rural setting, and you will need to think about where you will place solar panels or wind
turbines.
The wooden cabin is an old favorite. This is generally how most people like to live off the grid. You are in charge
of how big or small you build it, and there are always opportunities to increase the size if necessary. When building
your own house, be sure to check what building codes you need to adhere to.
Once your house is set up, you need to think about where you will get your food. You cannot afford to drive to the
closest town every time you need an item. No, you will need to cultivate your land and look after your livestock to
get the nutrients you need to survive in the wilderness. You will have to have seeds or seedlings of plants that you
wish to grow. Working the land is hard, but it is fulfilling. If you are a consumer of animal protein, you will have to
consider rearing livestock for eggs and meat, and going hunting when needed (Everett, 2021).
You cannot allow any form of excrement to lie around your property. This can spread disease and contaminate your
water and food supply. You need an effective way to get rid of the waste that is legal and safe. This brings me to
chores. You cannot afford to be lazy when living entirely off the grid. You need to find or harvest food, look after
your equipment and livestock. There will be tasks that you have to keep track of. Consider, for example, needing
wood for fire. You need a steady supply. It will be too late to chop wood when you have already burned your final
piece. Never sit idle.
When leaving the grid, you need to ensure that you can survive off your land. There is no use in freezing or starving
to death just to save a few bucks. You will need to undergo a lifestyle change to help you conserve what resources
you will have available to you.

Start Small

There is no reason to take the most drastic step when living off the grid. It's scary to think that you will have to be
utterly reliable on yourself and no one else, but if you think about it, all it takes is time, practice, and discipline. It is
not something that you have to learn in one day. There is no need to jump to living away from other people all at
once. You can take smaller steps to help you reach that goal of a self-sufficient homestead. Living a self-sufficient
life is not something everyone will understand as it is not considered the so-called "normal way" of living.
However, don't let the naysayers get you down. To escape being enslaved to the grid, there are a few steps you need
to take to prepare yourself for that more significant leap. Even if you don't plan to live in a forest or similar rural
area, these changes will save you a lot of dollars every year.

If you want to see a drastic drop in your electricity bill, especially during winter, look no further and
install a wood-burning stove. It heats your house, your food, your coffee, and it can even air-dry
your clothes while it is pouring with rain outside. It easily replaces your heater, stovetop, kettle, and
drier, which already lowers your costs. However, fires are exhaustive, so you will need wood to
keep it going. You can gather your wood and chop it as you need it or buy it. Learn to prepare to
stock this vital resource.
Alternatively, you can have home batteries installed (Gretz, 2019). We are all familiar with the high
cost of using electricity at its peak times. With a home battery, you can charge them late at night
when no one is using power. This way, you can use the stored energy during peak times and pay a
fraction of the cost. The battery doesn't even need to be connected to the grid. They can be
connected to solar panels and used when there is no sunlight.
Research all possible alternative sources of energy. You are not limited to only using solar panels.
 Consider the environment you are in right now or where you want to be. This will determine which
energy source you should be relying on. If your end goal is to move to your own piece of private
property, start looking at what is available and gathering the necessary information you may need.
You will need to find out about the possible resources available to you and whether you will be
allowed to build and add septic tanks or wind turbines. If you find a piece of land that is appealing,
go out to it and explore every nook and cranny. This is how you will find extra resources that are
generally not advertised.
I cannot stress enough about researching everything you can. Do not spend another night vegging out in front of
your television. Look around your house right now and think of how you will replace electric hungry devices.
Consider what you will keep and what you will get rid of when you are ready to leave. Consider the worst possible
outcome that could happen on your homestead, then come up with ideas of how to bounce back from that.
Planning is critical when it comes to off-the-grid living. For example, if a drought wipes out your crop when you
are living an isolated life, you could starve. What will you do to prevent that? These are the thoughts that should be
in your mind as you prepare yourself to leave the comforts of your home.

Key Points

Let's wrap up what we have learned by the end of this chapter.

There are a variety of reasons that people want to leave the grid. This could be because they are tired
of running the rat race or simply no longer want to pay astronomical fees on electricity and other
public-sourced utilities.
Anyone can do this if they have the right mindset and are willing to work hard.
Many advantages can be enjoyed by leaving the grid or moving away to live off the grid.
You do not have to live in a rural setting to live off the grid, but you can if you want to.
When living in a rural setting, you will have to consider getting land and building a shelter on it,
while ensuring all your survival needs are met (food, water, sanitation, etc.)
Leaving the grid can be done with several steps that can take months or years. You do not have to do
it all in one go. Do your research and take your time to do it right, and enjoy all the benefits.
In the next chapter, we will look at some of the mistakes people make when they leave the grid unprepared and how
you can be better prepared. We will also look at what the bare minimum cost is to leave the grid.
 CHAPTER 2
Step Two - Learn From Other's Mistakes

Life is tough when living off the grid, and many have been forced to return to an urban setting because they couldn't
afford to do this. Others decide to hang onto their dream to remain off the grid but, because they are not aware of
what the reality of living off the grid ensues, they end up living lives that they are not happy with. It is one thing to
have a dream, and a whole other to put it into fruition. People have been trying to live off the grid for years, and
many of them are learning as they go, from watching and learning from the experiences of others.. Those that learn
from others are the ones that stand a better chance at living comfortably than someone who thinks they'll learn by
themself.
Before you consider living off the grid, you need to know about the mistakes that have hampered the living choices
of many people. It is only by learning from their mistakes that you can guarantee that you will be successful. This is
not to say it will be significantly more straightforward, but you will be better prepared.

Lacking Basic Know-How

Lack of practical knowledge and understanding are your biggest enemies when it comes to living the grid. If you
are not fully prepared, no amount of bookish survival knowledge will help you survive out in the wild. Even if you
are not leaving the comfort of your own home, there are some fundamental points that you need to know before you
decide to switch to alternative sources of energy or to grow your own food. Many people have this unrealistic view
of homesteads (Harbour, 2021a). You may not see it, but those flourishing gardens you see in the movies took
months of backbreaking labor. Even the rustic cabins don't just spring up out of the ground. They need to be built
with resources you need to provide and made with the tools you supply. Nothing out there is for free, and you need
to dispel those notions and think in realistic terms. Let us take a look at some mistakes people may regret making
when they first remove themselves from the grid.

Cost
Right off the bat, try to not make a full jump to a homestead immediately. It is expensive, unnecessary, and could
cause you to quit before you get a chance to experience the real joys. Take small steps by educating yourself,
procuring the land, and building pieces of what you need when having the money to do so. Think about remaining
on the grid a little longer but living more frugally, putting money away as often as what you can to build your
dream home. From these savings, you can start to develop your land, build your new home, or start buying the
necessary equipment needed to get you off the grid.
You will also need to use this money to purchase farm equipment like seeds, animals, soil, resources, and
equipment required to create an area where you can successfully cultivate food and raise livestock. Emergency
money will also be necessary (Tyrell, 2017). You never know when urgent repairs need to be done.
I know this sounds like a lot of work but trust me. The returns of working hard are immense. You can turn a profit
on a homestead if you know what you are doing. You can raise animals to sell, allowing you to buy more and keep
some change for yourself. You can even sell extra crops or preserved food to the community around you. You may
not be earning much, but whatever you make can cover for equipment needed during an emergency. You will need
to ensure you have an income of some sort, either earning money from your homestead or still working a job that is
close by. The money you make from selling the products of your farm like crops or preserved food should be kept
aside for emergencies only.

Land
Not all land for sale is equal in value. Your best bet is to buy agricultural land, as this will let you keep livestock
and cultivate your food. Each state will have its own laws and regulations about what you may and may not have on
it. You must find out about all possible hurdles that may stand in your way before buying land. Here are a couple of
tips to help you look for that perfect land (Off Grid Living, 2020).
Ensure that you are allowed to build on it.
Location is everything. Look at the land and decide where your house will be. Use what is in the environment to
give you extra shelter or make it easier to get to your resources.
Check to see if you have to be connected to one or more grids, as this can be forced on you. Avoid buying a
property that forces you to do this if it is not your intention to be "grid-tied."
You must have legal and all-year-round access. Sometimes land plots are landlocked by other owners. You need to
have access to your property, so ensure that property rights are handed to you alone. Weather can play a role in you
not accessing your land (rivers swell, snowed in). Don't allow this to stop you from reaching your property, and
make travel adjustments as required.
Try to buy land directly from the person selling it (owner financing), as this may be cheaper than buying directly
from the bank.
Try to get land that has natural resources that you may use. Trees and rocks can be used in building a house. Having
access to freshwater stops you from hauling it onto the property when needed. Property with a well already sunk
will save you thousands of dollars.
The property should be large enough to do everything you want to do but small enough to allow you to manage it
and keep it clean.

Energy
Have you ever thought about where your electricity comes from? It isn't as simple as flicking a switch, and the
lights magically turn on. When you disconnect from the electrical grid, you will need to have an alternative source
of energy. One of the challenges is not knowing how to get off the grid and making sure that you still have access to
energy supplies. Creating energy isn't as easy as plugging in cables from your solar panel into a battery and your
lights. Educate yourself about how to remove yourself from the grid and leave conventional energy sources, what
options constitute the best alternative energy sources, and how you can implement them. It is vital to know how to
run, maintain, and possibly fix problems with your chosen energy source.
Don't rely on a single type of energy source (White, 2019). If you have access to multiple ones, it will prevent your
system from collapsing if one were to fail for some reason. Solar and wind power are just two ways for you to get
energy naturally. You can also consider water or even biogas if the area you will be living in allows it. Learn to live
with less and budget your energy source strictly.

Food and Water

Don't assume that every seedling you plant is going to provide you food. Plants demand a lot of your attention. Too
much water, not the right amount of sunlight, or the incorrect soil is enough to cause your early crops to fail. If your
crops fail, you lose a big source of income and sustenance. You either have to spend thousands of dollars getting
food to where you are or risk the possibility of starving.
You have to educate yourself about which plants grow best in the soil where you build your homestead. Depending
on where you live, you may find that some crops do better than others. These are likely the ones you will have to
rely on. You may have to practice for a few seasons before you know precisely how to plant, rotate, and use your
crops to your advantage.
However, remember that you are not just feeding yourself but also your livestock. Grow the kind of food that both
you and the livestock animals can eat, or you will need to invest in animal feed to get them growing well. Unless
you have access to grass all year round, you do not want your animals scampering all over the place eating foods
that may not be good for them. Make sure your property can support you in growing food for yourself and your
animals.
Unfortunately, living in rural areas does bring dangers. You will have to build protective fencing for your animals
to prevent coyotes, bears, or even raccoons from getting to them. These animals can devastate both livestock and
your crops. You may have to learn to defend your property with a weapon. Weapon control and mastery are
essential for your protection, and to do this, you may also need hunting tools. This will help you to gain access to
another form of food. However, before you go hunting, make sure that it is legal to do so as per the laws of your
land.
You do not need to limit yourself to only the food that you grow. Get to know your property and what grows on it.
You may be surprised by the number of edible plants that grow on your property. You can even encourage their
growth and get bigger yields as time progresses. Do not eat a plant that you are unaware of. Educate yourself about
anything you find before putting it in your mouth.
During the colder months, you still need food, and depending on where you are living, growing it may not be
possible. You will have to learn how to prepare your food sources to be stored for long periods without becoming
rotten. While you have plenty of fresh food available, dry it or make preserves of fruits or vegetables; so that you
can still enjoy your favorite foods all year round.
There are many types of waterborne diseases, so you must know how to purify your water. Clean water is necessary
for you, your crops, and your animals. Do not skimp on this. You may also have to find a way to store rainwater,
particularly if you live in dry areas. Ensure that you are legally allowed to store water in tanks or barrels (Aro,
2019).

Waste Disposal
Cholera is a well-known waterborne disease that is caused by human waste. So, unless you want the spread of
diseases that can arise from your and your livestock's waste, you need to have a way to deal with it. There are
several ways that your waste products can be dealt with hygienically and without contaminating your food or water
supply (Landcentral, 2018). Learn how and where to dig a latrine pit or install and manage a septic tank.
Alternatively, you can use a compost toilet that can make usable fertilizer, which can aid in the growth of your
crops.

Dealing With Disasters

When humans are threatened, they react in three ways: fight, flight, or freeze. If you are not prepared, fighting what
you do not know or freezing in the face of danger will kill you in the wilderness. Sometimes Mother Nature will
help you to run your homestead, but then there are times that she will turn on you. And this can happen surprisingly
fast. Be prepared for weather changes in the area where you live (Tyrell, 2017). Before moving somewhere, look at
how the weather has been for several years. You will get an idea of what to expect when you get there. Also, look at
odd weather disasters that happen once in a blue moon. This will help you prepare for the worst possible
occurrence.
Weather isn't the only thing against you; sometimes, it is your clumsiness. Knowing basic first aid can be the
difference between living or dying (Landcentral, 2018). You will need to know how to treat injuries correctly and
where your closest doctor is. Go on courses, keep books handy, and have a fully stocked personal kit.

