Exposing OFF-GRID LIES: Should YOU go Off-Grid?

[@lynnec.4392]

When I was a young girl at the end of WW2, in the UK we were living on rations and everything you can think of was in short supply. If the local grocer had a delivery of soap, there would be a queue around the block. Self-sufficiency was a way of life, whether you were rich or poor. When I hear people saying they are going to be self-sufficient or go off grid, I always smile and think, "good luck with that". Try doing without a dentist when you're in pain, or doing without antibiotics if you have blood poisoning. The goal is not to go back to the Stone Age but to live a less dependent life and the benefit of that is better health, less debt, more confidence, a feeling of achievement and improved spiritual health. There is nothing as joyful as cooking a meal and knowing that you produced everything on the plate. I love your channel, it's pure common sense and always joyfully presented.

[@pamelaremme38]

Anti biotics=anti life (definition) The key is to live healthy so you don't get "blood poisoning." What is blood poisoning anyway? Colloidal silver is a natural "antibiotic" That is why they put silver coins on infants navels back in the day.

[@cherylcook1942]

@@pamelaremme38 no, they put the coins on to ensure an "inny", as an "outy" was considered less attractive

[@pamelaremme38]

@@cherylcook1942 No you are not correct on that one. Simple tape would have prevented an "inny" or an "outy" Silver has natural healing abilities. They knew that back then. That is why colloidal silver is such an amazing substitute for antibiotics.

[@Mejiaelis]

Thank you so much Lynne C! I agree 💯 with everything you said 👍🏽 everyone will have their opinions but you hit the nail on the head

[@morpro4u]

@@pamelaremme38 colloidal silver is awesome! I started myself on ivermectin horse paste a few weeks ago and Iam not even sick but I started taking it daily because I know that I have had parasites inside my body and Iam definitely noticing a difference in how I feel over all and although I have had more fatigue spells since taking it ...I know that is my body healing and detoxing!

[@natalee1638]

I really appreciated the conversation about homesteading being a state of mind. I live on a 1/10 of an acre lot in a 900sqft house in the middle of a city, but have spent several years learning to garden, cook from scratch, sew/mend, tend our dogs and chickens, preserve food, and make small home repairs. It is absolutely about lifestyle and producing more than you’re consuming.

[@HaseebAhmad-nz3it]

Good luck Natalee, hope it's working well for you.

[@cheesygal]

That’s awesome! Work with what you have. We have to be resourceful!

[@natalee1638]

@@cheesygal thanks! That’s exactly it :)

[@nancymoore4992]

Yes absolutely!!! Doing what each person can do will help even society. It's not being a loner it's also helping each other. We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but will be pretty close to what the day before was. So, even being able to have enough food for a few days is really great. Get that down then add more. I love that Carolyn and Josh teach this. I've learned a lot from them just in a mental attitude 🤗🤗

[@christineperez7562]

Sounds wonderful

[@jamlynmusic]

Preach! I so appreciate your outright statement that you don't strive from self-sufficiency but resiliency in community. So carefully and thoughtfully stated. Thank you!

[@happygrandma5637]

I know I'm coming late to this but this, but I loved it. They covered so much and put things in such an easy to understand way. I know they couldn't list all of the grids but there are several that I thought of while they were talking. Clothing grid is an important one. I haven't watched a lot of their episodes but one thing that stand out a mile is their energy. How Caroline does it is simply amazing. Not to take away from Josh in any way, but....home schooling, utubing and all that goes with that, gardening, putting up food, cleaning, meal planning, laundry etc etc etc. Yes, some of the children are getting of the age to help but still I think that one has to look at one's energy level and be truthful with the commitment. If you're doing this as a couple are you both committed to the same goals. I love that they evidently have been working on this for many years, studying permaculture, Josh being a builder, those skills are an incredible plus when doing homesteading to the degree they are.

[@lucylu530]

So glad to know I'm a homesteader in a small way. I ferment, I cook, I bake, I sew, I grow a lot of our vegetables, and make our own jams. I wish we had the room for animals but we don't.

[@adelheidsnel5171]

Perfectly de-bunked the myth of Off Grid, good informative video. Self resilience is a better and realistic way of taking on your goals. Thanks so much you guys! Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱

[@pamelaremme38]

Off grid is no myth. Doug and Stacy on you tube is as close as it comes and so is My Self Reliance and a few others. Doug and Stacy ruined it by all the solar panels. Solar panels still need batteries. You can be off grid by heating home with wood, gravity fed water or hand pump, composting toilet.

[@susancotten6520]

I like having power. I agree to homesteading, gardening and using the grocery stores as little as possible . Also focusing on paying off debts.

[@carysmith6458]

Love your thoughts on subjects. I have found that getting to know the long time residents or residents that go back generations in the area can help us gain knowledge of what grows bountifully. For example in the area I live generations of residents have grown what they call Greasy Beans. They would even give to young couple as a wedding gift a bag of greasy seed beans so they could start in their own garden. I tried them in my garden several years ago and was amazed on how abundant they grew for the little time I put into them. On top of it they were one of the best beans to can. The wisdom of the families that have lived in an area can be invaluable.

