Getting off the grid

[FebreezeIt]

So I do a lot of research on current events and their implications. From nukes, bio-weapons, and economic catastrophes we live in very dangerous times. I am attempting a pro-active approach to take responsibility for my own needs and security. Most people I talk to unfortunately advocate "growing up" by which they mean "find a job for a good company". My core belief is that we are in for some very tough times ahead for society in general. Cities I fear will soon become an unstable place to live. I hope to find a suitable region in which to pursue my special hobbies as well as meet other like minded individuals. So given the wonderful diversity of people on this forum I ask advice on the steps I should be taking to accomplish this goal.

 

[CrackerJax]

Well, getting off the grid is.......EXPENSIVE!

So.... get a job...

You'll need land. At least 3 acres that will produce vegetables, and , ahem, herb. You'll need meat (?) which means at least 4 acres per cow for a 100% pasture fed beef. I would say that 10 acres at a MINIMUM would be needed. Better to have 20 though. A greenhouse and a root cellar should be added.

Just to throw a figure out there, but I'd say to get off the grid and be debt free would cost about 200k. Cost of land, equipment, housing, solar,wind, wells,pumps, etc.

 

[Delta-9]

It's going to get "interesting" that's for sure.

 

[Sub Zero]

So I do a lot of research on current events and their implications. From nukes, bio-weapons, and economic catastrophes we live in very dangerous times. I am attempting a pro-active approach to take responsibility for my own needs and security. Most people I talk to unfortunately advocate "growing up" by which they mean "find a job for a good company". My core belief is that we are in for some very tough times ahead for society in general. Cities I fear will soon become an unstable place to live. I hope to find a suitable region in which to pursue my special hobbies as well as meet other like minded individuals. So given the wonderful diversity of people on this forum I ask advice on the steps I should be taking to accomplish this goal.

Well, there goes my buz...

 

[Grizzdude]

Well, getting off the grid is.......EXPENSIVE!

So.... get a job...

You'll need land. At least 3 acres that will produce vegetables, and , ahem, herb. You'll need meat (?) which means at least 4 acres per cow for a 100% pasture fed beef. I would say that 10 acres at a MINIMUM would be needed. Better to have 20 though. A greenhouse and a root cellar should be added.

Just to throw a figure out there, but I'd say to get off the grid and be debt free would cost about 200k. Cost of land, equipment, housing, solar,wind, wells,pumps, etc.

Thats a little much dude, try about 40,000 for around 40 acres with trailer home, less than 5,000 for complete well(shallow well) Wind and solar about 20,000(lots of wattage) I still need to build the root celler though. You can always hunt for food too. It's totally doable dude! Plus NOBODY F's with ya!

 

[CrackerJax]

40k for 40 acres? No thanks.... desert land?

A desperate lifestyle makes for a long day. Going green in a trailer?

I suppose you are right, but I'll stick with the 200k to put a pillow under your head at night.

 

[Angus]

Oh, grow up.

 

[Space Angel]

Well, getting off the grid is.......EXPENSIVE!

So.... get a job...

You'll need land. At least 3 acres that will produce vegetables, and , ahem, herb. You'll need meat (?) which means at least 4 acres per cow for a 100% pasture fed beef. I would say that 10 acres at a MINIMUM would be needed. Better to have 20 though. A greenhouse and a root cellar should be added.

Just to throw a figure out there, but I'd say to get off the grid and be debt free would cost about 200k. Cost of land, equipment, housing, solar,wind, wells,pumps, etc.

ah, I raise beef cattle. the correct ratio is one acre per cow. if it was four acres a cow, I'd be out of business or my cows better weigh around 6400 lbs apiece. lol!

 

[CrackerJax]

ah, I raise beef cattle. the correct ratio is one acre per cow. if it was four acres a cow, I'd be out of business or my cows better weigh around 6400 lbs apiece. lol!

So you don't supplement their diet in any way? Just grass in the field?

 

[Grizzdude]

40k for 40 acres? No thanks.... desert land?

A desperate lifestyle makes for a long day. Going green in a trailer?

I suppose you are right, but I'll stick with the 200k to put a pillow under your head at night.

Not desert buddy, try mountains with breath taking views, you do need 4x4 most of the time to get in and out during the winter and I did get snowed in for 3 weeks in January. I dont really need 200k to sleep good, just a roof over my head, a nice bed(and pillow!) and the mighty ganja!

P.S. days are long if you just sit around and don't enjoy life!

 

[Grizzdude]

So you don't supplement their diet in any way? Just grass in the field?

He probably has free range cows so their diets aren't supplemented in any way(this means good meat!). They just graze and drink usually well water, kind of like organic livestock.

 

[CrackerJax]

Not on an acre they don't....if you have a perfect pasture, you might get away with 2 acres per cow with no supplements. We're not talking about a commercial production set up though. You want fat and happy cows.... 4 acres.

