Table Of ContentLive the self-sustaining, self-sufficient, THE The Includes
techniques for
and self-fulfilling life GUTIODE an easy off-grid
L transition!
Do you want to have electricity and hot water at any time, no matter I
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what’s going on outside your property?
Do you want to have more control over the things you eat and how they are processed? I
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Do you want your family safe from the worries of a bad economy and crime?
Guide to ®
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If you answered “yes” to these questions, then living off the grid may be for you. Although Living Off
living off the grid takes some hard work, the benefits make it all worthwhile. This practical
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guide gives you all the information you’ll need to move off the grid, including how to:
• Grow your own produce
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• Raise, hunt, and process your meat
F
• Eliminate existing debt to cut off financial ties Grid
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• Build a sustainable home from scratch
• Harvest and reuse water H
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• Create your own sources of energy
E
Whether you want to live an eco-friendly life or just want to incorporate a few key aspects into
your existing day-to-day, The Everything® Guide to Living Off the Grid is your comprehensive
G
introduction to homestead sustainability.
A bAck-tO-bAsics mAnuAL fOr independent LivinG
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terri reid is a writer with twenty years of off-grid living experience. She has written about self-
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reliance, sustainable living, and the post-consumer lifestyle in a monthly newspaper column
and has appeared in BackWoods Home Magazine, Scouting Magazine, the Washington D Build and relocate to a Maintain your
Post, and the Chicago Tribune. She lives off the grid in Lena, IL.
new energy-efficient home own food supply
The
Create your own power
Cover images: istockphoto ©nuranvectorgirl,
MightyIsland, © Esra BAKIR, © Dan Tero Guide to ® Make an easy transition
sources and reduce your
Living Off
$15.95 (CAN $17.99) Home & Garden for you and your family
ISBN-13: 978-1-4405-1275-9 reliance on public utilities
ISBN-10: 1-4405-1275-2
Grid
the
REID terri reid
www.everything.com
THE
guidE To
living off THE grid
Dear Reader,
Twenty years ago, my family and I left the hustle and bustle of living in
Chicago and moved to a small farm in northwest Illinois. I remember
the very first night in our hundred-year-old farmhouse, resting in my
bed and being kept awake by the sounds of frogs and crickets—instead
of the usual noises of the trucks and cars on the highway and the air-
planes from O’Hare. We couldn’t sleep because it was too quiet. A lot has
changed since then.
During these years much of what we learned about a self-sufficient
lifestyle was by trial and error. From chasing our escaped cattle down
the road when I was eight months pregnant to trying to herd sheep in on
a rainy day, I know we gave our more experienced neighbors good rea-
son to shake their heads and laugh.
With this book, I’d like to take your hand and guide you through
some of the things we learned, so you’re not out there on your own.
Instead, you’ll have a friend to lean on. This book will send you in the
right direction and give you the tools to learn more. Enjoy your journey
to being self-sufficient. It’s well worth the trip!
Terri Reid
Welcome to the Series!
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THE
guidE To
living off
THE grid
A back-to-basics manual for independent living
Terri Reid
Avon, Massachusetts
Dedicated to all of those who are willing
not only to dream big, but also have the
courage to make their dreams come true.
Copyright © 2011 by F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
An Everything® Series Book.
Everything® and everything.com® are registered trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.
Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-4405-1275-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-1275-9
eISBN 10: 1-4405-2491-2
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-2491-2
Printed in the United States of America.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Reid, Terri.
The everything guide to living off the grid / Terri Reid.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-4405-1275-9
1. Self-reliant living. 2. Sustainable living. I. Title.
GF78.R45 2011
640—dc22
2011010219
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the
subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in ren-
dering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is
required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are
claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was
aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.
