So, you’re tired of the rat race and looking for a simpler, more sustainable way of living? Well, you’re in luck because today we’re diving head first into the exciting world of off-grid living. Get ready for a journey filled with challenges (and how to overcome them), freedom, and a whole new world of self-discovery.
Sit back, relax, and let’s explore what it takes to live off the grid like a pro.
What is “Off the Grid”?
So, first things first — what is “off the grid”? Essentially, off grid living is all about disconnecting from the traditional systems of power, water, etc. and instead embracing self-sufficiency. Picture yourself, green-thumbed, and environmentally-conscious amongst the foliage, generating your own electricity and living in harmony with nature. Sound’s pretty great, right?
Living off the grid is an opportunity to excuse yourself from the table of modern society, with its burdens and expectations. It’s the ability to rediscover what’s important in life, while also having a positive effect on the environment and the planet around you.
A common misconception when it comes to living off the grid is that it requires you to live in a shotgun shack in total isolation. In reality, you can actually find yourself in another part of the world, in a beautiful house, asking yourself, with a grin on your face, “how did I get here?”
The lifestyle centres on disconnecting and getting ‘off the grid’. Beyond that, the flexibility it affords allows you to take it as far as you would like. It’s ultimately all about finding a way of life that works for you, not the other way around. Finding your own off-grid haven is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to retake control of your day-to-day — to adapt and shape it to your wants and needs.
How to Go Off The Grid For Beginners
Do you ever catch your own reflection in the mirror and think “I want to get away from all of this; I want to live off the grid”? The steps to this end aren’t actually as complicated as you might think. The most important thing is to prepare so, when the time comes, you know what to expect.
Read on to browse our top insights on how to go off the grid for beginners:
Finding Your Off-Grid Paradise
Once you’re totally sold on the off-grid lifestyle, it’s high time you consider finding your very own slice of paradise. When finding the perfect spot to settle on, location is key.
For a successful life off the grid, you’ll want to look out for an area with ample sunshine for solar power (or other forms of renewable energy), convenient access to clean water sources, and enough space for you to grow and nurture your own food.
If you have your eye on a plot, whether you’ll be buying land or making a deal with a landowner, make sure you remember to check the zoning laws and building regulations. The last thing you want is bureaucracy and yellow tape getting in the way of your new beginning.
Setting Up Camp: Deciding Your Ideal Off-Grid Shelter
Once you’ve located the ideal spot for your new life, your focus will naturally turn to setting up camp. First things first, consider what sort of structure you want to live in. Common options include:
- Tiny homes
- Converting a van
- Modular converted shipping container
No matter what vision for off-grid life appeals to you most, make sure you have a cosy, calming, and comfortable shelter to call home sweet home. When you get inside from a day of exploring nature, harvesting your farm, and collecting drinking water, there’s absolutely nothing better than a warm, dry, inviting place to lie back and relax in.
Power to the People – Embracing Alternative Energy
As touched upon above, alternative energy is absolutely key to the off-grid life. Not only is it an important aspect of the lifestyle, it is also a common reason why people look to move to the countryside in the first place.
The cost of living is rising and rising, ballooning out of control. When you open your energy bill each month, how often do you find yourself doing a swift double take?
These days, this has become the norm, despite energy companies posting record profits. Off-gridders, before they make the plunge, will need to work out which alternative energy solution will work best for them. Common types include:
- Hydro power (make a splash, get it?)
- Solar panels
- Wind turbines
- Ground-source heat pumps
- Generators (less in keeping with the sustainable lifestyle)
For more information about the top renewable energy solutions for the off-grid lifestyle, browse our dedicated blog.
Waste Not, Want Not: Waste Management When Off Grid
You can shout from the rooftops that you don’t give a crap, but it’s time to talk about everyone’s favourite topic — waste management. As much as you might want to ignore it, the last thing you want is to move across the country into your brand new off-grid home and realise you’ve not considered waste management when nature calls.
When off-grid, you’ll need to get creative with your approach to waste. Composting toilets are popular choices as they can turn your…contributions into nutrient-rich fertiliser for your garden. It’s like upcycling, if you think about it. In fact, if you don’t want to think about it too hard we’d understand.
Cultivating Your Off-Grid Garden
No off-grid homestead would be complete without a well-kept (or chaotically-kept if you’re so inclined) garden. Get ready to flex those green thumbs and grow your very own fruits, veggies, herbs. etc.
The days where you can rely on a trip to the corner shop or Uber Eats are over. You know you’re truly off-grid when your ‘delivery service’ is just a stroll to your back garden. Say goodbye to Deliveroo, and say hello to ‘deliver-your-own’.
Just think of all the delicious, healthy, and organic goodness you could be feasting on.
Building Your Off-Grid Community
Escaping from modern society doesn’t have to mean living in isolation. You aren’t a hermit in the woods. You don’t need to cut yourself off from the people in your community, your friends, and your loved ones.
For starters, feel free to reach out to your fellow off-grid convertees to swap stories and lend each other a helping hand when needed. You’re all in this together, after all.
Additionally, if you choose a big enough off-grid homestead, why not invite your nearest and dearest over for a weekend of catching up — perhaps with a libation or two. Running from urban life doesn’t need to mean running from what matters.
In the world of off-grid living, where the pursuit of a simpler, more sustainable life can clash against the challenges that come with self-reliance, there exists a beacon helping to guide those seeking a break from the chaos of modernity — a Live Off Grid shipping container home.
Whether you see yourself nestled in the bosom of nature or amidst a busting off-grid community, the Live Off Grid shipping containers stand out as a testament to the boundless possibilities that come with this lifestyle, executed to the highest standard on the market.
So, if you do find yourself saying to yourself after a tough day, ‘you know what, I need to get away from it all. I want to live off the grid’, look no further than Live Off Grid shipping containers. With their versatile design and sustainable features, these luxury homesteads provide anything and everything you could possibly need when embarking on your off-grid adventures. Allowing you to forge a new path, with confidence and ease.
As you step into this new chapter of your life, remember that off-grid living isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. One of self-discovery, resilience, and freedom. With the Live Off Grid shipping container conversion service, the possibilities are truly endless. Embrace the challenge, revel in the freedom, and discover a world where living off the grid isn’t a dream, but a vibrant reality just waiting to be expired. Contact a member of our team today to find out more.