Physical Fitness

They don't call it backbreaking labor for nothing! You need to be strong, especially if you are living on your own.
You will be in charge of all the chores, hunting, cleaning, building, and fixing anything on your homestead. You
need to be prepared. Many people think they will get fit once they are on their property, but this is not a good idea.
This is what will cause many injuries, some of which could be permanent. You have to strengthen your body to do
manual labor before moving off the grid. Work at building your core strength along with the muscles in your back,
arms, and legs.

Support Network

Even if you feel that you need to escape other humans, this will not last long. Humans are a gregarious species and
generally will want to seek out others for support and comfort. You do not have to make this move alone, as many
other people are making the same move as you, likely for the same reasons. Reach out to people online or directly
to help you in your endeavor. You can also join my dedicated Facebook groups
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingfreeoutside) and become part of a wider community which you will live
in. It is always a great idea to be on good terms with your closest neighbor. These people will become your best
allies when you are in trouble.

Quality Tools

Nothing lasts forever, but if you invest in quality tools, it'll take some time before you need new ones. When
purchasing power tools, consider those that come with battery packs that are chargeable with solar panels (Benson,
2020). These are the tools that will help you build your home, so they are necessary to keep.

Every Day Needs

Once you have ticked off your survival needs, it is time to look at your other potential needs. Communication with
people outside of your homestead can be difficult with no cell signal or postal service. You will need to consider
ways around these hurdles if you still want to remain connected to the outside world. Towns close to where you live
will have post boxes you can rent. This way, letters can still reach you. You can even invest in a two-way radio that
allows communication with a particular person. You do not have to live completely cut away from people if you do
not want to. A life of solitude may be quite difficult to keep up with. A month, yes. But living on your own forever
may not be the most conducive road to follow.

How Much Does It Cost to Leave the Grid Completely?

There is no limit to how much you can spend on leaving the grid. Your maximum costs depend on what you are
doing and how much land you are prepared to buy. You may want to buy the most state-of-the-art equipment or
build hydroponic systems for your crops. But know that this is not necessary. For as little as $10k, you can get the
most basic of needs covered. However, this is the barebone minimum. This will not bring much comfort, may
require a lot of creativity, and will be further costs in the future. This cost may even be higher depending on what
you pay upfront for the land you need to buy. Let's break down the needs and costs of what you will need. Most of
the money you will be spending is on the land and equipment you need to make it liveable. The following
information was put forth by Off Grid Living (2020).
The cost of land will be dependent on the means by which you buy it. Buying property through the bank can be
pricey, and it comes with a monthly mortgage that may not fit your budget. If you purchase land directly from the
owner (owner financing), you may be able to pay as little as $1,000—but can be as high as $5,000 or more—as a
down payment on the land. You may be able to negotiate a monthly fee that best suits your pocket with the owner
for the contract for the deed. A starting property should be between five and 10 acres. However, the price per acre
can be upwards of $500 or more, depending on where you want to buy. You will need to be great at haggling to get
the cost of your land to a more affordable price.
Next, you need to consider temporary shelter. You can use an RV or trailer to live on the land while preparing for
your eventual move. You do not need to buy a brand new one, but it does need to be functional. The cost of this
could put you back by $3,000. The vehicle needs to have a workable waste treatment option attached to it, as you do
not want to have this extra cost. However, you may have to hire someone now and again to clear it for you if you do
not have the means to do so.
It's suggested that you then spend a minimum of $3,000 on a 1,500-watt solar panel system, a 400-watt wind
turbine, and batteries to store and use the energy at night. You can shop around for the best prices so that cost can
vary a little.
The next $1,000 will be dedicated to your livestock and crops. If you purchase chickens, you can buy the necessary
pens for less than $500 before spending another $500 to get the animals and the seeds you will need. If you plan to
put animals on your property, you will have to live there as they will need constant attention.
The last $2,000 should be spent on food for yourself and the animals, as well as any tools or miscellaneous
materials you may need. Try to avoid buying timber or rock to build your new home, unless it is not available at
hand. It is best to use the resources that are available to you on your property. These will lower the costs of moving
onto your property and living off of the grid almost immediately. It will take a lot of work, but you will not have to
pay for labor as you will be doing everything yourself.
Eric (2020b & 2021c) suggests similar numbers in terms of finances but doesn't include animals or seed costs. He
suggests spending about $1,000 as a down payment for land, up to $4,000 for a temporary home that can sit on the
property, and $1,000 for the most basic foodstuff. He budgets $1,000 for sewage and waste treatment or removal.
He suggests getting a compost toilet as quickly as possible. You can buy these for about $1,400, or you can make
your own for far less (American Home Shield, n.d.). As much as you may want a septic tank, it will cost you much
more money. It is better to save up and buy this later if you really feel it's necessary.
He reckons that you only need to spend about $1,000 for a 500-watt solar power system. This should be enough if it
is just you and you are not using much power. You may need to consider heating, and you can spend up to $500 on
a propane heater. You will also need a small fridge to keep your food fresh and a stove to cook on. This will
roughly cost you another $500. The last $1,000 should be kept aside for any emergencies that you may come across.
He doesn't mention the cost of building a home immediately but rather suggests doing it over several months or
even years. He strongly suggests still earning a salary to keep making purchases as you are living on the land while
being off the grid. This would mean that while you are living off the land, you also have backups available.
These are nothing more than suggestions. You do not need to follow them at all if they do not suit you. You could
save a lot of money by remaining in your current home while developing your new parcel of land. Then, once you
are ready to move, you can put your home on the market and move into a home ready for you. The choice is up to
you.

How to Get the Money

So, all in all, $10k is the bare minimum you will need to live off of the grid. However, many costs are not
highlighted in this chapter that could be limited to specific people or places. You will need to sit down and draw up
a budget to see what you are willing to spend on the initial start-up and the costs for future endeavors. Open a bank
account once you have a rough budget for the start-up and the next few years. This account will be for any money
you want to spend on your move.
It can be tough to live on a shoestring budget, but there is no need to do this. You can cut excessive spending by
dropping unnecessary driving (and saving fuel), eating out, or buying snacks. This can save you hundreds of dollars
every month and add to your growing fund. As you will likely be moving to a smaller home, look around your
current one and decide what has to go. You can sell these unneeded items in yard sales or any number of online
shops to make some extra cash. This should go straight to your new bank account. Avoid getting into debt to escape
the grid. It isn't worth it. Slowly build up the money until you are ready to leave.

Key Points

In this chapter, we learned that many obstacles need to be overcome before becoming free from the grid. However,
there is no reason to waste money on making mistakes that others have already made.

Learn from those before you.

The lack of basic know-how of the start-up cost, developing land, and how to get off the grid
successfully are the biggest downfalls to people who want to get off the grid.
You will be surviving away from most creature comforts, so be prepared to work hard to grow,
protect, and use the food and water sources on your property.
Waste needs to be disposed of or managed correctly, or it will cause disease and contaminate your
food and water supply.
Remember that you have to deal with what is thrown at you every day. Whether this is a sudden
rainstorm or an accident resulting in a broken bone, have a plan in place to deal with problems.
Get to know your neighbors and be a part of a community. This will prevent you from getting lonely
and help you bond with like-minded people.
The initial costs can be lowered to about $10k if you know what you are doing and are willing to
live frugally. There are many ways to start getting off the grid, and there is no need to do it
 immediately if you do not have the resources.
Take your time to get the necessary funds and never put yourself in debt. That is no way to start your new life.
In the next chapter, we will look at how you can take the necessary steps to prepare yourself for leaving the grid
while still being on it.
 CHAPTER 3
Step Three - Have a Taste of Off-the-Grid Life While
Living on the Grid. Prepare for the Real Thing

The best thing you can do for yourself is to remain on the grid for some time. Many people are too eager to leave.
This means they are often unprepared for what it truly means to live off the grid, and are forced to return to an
urban lifestyle. It is better to take your time to learn and embrace everything that you need before making a move.

Minimalism

One of the very first steps you will need to take is to live a minimalist life. By taking on this type of lifestyle, you
will learn to live well with less, live a greener and eco-friendly life, become self-reliant, and become closer to
nature (Becker, 2019). The best way to live a minimalist life is to learn to cut unnecessary things from your life.
These can be physical items, people, and even unnecessary thoughts. It isn't just about owning fewer things but
rather only owning things that have a purpose or benefit your life in some manner. You have to assign value to the
items in your life.
Sadly, many of us are indoctrinated from a young age to believe that the more you have, the better your life is. This
isn't true. This way of thinking causes your house and life to become cluttered with unnecessary things that have no
real purpose. By only keeping items dearest or usable to you, you can live a simpler life that is not driven by wants
but needs. Anyone can do this, but you just need to put your mind to it and be realistic and honest with yourself.

How to Become a Minimalist

It starts with the smallest of actions. No one expects you to get rid of all your unnecessary things in one day. This
can take weeks, months, and for some people, years to part with items that they deemed necessary or even had an
attachment to. Start with something simple, such as your clothes (Ligertwood, 2017). Remove everything from your
cupboard, divide it into three piles (want, sell, toss), and then only replace the clothes you still have in the “want”
pile in your cupboard. There is no reason to hang onto a shirt that is 20 years old. If this is too difficult to do, you
can use a few techniques to see which of your clothing you still wear. Place the hangers in a certain way when you
return the clothes, and when you wear them, replace the hangers facing a different way. Within a year (or less), you
can see what you didn't wear. If you haven't worn it for a year, it is time to get rid of it. Make some money out of it
and add to your getting off-the-grid fund.
Paper documents do not need to be kept for decades (unless needed for a particular function), shred what is not
needed, then recycle. What about all those cards in your wallet? Do you need all of them? Go through your wallet
and remove any cards (credit cards, loyalty cards, etc.) you no longer use and get rid of them. Getting rid of credit
cards can be challenging as many people like to use them in case of emergencies. You need to become less
dependent on funds that are not yours. By getting rid of your credit card, you can teach yourself to live within your
means. However, this can be difficult, especially if you have a lot of debt you are struggling to manage. Teach
yourself to set up a budget, and if you struggle, see a debt counselor who can help you escape the shackles of your
debit and credit card. By having less debt in your life, there will be less stress which will help you feel happier. You
want to be debt-free before getting off the Grid anyway, so it's best to start now.
Lower your dependency on electrical appliances. Start using your smartphone less and less (you may not even have
signal off the Grid), or at the very least, don't buy a new one just to have the latest model. Look around your kitchen
for appliances you haven't used. Some appliances can do the job of two. This makes them superfluous. Get rid of
anything that isn't needed. Do you have to drive to work? Save on gas and walk, or take the bus. Every cent you
save goes into your grid-leaving fund, and every mile you walk strengthens your body.
You can use this time to reflect on your life. You may find that your goals need to change to match your upcoming
lifestyle patterns. There may be things that you have a dependency on (alcohol, buying snacks, and coffee) that
need to be broken to allow you true freedom. Question yourself if something is truly needed or if you are hanging
onto it for old time’s sake. This is not to say that you can't keep things that have sentimental value. But instead of
hiding it in a box, display it somewhere it can be seen and enjoyed daily. Keep that chipped coffee mug because
your best friend gave it to you (if it is still functional) but don't buy a new cup because it happens to look nicer.
This can also be applied to people (Mitchell, 2020). Don't hang out with someone if you don't want to. You don't
need hundreds of acquaintances when you can have a handful of loving and supportive friends. This will help your
physical and mental health as you cut away toxic people from your life. This may all seem very difficult, but the
longest journey starts with a single step. Set goals for yourself. Start by decluttering one box or one room at a time.
Spend less money on things you don't need. Waste less by not buying things that you will only use once. This is the
start of living as a minimalist.
And since we are on the topic of saving money, let's discuss moving away from the convention of gymming and
getting the exercise you need out in nature. Before you start working on your homestead, you need to improve your
body condition. There are many kinds of activities you can partake in to help you achieve this. Cycling is a great
way to get somewhere, build up your leg strength, and is a low-impact activity (Ontario Parks, 2021). There is no
need to buy anything more than the most simple of bicycles to enjoy this activity. Another great exercise that is a
necessity is hiking. All you need to invest in this is a sturdy pair of shoes and a backpack that will need to carry
survival gear. This activity gets you outside and gives you ample opportunity to learn about what grows out in the
forests around you.
These are hardly the only forms of exercise you can get without spending a cent. Yoga can strengthen your core and
make your muscles flexible. Paddling gets you across vast water bodies and strengthens your arms. If you have no
natural getaways around you, simply go for a walk. Any activity that gets you off your butt and moving is great for
you (The Wilderness Society, 2011). There are many benefits to exercising. It can lower stress, increase and tone
muscles, allows you more fresh air, and when you work out on your own, you are in charge of your exercise
routines.

