A Fascination...

Have you considered living "off the grid?"

Well I have. The more I read about it, the more I realize I'm clearly not prepared to do it but I'm certainly fascinated by the subject.  Some of the television programs we watch show people who are working towards a life off the grid. It's not just a matter of deciding to do it, there's a whole lot of work involved and even more planning. Whew!! I was tired after reading just a few stories of how people got started on their journey to live off the grid.

It seemed I needed to read more and more, to learn what their lives are like, to understand what it means and what it takes. I'll let you know up front, it won't be in the plans for my future. However, were I twenty years younger, I would definitely be having a go at it.

Aside from a stockpile of non-perishables, whether in a root cellar or basement, there are other things to consider; water, fuel, the means by which to keep meat frozen or cured, heat when the weather turns cold, and, of course, paper products and items for personal hygiene.

In one story the writer advises you to put items on your list when you're low on that item. Not when you are out. In his situation, he and his wife made trips to town only once every couple of months. They quickly learned that there were certain things they simply could not do without for weeks on end. In their case, coffee was high on the priority list. I don't drink coffee but I thought that was pretty funny!

There are a lot of things these 'off grid' people give up in order to live the life they want to live. They have electricity by means of solar power and batteries. They've learned that certain times of the day are less power-exhaustive so they use this time for internet use and television time. Typically they go on-line in the mornings for just a couple hours (both have home-based work) and in the evenings, if the power supply is high enough, they'll watch a couple of hours of television.

Everything revolves around their power supply. They never receive an electric bill. They do have a generator for 'just in case.' But as the story goes, they feel like using it is cheating. They don't use it unless they absolutely have to. They live in the mountains of Colorado. The power they do generate is primarily for the refrigerator and freezer.

They have a sizable garden, they have chickens for eggs, meat and fertilizer, they have goats for milk. They use the milk for making soaps and cheese and for their own consumption. They hunt deer and elk, they trap beavers and they set snares for smaller game like rabbits. They do some fishing. The meat is typically frozen - the freezers are solar powered!

Almost all vegetables are canned, saving room for meat in the freezer. Onions, potatoes, leeks, carrots and other root vegetables are stored in straw in the root cellar. They grown cabbages, beets and an assortment of greens. If they eat bread, it's typically made at home and with whole grains that they mill themselves. They grow and dry their own herbs and pickled vegetables are high on their list for daily consumption as anything with vinegar, keeps a gut healthy.

They are strong and healthy from daily exercise on their homestead. They cut down trees for wood fires in the winter, thereby saving that precious energy. They use wood for cooking during all seasons and have mastered several techniques in the way of cast iron cooking. Fascinating stuff!

Chopping wood, tilling their gardens, tending their grounds and upkeep on their homesteads are all in a day's work. Indeed, I thought I was busy! I do think I'll put wood chopping on my list of things to learn how to do.

Their breakfast is early as they're out by daylight tending to things. Lunch is their feast with meat, vegetables and cheeses. They eat fruit to curb their 'sweet' cravings. In summer, dinner is light, typically a salad from their garden with more pickled vegetables. Maybe some left-over chicken added, if there is any. They especially like chow-chow and pickled green tomatoes. During the winter months, soup is their mainstay for dinner. All kinds!

I'm not sure that it's a simpler way of life but surely it must be a healthier way. They don't go to jobs, they don't have traffic issues, there is no pollution. They take care of themselves and they protect their land and livestock from animal predators.  And, as I said before, they do not get an electric bill. Both an impressive and difficult way of life. Something to think about.

I've always felt I was born too late, probably decades, I would have been happy as a clam living the pioneer life. It's probably why the homesteader life is fascinating to me. How about you?