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The off-grid homesteading
Blog
Welcome to our blog!
Lessons learned on the journey toward independence
In our blog is a wealth of knowledge that we've accumulated over many years of off-grid living, as well as the lessons we've learned through trial and error. Our experience in the School of Hard Knocks has taught us valuable lessons that we are excited to share with you. In addition to our own expertise, we've also hand-selected a group of guest contributors who are experts in their respective fields. Their contributions provide even more valuable insights into homesteading, off-grid living, and emergency preparedness. We hope you enjoy learning from their knowledge and experience as much as we have!
Blog Categories
Off-Grid Power
Electricity is the kingpin in modern homes. Without it, many essential systems can't function. Learn how to make your own power with solar, micro hydro, and other sources.
Growing Food
Learn to grow your own food with tips on starting a homestead garden, including vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, small fruits, composting, and more in this section.
Storing Food
Learn to preserve and store your own food with off grid kitchen tips, recipes, and info about canning, dehydrating, and other food preservation related topics in this section.
Water
Most water systems are completely dependent on the power company. Learn how to make yours as independent as possible so your family has a reliable source of water.
Safety
Prevention and preparation are key to ensuring safety, covering physical security, home fire protection, wildland fire preparedness, and more in this section.
Communication
Communications is an often overlooked part of preparedness and homesteading. Learn how to stay in touch while living in a remote location as well as during emergencies.
most recent posts
Water Bath Canning Peaches
Harvest time is here and the food is coming from the gardens and orchards all over. Since we are only in a temporary location we don't have an orchard yet. However a good friend of ours has been helping us get produce from gleaning. Gleaning is a great way to get...
Choosing the Proper Backup Generator
Our goal for being off the grid has been to produce all of our power from renewable sources (solar, hydro, wind, wood gas, steam, hydrogen, etc) and not rely on fuel sources that must be purchased (gasoline, diesel, propane, etc). But particularly in northern...
The Deadliest Pandemic Part 1
This is the story of a pandemic that many in our history would like to forget. But it contains a lesson that we must take to heart today. His name: Dr. Roy The year: 1918 The location: Camp Devens, Massachusetts The assignment: Impossible Working from his waking...
Our Favorite LED Light for Off Grid
We finally found light bulbs we could get excited about! CFL's work, but there's some drawbacks that we weren't really excited about. Recently we were walking through Home Depot and you'll never guess what we discovered... LED home light bulbs! Incandescent light...
The Deadliest Pandemic Part 2
In 1918 the Spanish influenza was one of the deadliest pandemics this country has ever faced. Yet, it wasn't without hope. Every other method seemed to avail little, but a simple treatment using water was found to be very successful in treating the deadly flu. It was...
Best Kept Secret in Renewable Energy - Forklift Battery
In my years of experience living off the grid (since the late '90s), I have found batteries to be the most expensive and troublesome component of a renewable energy system over the long run. With that in mind, I knew there must be a better solution than the...