Mentally Self-Reliant

The idea of self-reliance isn't just about doing things alone, but it's also an entire shift in how you think. You cannot
physically do something if your mind isn't there to back up your body. The first step to becoming self-reliant is to
realize that you will be responsible for everything you do (Ziogas, 2020). You cannot expect people to bail you out
every time something goes wrong.
Being able to think on your feet and make quick decisions is a vital skill. This will allow you to rely on yourself
instead of having other people tell you what to do. Think about what practical skills you will need once you leave
the grid, and start learning how to do them. Basic skills such as cooking, baking, preserving, and even being a
mechanic are just a few of the skills you will need to have. This is not to say that you can't ask questions or ask help
from professionals when you are stuck. They had more time to learn how to do this, and you should be open to
learning from them but do not expect them to do it for you.
Learn to take responsibility for your body. You are in charge of your health by resting and eating well, keeping
hydrated, and working out (Hurst, 2015). Learn to deal with problems logically and not emotionally. You are
accountable not only for your life but the lives of those in your homestead, human or otherwise. Become willing to
listen to the advice offered, but then make your own decisions and accept the consequences of the actions you take.

Why Is It Important?
By being mentally self-reliant, you can make decisions and solve problems so that it benefits your lifestyle. You
learn to accept who you are as a person, making peace with your weaknesses, and accepting your strengths. You
become aware of who you are and what you can do. There is no longer a need to have others measure your self-
worth because you know what your worth is.

How to Become Mentally Self-Reliant

Many of us struggle to be okay with who and what we are. Everything begins with being mentally prepared for
situations. Here are some helpful tips to get you into the right headspace:

Consider yourself as your one true friend, and the only one to rely on. Don't seek approval,
confirmation, or affirmation from anyone other than yourself.
Replace all negative thoughts with realistic, positive ones, otherwise your negative ones will
overtake your life.
Accept help when it is offered, but don't make a habit of asking for it. Learn to deal with difficult
situations on your own.
Don't let others dictate how you should do something but listen to the advice given from
professionals.
Live outside your comfort zone. This forces you to become reliable on yourself.
You are in control. When in doubt, remember that.
Happiness doesn’t depend on extra possessions. Look inward to feel what makes you happy.
Strengthening yourself can be difficult. Cut toxic people away and heal mentally. Once you have
solid mental self-reliance, then you can work on your physical self-reliance.

Producing Food
When living on your homestead, there are not going to be any convenience stores close by. You have to become
responsible for producing the food needed to survive throughout the year. There are many dried and preserved
foods that can be bought and used throughout the year. However, you need to be responsible for more of your fresh
food. The best way to get fresh food is through maintaining a healthy garden. You will spend most of your time
growing vegetables as vegetable harvest happens more frequently than fruit. It can take several years before any
fruit trees produce a good enough harvest to be relied on.
The best way to start a garden is to do the necessary research (Boeckmann, 2021). The growth of plants is
determined by many factors that aren't just about soil, sun, and water. Some plants are seasonal, while others may
require more light or shade than others. Start your research by planning your garden on paper first. You can use
online resources such as Garden Planner if you are not sure what to do. It gives you a variety of ways to grow
different plants and allows you to plan the layout of your garden. With careful planning, you start to understand
when plants can be grown and under what circumstances.
It is important to know what plants can thrive where you live. Certain areas have lower temperatures than others.
This can affect the way that the plants grow or when you can harvest. Luckily, you can practice honing your
gardening skills right in your backyard. How you do this depends on the amount of time and effort you want to put
into your garden and if the property belongs to you. A beginner's garden should measure about ten by ten feet (100
square feet), contain three to five types of vegetables, with about four of each vegetable. This is only for practice,
but realistically you may have to work with a garden that measures 12 by 24 feet, as this should feed a family of
four. The size is important as you want to produce enough food to be comfortable but not too much as this can lead
to waste. A large garden means a lot of work, so don't bite off more than you can chew. A large garden will need
small walkways every four feet so that you can move between the plants without trampling any.
The ground should be measured out and marked before you start working the soil to remove any stones and break
up solid pieces of dirt. This will help the roots of the plants to grow better. The soil needs to drain well, or it can
contribute to root rot and poor growth in your plants. You will have to make your mulch when you are at your
homestead, but for now, you can improve the quality of your soil by getting some store-bought mulch or fertilizer.
As plants grow, they take nutrients from the soil, and these nutrients need to be replaced. This is done by adding
organic matter back into the soil after a growing cycle. The area you choose to make your garden in should get
between six and eight hours of sunlight a day. This area should also be well protected from flooding or harsh winds
that can occur. When you are on your homestead, you will have to look for natural borders which can help protect
your crop as it grows.
Alternatively, if you don't want to dig into your property, you can consider building a raised bed to garden in. This
can be easily constructed and is relatively cheap, depending on the wood you use. Using a raised bed prevents you
from disturbing the roots of other plants (such as trees) in your garden, and it is easier to work as you do not have to
dig in the soil. However, you may have to purchase peat moss and mulch as these are essential growing materials
needed for your chosen crop. According to James Prigioni (2019), the perfect size to start with is eight by four feet
with a height of 10 inches. Use untreated wood where possible. Mix the peat moss and the mulch to create an even
consistency. The peat moss will help retain the water, and the mulch will provide the necessary nutrients for your
crops. This is the best choice for annual plants.
Choosing the correct plants is just as important as taking care of them. You want to plant what gives high yields
with minimal effort. Good vegetables to start with include lettuce, tomato, carrots, zucchini, radishes, peppers, and
spinach or kale. This isn't the only factor that you should keep in mind. Choose vegetables you and your family will
enjoy eating. Only purchase quality seed or stick to planting seedlings. If you want to grow plants during the colder
months, it is possible. You will just need to sprout the seeds indoors and grow the seedlings in a raised bed that is
covered to keep them insulated.
You must be able to look after the plants and understand their unique needs. Some may need trestles, while others
can grow along the ground. Know which is which and use it to your advantage. Shade-loving plants can be grown
in the shadows of taller plants, such as corn. Know the difference between perennial and annual plants. You want
your perennials on the outer edges of the garden as they are more of a permanent fixture, while the annuals die are
seasonal plants that will perish after their seasons are over. If you do not want to harvest a massive crop, stagger the
planting. This allows you to harvest over several weeks instead of in a couple of days. This comes in handy when
you have to preserve many of your vegetables. Many companies that sell seeds have all the necessary information
you will need printed on the packet. Read and understand the info before planting them. Some seeds will sprout
better if grown inside before being moved outside (Love Property, 2020).
If you want to live a greener lifestyle, you may not want to use insecticides. If this is the case, you will have to learn
about integrated pest management. This is where you can use natural deterrents for potential pest species. An
example of this is growing some marigolds amongst the plants to keep unwanted bugs away (Boeckmann, 2021).
There are many ways to practice integrated pest management, so start reading useful literature that will teach you
about them.

Raising Livestock
Raising livestock isn't easy. There are many factors you have to consider. This can include what and how many
animals you will keep. Will you be raising babies or getting adult animals? All of this will influence how much
space you will need for the livestock. Some of the best beginner animals include chickens, ducks, sheep, and bottle
calves (McCune, n.d.). Each comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Before purchasing anything, consider
the space you can provide, the climate you are in, the chores involved in rearing the animals, and how much time
you are willing to spend with the animals. The exact cost per animal will depend on where you live.
Chickens are relatively cheap as they need minimal care. As they grow, they will need a minimum of two square
feet in their coop but up to 10 square feet outside. They are calm animals, and even children can look after them.
Chickens can be raised for eggs and meat. The disadvantage is that chickens are prone to be taken by predators
when not in protected areas, and baby chicks need to be kept warm until they mature.
Ducks are more complicated to raise than chickens and also a bit more expensive. The adults need up to 15 square
feet of space each but require minimal care. They do not require water to swim in as this will cause them to make a
mess. They can be used for eggs and meat.
You can have up to five sheep per acre of pasture, and they require minimal care up to lambing and shearing
season. It is best to have older children or adults deal with the shearing season to prevent injury. These animals
aren't as complicated as goats, and they will be preyed upon, so be sure to have sturdy protective areas for them to
shelter. These animals are grazers. Make them work while on your property by trimming overgrown grass. These
animals can be raised seasonally to be eaten as lamb or right round the year for their wool.
A single bottle calf will need as much as 30 square feet to start with but needs to expand as it grows. This animal
needs a lot more work than the other animals as it still needs to drink from a bottle twice a day for at least six weeks
after purchase. Milk replacer can be expensive, so think twice before getting this animal. To reach slaughtering age,
you will have to invest in its care for at least a year and a half. And although bottle-calves are very friendly, you
will need to castrate young bulls, as they quickly grow and don't remain friendly for long. While young, the calf
should not be left alone. You will either need another calf or raise the single calf with some sheep. Think twice
about having adult cattle on your homestead if you are a beginner. They are larger and require a lot of care that you
may not be ready for.

Preserving Food
You have likely consumed several preserved foods in the past (jams, jerky, etc.), and if you plan to live on a
homestead, it is vital to learn how to preserve food yourself. Preserved food lasts significantly longer than the fresh
variety and adds to your food security if you build up a cache. The best thing about preserving food is that it is easy,
and there are several ways you can do it without having to buy equipment if you don't want to (Neverman, 2021).
The easiest of the preservation methods is simply storing your whole vegetables away in a cooler environment. This
could be a basement, a nook in your home, and when on the homestead, in a root cellar. This will not work for all
fruits and vegetables but is great for onions, potatoes, apples, squashes and pumpkins, beets, and garlic. The trick is
to ensure they remain cool.
Then there is the option to dry or dehydrate. You can purchase or make a dehydrator, use an oven, or air-dry your
food. This can work for many kinds of fruits, vegetables, and even meat. It's important to remember to cut the
pieces thinly so that it dries evenly. Once completely dried, the food needs to be stored in an airtight container.
Other methods that don't require too much work include preserving in salt or sugar, or vinegar pickling. The first
method draws out the moisture from food, drying them for storage. The second method involves cooking the
vinegar with some salt before adding the warm mixture to the jar containing the food needing pickling. This is
known as quick pickling.
The following three preservation methods require a little more effort or specific equipment. The first is the tried and
tested art of canning. This is when you cook the food before adding it to a sterilized glass bottle. This is then closed
loosely to allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before sealing it and storing it away. You can do this for
just about every fruit and vegetable, creating chutneys, relishes, and even jams. You can also do this for soups,
sauces, and meats. However, if this process is not done correctly, there is a chance of getting botulism. If you notice
a sealed container with a popped lid, it is best to throw away the contents as it will not be safe to eat.
You can freeze a variety of fruits and vegetables. The vegetables will need to be blanched before being frozen, but
the fruit can be used as-is. It is best to add these foods to ziplock bags and remove the air from them to prevent ice
crystals from forming. You can seal the bag, leaving a corner open to insert a straw. Using this straw, you can
remove the excess air before sealing it completely. Alternatively, you can freeze-dry a variety of foods if you
purchase a freeze drier.
Lastly, there is fermentation. For this process to work, use live cultures, salt, vinegar, or whey combined with your
canning practices to help fermentation. Live cultures give you the necessary good gut bacteria, which aids in
digestion. The foods made with this process include sourdough bread, yogurt, and cheese. Many live cultures can be
bought online when needed.
Start practicing a wide variety of preserving measures and see which best suits you and your needs. Some are easier
or cheaper to do than others. However, as long as you find a way to preserve the food that suits you, all is good.
Don't think that your dry food shouldn't be preserved either. If any moisture gets into your dried food, it'll be ruined.
Add your dry food supplies to airtight containers or mylar bags to keep the moisture out (Allen, 2017). Check now
and again to ensure they remain dry.

Survival
Life on the grid is sheltered. There is little, if ever, a need to have any sort of basic survival skills. But when you
leave for the homestead, you are leaving most of those comforts behind you. You should learn basic survival skills
so there is never an emergency you cannot handle. These skills need to become second nature to you regardless of
whether you truly need them. Practice while in the safety of the Grid. Below are a few examples of survival skills
(Allen, 2017).
A vital survival skill is first aid. There are three levels that you can learn. It is unlikely that you will need a level
three first-aid skill when on the homestead, although it could be beneficial. The higher the level, the more severe
injuries you would be able to handle. Courses per level are affordable and only take a few days to complete.
Together with these courses, you should have a well-stocked kit that is routinely checked and restocked.
Having a survival bag is something you need when you are exploring your property, especially when you have one
bordering a forest. This can contain food, water, a map, a compass, a paracord (alternatively, learn how to make
cordage from plants), a fire starting kit, and a good knife. Learn to navigate a map and add landmarks to find your
way around your property.
Take courses in foraging and identifying plants. This will not only increase your food sources; but will help you to
identify those that are edible from the poisonous. Have a basic understanding of how you can generate, filter, and
clean water. There are several inexpensive ways to do this. You can build a solar-powered still or a tripod filtration
system using cloth, grass, charcoal, and sand to filter the water thoroughly.
Go camping. Several survival skills are learned through camping. The first is to tie a decent knot that will not slip
loose but can be undone when needed. Practice the different styles of rope tying with different ropes. Each knot has
its function. Learn how to make a fire from scratch. Many tools can be bought to help make fire (magnesium flints,
lighters, etc.), but you should be making your tools and learning how to start a fire with nothing but what can be
found around you.
Teach yourself to make fire starters, feather sticks, and how to build a fire from kindling up. Fire is life, and if your
power goes down in your homestead in the middle of a raging snowstorm, you will need to make a fire to keep
yourself from freezing. You can warm a small room with heated rocks from the fire, by placing them in a container
that won't burn. Be careful as these rocks need to be dry before being added to a fire. Otherwise, they could
explode. Camping can also teach you about making basic shelters that can keep you going if you get lost.
A situation may arise that forces you to enter survival mode. Learn how to make weapons such as slingshots and
bows (Mossy Oak, 2020). Practice with them but know that some states do not allow hunting with slingshots. You
can also practice making snares and fish traps in your spare time. Check your state's law about snare usage, and
always take them down when you leave the area.

