Off grid homesteaders?

Clifton73 · #1 02/21/10, 09:08 PM

I'm just wondering how many folks here are homesteaders? Ya know off grid, self sufficient.

geo in mi · #2 02/21/10, 10:30 PM

Uh, the definition of "homesteader" on this forum, is kinda like the definition of "camper"--you know, from a hand dug latrine next to the bear den, to the marble lavatory in the motor home........

I call myself a homesteader, though in the summertime I post using wi-fi on my pontoon boat. Then I hoe the potatoes in the afternon. I believe you will find the bell curve of distribution of a normal population is alive and well here.

blooba · #3 02/22/10, 07:25 AM

Yea, there are many varying degrees of homesteaders on this forum.

We all need to rely on the outside world to some degree, from finding a way to pay your property taxes by selling your products to the basic person just trying to grow some tomatoes on their balcony.

If your just looking for someone that is self sufficient electricity-wise, yea there are alot of people here.

If your looking for some guy in a shack with money in the bank to pay property taxes with no connection to the outside world, well you won't find em here, because this is the outside world.....lol

Calvin Wiles · #4 02/22/10, 10:22 AM

I guess I'm about 3/4's Homesteader. About 9 months out of the year I live at the Ranch, in a 30' Camping Trailer, that is in an area where there is no utilities available. It is total self sufficient, with Solar and Wind power. The other 3 months, during the Winter, I live it my City Home, where I have all utilities.

byexample · #5 02/22/10, 04:32 PM

We're building an off-grid homestead. Been at it hard for 3 years now. At present we're producing at least 75% of our meat & veggies here on the property. We use solar for our electricity, wood for heating, etc.. We pump water from our well via solar. Still buying hay and animal feed. Still buying gas, although not as much as most folks. We really only leave the property once or twice a week since we work from home.

We've got a long way to go before we're self-sufficient. It's as much about the journey as the destination for us. We're making pretty good progress and we learn every day. It's a good life.

Be well!

WisJim · #6 02/22/10, 04:37 PM

We went off-grid (generating our own electricity from the wind and sun) in 1977. We produce as much of what we eat as we can, although not as much as we would like.

7thswan · #7 02/22/10, 05:56 PM

I lived off-grid for 5 yrs. in the late 70's.

Old Vet · #8 02/23/10, 08:09 PM

I doubt anybody is what you describe. I have seen some off grid and never seen anybody that was self sufficient at all. There may be somebody out their that is that way but they don't have time to wast time on a computer.

Ode · #9 02/24/10, 12:34 AM

I doubt that anyone anywhere is completely self-sufficient. We all need cash for some things, and many items are not practical to make yourself even if it is possible to do so. Once we as humans left the hunter/gatherer lifestyle behind, no longer wearing animal skins as clothing, we gave up self-sufficiency for the safety of relying on others for things we need or want.

Not to mention services that could be given up, but put a real dent in our lifestyle to do so. I for one really have appreciated the services of doctors and dentists over the years, for maintaining my health and allowing me to keep my teeth. If not for the services of doctors over the years, I would have had real problems in childbirth, might have died from heart problems, and would no longer be walking after two very serious leg injuries.

Self-sufficiency is for hermits or for after a global disaster wiping out most of humankind. Now if you simply mean being energy self-sufficient, that is another story. My husband and I are planning for just that in our retirement, to reduce our overall costs of living, and to supply peace of mind in the event our finances change. Many elderly people have real problems paying their energy bills. We also have plans in place for growing most of our fruits and vegetables, as well as eggs and meat. It isn't too hard to do with even a relatively small amount of land.

At the moment though, we are not off the grid, but we do have a large garden that supplies most of our fruit and veg for 3 seasons during the year. City ordinances prohibit chickens though, so we are limited in how independant we can be for the time being.

hotzcatz · #10 02/26/10, 01:12 AM

Well, how about half/half? We are off grid, but not self sufficient. We produce as much as we can, but we still can't build our own computer components. We still pay for cell phones, cable, etc. But there are also a lot of edible things growing in the yard so maybe that will offset the computers, cellphones and cable somewhat.

7thswan · #11 02/26/10, 06:48 AM

Ya, Half/half. My DH goes to Work and I do all the Homesteading stuff. He spends money,I save it.(and I don't meen in the bank)

tamilee · #12 02/26/10, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clifton73

I'm just wondering how many folks here are homesteaders? Ya know off grid, self sufficient.

No but I WANNA BE. I REALLY WANNA BE!!

Big Dave · #13 02/26/10, 07:38 AM

Working towards it and enjoying it all the way.

Calvin Wiles · #14 02/26/10, 02:45 PM

I could do it, but don't want to. If I'd get rid of the modern conveniences that I like, such as Vehicles, Phones, Utilities, and Computers, I could be self supporting. Walk or ride a horse, eat what you can grow and kill, wood heat, and etc. We are spoiled to a lifestyle that we won't completely give up, until we are force to. Then we will do what it takes to survive.

hmsteader71 · #15 02/27/10, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvin Wiles

I could do it, but don't want to. If I'd get rid of the modern conveniences that I like, such as Vehicles, Phones, Utilities, and Computers, I could be self supporting. Walk or ride a horse, eat what you can grow and kill, wood heat, and etc. We are spoiled to a lifestyle that we won't completely give up, until we are force to. Then we will do what it takes to survive.

You said it! We are not anywhere near being homesteaders. Our plan is to be debt-free within the next 5 years and then to start looking for the land that is right for us. I have thought alot about this. The Indians were self-sufficient, but a lot of us romanticize Little House on the Prairie. But they were not totally self-sufficient. From reading some of Laura's later works, she really enjoyed modern conveniences. I would not want to do without the internet. I'm hoping to have a business over it, dh have a business over it and order things that we need. We do want to be off-grid with wind and solar power, and growing most of the vegetables we eat.

northgirl · #16 02/27/10, 09:52 AM

My parents were in the 70's, they moved to Canada and lived off grid for many years until the reality of a changing world forced them to work in town. I am trying but where I am it is too hard to afford the land and where I can afford land it is the climate that prevents off grid and growing ect. SIGH!

prometheus · #17 02/28/10, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byexample

We're building an off-grid homestead. Been at it hard for 3 years now. At present we're producing at least 75% of our meat & veggies here on the property. We use solar for our electricity, wood for heating, etc.. We pump water from our well via solar. Still buying hay and animal feed. Still buying gas, although not as much as most folks. We really only leave the property once or twice a week since we work from home.

We've got a long way to go before we're self-sufficient. It's as much about the journey as the destination for us. We're making pretty good progress and we learn every day. It's a good life.

Be well!

We are about the same, the only real difference is the bulk of the food we produce is meat/eggs.