Survival Secrets For Living Off The Grid

By Frances Edwards


At times, a good break from all the stress occasioned by normal life may mean living a secluded albeit self sustaining lifestyle. If you have ever fancied the thought of living off the grid, prepare yourself for a very different experience from what normal life dictates. You might want to prepare yourself psychologically for living without your friends nearby and getting by without piped water, electricity and other shared utilities.

To start off your new found life, you ought to do some preparation. For starters, you must know the climate of the area you will be residing in. Find out whether you can cultivate your own garden for subsistence. In the past, families used to plant all the food they needed right outside their homes. This meant they were self sustained round the clock.

As such, ensure you have the right tools for farming beforehand. Also look for a place with a permanent river nearby. This way, you can irrigate your crops without worrying about them withering. If the place is generally unsuitable for farming, think about looking for other locations. Access to water for drinking, cooking and agricultural purposes is very important.

Once you have water available, the other areas of concern will be easy to meet. With no cooking gas available, you should review your options for cooking. You may make a makeshift stove out of clay or use rocks to create a cooking platform.

Getting firewood should not be a hard thing to do if the area is largely forested. To have an easy time when the day comes, it is advisable to master the art of staring fires using firewood beforehand. With a well lit bonfire, you should keep insects and other predators away at night whilst staying warm.

Try to figure out how you will communicate with those around you before packing up to leave. When out on your own, you will need to communicate through natural techniques. This means having no electronic communication equipment. If you are so attached to your mobile phone, start getting yourself used to communicating without relying on it. It is also worth remembering that going off grid also means no television. This is something that you need to anticipate as well.

For your survival, it would be prudent to choose a spot that is located down a slope. This is advantageous for a number of reasons. Firstly, it will ensure you get immediate access to water from natural sources. Water cannot flow uphill without a pump. The location will help water get into your tanks from uphill through gravity. Furthermore, you will be shielded from harsh weather conditions such as strong winds.

It is also fundamentally important to construct your home with the weather in mind. Ensure it is well insulated. Furthermore, leave enough entry space for sunlight. Finally, use durable firewood during winter.




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