Other Necessary Skills

Although there are many skills you will learn while on your homestead, most of these can be learned straight away
while you are still on the grid. This includes hunting and learning how to dress your kill, fishing, and composting
(Love Property, 2020). Composting is important as this is how you handle your vegetative waste and add nutrients
back into the soil. This can take as long as a year.
Know what your homestead will produce and buy foods and materials needed in bulk as not to organize trips into
town often. Learn how to build storage and drying areas such as a root cellar. This will give you a place to store
your food where it won't freeze during winter but will remain cool during summer.
Take a few mechanic or electrician courses to learn what you need to do if something fails or needs to be fixed.
Each season comes with its own set of chores. You may have to deal with different issues in monsoon, and different
ones in winter. Keep busy and learn new skills constantly. If it is legal to do so, know how to collect rainwater and
incorporate it into your house's or garden's needs.

Key Points

You do not need to move off the grid straight away. You should practice the necessary skills you may need in the
grid's safety before applying them in a situation later while living in your homestead.

Start your journey by embracing minimalism. Get rid of what you don't need and keep what will
further fulfill your existence.
To become self-reliant, you need to first mentally prepare yourself for being the one who is solely
responsible for anything you do and decide.
Once you are mentally prepared, you will need to prepare yourself physically. You can start by
growing your garden and preserving food in many different ways.
Survival isn't just about getting food. Several other skills are necessary to keep you alive and well
when you leave the grid to go to your homestead.
By camping, you learn many skills which will aid you in your survival. All these skills can be
practiced either in your home, backyard, or on a camping trip.
 Take courses to learn how to forage, hunt, and learn basic first aid.
In the next chapter, we will be looking at how you can find and purchase the property you will need to move away
from the Grid.
 CHAPTER 4
Step Four - Find & Acquire a Suitable Off-the-Grid
Property

When looking for the right piece of property to build your home, there are many ways to do this. However, before
you call your closest real estate agency, you should know what to expect from this property. Not all lands will have
what you need, and you will need to make a list of things that are most essential for your future homestead.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Let's start with the critical things. You need to have water on the land or a way to collect water and bring it to your
land (The Brooks Companies, n.d.). The annual rainfall needs to be enough so that you can use it for all your water
needs. The location of this land needs to be far enough from the city to be off the grid but close enough if you need
critical care facilities such as hospitals or clinics. The property needs to be in an area that has minimal natural risks.
You want to avoid places that suffer from natural disasters, such as flooding and land erosion. The land must be
suitable for your needs. You need to grow crops and raise livestock if you are going to make your homestead
liveable. You must be able to harness alternative energy sources effectively and have access to good supply of them
(Schwartz, n.d.-b).
You should be able to afford the land you want to get, either buying it outright or having a contract in place to pay it
off over time (Unbound Solar, 2020). There should be potential to utilize the land for hunting and fishing, as well as
farming. Preferably you don't want any zoning restrictions which will limit you on what you may or may not do on
your property.
You can choose to have your property close to a community of people who have also gotten off the grid. These
people will be able to give you further advice on how to develop your land and if there are any regulations you may
have to stick to.

Things That Can Get In Your Way

Not all states allow for off-the-grid living, and you will need to brush up on the law of that particular state you want
to buy land in to be sure that you are violating any regulations. In some cases, counties may have regulations that
trump state law (Nicholson, 2019).
Developed areas tend to have more regulations about getting off the grid than areas that are less developed. Many
times the issue will be as trivial as trying to add a septic tank to your property. Many states have regulations about
using water on your property (water rights) and whether you are allowed to collect rainwater. They're especially
strict about how you will be dealing with your waste products. Even something as simple as a compost toilet first
needs to be approved and is regulated.
In some states, the cost of living and property taxes is higher than in others (Unbound Solar, 2020). This will
influence where you may want to live. Some building codes can put a damper on your building operations.
Some people put all these factors together and then create a ranking system to determine the best state. However,
they cannot always agree on this as some look at facts that others don't. A Staff Writer (2021) from Lawnstarter
states the five best states to go off-grid living are Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, North Dakota, and
Washington. Other states include Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. If you want to rank the
various states, you should research the most important place to change your lifestyle and not just rely on what
others say.

How to Find Off the Grid Property

Before you dial up your estate agency to ask about any potential property, realize that these people are more
interested in selling homes rather than open properties. This is not to say that they don't, but many of them may not
be agreeable initially. You may have to go through less conventional ways of finding the property you want
(Schwartz, 2021).

Look Online
Use the Internet to look for your dream plot. You can scour FaceBook groups that are interested in living off the
grid. They are likely the ones who will tell you where you can go or offer to sell you the land. You can even find
shared land or eco-villages that suit the way you want to live. You will have to read the fine print as each of these
places may have buy-in or a set of rules you have to follow.
Alternatively, you can look on Craigslist, though this may not always give you exactly what you are looking for.
There are many websites, such as Lands of America which can help you with your search. You can even lookup
businesses that specialize in selling off-grid land. These generally operate regionally, and they may even be willing
to offer you a land contract instead of having to buy it outright.

Face to Face
You can try word of mouth. Go to the areas that you are interested in and talk to the locals. If they are not willing to
sell to you, they may know someone. It is rare to get land this way but shouldn't be discounted. Sheriff sales or tax
auctions are another way to get a property for next to nothing but come with risks. Once you start bidding, most
sales are final. There can even be hidden costs involved as you may have to pay back taxes and what you bid on the
land. Check to see which method of payment is required before going to bid.
You can buy land directly from a person with unused land or an absent owner looking for someone to take over the
property. You can scour the county records to find unused land in the area. Then, you can send letters to the
registered owner expressing your interest in purchasing the property and how you intend to use it. This could be a
long shot, but you will never know unless you try.

Foot Work
Explore the areas that you are interested in. Many private sellers may advertise on the property that they are selling
with no other form of advertising. Or you can look through some classifieds or listings. However, they may not
contain what you want, but they are a good start to look for potential areas to drive around.

Is There a Way to Get Free Land?

Of course, there is, but it may not be where you want to live or under the conditions you prefer. It is rare but
possible. There are some counties, or rural areas, that try to encourage people to live there. There is a promise of
usable land, but there may be some catches. One such catch is that you need to have a house built by a particular
time. Or you have to live in that area for a predetermined period before the land is yours. Some of these places
include Buffalo, New York, and New Richland, Minnesota, to name a few (Schwartz, 2021. These rural areas may
also contain aging farmers who cannot manage their farms once they leave or die. These people may want you to
manage their property for them or practically give it away as they no longer want to deal with it.
The United States Department of Agriculture has funds available for people who are willing to farm within their
standards. This is an excellent opportunity to get a property to use for getting off the grid and farming to make
money. You can also get land contracts with no down payment directly from owners. However, you may need to be
a good haggler as the owner will be self-financing the sale.
Another way to get property is through the act of adverse possession (squatter's rights). Squatter's rights is a law to
help the country develop unused land if an owner is unwilling to do it, and the land falls into disrepair. You can
become the legal title owner of the property without being the original owner if you remain on the land for a certain
period. Although not advised, many parcels of land have absentee owners that never bother to do anything with it.
You can take the opportunity to develop this land, but it comes with significant risks. Each state has laws about how
long you would have to be on this land for you to become its new owner, despite it being owned by someone else
already. You will have to be on the property without permission, and if you get caught and are asked to leave, you
will have to do so.

Make a Move Away

If you cannot find affordable or free land close to you, you can always consider leaving for Canada or Alaska. Rural
areas in Canada have small towns that want people to move into them and offer property prices as low as $10 per
acre. But there is a catch. You have to use that land and put a house on it, usually within a year.
Alternatively, you can go into the Alaskan wilderness as the government often sells off-grid land at cheap rates. The
disadvantages of living in Alaska are that the weather can be freezing, it is very remote, and necessities such as gas
and food are expensive compared to the rest of the United States. However, one significant advantage is that you
are eligible for the Permanent Fund Dividend once you are a resident of Alaska. This provides you, your
dependents, and even your children a certain sum every year for being residents of Alaska. How much you get is
dependent on the economy, so you cannot bank on a set yearly amount, but it is something. Another plus for Alaska
is that you can get a subsistence hunting or fishing license. With this license, you can hunt or fish when you need
the food, providing a more extensive range of foods you can have access to without spending too much.

Financing Your Homestead

If you manage to get some land for free or next to nothing, that is great. Unfortunately, this isn't a dream that
everyone will get to experience. You may find that you will have to finance your dreams, one way or another. Most
off-the-grid homes don't qualify for traditional mortgages or interest rates. Those willing to finance you may have
higher interest rates than what one would pay for a conventional property and home. Some banks won't even
consider helping you finance your off-the-grid home (Adamant, 2018).
When possible, pay for everything from your savings, if you have one. However, not many people, especially
young couples, have that kind of capital to sink into basically a piece of land that can barely be used as collateral if
you default on payments. You can haggle about the cost of the land with the current owner, cutting out the
middleman completely, but owner financing can be a negative. If you can't pay what you have promised the owner,
he can take the land back. Therefore, laying claim to everything on it.
Consider looking to get a loan from a local community bank or independent lender in the area you want to build,
which offers zero-interest loans (Green Home Building, n.d.). These people are more likely to understand what you
want to achieve. If you draw up a good proposal with a budget and plans pointing out what you want to do and how
you aim to pay the money back, you are likely to have more people willing to help you.

Closing the Deal on Your Property

Regardless of how you raise the money to fund your new lifestyle, all of it will be useless if you cannot close the
deal correctly. To close a transaction in-house is beneficial to you as there is a lot less hassle and paperwork.
Sometimes it may be necessary to get a professional to close a deal for you, especially if the land is expensive.
However, you can do this on your own and cut out the extra costs involved.
You need to draw up a purchase and sale agreement between you and the seller (Williams, n.d.). This document
should contain the date of the agreement, names and signatures of both (and maybe a witness), location and
description of the land, details on who will be paying the necessary closing costs (property tax, etc.), and how the
title is given to the new owner. You can find templates of purchase and sale agreements online.
You, as the buyer, are responsible for doing a title search on the property to determine that there is no break in
ownership of the property. If you come across a break, you will need to ask the current owner about it and get the
necessary documents. You will need this to determine clear ownership of the land. You must find no restrictions to
what you want to do to the land. There should also be no outstanding mortgages or liens.
You, as the buyer, also need to have a disclosure statement drawn up. Research the property and bring any concerns
you may have to the owner. Please do your due diligence, as you cannot accuse the original owner of not fixing a
problem when they were unaware of it in the first place. Once you are both happy, you can sign this.
Your next step is to get the deed of the property. The best kind of deed that you want is a warranty deed. This is
when the seller guarantees that the land is perfect and the title is clear. There are two other types of deed documents
that are not as perfect but are also available. The quitclaim deed is when the seller cannot guarantee the land, and no
warranty is offered. That can cause a problem in the chain of the title. There is also a special warranty deed. That is
when the seller guarantees that there were no defects or issues during the time they owned the property.
You will require supporting documentation to inform people of the change of ownership of the property. Many
states have their own names for this supporting document—Arizona refers to it as the Affidavit of Property Value.
This documentation is needed as other people will need to know who to send all the necessary bills to. The IRS
form 1099-S will also be required if you are closing the deal yourself. Some states may not require this, so you will
have to find out if it is needed.
Keep a record of everything. Both you and the seller will need copies of all these documents once the business
concludes. You should send the deed to the county you are in, while the supporting documents will go to the local
city, township, or municipal office. This is so they can keep it for their records. And with that, you are done. The
property is yours.

Key Points

It is possible to find that perfect piece of property you want. You have to do some work to get it.