Contents
The Top 10 Reasons to Live Off the Grid x
Introduction xi
01 03
The Reality of Living Off Generating Income Off
the Grid / 1 the Grid / 23
Why Should You Move Off the Grid? 2 How Much Does It Cost to Go
Off-Grid? 24
Can You Survive Off the Grid? 4
Generating Income 25
The Different Levels of “Off-Grid”
Living 4 Bartering and Dealing 26
How Far Off the Grid Are You Able Farmers’ Markets and Other
to Go? 5 Local Produce 28
Keeping and Maintaining Relationships 6 Craft Sales 29
Taking the First Steps 7 Online Store 31
02 04
Getting Out of Debt / 11 There’s No Place
Like Home / 33
What Is Debt? 12
How Interest Works Against You or The Perfect Piece of Land 34
for You 13 Geographical Perks 35
Good Debt versus Bad Debt 14 Geographical Warning Signs 36
Creating a Budget 15 Paying for Your Property 37
Sticking to a Budget 18 Temporary Housing 39
Refocusing Your Priorities 18 Building Your Own Shelter 41
Off-Grid Living as an Escape Hatch 20
v
05
Family Needs / 43 Fruit Trees 77
Socialization for Kids and Adults 44 Berry Bushes 79
The ABCs of Off-Grid Schooling 45 Wild Fruit 82
Support Groups and Assistance 46
09
Canning and Preserving
Do You Still Need Health Insurance? 47
Food / 85
Building a Strong Community 48
Canning Your Harvest 86
Where to Find Legal Advice 49
Water-Bath Canning 87
06
Pressure-Cooker Canning 87
Power Supplies / 51
Drying Food 89
Geothermal Power 52
Pickling 90
Solar Power 53
Freezing 91
Wood Burning 54
Wind Power 56 10
Building a Root Cellar / 93
Hydro Power 57
Choosing Crops for Fall Storage 94
Alternative Energies 58
Harvesting and Preparing for Storage 94
07
Root Cellar Options 95
Developing Your
Green Thumb / 61 Ideal Root Cellar Conditions 97
Planning Your Garden 62 Spoilage 98
A Solar Greenhouse 63
11
Saving Seeds / 99
Preparing the Land 65
Planting Your Garden 67 Why Save Seeds 100
Composting 68 The Difference Between Hybrid and
Heirloom Seeds 100
Harvesting 69
Collecting Seeds 101
08
Extracting and Drying Seeds 102
Starting an Orchard / 73
Storing Seeds 103
Best Location for an Orchard 74
Testing Seeds 103
What Size Trees Do You Use? 74
Pruning Basics 76
vi
Contents
12 15
The Buzz about Processing Your Own
Beekeeping / 105 Meat / 151
Is Your Location Right for Bees? 106 Skinning Large Game 152
Basic Equipment 107 Quartering and Cutting Large Game
153
How to Purchase Bees 108
Small Game 156
Managing Your Hive 110
Processing Poultry 158
Common Problems 111
Butchering Large Domestic Animals 165
Gathering Honey 112
Legal Requirements 113 16
Your Pantry / 169
13
Grains 170
Raising Your Own / 115
Legumes 176
Can You Afford It? 116
Cooking Supplies 180
Raising Poultry 120
Helpful Equipment 181
Raising Rabbits 123
Survival Essentials 182
Raising Pigs 124
Raising Goats 126 17
The Importance of Herbs / 187
Raising Cows 126
Your Herb Garden 188
Raising Sheep 127
Herbs in Food 189
14
How to Use Herbs for Health 192
Hunting / 129
Herbs for Beauty and Home Care 193
Know Your Quarry 130
Herbs for Medicinal Purposes 195
Preparation 130
Wild Herbs 196
Equipment 132
Obtaining a License 140 18
Water, Water,
During the Hunt 141
Everywhere / 199
Taking the Shot 144
Harvesting Water 200
After the Hunt 147
Wells and Pumps 203
vii
Irrigation 205 Emergency Cooking 242
Graywater Use 206 Food 244
Septic Systems 207 Water 245
Water Storage 209 Medicines 247
Light 248
19
Dealing with Rodents, Critters, Storing Important Documents 251
and Pests of All Kinds / 213
21
Man’s Best Friend 214 Starting Today / 253
How to Identify Rodents 216 Urban Homesteading 254
Rodent Control 218 Container Gardening 259
Killing Rodents 219 Local Foods 265
Barn Cats 220 Preparing Physically 270
Learning the Habits of Your New
A Trial Run 274
“Neighbors” 222
Creating a Plan 275
Natural Insecticides 227
Flying Pests 230
Appendix A: Recommended
20 Reading 279
Emergency Preparedness / 235
Appendix B: Government
72-Hour Kit 236 Resources 283
Heat 240
Index 285
viii
Acknowledgments
To my husband, Richard, and to my wonderful children, who make every
day in this journey called life a delightful adventure. Thank you for your
willingness to not only put up with, but go along with some of my “interest-
ing” ideas. And thank you for believing in me.
Thanks to my parents and siblings for their encouragement and support.
Thanks to my writing “sisters,” who sent encouragement, support, choco-
late, and good vibes my way.
Thanks to my editor, Kate, for her swift responses and encouragement.
And, finally, thanks to my Heavenly Father for creating this magnificent
world we get to live in, with all of the astonishing animals, plants, and
natural wonders we have stewardship over. May we all remember to be
grateful and wise stewards.