[@susanbrungard8891]

I enjoyed the talks today. That is what we are doing at our age (71 an 75) my husband still works. I take care of my 90 year old mother with Dementia issues. I can an bake as much as I can.

[@nancyj721]

I am 52-years old and my hubs is 57...we are too old to go completely off grid (any grid)...but what we decided last year was to learn the skills to be more self-sufficient (less reliant on the things that keep failing us). Some of those are canning, scratch bread making, using all the pieces and parts for all the projects. My mom and dad are growing the garden and I am teaching my mom to can food! For example using all the pieces of the chicken that we don't typically eat for canning dog food for our pets. We are not homesteaders, not self-sufficient....however, we are learning! We are enjoying the ways to think beyond office hours, grocery store runs etc....we are actually planning things we NEVER thought we would need to plan at our age. We would love a small splotch of land to call our own to be as self-reliant as we possibly can. In the meantime, we work on the things we can control...our health, our choices and our abilities. I wish there were a community near me to help guide us along the way...without you all and some other folks on youtube...we would have never been brave enough to take that first step. This was my absolute favorite chat with you all. More real, more honest and always encouraging people to make their own choices. Love you all, may 2022 and beyond bring you the .

[@nancyj721]

it cut me off LOL to finish: riches you want and the blessings you deserve.

[@stephaniewilbur9748]

Such a great discussion! As humans we are all interdépendant. Yes to building resiliency, skills and community!

[@marypatten9655]

Inportant to have things functional. You are right about organization.

[@Bittagrit]

Here in FL we have to be ready for grids to go down every Hurricane Season. There’s Gas generator and solar generator prep, cash for when atms are down. Power can be out for weeks. Canned meals to cook on sterno, a camp stove, or fireplace and wood for the fire are essential. Medicinal herbs dehydrated. During the 2 planting seasons of the year, grow lots of food for humans and animals. Every milk jug and liter bottle is thoroughly cleaned after use and water stored in it. We downsized to a smaller place a few years ago and have regretted it since. We make what we have work for us. Thanks for the videos.

[@idahoplantlady]

Love the off grid in many areas first. That was such a good topic. So many good thinking points for the day. Love you guys. God bless you and the family.

[@wendyr435]

I just found your channel. Thank you for putting out some great information. My partner and I are both older, 71 and 63. We purchased an off grid cabin about 3 years ago, the dream, right? We made the mistake of not really knowing much about solar power. The system in this cabin was old, old enough to be DC powered. We did have a couple of outlets for AC (powered by generators) though. Our first mistake. You cannot go to the store and buy any light bulb, we had to find stores that sold 12 volt bulbs and they are not cheap. I learned that even with solar, you are still on the grid if you are using propane and gas for generators. There really is no such thing as off grid unless you don't like power. The batteries are incredibly expensive, and our system needed new panels too. Let's talk about internet service. When you live in a mountainous area, even without tall trees, don't expect to get enough service to run a home-based business or stream anything. We had an antenna, but it barely pulled in a signal to run a cellphone. Fast forward to now. We are selling the cabin. It was a learning experience, so all was not lost. My best advice is do your homework! It's a lot of hard work. We both are not opposed to that, but we also had a lot harder time than a younger person would have.

[@ashleyporter9330]

This is fantastic! Thank you!

[@MC-pl3vs]

Josh and Caroline thank you so much for your wisdom and encouragement. I live in northeast Florida and have decided to start home gardening. I can garden year round and am going to take advantage of this blessing. My first little garden was an experiment using Josh's instruction on a quick start bed. It worked! I got several varieties of lettuce, kale, spinach, carrots, broccoli, bush beans, parsley and finally peas this fall season. I planted a little late but will plant in August instead of September this year.

[@creinicke1000]

I had a lightbulb moment about different "grids".. concerning budgets and how we manage our money. Money in cripto, investment in stock market, retirement money from working, Credit cards?? Bank accounts (savings, checking, credit thru bank), paying with cash, all the way to bartering. In everything there are choices.. one size doesn't fit all. BUT for those really worried about SHTF or.. personal Debt (like buying or building home or car, ect..) I can see money being another grid.

[@sagawang5]

Grew up without electricity & remember when the state ran the power lines on poles . Oil lights , gas lights, candles & pot. Belly stove, wagon trip to town, coal heat, wood heat… a lot of work

[@Honeybadger429]

This was such a great talk! Definately makes me rethink on my perspective and goals! Thank yall so much for all you do!