Before deciding on a piece of land, make sure that you can do everything you want on it without any
restrictions.
Consider possible negatives that can stop you from getting the land you want.
You can find off-grid properties in many ways, varying from looking online or speaking to people
face-to-face.
It is possible to get free land or land that costs next to nothing, but there may be negatives involved.
In the next chapter, we will be looking at building your homestead into a self-sustaining property that you will love.
 CHAPTER 5
Step Five - Build Your Homestead

Now that you have the land, it is time to start getting all the necessities in order. You will need to cover three
necessities before you do anything—shelter, water, and food. Shelter and water can go hand in hand with some of
the water collection methods. So, before you just build a house, consider how you will be collecting water.

Shelter

You can purchase various shelters made for you (prefabricated) or build a shelter yourself. All these shelters are
made with different materials that are environmentally friendly. Some prefabricated homes are moveable, which is
excellent if you want better access to the elements that help with your off-grid energy collection.

Cob House
This shelter is built from soil, clay, straw, and water. The construction is cheap and easy to do. You can even teach
yourself how to make it. It uses thermal mass, which allows you to keep the house warm during winter and cool
during summer. This house is fireproof but will need linseed oil to make it completely waterproof. The downside is
that this house doesn't adhere to building codes, so check if you need to follow any regulations before construction
(Earthship Biotecture, 2018).

Bamboo House
Bamboo is very strong, and if treated with borax, a structure built with it can last up to 30 years. However, these
houses do not have much insulation and are best suited to warm and tropical climates.

Shipping Container
Shipping containers come in four grades, A to D. Those graded A or B are containers that have only been used a
few times to ship content and are likely in good condition to be used as homes. This type of home is very secure,
and you are limited only by your imagination when it comes to using the containers to create the perfect home.
They can easily be modified for what you need. They will require insulation and are better suited to moderate
climates instead of icy climates.

Earthship House
These kinds of homes can be bought prefabricated, or you can make it yourself. They are built with recycled
materials and can be built to match any climate. They are tough and are resistant to earthquakes and even
hurricanes. These houses are designed to be self-sufficient as they can deal with waste products and generate the
energy to run what you need. When built correctly, this house uses thermal mass for heating and cooling the living
areas. They even have a built-in greenhouse where you can grow crops all year round.

Prefabricated Homes
There are many kinds of prefabricated homes that are affordable (Roberts, 2021). The company, Specht Architects,
has created zero-House, which can host up to four people. This large structure doesn't need to be on the grid as it
has a digester to deal with human waste and solar panels to power it. It can even collect and store water. This house
can cost you about $350,000.
It is a wonderful home but very expensive. There are cheaper options, such as the Ark shelter powered by wind and
collects rainwater. This single-piece structure will cost you about $50,000, but this includes transportation and
installation. For $70,000, you can get a Minim Home (microhouse 2.0) which gives you about 264 square feet of
living space. Casa Ti provides Green Modern Kits that come in various shapes and sizes that have a starting price of
about $30,000 for the unfurnished shell. You can get up to 1,200 square feet with some of their models. They are
powered by solar panels and have a wood stove. Ecocapsules are another wonderful possibility, but they will need
to be imported and will cost in the region about $10,000. These are not the only companies that specialize in off-
grid living homes. Others that are affordable include Living Homes, Method Homes, Ferris Off Grid Homes,
Modern Tiny Living, and Backcountry Hut Company (Vuković, 2020).
You also have the possibility of purchasing a prefabricated cabin through the Jamaica Cottage Shop. Starting prices
are about $30,000 and can be delivered throughout the United States and certain parts of Canada. Alternatively, you
can build your own cabin.

Building a Cabin
A cabin can be as big or small as you want it to be, but if you are on a budget, you will need to sit and design a
home you can afford. According to Eric (2021b), it is possible to build an off-grid cabin for roughly $2,000. The
famous author, Lamar Alexander, did this and built a 400 square foot cabin powered by solar and wind power
systems. He built his home for just about $2,000 then needed to add his windows and door. But how much do
windows and doors cost in the greater scheme of things? Not much.
Depending on how you want to build your cabin, your largest expense is likely going to be the materials and tools
needed for the construction. A solid foundation will require more money to create than resting the cabin floor on
concrete or stone pillars (Eric, 2020a). How you build your cabin will also determine the price tag on the materials
you may need. Your cheapest option for materials will be what you can find on your property, on sale at reclaimed
lumber stores, or anything being given away that you can repurpose. Lumber is expensive. If you can't afford to buy
it, your best bet is to make it yourself using the trees on your property.
This is where having good tools comes into play. It is worth investing in a portable sawmill to make timber from the
trees on your property. You will also have to invest in a chainsaw to cut the trees down and into manageable pieces.
A portable sawmill can cost as much as $8000, but it is worth the investment. Not only will it save you in timber
costs, but you can use it as a source of revenue. You can charge a fee to make timber for your neighbors. However,
have them bring you the trees so that you do not overuse yours. Every time you use a tree, remember to replace it.
Before you can lay a foundation, build a home, or even create your garden, you will need to prepare the ground and
flatten it. Get a backhoe or tractor to help you with this chore. You could do it by hand, but it will take more time
and require a lot more effort. This is a tool you will keep using for years and doesn't need to be bought brand new.
If you were fond of DIY projects while on the grid, you likely have good quality tools such as saws, hammers, axes,
etc. If you do not have any of these tools, you will have to invest in getting good-quality tools. These are
investments that will last you for years! While you are out getting tools, purchase other materials, you will still need
to build your home. You will likely need nails, screws, etc. Don't buy tools that are not multifunctional. This will
only create clutter and be a waste of money.
Never turn your nose up at repurposed materials. Tires and pallets are usually thrown away without any thought and
can save you thousands of dollars in materials if you are willing to go get them or pay a minimal fee.

Water

You cannot live without this precious resource. Ideally, you want to have some kind of natural water source on your
property. However, this is not always possible, or your natural source isn't available all year round or is stagnant.
You need to find ways to get fresh, clean, drinking, and potable water for your family and animals. Luckily, there
are several ways for you to get water. Some methods may require the installation of a pump and pipes.
Sump Hole
Let's say you have a body of water that lies stagnant on your property. Usually, you wouldn't be able to use it as is;
however, you can create usable water (Cal, 2021). You will need to dig a deep hole close to the water source. This
should have rocks and sand at the bottom to help filter the water that will seep through the ground. You can get
water from this by either using gravity or by installing a pump.
Alternatively, you can make a man-made pond to draw water from more efficiently, closer to your home or garden
(Dodrill, 2018). You will need to use the lay of the land to decide where to build it.

Wells
There are many well systems that you can use to get water (Cal, 2021). All come with their pros and cons. The first
is a shallow well as it measures 10–30 feet. This is only possible if your water table is close to the surface.
However, there is a possibility of bacterial contamination. You can opt for a deep well that can be between 100 and
800 feet deep. Unfortunately, many of these wells yield hard water full of minerals that damage pipes, appliances,
and clothes. It will need to be treated before use.
With a shallower water table, you can also use a driven well. This also goes to about 30 feet, and a hand pump
draws the water up. This type of well has the same disadvantages as the shallow well. You can also try using your
hand to dig a well. However, this can be dangerous for you, and there is a risk of running dry when there is a
drought.
Your best option is to have a well drilled for you by a professional. But unlike the others, this will require
maintenance, and it is very expensive. As this is a more popular way to get water, the professionals usually have a
long waiting list. Don't expect anyone to come out to your property for some time.
Water Storage
Whether you have a natural source of water or not, it is a good idea to have the ability to store water. This stored
water will be important when a drought hits. Cisterns are good to have while installing other methods to get water
(wells, sump holes, etc.) and can store large quantities of water. However, hauling water can be expensive, and you
do not want to live this way permanently. Cisterns need to be cleaned at least once a year on the inside for you to
get rid of sediment and other contaminants. They can be placed above ground or below to prevent it from freezing
in colder climates. You can even use rain barrels as a backup if something has gone array with your water collecting
system.

Water Collection
Cisterns and water barrels are perfect ways to collect water to use and then store it away for when you need it. It is
best to use the water available on your land before turning to the water you are storing for later use. At the bare
minimum, you want to be using less than 25 gallons per person on your homestead. You will need to calculate how
much water you will need during seasons where you do not have access to water and get the necessary collection
and storage equipment.
The best way to harvest water, with the exception of buying it and hauling it to your property, is to collect
rainwater. This is where the design of your house comes into play. If you have a corrugated roof, you can lead the
water to gutters all around the house (Heidi, 2018). These gutters lead the water to inlet pipes which can drain into
cisterns or rain barrels. Alternatively, these inlet pipes can be run underground to larger cisterns connected with
overflow systems to collect larger volumes of water. This causes the water to flow from the roof to underground
and back up into cisterns as the outlet pipe (leading into the cistern) is lower than the inlet pipe. Therefore, using
gravity to help you achieve this.
Water Pressure and Extras
Pumps or gravity can be used to move the water to where you need it, but if you want water pressure, you will need
to install pressure water tanks (Cal, 2021). This adds pressure that will allow the flow of water through your house.
Getting heated water is not going to be easy but not impossible. You can either heat the water on your wood stove
or use a solar water bladder. These bladders are made with material that holds the water and heats it with solar
power (Dodrill, 2018). You can hang them outside to heat up and then bring them indoors to be used.

Cleaning
Regardless of which method you use to get water, it will not be clean. Some water supplies will be cleaner than
others, but overall you will need to filter and purify what you want to drink. You will need to boil and filter the
water you want to drink. If you have drinkable water that stands in a cistern, you may want to treat it with some
chlorine to prevent the growth of microbes that can make you sick. Potable water should at the very least be filtered
before use.

Food

You should be creating a garden area before you have a place to put your permanent house. How big and where
your garden gets placed depends on how you can irrigate and what you want to plant.

Soil

Good soil condition is needed to have good growing crops. Extra nutrients can be added to your soil through the use
of green manure, composted crops, and animal manure (Careta, 2015). Green manure is when you grow a cover
crop and work it back into the soil or work the leftovers of your harvest into the soil before allowing it to lie fallow
until the next growing season. Animal manure can be added to the top of the soil after a growing season to allow it
to cure before it too can be worked into the soil to add in needed nutrients. Leftovers from meals can be added to a
compost bin, which allows for natural decay over a few months. This composted material can then be added to the
soil directly before tilling and planting. Green manure and manure cannot be used during the growing season as it
hasn't been cured.

Plants
The size of your garden will be determined by the number of people and animals you will have to feed. You want a
patch of ground that receives ample sunshine and drains well. What you plant should be things you like to eat,
vegetables high in nutrients (even if you don't like to eat them), and herbs (Off Grid World, 2020). Herbs not only
make your food taste great, but they have many medicinal benefits that you can learn about.
The plants that you want to plant also need to match with the climate you find yourself in. Just because it grew in
your garden when you were on the grid doesn't mean that it will be able to grow out on your homestead. Consult the
information on the back of the seed packets or speak to locals in the area to get some handy tips and tricks.

Pests and Diseases

Pests come in a variety of forms, from animals, insects, and people. You will need to build a fence around your
garden to prevent unwanted intruders. You can add extra deterrents such as dog fur close to the borders or even buy
deterrents such as wolf urine.
Practice crop rotation to not only give the soil a chance to recover from a growing season but also to prevent insects
that were overwintering in the soil from having access to your fresh crops. You can plant companion plants—
radishes or marigolds—with your crops that aid in deterring insects (Careta, 2015). You can use a wide variety of
plants to encourage beneficial insects to visit your garden. And though it is a lot of work, you can move between
your plants and look for signs of insect activity. Your chickens will love the extra snack.

Livestock

When you have livestock, it is your responsibility to care for those animals. Even if they only need minimal care,
you must provide it. As you need shelter, food, and water, so do they.
These shelters can be built from the same materials that you built your home with but may require a few extra
materials, such as chicken mesh or wire (Off Grid Living, 2019). The shelters, pens, or cages need to be sturdy
enough to keep predators out but easy enough for you to enter to clean, feed, or collect eggs. Take the time to
research how to design and build the necessary enclosures. Consider what the animals may need before hammering
a single nail.
If you have the extra money, as this will make your life easier, you can implement an automatic process for feeding,
watering, and collecting eggs. This saves you time that can be used to do other things.

Power and Energy

The whole point of leaving the grid is to live a greener life; to do this, you will have to rely on nature to provide the
energy needed by your homestead. Deciding which natural energy source you will use depends on where your
homestead is.
Your first source of energy is fire. With this, you can heat your home, cook, and dry. This will be your backup
system if your primary system is down. A wood stove is a must on a homestead. You can use wind turbines to
generate energy. But the disadvantage of this is that wind is not a reliable source of energy (Lampert, 2019). A
water turbine uses water current to generate energy and is more reliable than wind. However, you need a current
strong enough to power it, and not all homesteads have flowing water on their property.
Some people use geothermal energy as this is used to heat and cool your house. However, the system is still
expensive and may not be a viable source of energy for you. Lastly, there is solar energy. This is the most popular
choice as the sun's energy is readily available. Most off-grid structures use solar energy to power their house. They
also use it to heat water or even solar cookers for cooking.
However, just choosing an alternative energy source isn't enough. You need a few pieces of equipment that will
allow you to use the energy generated. This energy generated is a direct current (DC), while most electronic devices
can only run on an alternative current (AC). If these were to be plugged into a direct current, there is a good chance
that the device wouldn't survive it. You will need an inverter that will convert the DC into AC. This will help to
regulate the voltage and the power cycles.
Safety equipment also needs to be installed to protect your system (disconnect switches or safety switches) and your
devices (surge protection) if there is a sudden surge. You will need to have grounding equipment to help deal with
the excess energy experienced in a surge to prevent any possible destruction to your system.
Other extra equipment you may need includes batteries with charge controllers. Not only does this extend the life of
the battery, but it regulates the flow of power to prevent them from becoming overcharged. You will also have to
install meters and other instrumentation to help you keep an eye on your system. This ensures that it is functioning
the way that it should be.

