It is everybody’s dream, somewhere in the back of their minds, to never pay utility bills again and to be completely self-sufficient. Because, like it or not, most of us are tied to the system in ways that make 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 entirely, in your desire to live completely free from the grid in a self-sufficient way, whether you live deep in the city or way out in the boondocks.

The “live off the grid and be self sufficient” equation can be broken down into six distinct parts: Power, Water/Sewer, Food, Heating/Cooling, 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.

1. Electricity. The first and probably most obvious thing about being self-sufficient is the need to generate your own electricity and power.
2. The second most critical part of the equation for living self-sufficiently is to find a stable water source or supply for yourself.
3. Then we consider our food requirements. Did you know that even people living in apartments can grow some of their own food supplies in order to cut down on their food bills? And how do you cook them?
4. Heating & Cooling. Depending on the time of year, 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 supply heat for yourself?
5. Medicine and Basic Medical Items. 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 have you believe.
6. 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 more detail.

To be self sufficient with your own power and electricity, you can get into solar power(by far the most common), hydroelectricity, fuel cells, generators, or one of several other technologies currently 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 on hand) is essential to have to use, so that you can use 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 electricity to run, but if you have the spare power for it, by all means, get one.

Your sewer needs have even fewer basic options, though within those options, many varieties exist. Basically, you have to invest somehow in a self-composting toilet, and then learn to operate it safely and cleanly.

For the food aspect of being self sufficient, you need to make sure you have 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 for our uses might look like this: carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins/minerals. Either way, just keep in mind that the vegetable group will keep you the healthy the longest, if your daily intake is limited to just one of them. And that’s great news for us because it’s also one of the easiest ones to grow. And the two foundational vegetables that I tend to recommend and focus on most often are tomatoes and potatoes. Both can be grown in relatively high volumes in small spaces if done right, and will give you tons of both vitamins and minerals, and daily carbohydrates. Your protein intake can be meat supplemented into your diet from whatever the source. Find out more about growing your own food at the http://www.FreedomFromTheGrid.com/ blog site.

In order to cook this food though, most people find that wood stoves are by far the most common solution. But even here, there are options for us. A creative person could buy or build their own methane or hydrogen gas generator for a converted gas stove, but more easily done, you could simply invest in a good solar stove or oven. Though they generally take longer to cook things clear through, they do it well, and don’t forget that sunlight is free.

As for heating and cooling, heating is the more critical issue, and needs more attention. Unfortunately, in today’s world, most heat sources generate heat from electricity. Fortunately though, propane, methane, natural gas, wood, solar power, and even hydrogen, as well as several new cutting edge technologies currently under development at EML, all aim to remedy this. But probably the oldest and most ‘time tested and true’ heat source technology around today is still simply a good wood-burning stove. Get one if you can, or a derivative thereof 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 focus on medicines and dealing with infections. There are two very tried and true technologies, and at least one more recent one, which can all help anyone desiring 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 most powerful antibiotics. People have known this for a long time, and it works, both internally and topically. There is a hidden danger in using it internally though; taking too much of it can turn your skin a permanent shade of zombie gray-blue, so be careful and don’t overdo it. But taken correctly, it seems to work wonders for a lot of people. Do the research.

The second old technology is based more on common sense, and is currently practiced under the name of naturopathic or homeopathic medicine. And basically it aims 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 strengthening 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 with pathogenic viruses and bacterias as well. To start studying this technology and some of its derivatives, type in “rife machines” on Google and see where it leads you.

Of lesser importance to some people, but not to others, is taking care of transportation needs. At http://www.EvergreenGasLabs.com/, they specialize in offering 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 simply tell you that it’s not economically feasible for you to develop your own fabric mill. Instead, plan ahead and stock up now, get a sewing machine (and learn how to use it) to keep stuff 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, don’t wait any longer to start your research, and discover how you too can have fun going off the grid!

Tags: alternative energy, alternative power, beat the system, escape the system, grid free, off grid, off the grid, self sufficiency, self sufficient