[@lurandah]

Thank you for this discussion. We can't do everything all at once and I appreciate the validation. I started by learning how to preserve locally sourced foods I bought at the market in the summer and now I feel confident enough to start gardening with the specific plan to preserve my favourite produce for next winter. I can't have animals because I live in a village that prohibits them, but homesteading in a frame of mind, so I will keep doing what I'm doing. Building up my skills for emergencies. Thank you :)

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

We live in Minnesota. As for snow removal, we are the same in removing it. We usually go out and remove it every 4-6". It helps a ton when you have to blow it all with a walk-behind machine. Great cast iron question. Thank you for answering that one. I have that same issue. Thank you so much for saying that homesteading is a state of mind! We are in a village of

[@AcademyofSelfReliance]

Your point at 13:05 about the vulnerability of solar systems is well taken! Which is why we encourage people to purchase solar systems which have a true 10-year warranty. We also encourage homesteaders to store backup parts as well.

[@stevienicks1269]

We have that with the power lines too. Coated in ice, power goes off constantly qnd downed lines are almost a gaurantee

[@maryloomis8075]

I always remember my grandmother leaving her cast iron pans in the oven.

[@ericamcveigh993]

This was very helpful for me. When I was a kid in the mountains, we had no indoor toilet and used very few electrical items. Power outages were frequently TWO weeks long! As a result, to this day (I’m in my thirties) I keep my home set up so that I could comfortably manage my home for two weeks without electricity. When folks started getting attached to the idea of “living off grid” - I thought they meant NO electric option (no generator, no solar, nothing). So, I THOUGHT I was doing good...what your video has helped me realize is that I am actually dependent of “other grids”. I still need the grocery store, for example. I am now encouraged to worry a little less about dependence on the electric grid and a lot more on my dependence on the food grid. Sorry this was a long comment and thank you again!

[@HaseebAhmad-nz3it]

I like your definition of homesteading. Always a charm to see you guys

[@richardbidinger2577]

I live in Warren Ohio, and we have had almost no snow. At this point, we've had a couple dustings that melted in a couple days.

[@smiller6925]

I'm a city dweller but still love learning all I can about preparedness. No time for finger pointing about who is the most "virtuous" right.? Lets just encourage each other.

[@AloneinRemoteAlaska]

When I lived in Denver I looked at a whole home solar system. Decided to not follow through with it because the installation company informed me that if your home is still tied into the electrical grid, and there is a power outage your solar will be down too. This is to keep the lineman safe as he cannot work on a live live. And in this type of scenario the solar feeds BACK into the grid if there is excess energy produced. This was an eye opener.

[@HurricaneIrene07]

Well said, thanks.

[@Oredraven]

Thank you! The perspective offered in this video was so helpful and reassuring. While I'd like to eventually relocate to a larger, more rural property, if not totally off-grid, I've had to face the reality that it isn't possible right now. I'm single, have some health issues I need to sort out, finances are unpredictable right now, and I'm still just learning how to garden and preserve. I basically reached the conclusion you mentioned - staying on-grid and in my current home for now, but working on being more self-sufficient and gaining skills. I'll be expanding my garden and learning more about food preservation, putting in a generator, etc. But I've been feeling guilty about that reality, like it's a poor compromise or doesn't count. It's really nice to hear that isn't the case and homesteading or building resiliency doesn't have to be this all-or-nothing dive into the unknown overnight. I really needed to hear that message. Thank you so much.

[@pixi8690]

Unfortunately Bulk buying here is not really a thing when it comes to dry goods, so I mostly get things like that when they are on sale. For me I decided to start my vegetable garden back up and increase it with a lot more things I would like to grow, before I have grown maybe 3 things at the same time in a single season now I have at a minimum 25 things on on that list. Food cost has risen a lot these past months and am worried that it will continue to do so and with a small budget it’s starting to get difficult to feed my family healthy food unfortunately the “junk food” is cheaper hence trying to grow more produce. I’ve also been looking at preserving things a lot more to put my veggies up for the winter. My goal for this year is to produce at the minimum of 15 % of all veggies we eat during the year in my little back yard so the money I save I can use on meats and dairy. At the moment my bread making skills are good enough to make tasty breads, right now our favorite is pumpkin spice bread

[@PumpedbyArcade]

That was really lifting my mind what it meant to be off grid. There is a lot in this topic so I hope to see and hear more of it in the future. Thanks a lot from Germany.

[@heather42404]

Great information. We've slowly moved "off grid" too starting with homeschooling and growing a garden. I'm looking into off grid herbal medicine next.

[@ralphsmith3003]

Excellent discussion ....

[@WhatDadIsUpTo]

I homestead in North Texas. Im 75 years old. I have been building towards the ability to live 100% off grid (making all my own energy & food, water, managing waste . . .) for 12 years and "can" finally do it by exercising one valve and one switch . . . HOWEVER it makes no sense. I can't compete with electricity and water mains. I will go 100% ONLY in a PHTP (poop hits the prop) situation. Also, it's taken me a good => 25 years

[@Warrior-In-the-Garden]

Great points.