Heating and Cooling

You want to enjoy living on your homestead. You don't want to freeze during winter and burn up in summer. To
prevent this, you will need to have a system that can heat and cool effectively. This will depend on the alternative
energy system that you have in place.
Heating can be done with wood-burning furnaces and boilers (Manley & Manley, 2018). These can be installed
indoors and outdoors.
Another great way to heat and cool your house when needed is to consider how you build your home carefully.
Using passive solar design, you can create a house that can be heated and cooled just with how it is positioned in
relation to the sun during different seasons (Schwartz, n.d.-c).
You can even make use of the very ground to insulate your house. By having a house that uses soil as a thermal
battery—this is thermal energy—you shouldn't have large fluctuations in temperature in your home. A house that is
properly insulated will have its internal temperatures more consistent.
For cooling, you can consider making your absorption air conditioners. These are cheap, safe, and better yet: can be
readily made with materials you are using to construct your home! This can be powered with a solar water heater. If
you live close to an area with a lot of water, you can pump cool water through pipes under your floor or through the
roof. This system can be used for hot or cold water.
 Composting and Waste Management

No one likes the smell of rot or sewerage. And if you want to prevent the smell of waste, you will have to deal with
it early on. Human waste such as urine, feces, and vomit can spread disease and attract unwanted vermin to where
you live. Even your animal waste needs to be managed to prevent them from getting sick and potentially making
you sick. How you decide to deal with it will depend on the rules and regulations of the area where you live.
You can start with something simple to collect human waste. A humanure toilet is nothing more than a bucket and
no flowing water. The concept is that every time the bucket is used, the cover material (like moistened sawdust,
peat moss, or dirt) is added, layering the system. This lowers the smell to next to nothing. Once a bucket is full, it
can be added to a compost bin. It can take up to three years for this material to compost to the level that there is no
chance that diseases or parasites will still be a problem. After this time, the compost can be used to fertilize crops.
These humanure toilets can have a room dedicated to them or can be kept in bedrooms. This is how hygienic they
are.
Similarly, you can dig a latrine pit or an outhouse if it is legal in your chosen location. A step up from this concept
is a composting toilet, but this can be expensive. Other forms of waste removal will require some water
involvement. When water is used to remove waste, it is divided into two categories: greywater (water that comes
from baths, sinks, showers, etc.) and black water—which contains human waste (Emily, 2017).
You do not want to use your freshwater to flush your toilet, so connect a system that will lead your greywater to be
used for this function. This greywater can also be used to water your garden. However, the soap you use for
cleaning can affect the plants, so be wary (Tesche, 2020).
If you have the money, you can use a septic system. The wastewater is led away from the house into the septic tank
—buried in the ground away from the house. Here the solid material will sink to the bottom to be broken down over
time. The liquid part percolates out through holes in pipes in the leach field. This leach field needs to be made of
soil that will filter the liquid effectively. Unless you know what you are doing, it is best to have a professional come
out and do this for you. You need to determine the size you need for your family and make sure you are within the
law to add a septic tank to your property. This tank will have to be cleaned now and again.
Animal manure can also be handled in the same way as the humanure bucket. Simply scoop it up and place it in a
bucket before adding some cover material. If you have larger animals, you can add their manure to the compost bin.
Trash that is not organic and can't be used for composting can be dealt with in one of three ways. You can collect
and store it away until you have enough to warrant a trip to a landfill. You can also dig your landfill on your
property. Alternatively, you can have a trash barrel or pit that you put to fire now and again to deal with the trash.
However, it is best to avoid the last option to ensure you take care of your environment.

Communication and Internet

Unplugging from the grid doesn't mean losing communication with the outside world. Luckily, there are no special
buildings or structures needed to get your communication hub up and running. But you may need some extra
equipment. Communication with a radio will be much easier, but getting connected to the internet isn't impossible.
There are several types of radios you can use. It can be as simple as a one-way radio (for emergency broadcasts) or
a two-way radio that allows you to communicate with others. There are several types and brands. However, they are
dependent on distance, and any obstacles may influence their communication capabilities (Green, 2021). They can
be handheld, mounted in cars, or be made into a base station that you can keep in your home.
You can also use a satellite phone. The disadvantage of this is that it is expensive, and you will be charged every
time you use it. A cheaper option is a satellite GPS messenger. It can send texts and GPS locations when needed.
To have access to the internet, you will have to make use of satellite internet providers. This will require set up
equipment, generally has capped internet, and can have a costly fee. Many people would instead use their
smartphones to connect with their laptops (Harbour, 2021b). However, for this to work, you need to have cell
service in the area you live in, and it can cost a lot of money to use your phone's data package.
You can use wireless, portable hubs to create wifi (or a USB rocket stick), but again, the company that supplies it
needs to have service where you are. Before buying anything, you should ensure there is a service and a plan that
can offer you some sort of unlimited internet usage. Having access to the internet is important as you can use it to
make money (selling things from your homestead or working as a freelance writer), helps you to connect with
others, and can contribute to your child's homeschooling experience. Alternatively, if there is no way to get the
internet to where you are, you can go into town to do what you must do before returning home.

Key Points

To have a successful homestead, you have to consider your essential needs. Once those are met, you will be able to
live comfortably.

There are different kinds of shelter you can build or buy. With an immovable structure, you will
need to consider weather conditions, natural borders, and if you want to make use of a thermal
battery.
Water can easily be collected and stored but will always need to be filtered and sterilized before
consumption.
Many things will influence your food, so consider the soil, the plants, and the potential pests and
diseases that can affect them.
Livestock needs as much care as you do. Do not skimp on their protection, or predators could take
them.
There are many ways to generate energy, and you will have to see which ones are best suitable for
your environment.
Waste needs to be dealt with, or disease will spread. There are many ways to deal with this, but you
must ensure that you follow local laws.
Being on a homestead shouldn't stop you from being able to work online. Check with cell and
internet companies in the areas to see if you will have reception.
In the next chapter, we will look at how you will integrate yourself into your homestead and make it your new
home.
 CHAPTER 6
Step Six - Transition, Integrate, & Flourish Off the
Grid

Now, you have your land and homestead. You are ready to get started on settling into this new lifestyle. You have
been preparing yourself for this for months. Your mind and your body are now prepared to get going. It is time to
detach yourself from the grid and go live on your homestead.
But, before you can actively live here, you have to make sure that everything is functioning the way it should.
Whether your permanent shelter has been set up or not, you should be spending a few days out of the week on your
homestead. Though this can depend on how far away it is from your grid-hom, you will need to test out everything
before settling in permanently (American Patriot Survivalist, 2019).
Once the house is built, delivered, settled (whatever the case may be), you should test whether your water system is
working. Toilets should be functioning optimally. Your source of drinking water should be functional, and it should
be properly set up to allow water to be pumped into your home or cisterns, or other collection areas. Your filtration
system should be working well and providing you with clean drinking water.
Your electricity should be generated correctly. If it isn't, you may have to have a professional come in and look at
your system. You want the system up and running, generating and storing power before you move in. This way, you
have extra power to help with anything you may need if a problem arises. Monitor how much you use while on the
grid and try to use less while off. There will be no spare electricity if you run out. Have a backup ready to be used
in case of catastrophic failure.
Your heating and cooling system should be powered correctly once your alternative energy source is up and
running. Start collecting firewood for your stove. You are going to burn through it fast. Most people collect the
following winter's firewood during the current winter.
Watch your health. If you have a chronic disease that needs medication, make sure that you have a stockpile of it
for emergencies—if it's legal to do so. Remain healthy by staying active and eating well. Practice using first aid
every couple of days and keep books around as handy reminders. Learn to create home remedies for non-serious
conditions using herbs and flowers you plan on growing.
Keep an eye out on how you can improve anything you have on your homestead. You may not notice this
immediately when you move in. However, after a few days, you may have ideas about things you want to do. You
can expand your growing duration by building a greenhouse. This way, you can continue to grow your favorite
foods during times that they wouldn't normally grow.

Gardening Basics
To have an effective crop yield every year, you need energy-efficient irrigation and nutrient-rich compost
(Schwartz, n.d.-f). You won't have compost ready when you first start unless you have bought it or received it from
someone. Begin a composting area or bin as soon as you get onto your property. This will give it time to decompose
and cure for the next growing season. To create a compost area, take a pile of organic matter (eggshells, food
scraps, leftover crops, etc.) and cover it with soil. Do not let this go bone dry, as this will halt the breakdown of the
material. Sprinkle with water now and again to keep moist but not wet.
Decide on where you want your garden to be. This will depend on where you are getting your water from, but more
on that later. This ground can be tilled if you want to, but it is a lot of work. You can grow on soil that hasn't been
tilled if you add compost to the top of the soil. This will conserve the soil structure. A well-established soil structure
holds moisture better than soil that has been tilled.
Decide what you want to grow in your garden. Use about half your garden space for the vegetables that you like to
eat. Then reserve the other half for a variety of highly nutritious vegetables that are easily preserved or stored. In
this half, you will plant different vegetables every year to give yourself the variety you need. Try growing crops that
are not considered the industrial norm—Chia seed as an example.
Fruit trees should be planted in your first year on the homestead, as it can take between two and six years before
you can harvest fruit from them (Iannotti, 2020). All the while, you will need to care for and protect the trees from
harm. However, it will be worth it.
Know your climate zone as this will affect your perennials and annuals. Find out what type of area you are in so
that it can support your crops. Talk to local farmers about what grows best in the vicinity. Don't discount historical
crops that were grown in the area in the past. They may not be grown there now, but they can still be grown. You
can develop a planting calendar from the climate information that you gather. With this, you will be able to see
which plant's growing cycle will overlap others. You can even implement staggering your planting of the same crop
by sowing or transplanting (growing the seeds elsewhere and then planting the seedlings) at different times.
Scheduling your planting benefits you with time. This will allow you to have the ability to harvest continually
throughout the whole season. Some crops even allow you to harvest continually as the plant grows. Herbs are
especially good with harvesting this way. You can collect a few leaves here and there, encouraging the plant to
grow bushier as it ages. Many greens (spinach) can have their outer leaves collected before the whole plant is ready
to be collected. If you want to harvest early in the season, be sure to plant crops that have a short growing season,
such as radishes or spinach.
When growing a vegetable with seeds that you eat (corn, wheat, etc.), you will have to dedicate about 10% of that
crop to create a seed reserve for the next year that you want to plant. Keeping this seed for the next growing season
is something you want to do. Otherwise, you are purchasing new seeds every year, which isn't necessary. If you are
buying seeds, consider using heirloom plants that have well-established genetic lines that have a high chance of
growing well. When using seedlings, make sure that they are not hybrid plants that don't produce viable seeds for
the next growing season.

Getting Water
Not everyone has the extra energy to spend on pumping water to your garden. If you are one of these people, make
sure that your garden placement is downhill from your water source. This way, you can use gravity to lead water to
your garden whenever you need it. If your garden happens to be higher than the water source, you do not need to
use an energy-draining pump. With simple materials, you can build a hydraulic ram pump that allows you to pump
water uphill with no energy required.
You can plant your broad-leafed plants further apart to help shade the ground. These plants should be grown while
there is ample rain, and when the rainy season draws to a close, they will be big enough to keep the moisture locked
into the ground with their broad leaves. This is why it is important to know the weather forecast of your area.
Alternatively, have a cistern placed close to the garden that gathers water when it rains or greywater. Attach the
necessary piping and hose the garden whenever it is needed.

Protection
If something in or around your homestead eats greens, it will go after your garden, so be sure to protect it. How you
defend it will depend on what resources you have available to you. You can build fences of wood and mesh or
wood and fishing line to deter animals such as deer and rabbits. You can use guard animals such as dogs and geese,
which should frighten away most other animals. Alternatively, grow strong-scented plants such as black-eyed Susan
(a daisy), garlic, lavender, or ferns.
To protect your plants from insect invaders, you can build a chicken run around the garden. This will allow your
chickens free-roaming space and an all-you-can-eat buffet of insects while keeping them out of your direct garden.
Ducks will happily eat slugs too. Plus, both these animals will give you fertilizer that can be added to your compost
bin.
Rotate the crops to give the soil nutrition and a break. Keep track of this and look for those harvests that get worse
over time. Crop rotation can be done within one plot or across multiple plots. These plot sizes will depend on what
you can manage on your own or with your family.

