Sooner or later, it is everybody’s fantasy, 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 tied to the system in numerous ways, making us completely dependant upon it for everything we need to live our daily lives. But there ARE ways to loosen these strings, and even to cut them completely, in order to live completely off the grid in a self-sufficient way, whether in the city or in the boondocks.
The “live off the grid self sufficiently” equation can be broken down into six distinct parts: Power/Electricity, Water/Sewer, Food/Cooking, Heating/Cooling, Health/Medical, and Transportation/Mobility. 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.
Power. The first and probably most obvious thing about being self-sufficient is the need to generate your own electricity and power.
The second most critical component of living off the grid is to find a stable water source or supply for yourself.
Then we consider our food requirements. Did you know that even someone in an apartment can grow some of their own food in order to cut down on their food bills? And how do you cook them?
Heating & Cooling. Depending on what time of year it is, and your geographic location, this one can be a lifesaver too. If your electricity goes out in the middle of the winter, as it sometimes does, do you know how you are going to keep from freezing to death?
Medicine and Basic Medical Supplies. 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 like you to know about.
Transportation. Face it, we have become a 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 quickly at each of these in a little more detail.
For Power and electricity off the grid, you can get into solar (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 your water needs, your options are slightly more limited. A good, high quality water filter (with backup filter cartridges on hand) is must, so that you can make use of any water supply you find. Many times, water from rain and snow melt can also be good sources of drinking water (though not in heavy smog areas unless filtered first).A water distiller takes electricity, but if you have the spare power for it, by all means, you might consider getting one.
Your sewer needs have even fewer basic options, though within those options, many varieties exist. Basically you have to invest in an odor free self-composting toilet, and then learn to operate it safely and satisfactorily.
For your food needs, you need basic access to the six primary food groups at least occasionally: Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, Lean Meats, Diary, and Nuts. A different breakdown of these groups into blocks that we can address might look like this: carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins and minerals. Either way, remember that the vegetable group will keep you healthy the longest, if your intake is limited to just one of them. And that’s good for us because it’s also one of the easiest to grow. And the two most foundational vegetables that I tend to recommend to friends and to focus my efforts on are tomatoes and potatoes. Both can be grown in relatively high quantities in small spaces if done right, and will give you tons of daily vitamins, minerals, and 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. Find out more about growing your own food at the http://www.FreedomFromTheGrid.com/ blog site.
In order to cook this food though, wood stoves are by far the most common and efficient off grid solution. But even here, you have options. A creative person could generate their own methane or hydrogen for a gas stove, but more easily done, you can invest in a solar stove or oven. Though they can sometimes take longer to cook things clear through, they still do it well, and sunlight is free.
As for our heating and cooling needs, heating is generally the more critical issue, and thus needs more attention. Unfortunately, in today’s world, most heat sources depend on electricity to operate. Fortunately though, propane, solar power, natural gas, wood, and hydrogen, as well as several technologies being developed at EML, all aim to get around this. But by far, the oldest and most ‘tested and true’ heat source technology around today is still simply a 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 consider our medicines and how to deal with infections. There are two very old technologies, and at least one more recent one, which can all help anyone wanting to live in a self-sufficient way.
The metal Silver, when made into a solution through basic electrolysis or some other method, is one of nature’s best antibiotics. People have known about this for a long time, and it seems to work well, both when taken internally and/or applied topically. There is a hidden danger in it though, in that too much of it taken internally can turn your skin a permanent shade of zombie gray-blue, so be careful. But taken appropriately, it seems to work wonders. 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 tries 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 by boosting your body’s own immune system.
A much newer technology still being developed even today depends on the simple fact that any object will shatter or break if you hit it with the right note and enough power, like an opera singer breaking crystal goblets. It works the same way with pathogenic viruses and bacterias as well. To better understand this and some of the related technology, 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 lots of items 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 admit that it’s not economically feasible for you to develop your own fabric mill. Instead, stock up, get a sewing machine to keep things mended, and then learn to barter with people who do have access to clothing.
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!
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