[@thepioneerhomestead]

Another good thing is to determine why?....like homeschooling. We may homeschool out of conviction as to where another family may have other reasons. The main question I think needs to be why and that will determine what length or form of off-grid you actually want. Regardless, having an open mind is key because there will be good days but there will also be challenges and having an outlook of possibly one year and then reevaluate is always good. You can refine the things that you love and change the things that you don’t. It’s always a learning process. 😉 This was great information, thank you as always!🥰

[@lindsaysanderson6853]

You guys are so down to earth & realistic- I love it! Thanks for this topic!

[@cjholt633]

I have had this very conversation with several people. The original OFF- GRID was a complete removable from society not necessarily power/electric but more like, No ID or public address, phone etc. It was originally used more for anonymity, hiding who you are, not self-sufficiency. But like many words it has come to mean many other things. Now yes, MOST people think no electric.

[@diannebeal8730]

Good question of the day! I had the same problem 😄

[@sabijoli]

Say more about the new medical alternatives! Perhaps in future chats?

[@tanarehbein7768]

Good balanced wisdom , again!

[@tammybrown1433]

I am jealous with your snow issues. Im here in Utah and its like spring here then gets cold

[@electraspy]

The infrastructure for “going Off-Grid Power” is largely misunderstood. Solar commercials are making so many people think getting solar panels is all you need to living with free power from the sun! Not so! Without a battery storing system, you have no power every evening/night or during rainy cloudy winter weather or when snow covers your panels, unless… you are grid tied. But guess what happens to grid tie solar when there’s a grid power outage? Well, You have no power too, even if the sun is shining bright. So adequate battery storage being essential, but that’s not all you need… what will recharge your batteries after a few stormy dark days? When they are run dead in 48hrs, that’s it, you are sunk. So the 3rd component many are not aware is necessary, is a backup gas or propane generator to charge the batteries up to get you through when the sun isn’t available many winter rain filled days. That’s less than free too at nearly $5 per gal CA & approx 2 gal per hour for usage. I live in the CA mountains where power is shut off for wind warnings & when for heavy snow fall higher up and it’s not restored until a helicopter can line check a 200 miles of line, during a nice weather day, of course. We also have the roaming summer blackouts. Expect to invest $48k wholesale to $75k installed to power a 1800 sq ft home on a water well, with 16 batteries & a full size generator. We did all the work ourselves, so 48k will pay itself off in 20yrs. For our homestead & debt free retirement in the future… this investment makes sense. Do the homework because without the proper info, you could be duped into an unsustainable resource!

[@staceyferron5987]

I am on grid. I am on my own. Yet I'm trying so very hard to work 40-60 hours a week to make ends meet while trying to educate myself with off grid living (For thee past 7 years) I recently purchased a cheap walk in green house this past fall in order to keep my potted mints safe. I do not heat the greenhouse at this point but it is working so far.

[@lindsaym2547]

My favorite chat to date! Thank you 😊

[@jeremyseverson3326]

You guys are awesome! I love watching your videos and all of the valuable info you share. Thank you

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Thanks love your information You never said you were completely off grid. Not fair for others to such things. But I love how your explanations work for every one. Thanks I have learned so much from both of you. Ontario Canada

[@mariekrasch503]

This video was so refreshing! My husband and I live in an area, and under circumstances where many of the "preppy" things we would be doing... that we desire to be doing... we simply are unable to do. In urban areas, and high density, high visibility areas, any prepping one does is subject to theft. A generator and a solar panel would have to be guarded, or it would be gone (stolen)! In highly populated areas a larger, ever-growing number of people are renters, not owners, so their options are limited to what a landlord will allow. Neighbors are close by. Your dwelling will most likely be attached to your neighbor's dwelling. My husband and I have learned that in any area, in any situation... when people who are unprepared, or under-prepared become desperate, they become dangerous. My husband and I are not fearful. Our trust is in God and our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask Him what we should do, and what we should stock up on. We pray about how to store it where we live, within the space we have available. He is our Source, our Protector, our Strong Tower (of protection) and our Healer. We have suffered many hardships over the years but He is ALWAYS faithful! We have learned how to live in His Secret Place (Psalm 91), even "out in the open". Oh, the testimonies we could share! Your jaw would drop! God is ALWAYS faithful! Make sure you know Him, and do what He says (in His Word, and in your heart). Learn to hear His voice and to distinguish it from the voices of impostors. Hearing His voice has saved my life several times! DO NOT FEAR! You will not be able to think clearly or hear His voice when you are listening to your fear! Fear is the primary weapon used by predators, abusers and despots. Fear is the devil's "faith". By fear, the devil has convinced the whole world to lock down and remain separate. By fear he has turned man against his neighbor, instead of helping one another. By fear and intimidation he has used distractions to focus our attention away from aggressive forces that have systematically robbed us of our birthright, and have created the shortages and unleashed lawlessness. If my husband and I could be homesteading in a rural area, we would be, but we would not be hunkering down to become hermits, and only preparing for ourselves. We would be preparing to "weather the storm" and not partaking of the impending consequences coming on those who have selfishly tolerated evil, so long as they got what they wanted. Who will care for the widows and orphans? Who will rescue the abused children and more? We cannot stop the progression of evil and tyranny, if we view our preparations are meant to be forever hidden away in our bunkers within our wooded compounds. Our purpose is to be a blessing to others. We seek blessing, in order to have ability to bless. Wherever you find yourself today, seek God and discover your purpose. Within your purpose, inquire about your present assignment. Within your present assignment, ask Him to order your steps and to lighten your path. Thank Him for providing the means necessary to carry out your assignment in faith that He will empower you for what He has asked you to do. Find and connect with Believers; not religious people, but those who know Him and believe (trust) in Him. All true "Preppers" see what's coming. Learn to see beyond the present impending danger into the future restoration of freedom and liberty. Jer. 29:11 NKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

