This post is a compilation of the best resources I have found over the past couple years researching going off grid.
YES! Off Grid! What an exciting adventure, right? Who knew I’d end up obsessed by such a thing when I have never been fond of camping. I love a long hot shower when it’s cold outside and being 99% ‘bug free’ indoors safe and secure. Living off grid doesn’t necessarily mean going without showering or indoor modern conveniences, it just means finding different ways to be comfortable with less involvement of ‘the powers that be.’
Anarchy, that’s for me!
Living off grid means collecting rainwater for use and consuming rather than being hooked up to and reliant on city or county utilities. Do you really know what is in the tap water? Living off grid does NOT mean flushing human waste down the sewer with gallons of water good enough to drink (if you drink tap water). Living off grid means using solar power. Owning all the components to generate ‘free’ electricity. Living off grid means growing food and animals to eat. Living off grid means building shelter by hand and using the natural resources local to the area. Living off grid entails a degree of self reliance & independence, resourcefulness and ingenuity. Living off grid does NOT mean being disconnected from society. I’ve learned all I know about going off grid from others who have done it and posted videos and articles online. Off grid does NOT equate to off line. No matter how self sufficient, cash is still required for all those things like internet, that we cannot generate or fabricate ourselves.
With over 3 million views currently, “From Gotham to isolated, code & debt-free West Texas estate” is one of the most inspiring videos to fuel my dreams of off grid endeavors. Just under 25 minutes, worth the watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IlgVPiDScQ Or if you like to read a couple paragraphs before deciding to watch the video go here https://faircompanies.com/videos/from-gotham-to-isolated-code-debt-free-west-texas-estate/ This site also has a ton of resources on the topic of alternative living. I highly recommend the videos put out by Kirsten Dirksen on her Youtube channel and the Faircompanies website. https://faircompanies.com/kirsten-dirksen/
Building Shelter
http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/ Thriving sustainably with earth bag building and other practical solutions. An earth bag is polypropylene filled with dirt, I’m thinking sand bag.
https://www.domegaia.com/ All about AirCrete instruction, tools and resources. This is basically sudsy foam mixed with concrete which makes it very light and easy to cut, while still very durable. Amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llsQL2bPWqY Less than 7 minute video about AirCrete (thegibrancenter.com website referenced at the end of this video redirects to domegaia.com)
http://www.phoenixcommotion.com/ Dan Phillips website. He uses mostly recycled/donated materials to build wildly creative homes. This guy has been a major inspiration for me and my ideas for building an off grid shelter.
https://www.earthshipglobal.com/ This is Earthship Central! If you haven’t heard of an Earthship, just check out the website! Michael Reynolds is the inventor/developer of the Earthship homes and has said one of my favorite quotes, “Rules Keep us from Evolving.” (Toronto 11/28/2015) he is also the author of “Comfort in Any Climate” which is described as follows, “..will help you create a comfortable space in any climate without the need for fossil fuels for heating and cooling. … The book presents design variations from extreme cold to extreme heat, and addresses wet and dry climate considerations.” I stayed overnight in an Earthship house in Taos, New Mexico. It snowed overnight and we were toasty warm inside with no electrical heat source, only solar gain.
http://dirtcheapbuilder.com/ Good resource for D.I.Y. home building.
https://www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/ Simple Solar Homesteading, off grid cabin and tiny house designs and supplies, not for profit social service organization. Although this website has a lot of information, it doesn’t seem to have had any activity in the last few years, but Lamar did respond to my email super fast!
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-Dirt-Cheap-Houses/ The Instructables website is a good resource for ANY thing you might want to D.I.Y.
http://ilovecob.com Cob is like a structure made out of mud, just all piled up & shaped into any shape imaginable. Unlike adobe, it does not use bricks of mud, just clumps of mud as you go.
Keeping Cool for Hot climates
https://us.evapolar.com/all-products/ Personal sized, energy friendly, air conditioner/humidifier
Collecting Water
http://www.warkawater.org/ a tall structure with mesh that traps & collects humidity in the air for drinkable water
http://www.rexresearch.com/dewpond/dewpond.htm Several explanations of dew pond construction
https://wanderinggaia.com/2010/09/20/reforesting-the-desert/ collecting water with vertical mesh (fog net) similar to warka tower idea
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a8875/a-billboard-that-condenses-water-from-humidity-15393050/ In Peru there is a billboard that collects condensation & dispenses drinkable water below for the people.
https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/ is Brad Lancaster’s website. https://www.youtube.com/user/HarvestingRainwater This is his YouTube channel full of loads of information. This man is a Rain Water GURU! IMHO. Did you know that some states still outlaw greywater to flush toilets? Crazy. Another point to ponder is how the earth has been covered with asphalt and cement, preventing the rain to soak back into the earth as it should. Rather, it’s diverted and can cause flooding and drought, yes drought!
https://www.drillawell.com/ Website says, “With the Terragrinder drilling kit it’s possible to drill wells down to 200 feet through rock and clay, even granite, without big rigs, specialized equipment, heavy lifting or backbreaking work — for less than $2,000. “
Compost Toilet
https://watershedmg.org/ (Watershed Management Group) has a ton of resources, my favorite being the topic of making a composting toilet. In the Learning Center section of their website, there are videos on various topics. My favorite video here, with Brad Lancaster https://watershedmg.org/video/waste-not-transform-your-waste-soil-water-and-energy
https://humanurehandbook.com/ Compost toilets can provide a sanitation solution when water or electricity are not available, or when you simply want to make more compost or less environmental pollution. There are even free instructions on how to build your own! http://humanurehandbook.com/downloads/Loo_Construction.pdf It’s only 2 pages.
Energy
https://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/best-home-wind-turbines/ Home turbines reviewed with information on how to choose the right one for your needs.
For Fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxcftjJ39BU Ra Paulette carves caves turning it into art. One of my favorite videos, only about 5 minutes. Jaw dropping underground cave art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n_bHcZaGJs If you liked the short video about Ra Paulette, watch this 38 minute documentary, “Cave Digger”
DISCLAIMER: This is an incomplete compilation, but I just can’t wait any longer to post what I have ‘made pretty’ from my crazy scribbles in my ‘field notes’. More to come….stay tuned 🙂
Leave a Reply