Sooner or later, it becomes everybody’s fantasy, somewhere in the back of their minds, to never have to pay utility bills again and to be completely self-sufficient. Because, whether we like it or not, most people are tied to the system in ways that make them completely dependant upon it for everything they need to live. But there ARE ways to loosen these strings, and even to cut them entirely, in order to live completely free from the grid in a self-sufficient way, whether you live in the heart of 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 closer look at each one in order to get a better understanding of how they each function and work together to help you liveself-sufficiently.
- Power. 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 component of being self sufficient is finding a stable water source or supply for yourself.
- Then we consider our daily 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 and Cooling. Depending on what time of year it is, and your geographic location, this one can be a lifesaver too. If your power goes out in the middle of the winter, as it is often prone to do, do you know how you are going to keep your home from freezing?
- Medicine and Basic Medical Items. And though we don’t claim to be doctors, we DO know that there are far more 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 mobile society, and we need to get places. But how do we do it cheaply, and without going back to the grid all the time to buy gasoline?
Let’s look briefly at each of these in a little 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 battery charger with which to charge them, and an AC inverter to convert their output into usable house current.
For water, your options are slightly more limited. A good, high quality water filter (with backup filter cartridges) is essential to use, so that you can drink 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 power, but if you have the power, by all means, get one.
Sewer needs have even fewer basic options, though within those options, many varieties exist. Basically you have to invest in a self-composting toilet, and then learn to operate it safely and cleanly.
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 more functional breakdown of these groups 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 lucky for us because it’s also the one that is 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 vegetables like nuts and beans, that you 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 the most common and efficient way to do so. But even here, we have some options. A creative person could buy or build their own methane or hydrogen generator for a converted gas stovetop and oven, but more easily done, you could simply invest in a good solar stove or oven. Though they can sometimes take longer to cook things clear through, they can still do it, and don’t forget that sunlight is free.
As for heating and cooling, heating is the more critical issue, and needs more attention. Sadly, in today’s world, most appliances use electricity to generate heat. Fortunately though, solar power, propane, natural gas, wood, hydrogen, and several other technologies being developed at EML, all aim to get around this. But probably the oldest and most ‘time tested and true’ heat source technology around today is still simply a good wood-burning stove of some sort. Get one if you can, or something similar like a wood pellet stove, corn stove, etc.
As for most first aid medical care, start by getting and committing to memory a thorough, high quality first aid manual, and then get a good store of some basic field medical supplies.
Then we focus on medicines and infection treatment. 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 most powerful antibiotics. People have known this for a long time, and it works, both internally and topically. There is a hidden danger in it though, in that overdoses of it can turn your skin a permanent shade of zombie gray-blue, so be careful. But in moderation, it can 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 itself, 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 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 the same way with virus and bacteria pathogens as well. To better understand this and some of the related technology, type “rife machines” into 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 just isn’t an option, look into bicycles, horses, alternative vehicle fuels, 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, plan ahead and stock up, get a sewing machine to keep things mended, and then learn how to barter with people who still have access to clothing.
By focusing on implementing the six items above (Power, Water, Food, Heat, Medicine, and Transportation), you can indeed learn to limit or even throw away your dependence on the grid, cut your bills down, and live in a healthy, green, self-sufficient way. With that said, start your research immediately, and have fun!
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Tags: alternative energy, alternative power, beat the system, escape the system, grid free, off grid, off the grid, self sufficiency, self sufficient
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