[@christineortmann359]

In Illinois it’s illegal to go off grid- solar has to be tied into the current electrical system- they want all the power you generate - you get a kickback for the energy generated, but you cannot store any extra energy in batteries for an emergency . So it’s not even worth it.

[@kaybusby7507]

Great information to think about. Thank you for sharing your thoughts

[@AlmostHomestead]

Great information and discussion. Thank you.

[@tarikuepfer3021]

Yes when you really think about it even trying to be self sufficient is going to be very difficult. Can we grow all the feed for your animals. Getting breeding stock. Ordering seeds. Even the Amish use parts of “grids”.

[@allnaturalhomesteaders]

Low temps is NOT correct when it comes to seasoning your cast iron pans! Many will insist that 350 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for seasoning. While 350 degrees works, most cooking experts say that 450 degrees Fahrenheit is the best temperature for seasoning cast iron. Just some information for ya. Just Google this, it will give you the proper information. You should put your oven on between 350 and 450 put your cast iron on a cookie sheet upside down, and cook it for an hour! The idea is to bake in the oil into the metal, a low temp certainly isn't going to bake it in, and you'll be dealing with that black stuff forever! Bake for an hour, between 350 and 450! That's the expert chef advice.

[@shermdog6969]

I have a whole house generator on a 500 gallon tank that can last a very long time using sparingly. I have a well for water, wife is an herbalist, can or freeze dry most of our food. Saving for a small solar system for the just in case times. Burn wood for heat/ cooking when we have to. One step at a time just don't stop taking steps.

[@chot1563]

Best way to clean an old cast iron that hasn't been used in a long time and yucky..... Ketchup! Then season.

[@Farida-A.R.]

Amazing information, thanks for sharing.

[@judier2925]

Great video! Can you do one on the off grid medical stuff you were talking about?

[@nancyseery2213]

I agree, you are no total off-grid if you have to get anything you use that you do not make. I would like to get to the point where I can grow or raise all my food and where we can get by without getting power or water from a source we don't control. I will probably still need clothes, jar and lids, gas and several other items from another source. My goal is to do as much as I can and be smart about the rest. If I need a new computer, I'm not going to be about to build one myself, nor do I expect that to happen. I do hope to be able to stay alive for at leas one year without support from other sources.

[@nancymoore4992]

This is great!!! Really you guys are very very smart I'm so glad someone really brought this out. We do need each other very much. God made us as a people not a person or one couple. God told Adam and Eve (not Adam and Steve!!!!) to be fruitful and fill the earth. We are social, and to be healthy we need each other. Thanks so much for being honest 😊😊💕

[@2Sugarbears]

As a farmers daughter I grew up with all the conveniences of the 1950's, less than now but basically everything. My parents would have laughed themselves silly at the idea of not being considered farmers because they had power. I think that is a purist's or a city persons idea. They would also have laughed at being called homesteaders. In my opinion your farmers, period full stop.

[@blackbarnfarm3948]

How do you store fuel, and how much do you keep on hand?

[@ya.veo123]

Could you share some more about those Medical alternatives you mentioned?

[@kirstmlarson1]

Thank you for sharing such good sense! Every family needs something different. We homeschool, grow food, buy in bulk, but we have only had one short power outage in 15 years - so the power is much farther down our priority list. We also have a child with a medical condition, so building good relationships with her specialists is important. So if there are issues with the medical grid, we can get the care she needs. We will always be dependent on that particular grid, but we have worked towards resiliency and less dependence in other areas.

[@weroy77]

I'm curious about your lemons 🍋 on your counter. Are those your preserved lemons in salt? Or something different? They look whole. Thanks!!!

[@trkstatrksta8410]

It's time to turn those useless, water guzzling front lawns into useful vegetable and fruit producing little plots. Thanks for encouraging people to see what is possible

[@dougseamons4874]

Do you guys have any ideas for a root cellar with a high water table? Like 3-4 foot water table?

[@eileengust4388]

Get tractor with a blower the farmer down the road had one of was awesome

[@donnaduquettehomesteadinga5512]

love your channel,,, we recently started homeschooling... what program do you follow?

