A dream for a lot of people is going completely off the grid. Living isolated in the forest, desert, or on the top of a mountain and fending for yourself sounds tempting. A lot of hunters spend weeks or months surviving outside of society while they sport.
However, going out for a little while knowing you have a hooked-up home to go back to and settling in the wilderness with no public electricity or utilities to rely on are two different stories. Before you pack your bags and build a solar hot water system to go off-grid, let’s go over the realities. Can you handle it?
You’ll Need to Protect Your Property
Living in the wilderness means you and your property are vulnerable to external damages. Animals, insects, and other humans can approach at any time. You need to ensure that your space is protected. Start with a sturdy fence, something barely noticeable from a distance. You’ll want to make sure that the structure doesn’t trap any animals, so you don’t have to kill them later on.
Invest in a security camera system that you can operate 100% independently of any 3rd party company. Have a computer room where you can monitor what is happening on your property at all times. Most importantly, don’t be too paranoid.
If You Don’t Know Your Area, You’re in Trouble
You’ll need to know the layout of the area you plan to move better than almost anything. From the rivers, babbles, and brooks to the natural disasters that can occur, you need to research the area. You can’t expect to move somewhere unless you know a bit about the geography, especially if you are going off-grid.
Before you settle on a location, go out hunting or camping in the area. Take hikes, go for walks, or explore the place while you still have the comfort of a grid location. Once you have somewhere specific in mind, take trips there. Start with a week, then go for a month, then go for two months before you move out there permanently.
Where Are You Getting Your Energy?
If you’re going off the grid, you can’t rely on public resources anymore. You’ll have a lot of freedom but a lot more responsibility to go with it. You don’t need to worry too much though as there are options for you.
Renewable energy sources are an affordable way to keep yourself powered when you’re on your own. You can buy solar panels from camping stores, farming stores, and in some cases, online. To power the entire home through solar energy, you’ll need about 16 panels. You must also invest in a charge controller, batteries, power conditioning equipment, and meters/instructions.
Are You Prepared to Hunt, Fish, and Grow Your Food?
Grocery stores are luxuries for those who want to continue to live on the grid. When going solo or moving your family into the wilderness, you’ll need to provide your food for yourself. You already know how to hunt, but you’ll need to teach the rest of your family. You should also brush up on fishing if you plan to move near a water source.
Farming will be a huge and time-consuming part of your off-grid life. You’ll want to research the best fruits and vegetables to grow in your area. You also want to take some classes on farming before you leave society.
You don’t need fancy guns or equipment since then you’ll have to rely on someone to repair and replace parts.
Happy Living, Off-Grid or On
Whether this article inspired you to leap into off-grid living or reminded you that you aren’t ready, keep striving towards self-reliance.