It is everybody’s dream, somewhere in the back of their minds, to never pay utility bills again and to be completely self-sufficient. Because, whether we like it or not, most of us are locked in to the system in ways that make us completely dependant upon it for everything we need to live. But there ARE ways to loosen these strings, and even to cut them entirely, in your desire to live completely free from the grid in a self-sufficient way, whether you live deep in the city or way out in the boondocks.
The “live off the grid” and “be self sufficient” equation can be broken down into six different parts: Power, Water, Food, Heat, Medicine, and Transportation. Let’s take a little bit closer look at each one of these in turn, so that we can get a better understanding of how they each function and work together to help you live in a self-sufficient manner.
- Electricity. The first and probably most obvious thing about being self-sufficient is the necessity of generating your own electricity and power.
- The second most critical aspect of living off the grid is to find a stable water source or supply for yourself.
- Then comes our food needs. Did you know that even people living in apartments can grow some of their own food supplies in order to cut down on their food bills? And how do you cook them?
- Heating & Cooling. Depending on the time of year, and your physical location, this one can be a lifesaver too. If your power goes out in the middle of the winter, as it all too often does, do you know how to keep from freezing?
- Medicine and Basic Medical Supply Needs. And though we can’t and don’t claim to be doctors, we DO know that there are lots more good home treatment remedies and processes available to the average person than what the profit driven medical establishment would have you believe.
- Transportation. Face it, we have become a very mobile society, and we need to get places. But how do we do it cheaply, and without entangling ourselves back in the grid through gasoline dependencies?
Let’s look breifly at each of these in more detail.
For Power and electricity off the grid, you can invest in solar power(by far the most common), hydroelectricity, fuel cells, generators, or one of several other technologies being developed at http://www.EvergreenMountainLabs.com/ (EML). You will also need several storage batteries, a charger with which to fill them, and an inverter to convert their output into usable house power.
For water, your options are slightly more limited. A good, high quality water filter (with backup filter cartridges on hand) is essential to have to use, so that you can use water from any handy supply. Oft’ times, water from rain and snow melt can also be good sources of drinking water (though prolly not in heavy smog areas unless filtered first).A water distiller takes electricity, but if you have the extra power, by all means, get one.
Your sewer needs have even fewer basic options, though within those options, many varieties exist. Basically you have to find and install a self-composting toilet, and then learn to operate it safely and satisfactorily.
For food, you need basic access to the six primary food groups at least occasionally: Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, Lean Meats, Diary, and Nuts. A more basic breakdown of these groups might be: carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins/minerals. Either way, just keep in mind that the vegetable group will keep you the healthy the longest, if your daily intake is limited to just one of them. And that’s lucky for us because it’s also the one that is easiest to grow. And two of the most foundational vegetables that I tend to recommend and focus on are tomatoes and potatoes. Both can be grown in relatively high volumes in small spaces if done right, and will give you tons of both vitamins and minerals, and daily carbohydrates. Your protein intake can either be occasional meat supplemented into your diet from whatever the source, or from protien rich veggies like nuts and beans, that you either grow or harvest yourself. If you desire, you can find out more about growing your own food at the http://www.FreedomFromTheGrid.com/ blog site.
In order to cook this food though, most people find that wood stoves are by far the most common and efficient way to do so. But even here, there are a few options available. A creative person could build their own methane or hydrogen generator for a gas stove, or you can invest in a solar stove or oven. Though they generally take a bit longer to cook, they do it well, and sunlight is free.
As for heating and cooling, heating is usually the more critical issue, and likewise needs more attention. Sadly, in today’s world, most appliances use electricity to generate heat. Fortunately though, propane, methane, natural gas, wood, solar power, and even hydrogen, as well as several new cutting edge technologies currently under development at EML, all aim to remedy this. But probably the oldest and most ‘time tested and true’ heat source technology around today is still simply a good wood-burning stove. If possible, get one, or something similar like a wood pellet stove, corn stove, etc.
As for medical care, start by getting and committing to memory a good, thorough, high quality first aid manual and then procure a good store of some basic field supplies.
Then we focus on medicines and infections. There are two very old but tried and true technologies, and at least one more recently developed one, that can each help anyone trying to be self-sufficient in every way possible.
The metal Silver, when made into a solution through basic electrolysis or some other method, is one of nature’s best antibiotics. People have been using this for a long time, and it works, both internally and topically. It has a hidden danger though, in that overdoses of it can turn your skin a permanent shade of zombie gray-blue, so be careful. But taken correctly, it can work wonders for a lot of people. Do your research.
The second older technology is based more on common sense, and is currently practiced under the name of naturopathic medicine. And basically it aims to help your own body fight off diseases and conditions by first eliminating any vitamin or mineral deficiencies that your body might be experiencing, and then strengthening your body’s own immune system.
A much newer technology still being developed underground today depends on the simple fact that any object will shatter or disintegrate if you hit it with the right note and enough power, like an opera singer does when they shatter crystal goblets. It works with pathogenic viruses and bacterias as well. To better understand this technology and some of its derivatives, type in “rife machines” on Google and see what comes up.
Of lesser importance to some people, but still worth mentioning, is taking care of transportation needs. At http://www.EvergreenGasLabs.com/, they sell a number of products and kits to make your gasoline stretch as far as it can. But barring that, if gasoline isn’t an option, look into bicycles, horses, and even some of the home generated hydrogen fuel technologies being developed at EMP and various other places around the net.
As for clothing, I’m going to have to simply tell you that it’s not economically feasible for you to develop your own fabric mill. Instead, stock up now, get a sewing machine to keep things mended, and then learn to barter with people who still have access to clothing later.
By focusing your attention on the six things above (Power, Water, Food, Heat, Medicine, and Transportation), you can indeed learn to limit your dependence on the grid, cut your bills back, and live in a healthy, green, self-sufficient way. With that said, go start your research, be careful, and have fun!
This article approved by the Editor of LevelAdvice.com and Showroom411.com
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