[@billc3405]

People just going into home steading alone not even considering off grid. Run into major problems if they dont have a big piggy bank when then dont have a grounded knowledge of what it takes. One thing i dislike about people glorifying and encouraging people with out educating these people of what is needed. Most people have not grown up with learning this in there first 18 years of life in any field of agriculture.

[@battleaxe7926]

Off grid means work. Live hers in WI have a Off Grid water system and Off Frid heat. Both make extra work no matter how you look at it. Don't live this way to escape work though live this way to be free from the system.

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

The employment income grid it’s the most important grid there is. The other stuff isn’t that important.

[@dickh916]

Off Grid? Several years ago, I purchased 81 acres of foothill property. It is mainly “old growth forest”. The purpose was so my grand-kids could experience what it was like in the woods. I call it “the ranch”, but my kids say I can’t call it the ranch because I don’t have livestock, but I point out that I have deer, bear, wild turkeys, eagles, jack rabbits and assorted squirrels. The ranch was totally “off grid” when I bought it, a barn, and a couple of out buildings, no power, no sewer, no water. I did not intend for it to stay that way, at least not the electrical. Subsequently I purchased 3 RV travel trailers to serve as “Tiny Homes” so each of my kids could have a private residence. One large building I had constructed in the center of the tiny houses would serve as a “common area” with kitchen and dining facilities and lounge area. I call this building “The Dance Hall”. I contacted the local electric company and they estimated that it would cost $75,000 to bring power to the ranch, and another $75,000 to take it to where I wanted it on the property. At that cost I thought I would go solar. The average cost of a solar system was $25,000-$35,000 depending on size and battery storage and backup generator. Again, I thought I could do better with a DIY project. My son pointed out that if I had one major system, it was what he called a “single point of failure”. One part goes down and the entire system is down. I bought a book, “Solar for Dummies” and started to read. I eventually designed multiple systems, each “tiny house” and each major building has its own system One of the major “loss of power” is converting DC to AC. So being an RVer, I thought that all RVs are DC powered except the microwave and the air conditioning. The RV trailers were already equipped with DC lighting and DC water pumps, so I purchased DC lights and switches from the RV store for the other buildings. All storage batteries are deep cycle Marine/RV batteries connected in series to provide 12V DC power. The advantage here is if one battery goes dead, I just take it off line and the remaining batteries continue to provide power. All parts for the solar system were purchased from Amazon including the solar panels and charge controllers. I did have to construct the solar panel racks myself which are mounted to old satellite dish mounts and placed into poles driven into the ground. The racks and be rotated to align with the sun, but this is usually not necessary except during the winter months (or I could add more panels). I do have spares for the solar panels and charge controllers, but in a worst-case scenario, since all systems are identical, I can “cannibalize” parts from the underutilized buildings. This year I’ll be working on a wind turbine (also available from Amazon) for additional power during the winter when I have reduced sunlight. I do have a small generator and a medium size generator as backup. Water: I had a well drilled. We had to go down 1/2 mile to get sufficient water and even then, it was not a great “gallon per minute” recovery. I had a 3000-gallon holding tank installed and we run the well part of the day, shut it off and do it again the next day. We don’t have to do that every day as 3000 gallons is a lot of water. The well pump is dual DC and AC capable. It can run off 245w solar panel or off the small generator. Water from the holding tank is plumbed to each tiny house and the “Dance Hall” with an RV 12V DC water pump that was purchased, again you guessed it, from Amazon. Septic: Had a septic tank installed with lines run from each tiny house and the dance hall. Refrigerator is propane and 12v DC power. Cooking: We have two All-American Sun Ovens for baking and cooking. I made a “lazy susan” for the Sun Oven to make it easier to keep it aligned with the sun for max heating or slightly off alignment for lower temps. Some cooking can be done on the wood stove that provides heat during the winter months. We do have Coleman Stove and a Colman oven as backup. HVAC: The solar powers “whole house” exhaust fans for the dance hall. Turn it on in the morning to bring in the cooler air inside to start the day. Heat distribution in the winter is accomplished with duct work. Both the exhaust fan and the in-line duct work fan are 12V DC “bilge” fans from boats. (Also available on Amazon) The air conditioning for the dance hall is really unique. Last year I did a “proof of concept”. I purchased two evaporative coolers, aka “swamp coolers”. I gutted the AC electrical parts and replaced them with DC pumps and fans. Yes, they do tend to raise the humidity, but I found a KZbinr from Australia that solved that problem. He ducted the air through a heat exchanger and then back outside, where the water vapor was recovered and replaced into the swamp cooler. A fan inside the building blows air across and through the heat exchanger thereby providing the refrigerated air. Although not all because of lower cost, I do enjoy creating solutions to the challenges of being “off grid”.

