If you’re like most preppers, you dream about living off-grid one day. There’s just something about living off the land and building/growing your own resources that humans keep coming back to. It’s in our blood – and it’s been that way since the dawn of time.
However, most preppers think living off-grid is a whole lot easier than it actually is. And this can be a pretty rude awakening – especially if you don’t really know what you’re getting yourself into.
Off-grid living can be a great adventure if you’re able to mentally, physically and emotionally prepare for it. And, to do that, you’ll need to…
Avoid These Common Off-Grid Mistakes!
Not Checking The Zoning Laws
Many locations have zoning laws that prevent preppers from living off-grid. And, if you don’t know this ahead of time, you could spend a lot of money on a piece of property that you can’t actually live off of.
Some people can get around these laws by living in “tiny houses” that are built on top of a trailer. This way, by law, it’s not technically a “house.”
However, it’s much easier to just find a location that allows for off-grid living. Consult a local lawyer, and they’ll help ensure you pick a spot that you can legally live off of.
Not Having Sustainable Food Sources
Many preppers have a huge stockpile of food for when SHTF. But what about sustainable living?
Lots of people will claim they’ll grow a survival garden. However, many of these same people have never tried gardening or farming in their lives. And, even if you’re a pro, getting the results you want consistently can be really difficult.
Sure, you can learn all about gardening. But there are many factors (such as soil type, rainfall, weather conditions, climate, bug infestations, etc.) that are totally outside your control.
It’s still a good idea to have a survival garden. But the point is to have multiple ways to obtain food. This can include fishing, trapping, foraging for berries and herbs, and hunting.
Keep in mind it takes time, energy, knowledge, and patience to become adequate at any of these skillsets. Be sure to practice, learn, and become competent at them now before you try to live off-grid.
Not Being Able To Make A Living
One of the biggest perks about off-grid living is that it dramatically lowers your living expenses.
However, many preppers don’t consider that you will still have some expenses that you need to be able to pay for. This is especially the case in the beginning, when you’re getting everything set up.
As such, you’re going to have to find a way to bring in some extra income. Many preppers resort to making custom crafts, making soaps, or growing organic foods to bring in some cash. You can also build furniture, make preserves, or sell extra crops your family doesn’t need.
Whatever it is, make sure it’s sustainable to keep you and your family alive and happy.
Not Having Convenient Water Access
Every prepper knows you’re going to need water for a crisis, as well as everyday life. However, what many people don’t consider is that they need a safe and convenient way to access it.
One of the best ways to accomplish this task is to drill a well on the property. Now, keep in mind this will cost you a few thousand dollars up front. However, it’s worth it.
And then there’s the issue of having water on your property. Not all land has water underneath it, so you’ll need to first ensure there’s enough down there to use.
Have an expert come out to the property to test for water. This is one of the best ways of ensuring there is (or is not) water on the property, do you don’t start drilling for nothing.
If you don’t want a well, you can also live close to a natural water source, and filter it yourself. You can either purchase a budget water filter, or get an all-out filtration rig.
BONUS: MORE TIPS
The fact is, this is just the beginning. There are WAY more factors to consider when preparing to live off-grid. And it’s always better to learn from other people’s mistakes than your own when possible.
Check out the videos below to learn way more about how you can better prepare for off-grid living.
