Why we all should work harder to be self-sufficient
According to a recent study, each year, more than 250,000 people decide to live off-grid. Opting for off-grid living has proven to be beneficial for those who have made the lifestyle change. A major life event or the desire to be more autonomous is the cause of many to forge their own paths outside of the norms of society. Societal norms such as working a nine-to-five job, buying food from overpriced restaurants or the grocery store, or paying a shadow man who lurks behind the curtain of government corporations are what those who decide to ditch city life are leaving behind. Instead, they choose to grow their own food, identify their own source of electricity and water, and create their own streams of income.
If you’ve been considering living a more sustainable lifestyle or want to live off-grid, here’s what you should consider:
Find your community. Those who seek to live off-grid oftentimes find themselves isolated and lacking community. An option may be to connect with like-minded individuals and families and come together to create your own micro-community.
Decide where you want to live. There are many ways to find land that is for sale. Resources such as Land Watch and Land.com are great sources to use when searching for acreage.
Identify water and electricity sources. Adjusting to life off-grid can be tough, so it’s important that you have the basic necessities to maintain daily life. Research the process and costs for digging a well on your property. There are even ways to collect or harvest rainwater to use on your land. In terms of electricity, it may be worth it to invest in wind turbines or solar panels if they want to completely separate from corporations’ control.
Build or buy a shelter. There are many options for shelter if you want to live off-grid. Many build tiny homes, a-frame cabins, log cabins, or a traditional style of home. Others who do not have the resources or skills to build a home may resort to modular or prefab homes. But structures such as container homes, 3D-printed homes, and yurts have gained popularity amongst the off-grid community.
Start a garden. Separating from the general population requires that you rely on your own food source. Lately, grocery stores have come under heat for supplying produce that is genetically modified or heavily sprayed with pesticides. Although shopping for organic produce is a solution, growing your own food is a guaranteed way to have more control over the food you give your family. If you need an organic seed supplier, visit Let's Gro the Garden Life to get started.
Moving to an off-grid lifestyle is a beautiful picture of freedom, independence, and autonomy that a lot of the conscious community desires.
But with anything great, work is required. Nothing is easy about detaching from the system and only having yourself to rely on. It takes a level of accountability, responsibility, patience, tenacity, and grit. If you want to move towards a more self-sufficient lifestyle, connect with Hebrew Planet and the United Nation of Yisrael to learn about the upcoming and ongoing projects in North Carolina and Liberia. If you already have off-grid experience, skills, and resources, connect with the United Nation of Yisrael to get involved.
*This article was originally published for distribution on www.hebrewplanet.life.