[@andy38andrews96]

I am an 83 year old homesteader who lives on the grid with my utilities and the internet. At my age, I have neither the expertise nor the interest in going completely “off grid”. My interest lies more in what foods I can grow and what animals I can raise that will contribute to my self-sufficiency, although I am having to cut back on the animals as I can no longer care for them as they deserve. I also became completely debt free some years ago. I really appreciate your channel.

[@Kathleen67.]

Quail are small, they might be easy for eggs and meat.

[@MrGoatlady]

My husband and I are in our mid 70's. We raise geese for meat, goats for milk, and chickens for eggs. Our garden now consists of several 3x8 water troughs that are 2 feet high. Fruit trees are nice and what foods you grow depends on what you enjoy eating and what your climate is. Where we live winter squash, potatoes, beans, peas, beets, various greens, tomatoes and cabbage. works for us.

[@morpro4u]

Hats off to you and your homestead! Proud of your!

[@jimmiegrann5822]

I am 81 and have been trying to be more self-reliant. I did take the first season of your Traditional Skills. It was great but most were beyond my ability, space or need. I love your site and your overall good attitudes & traditional values! I always enjoy your obvious respect for each 12:09 other. Your gardens are always so beautifully laid out. I love seeing the children helping & learning. You appear to be authentic!

[@kathleenredick275]

To the OP, rabbits. Lpts of protein grown fairly inexpensively. Small animals. I'm 74 and can see how even goats could be a physical challenge. ❤

[@annabarber9426]

Here's what I did to get ready for living off grid. 1. Turn off your power to the house for 6 hrs. See if you can figure out how to cook and do laundry during that time. If you did well then try longer hrs or even days next. Keep testing yourself that way. Remember sometimes you may need to start slowly. Good luck!

[@baddog9320]

Lol. I just jumped out of the boat one day. On December 26 2011. But I've always been doing some type of homesteading my whole life. Looking back, I wish I'd gone off grid a lot sooner. My Electric has been on a lot more since I went off grid then anytime I've been on grid. And yes to those that think off grid means no internet. YOU ARE WRONG. You just lack the knowledge to have off grid internet. ( For a few years I didn't have internet either. Until I found how to tap satellites for internet.) now my internet is slower then most people's. For those old like me. remember 14.4k 28k, 54k dial ups . well at first I was at about 14.4k I've worked up to about 126k. Really I don't have a choose. even if I wanted to be on grid here. I couldn't. People don't understand. Nearest electric is 20 miles away @ $1 million a mile. Phone is almost the same. The only internet that can reach me. Charges like $100 a month is metered and by others people's story. Is less reliable then what I learned to do. Mines free once I built the equipment. Oh BTW don't try what I did in the city. You will get a knock on your door and a fine.

[@suburbanfarmandforge3377]

Its interesting to think of things as separate grids. Medical, food supply, etc. great perspective. So much to think about!

[@hvp6218]

Agreed I hadn't even considered all the grids we partake in.

[@juliewright2134]

We have gone of the electrical grid, the water grid, the education grid, and we are partially off the food grid. It is A lot! My passion was the garden and animals. I didn't care so much about power. My husband on the other hand has always wanted to be energy independent since he was a kid. So he has the knowledge and ability to set up our solar and windmill, our water catchment and purification. He is putting in our geothermal system now. I have homeschooled for a while now so we have made strides to be well rounded. I am a nurse but not working as one anymore. (was let go when I decided I didn't want certain things in my body) this has allowed me more time to explore medicinal herbs and given me time to educate myself. Homesteading is hard no matter what grids you are on or off. God bless you all. You are so much more organized than I!

[@pamelaremme38]

GOD BLESS you for getting out of that eugenics system that makes people more sick and on more medications. As a gal (64) with asthma, crohns, eczema I came to realize that childhood vaccinations is what destroys gut flora, gut flora is what keeps us healthy. I eat all organic. Organic applecider vinegar and fermented foods are what keeps my crohns basically GONE. Eczema is gone (fermented foods) Asthma....different story. Trying different teas etc but still on inhalers. Geoengineering atmospheric spraying with the heavy metals we breath in...I feel it is a losing battle. I still keep trying. Thank God you made the brave stand and left your job. You have MANY people who support people like yourself who went through so much schooling and to have to make such a horrible decision. I do think that the medical field's curtain is being pulled back though and people are starting to realize they aren't what we think they are. There is a common denominator as to WHO and WHAT are at the top of every hospital as CEO's and Medical directors. If you want support to show you are not alone....Wardo Rants Bitchute channel has tons of doctors and virologists speaking the truth. Also if you want to go even deeper down the rabbit hole....From the trenches world report dot com Once on the site click on Patriot Broadcast Archives then click on any date. 1/11/22 is a good date to listen to. Caution though....he is one ticked off red blooded American and his language is absolutely AWEFUL But PLEASE listen to what he is saying. You will learn a lot. It is a podcast. God Bless you my dear. Thank you for standing strong and against this tyranny!