Livestock Basics

Most livestock has multiple functions such as meat, eggs, multiplying, pest control, wool, milk, pets, fertilizer, and
some can even be put to work. Regardless of which animals you want on your property, they also come with
downsides. They require effort, plus, different animals have different needs, require veterinary care now and again,
and some need very specific protective structures to keep them safe from predators. Below are a few examples
(Crisis Times, n.d.-b).
Chickens are great. About a dozen or so hens are enough to give you enough eggs to last through a year. If you
want to raise chickens, you will need at least one rooster among the hens. Hens need protein to produce eggs. You
will either need to provide this or allow them out of their enclosure to scratch around for insects. They need ample
areas to dust themselves, roost, and brood.
Geese can be used for meat, eggs and make excellent guard animals. They can sustain themselves on grass and bugs
when wandering around the property, but it may take a handful of grain to entice them back into their pen at night.
They will need protection from rats and foxes. About three geese (or dames) and one gander are enough for most
people.
Cows are not encouraged for beginner homesteaders but raising calves can be rewarding, and the females can
provide milk. They require a lot of work as they will need to be milked twice a day. The trade-off for this hard work
is that you can make your dairy treats such as cheese and yogurt.
You can also get some sheep that can be used for wool, meat, and milk. They fatten well on grass but do well on
feed too. About four ewes and a ram are enough for most homesteads. If you plan to have cows on your property,
you will need to rotate how they feed with the sheep. Sheep tend to crop grass very close to ground level, which
causes the cows to not get enough to eat. Send the cows into the pasture before sheep, and rotate to allow the
different pastures to get enough rest.
Another alternative animal that can provide milk is goats. They are hardy creatures that can survive off weeds,
shrubs, and even tree leaves if they can reach them. Use them to clear out fields you haven't had an opportunity to
fully clear yet. The milk they produce is allergy-friendly and can be used to make all kinds of dairy products. You
can have both goats and sheep. Although goats can be raised with sheep, you will need to make sure none of them
have horns to protect all of them from injury.
If there are other types of animals you want to consider keeping, then do the necessary research. You want to make
sure they are kept happy, healthy and produce what you need from your homestead.

Preserving and Storage

There will be times when your harvest isn't bountiful, or you can't grow anything. To prevent yourself from
starving, you will need to learn how to preserve everything that you are not going to eat in a matter of days. You
may even want to buy something you didn't grow that season and want to store it to be eaten later.
The reason for preservation is to prevent food loss through oxidation, vermin, microorganisms, light, and enzymes.
Each of these has different methods to prevent them from destroying the food you want to store. Microorganisms
can be slowed if you place the food in cooler environments. They can only be destroyed through the heating of the
food. Some enzymes are used by the plant to ripen its seeds and fruits but will also start the rotting process.
Foods that are high in fat content are prone to oxidation which will make the food rot. These foods need to have the
oxygen removed from them before storage, or they will continue to be broken down. Even if foods are preserved
correctly (oxygen and moisture removed), the fats, proteins, and vitamins can be damaged by having contact with
light. This lowers the quality of your stored foods. Lastly, you have vermin. Creatures such as rats and bugs can
chew through your stored foods. This allows contamination, oxygen, and moisture to get in. The way to stop this is
to have containers that prevent the vermin from chewing through them and dealing with any infestations when they
are noticed.
There are various ways to preserve food. You can use heat (canning), cold (freezing), chemical (vinegar or
fermenting), or mechanical (vacuum sealing.) Each comes with its pros, cons, and learning curbs. Some may even
require specialized equipment that you will need to buy. You will need to see which is the most effective and
efficient way to preserve your foods. Here are some of the most common preservation methods used (Vuković,
2021).

Canning
Food to be preserved must be cooked well as this will kill off any microorganisms and enzymes. You will need
glass jars with sealable lids to achieve this. This is best for fresh produce when you have an abundance of it. Storing
food this way allows it to last for up to five years. However, there is a chance that the bottle may get smashed, and
the food quality decreases as time passes.

Dehydration
By dehydrating food, you are removing the liquid from it. This lowers the spoilage caused by enzymes and
microorganisms. This practice is best for fresh food, and it helps to retain the nutrients. If you have a place to do it,
you can purchase or make your dehydrator or air-dry it. You can combine dehydration preservation with vacuum
sealing to preserve the food for more than five years. Or as long as the seal lasts.

Fermenting
The act of fermenting is the use of the Lactobacillus bacteria to help preserve food. This is one of your necessary
probiotics and is needed for optimal gut health. There are a lot of foods that have this bacteria in them. A brine
mixture of salt and water is added to the food to draw out the excess sugars, which are then consumed by the
Lactobacillus bacteria. This helps to create an acidic, low oxygen environment that kills off other disease-causing
bacteria. The advantages of preserving food in this manner are that it retains most nutrients and preserves the
essential vitamins needed for health. The disadvantages are that it can take time to perfect this preservation method,
and food is wasted if the containers break.

Vacuum Sealing
This method of preservation takes oxygen out of the equation causing lower microbial activity and enzyme action.
This method is best used if combined with other preservation methods such as freezing or dehydration. You can
create your vacuum system, or you can purchase one. When combined with dehydration, this form of preservation
can have food lasting up to five years or more. The downside is that the best vacuum is obtained with the equipment
you will have to buy.
Vacuum sealing can be combined with mylar bags and oxygen-absorbing packets. If dry food is preserved using
this method, it can last decades. The only downside is that you cannot see through the mylar bags, and once the
bags are damaged, they no longer keep the food preserved.

Curing
There are three forms of curing: using salt, using sugar, and smoking. When salt curing, you can rub salt into the
food of choice, pack it into salt, add the food to a brine solution, or inject brine into the food. With sugar curing,
you submerge the food in a sugar brine while keeping it very cold. Once the curing is complete, the food can be
hung up to cure some more.
Smoke curing is a little more complicated as you will need to build a smokehouse to use this preservation method.
You will need to hang up what you want to smoke; then you need to smoke it at 140°F for about seven hours. You
can push it to 155°F for about four hours but do not exceed this temperature as then the food will be cooked and not
smoke-cured.
These methods are best reserved for meat and fish. The preserved food can last up to 4 years and is kept in a cool,
dry place before consumption. Combine with vacuum sealing to make it effective. This is a simple technique, but
there is a risk of food poisoning if done incorrectly.

Preserving Dry Food

You will likely be buying an assortment of dried food such as rice or beans if you are not producing them yourself.
These will need to be preserved if you want them to keep their longevity. To ensure that your stock isn't
contaminated with insect eggs, you can microwave it for about four minutes. Alternatively, you can freeze it for
four days before vacuum sealing or adding it to sealable glass containers.
Sealable containers not made of glass should be placed in pest-proof containers. This will prevent all sorts of
vermin from chewing holes and ruining your food.

Extra Tips and Tricks

There are many things you will learn during your first year on your homestead. To lower the learning curb of your
first year, follow these extra tips.

Kitchen
As you will be using greywater for the garden, avoid using caustic soaps and solutions. Nothing in your kitchen
should ever go to waste, not even coffee grounds. In their place, make your own natural cleaning solutions using
lemon, baking soda, and vinegar. These can be added to your composting system or to homemade soap that acts as
an exfoliator.
By sealing your mason jars during the canning process, you can create a seal that is difficult to break. To avoid
destroying your mason jar:

1. Stick some duct tape to the lid and create a handle for you to hold onto.
2. Pull this handle you made to make a sturdier grip for opening the jar.
3. Create measuring cups from your mason jars by marking them accordingly.
These can be used over and over. You can use old soda bottles to store dry products.

Garden
When you are sprouting seeds, there is no need for you to have pots on hand. Use old milk jugs with several small
holes in the lids to create makeshift watering cans. You can use eggshells or plastic containers to sprout your seeds
before adding the seedling to your garden (Homesteading, 2019).

Livestock
You will not have a vet close to you. Be prepared to learn some basic veterinary care and animal handling skills.
This can include giving medicine, trimming hooves, or even trimming teeth if you plan on rearing rabbits.
If your chickens produce more eggs than your need for chicks or eating, you can freeze them. It is a good idea to
separate the whites and yolks before adding some salt and then freezing. Alternatively, you can mix the eggs well
with some salt, pour them into ice cubes, then freeze.

Garden
Know how to deal with the wildlife in your area. You may one day be face to face with more than just a fox trying
to raid your henhouse, and you will need to be prepared. Nuisance animals like skunks, possums, and wild rabbits,
will also need to be dealt with accordingly before they become a problem.
There are gardening techniques you can learn to help get larger yields for your crops. An example of this is growing
your potatoes in a vertical box. This will allow the plant to make more potatoes for you to harvest without you
having to dig too deep.

Key Points

Everything is now ready for you to move into your homestead. All you have to do now is practice your basics while
on the property and ensure that everything is functioning the way it should.

Before moving onto your homestead full time, spend a few days going over everything. Your water
should be flowing, and you should have electricity.
Start working on developing your gardening skills.
Start a compost bin or pile as soon as possible.
 Livestock should be comfortable in their new environment, well protected, and getting the food and
water required.
Practice the different kinds of preserving methods with many types of food, including your dry food.
You are never going to stop learning while you are on your homestead. Listen to any advice that is
given and keep trying to better yourself day by day.
In the next chapter, we will be looking at how you can make money from your homestead.
 CHAPTER 7
Step Seven - Make a Living Off the Grid

At some point, you will need to make money to pay back loans, property tax, or even to buy some equipment you
need. There are two ways that you can generate money. Firstly, you can make your homestead a source of income.
Alternatively, you can get a job.

Earning Money with Your Homestead

By diversifying what is on your homestead, you will have access to many kinds of ingredients and products that you
can use or sell (Crisis Times, n.d.-a). Think of how each part of your homestead plays a role in making various
products that you can sell. There are several ways to make money from your garden, livestock, and your skills.

Garden
There are several ways for you to earn money from your garden. If you have surplus goods, you can sell them at a
farmer's market as is or directly to people you know. Farmer markets are a great way to get to know the other
farmers and off-grid people in your general vicinity. You will also be able to pick up various other goods from these
markets that you can use in your home. You get to choose how much and what to sell or buy when you are there.
Alternatively, you can get the community to help grow your garden. Some communities have what is known as
community-supported agriculture (Foster, 2015). The community pays the farmer (or off-grid grower) a set sum
upfront, and in return, they get a portion of what is grown. This can help both the grower and the community work
together. The pros are that the community gets to know the farmer, how their food is grown, and help the farmer to
grow the crop. The disadvantage is that sometimes too much food is received by each individual in the community
who participated. This will go to waste. Another disadvantage is that they cannot choose what is sent to them but
rather whatever the farmer is growing at the time.
Another way to generate money with your garden is to consider selling extra seed, seedlings, or saplings instead of
planting them when you have a particularly good growing season. You can even consider selling your cured
compost to those who need it. If it cannot be eaten or used, then it should be sold. Nothing should ever go to waste
with your garden.

Livestock
There will come a time when you will not use everything that your animals are producing for you. Eggs and milk
can only last so long before they start to go stale. Check the law about how you may sell your milk. Some states do
not allow the sale of raw milk, while others do. Sell what you don't need. Wool and mohair can be spun into yarn
and sold per ball to people who knit.
Excess livestock can be slaughtered to sell their meat. A great animal to breed for meat is rabbits. These animals
multiply quickly, and it only takes about four pounds of feed for them to gain about a pound in meat (Young, 2017).
There is no other animal that can convert food to meat at that rate. You don't even need to breed for meat. Young
animals can be sold as pets or to be reared by others for shows.
If you have the skill to keep and harvest from bees, you can sell honey. You could even rent out hives to fellow
farmers to help pollinate their fields when needed. If this is the route you want to try, it does require you to have
protective gear when handling the insects. You will also have to construct hives so that they have a sheltered place
to produce honey.
If you decide to keep male animals on your property, you can study whether they come from a marketable line. The
animal will have to be registered so that a genetic line can be followed.

Homemade Products
Why sell ingredients when you can be using them to make products you can sell? Goats’ milk can be used for
homemade soap. Add some herbs or coffee grounds to make unique scents and scrubs that will have people coming
back for more. Herbs can be used in natural remedies to treat all manners of illnesses. Teach yourself about how to
make these remedies and put the products up for sale.
Fruit and vegetables can be canned or bottled as pickled vegetables, jams, jellies, anything your mind can dream up.
Milk can be used to make cheese, while eggs can be added to baked goods. All products can be sold at markets or
eCommerce shops, such as eBay or Shopify (Ferreira, 2021). However, if you are planning on selling goods this
way, you must work with the highest level of hygiene. You will not be able to sell jars with popped lids containing
mold. You will also have to add a label that tells the buyer exactly what you put in your products (University of
California, n.d.). Make your products unique by adding handmade decorations from repurposed items in your home
that you can't use for anything else. This makes your products interesting, and you get rid of things you cannot use
in your own home.