There's a big difference between living "green" and living in poverty. You can do it on a shoestring but I'd think setting it up right would be preferable. As is the OP's premise that time changes things, you need to be able to have maneuvering room down the line for more changes. Going in with a bare minimum leaves you exposed for the curve balls of life, of which there can be many.

 

[Grizzdude]

Not on an acre they don't....if you have a perfect pasture, you might get away with 2 acres per cow with no supplements. We're not talking about a commercial production set up though. You want fat and happy cows.... 4 acres.

There's a big difference between living "green" and living in poverty. You can do it on a shoestring but I'd think setting it up right would be preferable. As is the OP's premise that time changes things, you need to be able to have maneuvering room down the line for more changes. Going in with a bare minimum leaves you exposed for the curve balls of life, of which there can be many.

Every day I see fat happy cows around here...but they roam around like 4,000 acres.

Of coarse theres a difference but I dont need to live in a mansion to prove anything to anyone. I have what I need, I grow my own veggies, fruit and I don't spend my money on needless things that I can live without. I'll admit though I do have it setup pretty nice inside, but no fancy car payment, mortgage, or rent. Yes if you were broke you could run into some curveballs I agree. But living off the land means you don't need to depend on anyone but yourself. If things ever had to go back the way they were with no electronics and you HAD to live off the land, there would be a lot of dead people. A lifestyle like this is hard work and takes getting used too, I don't think just anyone could do it. But living off the land is not living in poverty.

 

[goosecomander]

im diggin this thread ... i also dream about moving off to the middle of no where andliving off the land become a moutain man haha i could do away with a fancy house anday give me a shack with a nice woodstove and ill always call it home .. u got to remember if ur livin of your land u also got many other animals that are wild and free and only cost about 1.00 to kill and provide plenty of meat .... one day i hope it happens but for now i got the deer shack and i love every minute im there...

 

[CrackerJax]

Every day I see fat happy cows around here...but they roam around like 4,000 acres.

Of coarse theres a difference but I dont need to live in a mansion to prove anything to anyone. I have what I need, I grow my own veggies, fruit and I don't spend my money on needless things that I can live without. I'll admit though I do have it setup pretty nice inside, but no fancy car payment, mortgage, or rent. Yes if you were broke you could run into some curveballs I agree. But living off the land means you don't need to depend on anyone but yourself. If things ever had to go back the way they were with no electronics and you HAD to live off the land, there would be a lot of dead people. A lifestyle like this is hard work and takes getting used too, I don't think just anyone could do it. But living off the land is not living in poverty.

I agree with you about living off the land, but he asked what it would take to live off of the grid. I assumed he meant not as a bare minimum. Let's not forget property taxes and the new an improved taxes which are in the pipeline and will be coming to everyone real soon....to stay....and grow bigger as a portion of your cost of living. Things aren't going to get better for a long long time I'm afraid, just worse.

I mean you can go to many parts of West virginia and see ppl living off the grid.... want to trade places though? I'd rather prepare myself and do it right the first time.

It's not or shouldn't be about proving anything to anyone.... but yourself.

 

[FebreezeIt]

I agree living off the land is definitely not living in poverty, if anything it would be entirely the opposite. Mother nature provides us with all the materials we need for survival. Its all about having the most personal freedom we can out of life. Do all the things we buy in the stores really improve our quality of life, or does it just complicate what should be simple. Could you imagine burning your credit cards, taking your important seeds and simply walk away from it all, just walk away and be free. Life doesn't have to suck, we don't have to be a slave to the beast.

 

[Grizzdude]

I agree with you about living off the land, but he asked what it would take to live off of the grid. I assumed he meant not as a bare minimum. Let's not forget property taxes and the new an improved taxes which are in the pipeline and will be coming to everyone real soon....to stay....and grow bigger as a portion of your cost of living. Things aren't going to get better for a long long time I'm afraid, just worse.

I mean you can go to many parts of West virginia and see ppl living off the grid.... want to trade places though? I'd rather prepare myself and do it right the first time.

It's not or shouldn't be about proving anything to anyone.... but yourself.

Well said, I couldn't agree more!

 

[tahoe58]

does this not completely depend on the productivity of the land and the anticipated or expected growth of the individual species of cattle ur are raising. Supplemental feeding aside - one acre per cow is quite productive land. Range land in western canada say fescue grass versus neddle and thread grass. huge differences in the capacity of that land to support rangefed cattle.

ah, I raise beef cattle. the correct ratio is one acre per cow. if it was four acres a cow, I'd be out of business or my cows better weigh around 6400 lbs apiece. lol!

 

[Grizzdude]

Could you imagine burning your credit cards, taking your important seeds and simply walk away from it all, just walk away and be free. Life doesn't have to suck, we don't have to be a slave to the beast.

Thats basically what I did...... and I'm lovin it.

 

[Cap K]

Thats basically what I did...... and I'm lovin it.

Good for you bro I hope to be able to do the same ASAP, but to really be off the grid that would also mean no more internet and goodbye to posting in RIU. Would require a few months adjustment period I imagine.