For a true lover of nature, living off the grid in forests, hills, or any other natural habitat will be a good chance to explore the beauty of nature. With the invention of electricity and all the tools operated through it, man has become dependent on it.
However, a lot of people in the world are currently living in the dark by using off-the-grid power sources. They have become used to living without artificial electricity and utilizing natural resources to generate power.
In 2018, about 62 million households used off-grid solar technologies, with 51 million using portable solar lanterns and small home systems, according to Statista Research Department.
If you’re an amateur traveler and want to explore nature by living off the grid, this guide will discuss the essential requirements to live off the grid and different alternatives to electricity.
How Do Beginners Live Off the Grid?
For beginners, it may be a tough challenge to survive off the grid. Particularly for those who are dependent on modern tools operated on electricity. Here are some tips for beginners who are fond of living off the grid.
1- Pick An Appropriate Location
Location is the key factor that plays an important role in living off the grid. You can’t manage living via such a method in developed cities. The basic requirement to live off the grid is enough space to manage different natural resources.
But most of the cities will not offer you enough space to do this. I encourage you to try to choose a place in the countryside so that you may have enough space to carry out all the arrangements to live off the grid.
If you are in the United States, see: check out the best places for off-the-grid living in Oregon or, if you are in Europe, see also: The 8 Best Locations For Off-Grid Living In Europe.
2- Learn To Manage Your Finances Better
An off-grid living will indeed be more economical than being dependent on different costly resources. However, you will have to invest in different tools and equipment to manage living off the grid. Also, you’ll have to invest in purchasing land in the countryside and building a dream home there.
I suggest you make that you have enough money saved aside and pay off your debts because living off the grid is more rewarding when you are debt-free. If you fall into debt, it will create a lot of problems for you.
You can also find a career that is suitable for off-the-grid living; check out the best careers for an off-the-grid lifestyle.
3- Think About Electricity Alternatives
One of the major challenges that you will face while planning to live off the grid is finding an ideal electricity alternative. When you’re planning to live independently, you should manage a bill-free power source.
Many power sources can replace electricity. However, three major power sources are discussed here.
Solar Energy
Solar power systems are the most frequently used power sources to live off the grid. A propane power source offers you many advantages. You’ll have to invest in just its setup or maintenance.
Once you successfully start producing solar energy, you’ll be independent of the electricity bills and load-shedding issues. Also, the rest of your life will be calm as all your regular home appliances can run on solar power.
When you’re living off the grid and planning a solar power source, choose a sunny place for its setup. A shadowy place will not be ideal as it will not give sufficient sunlight to produce enough energy.
There is a drawback to this power source too. In bad weather conditions, you can’t get enough power to operate all your appliances. So, make sure that you have a suitable alternative, like a propane-fueled generator.
If you wonder between Solar Power And Propane, Which is Better for Living Off-Grid, I wrote a whole article that I encourage you to read.
Wind Energy
Windmills are another best choice to generate enough energy to live off the grids. This natural resource is used to operate generators that generate power to run your equipment.
Windmills run the turbines that, in turn, run the generators that are used to generate power. You can use batteries to store the electricity for near-future use.
Like a solar power system, this setup will also need a wide area that will feature enough airflow to run the turbines. Also, low airflow may lead to a power shortage too. This is the only drawback of this mode of generating electricity.
You might also enjoy reading: Is Off-Grid Living Actually Worth It? (Yes, and Find out why!)
Propane Fueled Power Sources
Propane Fueled power sources may be an ideal choice as their setup is very cheap. However, unlike windmills and solar panels that are free after their installation, you’ll have to invest in purchasing propane as a fuel for such generators.
This is the only problem with such a power source. However, it’s an unlimited source that will never run short, even in bad weather conditions. This mode of generating electricity will be ideal for such places that feature low prices of the relevant fuel.
See also: Top 10 Best Options For Off-Grid Dryers.
4- Manage Water and Plant A Garden
Living off the grid means living beyond the living facilities. Water is one of those things that is inevitable for living. While living off the grid, you’ll have to store water in three forms.
- Freshwater for drinking and cooking
- Gray water tank for showering and washing
- Black water tank for toilets
Another thing that will prove very beneficial for you while living off the grid is a garden. If you plant a garden, it will provide you with natural organic food that will help you survive in such a situation.
See also: How Can You Get Water for Your Off-Grid Bathroom?
What States Can You Legally Live Off The Grid?
Different states allow their citizens to live off the grid without being dependent on electricity and other artificial resources. Here are different states of the US that encourage living off the grid.
- Alabama
- Missouri
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
See also: Where Can You Legally Live Off-Grid in Florida? 13 Great Locations.
How Do You Start Living Off The Grid With Nothing?
One will have to invest in a good piece of land to build a house for living off the grid and then manage all the resources like power, water, food, and other necessities of life to make sure that he can survive for enough time.
Tips For Starting An Off The Grid Life With Nothing:
- Join a free off-grid living community.
- Invest in a piece of free or low-cost land to start a garden and grow livestock.
- Collect and grow naturally abundant foods.
- Purify public water for free.
Final Thoughts
Living off the grid is not a difficult and much expensive task. However, it may be a real challenge for beginners who are unaware of how to survive in such conditions.
But a proper understanding of the necessities to live off the grid and the capability to handle all these resources will help you to survive there. In the above section, the necessities to survive off the grid are described that can help beginners to start living off the grid.