Pros and Cons

The advantage of using your homestead in these manners is that it generates money not only for a single sale but for
potential return clients. You can make money while living away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is less
stress to having to have a product necessarily on hand all the time. You sell an item when it is available and owe no
one an explanation when it isn't available.
The disadvantage is that when you are selling products from your homestead, you must ensure that you are
following legal and business requirements. This counts as an income, so be honest on your tax forms. You will also
need to purchase materials to make certain products, such as a hand spinner for wool or mohair. You may even have
to buy many mason jars to sell preserves.

Online Work
You have spent all that time getting the internet to work on your homestead, so why not make it work for you?
There are many kinds of freelance jobs available on the internet. Places such as Fiverr, Freelancer, and UpWork, are
always looking for people with various skills. Marketable skills that these companies look for are skills such as
writing, designing, and teaching. If you fit into one of these niches, you can generate income from it. You may have
to spend time creating a portfolio before making a lot of money, but it is worth it. If you speak multiple languages,
you can do translating work.
You can cut out the middleman and work for yourself by making your webpage. From here, you can use social
media, YouTube, FaceBook, etc., to promote your homemade goods from your homestead. It is also possible to
create channels to educate and entertain people with your daily life on your homestead. Once you have over 1000
people following you on YouTube, you can monetize your site by showing advertisements on your videos (Ferreira,
2021). You can even write your eBook about how you got to where you are after leaving the grid. Don't let the
skills you learned from your previous job go to waste! You can consult online and earn good money.
There is some money to be made in selling photography. Explore your property and take many photos. The better
the quality, the more you can sell the copies for.

Face to Face Work

If you are in an area where internet connectivity is impossible, don't worry, there are still opportunities for you. You
can ask around town for local work—such as at a restaurant or gas station. This may be dependent on the distance
between the town and your homestead. It may not be financially feasible for you to do this and may even cause
unnecessary stress.
You can freelance for your neighbors. You have developed many skills while building your homestead, and you can
sell those skills (Harbour, 2021c). That portable sawmill you are not using right now? Rent it out or sell your
services to make some timber for anyone in the area who may be building. You even have the knowledge to install
alternative energy generators. Offer that service to other people in the area that want to move away from the grid.
If you have a large piece of property; with a part not being used, consider renting it out to alternative energy
companies (if legal, to do so). They can use the property to set up solar power harvesting farms or wind turbines.
Alternatively, that property can be rented to campers, hunters, or hikers that travel through the area.
Depending on the size of your home, you can even convert it to bed and breakfast. You can use your whole
property in combination with this business. You can give your guests the whole experience of living off the grid by
teaching them pioneer skills such as soap making, weaving, etc. Even young children can enjoy the homestead
experience by feeding the animals or helping to milk or collect eggs.

Key Points

There are many ways to generate an income using your homestead or working from it.

Everything grown, reared, or produced on your homestead can make you money in one form or
another.
You can create unique products to be sold at the farmer's market as long as you follow the rules and
regulations of the area.
Don't give up on having a job that doesn't involve the homestead. There are many online jobs
available.
Alternatively, you can create your own business to teach others about your lifestyle or sell your
various products.
You have marketable skills that you have been using when setting up your homestead. Sell those
skills to those around you.
Don't be afraid to open your home to others to show them the off-grid experience and earn from it.
In the next chapter, we will explore how to get more from your homestead in the coming years. There is no reason
that you cannot expand on what you have built.
 CHAPTER 8
Step Eight - Make the Most Out of Living off Grid

To be honest, it won't be easy in the beginning. Give yourself time to adjust. Once this adjustment period is over,
you can start to make improvements to your homestead. Right now, what you have are the bare necessities to live
off-grid. Almost every single thing you have done up to now can be improved in some way. By doing this, you can
even afford some luxuries you would never have thought possible at the beginning of your journey.

Power System

By improving and optimizing the systems you have in place, you can move away from simply surviving, to
enjoying your life. By increasing how much power you can create and store, you will have more electricity at your
disposal. Those few months of frugally living off of what your original system could produce are going to pay off
now. With more power, you will be able to have a fully functional greenhouse. You can even get an oven that
doesn't rely on wood, a possible dishwasher, and possibly a hot tub (Adamant, 2017).
Before you start dreaming of what to do with all your extra power, you must consider how much more you want.
You can add inverter chargers that charge your batteries while converting the energy to a storable form. Once you
determine that, you can look at your finances to see what latest technologies can be used with your current system.
You can also look at different battery options. The lead-acid batteries go well with most inverters and have a very
long life. However, the higher the temperature of the battery, the lower the battery life. These batteries also have a
low energy density, a low efficiency (80%), and are heavy (Svarc, 2021). Then there are the lithium-ion batteries.
These have a high efficiency (92—98%), are lightweight, are scalable, and last for about ten years. However, they
need a compatible inverter, are difficult to recycle, and can shut down at high (114°F) or low temperatures (23°F).
Your best value will come from purchasing self-managed lithium batteries. They have all the advantages of lithium-
ion as they can be retrofitted to replace the old lead-acid batteries. But they can also restart automatically after an
event that would cause them to shut down suddenly (sudden black out event). They are also compatible with most
inverters and chargers. The more batteries you have, the more opportunity you will have to store extra energy. You
will have to decide which batteries best suit your environment.
Your options are not limited to just using solar power to charge these batteries. Try expanding the types of
alternative energy that you are using. Now that you have spent some time on your hand, go exploring. Perhaps you
will land upon a stream that has a strong current. Or perhaps, you may find an area on your farm where the wind is
channeled naturally through it. Take advantage of your discoveries and set up the necessary turbines (Dunn, 2020).
If gravity is used to lead water from a source, you can consider adding a small turbine. This turbine will then charge
batteries every time you open the pipes to allow water to move to where you need it.
There is no need to use the electricity gathered from your wind turbines or burning wood to heat the water in your
home. You can purchase a solar water heater instead. This uses solar thermal panels in place of photovoltaic panels,
so they are not as big as the panels you use to gather energy to run your home (Abundant Hot Water, 2020).
However, they are big enough to heat water to a comfortable temperature and keep it there while you have sunlight.
This panel system is easy to maintain, and this can be set up close to the other panels.

Water System

You can purchase more powerful solar or electric pumps to get more water to where you need it without them
burning out. Perhaps now, you have a well drilled on your property. You can have pumps fitted to the type of well
you have to give you what you need. Having more water available to you when you need it will help you expand
your current endeavors. You can purchase more cisterns in which you can store water for emergencies like potential
droughts. With the extra water, set up an automated watering system for your garden or greenhouse so that you
have more time to do other things on your property- such as expanding your garden and pasture land. It isn't all
about hard work, sometimes you'll have to think smart too.

Livestock

With more water comes more ventures with your potential livestock. You can turn your attention to fish farming.
Choosing the right fish may take trial and error as they are dependent on where you are as well as the temperatures
you can provide for them (Jessica W, 2016). The main thing to remember is that fish need clean water, food, and a
steady temperature. There are three methods of aquaculture which are dependent on your environment or how much
money you are willing to spend.
The first is the cage method, which will only work if you have a moving body of water. The moving water provides
a natural filtration system to keep the water clean and provide abundant nutrients. Mesh cages are used to grow the
fish in and to keep them protected from predators. You will still have to feed them from time to time to ensure that
they are growing well.
The second is the contained method. You can use an old pool or livestock tank to rear fish. You will need to have a
filtration system, aerators, and plants in the container to ensure a healthy environment for the fish you are growing.
The last method is the most expensive but can lead to aquaponics (Eric, 2017). Known as the greenhouse method, it
involves a greenhouse, several tanks for your fish, and cooling components. This isn't a great starting method, but it
is something to try if you are interested in aquaponics. The water that the fish live in gets pumped into beds of
gravel or shale, which contain the plants. The roots take the nutrients leftover from the fish, and the water is filtered
through them. This water is then pumped back to the fish.
Standing water can attract mosquitoes, but luckily the fish will eat the larva. This system is best suited to fish that
prefer warmer temperatures, such as tilapia. But if you can control the temperature to keep it cool, you can rear
perch or trout. You will not be able to use insecticides in your aquaponics system because this could kill your fish.
Luckily the enclosed space prevents too many pests and weeds from invading your plants.
You can even develop a worm farm through your composting methods. Earth worms are great for your soil, and
you can profit off of them by selling them to bait shops.

Garden

If you cannot expand your property, consider vertical farming to get the most out of the land that you do have.
Vertical farming can be done in your greenhouse (Eric, 2017) or with tuber-like vegetables grown in a box. You can
combine different plants to not only enrich the soil but also to grow together for support. Some vegetables that grow
on vines need to be supported on trestles. Alternatively, you can have them grow on tall-growing vegetables, such
as corn, for support. Play around to find the optimal position for all the plants you want to grow.
 Key Points

There is no reason to sit back and watch the world go by when you can continue to improve and better the systems
you have already put in place.

There are many ways to improve your energy-generating grid by introducing different batteries or
alternative energy-generating sources.
You can have an almost endless supply of hot water if you install a solar thermal heater.
You can branch out to other alternative livestock such as aquaculture or use what you have in place
to generate livestock such as worms.
You can expand your garden by growing vertically instead of horizontally.
Use a greenhouse to combine aquaculture and hydroponics into aquaponics. This can be a self-
sustaining system where the fish feed the nutrients to the plants.
Let's recap everything we have learned in this book.
 CONCLUSION

And, there you have it. You do not have to remain in a stress-fueled existence. There is no need to stay in a place
that makes you unhappy and contributes to poor health and stress. If you believe that you would be happier to move
off-grid and away from what bothers you, know that it's possible, and anyone can do it. There are many pros and
cons to living this way, but know that you do not have to leave the grid entirely if you are not ready. However, if
you feel that your life will only improve by leaving the grid behind, doing this is possible.
When building a homestead, you need to consider shelter, water, and food, as this could mean the difference
between life and death. While still on the grid, enquire about usable land you could purchase that meets all the
requirements. Educate yourself about what you need to know about harvesting water.
The best way to experience living off-the-grid is by practicing what you will need while you are still on the grid.
You will need to approach living on a homestead by becoming a minimalist. Prepare yourself mentally to live with
less. You should also start learning skills to help you become self-sufficient. By planting your garden or taking first
aid courses, you are setting yourself up for success. There are many skills you will have to learn to ensure
comfortable living on your future homestead.
Off-grid property can be hard to find, especially if you do not have the capital. Do your homework about the space
you will need to survive comfortably before purchasing any property, no matter how cheap. The land you buy needs
to allow you to live a self-sufficient life away from the grid. There should be no hidden clauses that would prevent
you from collecting water or adding a septic system. The lay of the land will also tell you the best ways to generate
energy from nature. Use this to your advantage.
Even before you purchase the land, you should be thinking about your homestead. There are a variety of homes that
are perfect for a single person or a family. Choose a home that best suits your needs and think about how you will
be generating your energy. Don't limit yourself to only one source of natural energy, especially if you have access
to moving water.
No matter how clean your water supply may be, remember to purify it so that you can enjoy drinking fresh water
with no chance of getting sick. If you are lucky, you will have water on your property that can lead to your house. If
not possible, there are other alternatives you can use, such as drilling a well or collecting rainwater.
You will need to design a garden that can produce most of the food you need throughout the year. Know about the
plants you want to grow as they are dependent on the seasons, temperature, and rainfall. Plant your fruit trees as
soon as you have the land and tend to them to give them a head start as it will take some time before they give you
fruit. Vegetables and herbs can be divided into perennials and annuals. They should be grown in different parts of
the garden to make them easier to harvest when needed.
When you have livestock on your homestead, it will be extra work, but you will have access to a wide variety of
food. But, remember that animals are a huge responsibility. You will have to be a caretaker, a vet, and even a
mother if you are hand-rearing young animals.
Working on a homestead will produce some waste. Some of this can be used in your composting system, while
others cannot. Think long and hard about what you will do with your human waste versus the waste from your
animals and garden.
Just because you have moved away from the grid doesn't mean that you won't need money. It also doesn't mean that
you can't have a job. Your homestead can earn you money as well as keeping you comfortable. If you aren't selling
your extra crops and livestock to make money, you can use the internet to do all manner of jobs or promote your
way of life.
There is no reason that you cannot build on what you first designed your homestead around. There is no reason to
stick to solar energy when more power can be generated in other ways. Keep learning about yourself and your
homestead. This way, you can keep improving. You have the potential to turn your homestead into a place of pure
luxury without the stress of going to work to deal with the unnecessary hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Why wait to leave the grid if it is already in the back of your mind? It is affordable and viable. All you have to do is
to take a step in the right direction. Whether you are canning your pickles or installing a solar thermal heater to
reduce your electricity bill, you are steadily moving towards off-the-grid living. There is no reason to hold back
anymore. Take one skill from the book and start learning while you look for that perfect off-the-grid property.
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