Testing the Off Grid Life!

Interestingly, my last blog on Off Grid living, stirred up a great deal  of interest.

It is clearly a significant choice being made by a growing number of people, not just in the UK, but  throughout the world.

There are many reasons why these radical decisions are being made.

For some it is financial, as the acquisition of a home, is becoming more difficult. 

In the UK, the social housing market has shrunk and plans to increase it are slow. 

Gathering together a deposit to buy a house, and the uncertainty of the mortgage market, may well have made  home ownership a disappearing dream. The rental market is also going through turmoil, so looking for a home has become a very uncertain process.

Looking at alternative lifestyles such as Off Grid living, have now become  viable options.

There has also come a point for many, that the current way of life lacks many things.

We do live in an amazing world helped along by technology, which has released us from tasks which were viewed as tedious  and unnecessary, but for some the pendulum has swung too far, with technology taking over almost every aspect of life, leaving a sense of being  mentally and physically unfulfilled.

Our materialistic life has become a merry go round of commuting to and from work which is increasingly technologically led, and needs little physical input but has a stressful pressure on mental health.

There seems little time or opportunity to use the body in the way it was intended, i.e. by using it physically, mentally and spiritually, so looking at an alternative way of doing things may be the answer.

Awareness of damage to the environment has also had a huge input into the Off Grid movement.    

A simpler way of life, reduces the  contribution into the overall carbon footprint, and is a way of controlling management of the natural world in a more individualistic way.

To be considered living  Off Grid, one has to be without  mains water, electricity or gas.

At one time, it was commonplace. Remote country dwellers would find a  satisfactory water supply, a source of fuel for heating and cooking, and a source of lighting. People knew how to live in this way for generations, and passed on their skills and knowledge of  management of water sources and fuel such as wood or peat, together with light sources such a kerosene lamps.

There were no mobile phones, and perhaps the only outside communication was an acid battery radio.

However, things have moved on, and technology has also crept into the Off Grid world.

Electricity can now be efficiently generated from natural elements such as the sun, wind or water power.

There are increasingly sophisticated means of storing the power generated to provide heat, energy and light, augmented as required by battery fuelled generators.

Bottled gas can be easily connected and also used to provide domestic energy for heating and cooking.

Water pipes, storage tanks, filter and testing systems have seen huge improvements, but the biggest advance has to be that of communication.  

It is now possible to access  signals which  allow internet and phone connections, which of course brings with it a means of communicating with the wider world, both from an interest point of view but also as a means of linking in as  a source of employment and therefore generating some income.

In areas where signals are difficult, satellite installation may be required.

It is obvious, that these basic requirements have come along way in the last half century, and have undoubtedly raised the profile of Off Grid living.

It takes a practical person to undertake or oversee the installation of these systems, and what was passed on through families and neighbours before, becomes a new challenge for Off Gridders.

It is very much trial and error, and gaining advice, knowledge and understanding  before starting out on the new way of life is essential.

The thing to remember is that any installation or skill, must be done correctly and safely, using robust materials, as wear and tear and shoddy workmanship can dismantle a system during  the first spell of bad weather!

Maintenance is also important, as water can dry up, pipes can get choked or frozen,  systems can get damaged, so all manner of observation and supervision is required.

Living accommodation may be mobile, temporary or permanent.

The current view that most people will have of Off Grid accommodation, is that of a derelict leaking house, a self build wood cabin or similar.

The reality may be somewhat different.

Whatever the reason for trying this new way of life, shelter, heat,  food and water are basic priorities.

Some may have found a property at a reasonable cost. It may have great potential, but it may need major work which will become a project.

Others may be fortunate enough to be able to build a basic home at a reasonable cost, and add to it gradually.

A popular solution is living in a caravan, van or mobile home, which can provide good facilities, a bit of  comfort  and the added advantage of mobility.

Whatever the circumstances, the basics I have mentioned are just the very beginning.

New ways to do everything will need to be found, from buying and storing food, cooking, cleaning to  personal hygiene and toilet management.

Installations and adapted goods are not cheap, so any ideas of saving money initially may have to be put on hold.

If  trying to escape bureaucracy, there may still be certain rules to follow, so worth checking.

Although self sufficiency and subsequent financial economy is the aim, it may be surprising just how much will be spent in the early days, until some form of overall organization is up and running.

I shall continue to write a few more blogs on  this subject as it has many facets to it, and having lived an Off Grid life as a youngster, I can still remember the wonderful childhood it provided.

It certainly is not a way of life for everyone, and for some it may be an experiment or a stop gap until finances improve.

What it will do, is make one have a sense of purpose, be resilient, use practical skills and brain power and when things go right, an amazing sense of achievement and contentment.

The world will never look quite the same again!