Comments on: So, You Want to Live Off Grid, Eh?

By: Maryp

Maryp — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 16:12:06 +0000

My husband and I lived off grid for 20 years on our 32 acre farm. We logged and built it all. The first few years were really rough. Hauling water,lanterns,etc. We started with a small portable solar system and got to microturbines and full size solar. We had a maple syrup business and raised Scotch Highland cattle. I did animal rescue. Unfortunately rising taxes,general expenses and aging ended it. Stop watching unrealistic TV shows and research. We live a simple life in a small rural village.

By: Hunter-Grace

Hunter-Grace — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 19:24:57 +0000

as a soon to be 70 year old, want to be homesteader, I plan on doing things one step at a time. I grew up hauling water at my aunt’s house and using her outhouse, both summer and winter. Neither of which was a “NICE” experience to be sure. As i have grown older i slowly learned that my spirit has always been willing but my body say’s “WHAT?”…So i do a little bit at a time. When i get tired i sit down for a quick 10.. then up and try some more. As a diabetic, and a heart patient i have slowed down, But I’m not dead yet, so keep plugging away, thanks be to god and a stubborn nature. I have 2.5 acres in the lower part of Missouri and pray i make it down there this year and start to clear a spot for my tiny 10′ X 20 home. It’s just the dog ( Cockapoo-Daisy and my 2 boy cats Mickey N’ Max’) I know lots of things plumbing, building, shoveling and planting, pouring concrete etc. It’s more a pace yourself kind of thing. I’m hoping to find like minded neighbors that would be willing to give the old lady a hand from time to time. And besides if i don’t at least try I’d never forgive my self fro being a coward to give it a shot….know what i mean? So with 27 heart stents, two fake knees that don’t allowing kneeling, bony spurs on joints, barbaric stomach surgery, and all in all 42 surgeries i will try the best i can. And with god’s help and lots of praying i know i can do it…just takes time and determination…

By: Maridy

Maridy — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 14:13:15 +0000

Our experience living off-grid for the last two years is vastly different than yours. We have 4 people (husband, wife, 2 kids) living in 280 square feet. The huge difference is that we DO have electricity (via solar panels), and at least running water indoors (via a gravity feed system). But we moved to our homsetead in the spring and thus had all summer to work on getting some good systems in place. The outhouse in the winter can be a pain, but I actually enjoy seeing the stars when I trek out to the outhouse. We also learned that we don’t need to “bathe” every day, and I found a hair style that is super low maintenance. Seriously, we shower once a week unless we are working outdoors and get super dirty. The rest of the time, we wash up with a wash cloth and a bit of water heated on the stove or baby wipes if the need arrises. Our shower water pump is also powered by solar (or often in winter, the generator) and the instant water heater is propane. We do have to haul water for drinking/cooking, showering, and washing clothes, but we do that with 50 gallon barrels from a family member’s house or we fill up when we dump our portable sewer totes (not allowed to do a pit outhouse where we live). Living off grid is hard work, for sure, but modern technology (like solar panels, etc) can make it a whole heck of a lot easier. And, btw, the systems we now have are after several years of development. When we first moved onto our homestead, our toilet was literally a bucket set out on the hillside for several months till we got the outhouse built. And we didn’t have a shower on site – except for a couple months that first summer – for a year and a half. And that first shower was supplied with a 5 gallon bucket! Laundry was taken to the laundromat for a year or so, and our weekly showers were taken at a family member’s house. Our systems are pretty much in place now that we feel like things are soooo much easier than they were in the beginning. It’s still a lot of hard work, but that’s part of living off-grid. You just gotta work on your systems till you find what works for you.

By: Dianne Iverson

Dianne Iverson — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 04:27:09 +0000

I lived off grid for 6 years in the 70s. But then, we had never heard of off grid. We just didn’t have electricity, or phone or neighbors. I got so use to it that when I went to visit family, I would forget about using light switches and electric conveniences. Even now, I don’t use many electric things in the kitchen, can openers, mixers, etc. I just keep thinking what if we didn’t have power, so I’m not so dependent on them. When our power goes off now for any length of time I do just fine. I do want to put a hand pump on our well though.

By: Pat

Pat — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 00:09:15 +0000

My off grid dream always includes a composting indoor toilet. I grew up with wood heat and limited electricity so that wouldn’t be so hard, but I hated the outhouse!

I hope you get to get back to off grid living and find ways to be more comfortable.