[@juliewright2134]

@@pamelaremme38 thank you! Hospitals in particular are a money making machine. Unfortunately there are so many mechanisms in place now that make it hard for a nurse to educate their patients with any real meaning. For example we had to be so customer service focused that the hospital wouldn't get paid for certain services if they have bad scores in customer satisfaction. Instead of nurses being focused on educating their patients on how they can do better with their disease process at home, we would spend our time making sure the patient had three extra pillows and a turkey sandwich.The patients have gotten conditioned to expect the world. They don't want to hear that they needed to change some of their habits. Instead everyone wants to lean on big pharma and quick fixes... I took an oath to do no harm. I don't feel in the world's present condition that I am able to do that without interference. Part of my oath was that I would not knowingly give any medication that I felt was not safe. How could I possibly administer medication that I don't believe is safe? How could I continue to ignore what needs to be done for the patient? I am glad I am out of that mess. 2020 and 2021 we're rough to say the least. I saw things in a very different light during the latter part of that time. I saw who had my back and who did not. But I am glad God gave me that extra bit of knowledge. God bless you too, stay encouraged and look up

[@pamelaremme38]

@@juliewright2134 You are a TRUE hero Julie!!! I hope more and more Dr's and Nurses wake up. Evil hates exposure and if everyone walks it will stop. I was also in a professional role in a hospital clinic and saw first hand the pharmaceutical reps come in and drug push and give the doctors all the perks to poison the populace and the doctors blindly follow and trust. People ARE starting to see it though. I have been awake for over 20 years. This stuff goes very very deep. EVERYTHING we have been told is a LIE. EVERYTHING. TV's brainwash and social engineer people and people don't even realize it. Same with movies....ie: Contagion, The Plague etc....they instill fear deep in subconcious and when confronted with it in real life it is more believable. Peoples COMMON SENSE goes right out the window. Ex: Why aren't all the animals dead. ALL ANIMALS including BIRDS??? It mutated from a bat in a cave to a rat in a soup kitchen right? I mean think about how rediculous that is. They are LAUGHING at us. Then they got people wearing MUZZLES that protect you from NOTHING. Nurses and Doctors wear them for short amounts of time to keep spit or sneeze or whatever going into an open wound. Not meant to DEPRIVE us of oxygen and breath in our own body waste (carbon dioxide) Disease cannot survive in an oxygen rich environment. Besides....viruses can be caught via the EYES. Any mucous membrane. To me it is so obvious. Anyway....God Bless you dear. Thank you for YOUR bravery and being a TRUE Patriot.

[@Plrbear98]

I love your train of thought... I no longer want to be "off-grid". I want to be self-sufficient and resilient.

[@Ang.0910]

How are you going to be self sufficient if you rely on a power company

[@meadowandthelake2287]

@@Ang.0910 That's quite a overstatement. Self sufficient is a mindset of producing more than you're consuming. You can't start off by immediately trying to supply yourself with power. It's a process of continual growth.

[@Pop-zb3wr]

@@meadowandthelake2287 I don't think it's an overstatement... And really, self-sufficiency needs to be more than a mind-set. But yes, it can be done incrementally/partially instead of 100% self-sufficiency. I do think if you want to be self-sufficient and resilient you shouldn't completely knock the idea of having alternative power options just because some people don't consider it their priority.

[@kathleenredick275]

Self sufficient and resiliant includes garden & animals. You do not need to be off grid, but plan for contingencies - water catchment, candles or battery LED lights, I have a Little Buddy heater that is safe to use for warmth in a structure, alternate ways to cook food...

[@OFFGRIDwithDOUGSTACY]

We are the exception to the rule lol a lot of people posting videos on KZbin about living Off Grid just shoot vids and go home to the grid lol its the truth.... we started with NO POWER and moved forward and still actually have no solar just a Gen for here and there.... always enjoyed your vids ✌

[@cocomochalatte5937]

You guys are the real deal...I watch your content and really appreciate your sharing the knowledge you have and experiences...you're definitely the exception

[@ExitBabylon2023]

You were one of the first people I found when we started looking to move off grid. It's going to happen this year finially, kinda scared but mostly excited for our new adventure! Thanks for showing it can be done successfully!

[@OFFGRIDwithDOUGSTACY]

@@cocomochalatte5937 thanks guys

[@OFFGRIDwithDOUGSTACY]

@@ExitBabylon2023 thanks Alesha

[@HomesteadingFamily]

And you guys LIVE it everyday! You 2 are the real off grid deal! Love it! ❤️

[@LivingtheHightLife]

As someone who actually lives off grid, I find your take on it to be very interesting. We went straight to off grid before we became homesteaders, and I wouldn't change it. It take stress off of us in so many ways. The other day a winter storm come through. Ice pulled trees down and knocked out power. We were able to focus on caring for the animals and cleaning up the damage, because we knew we were ok. We still had heat. We could still drink clean water. We could still cook food. Off grid isn't always easy, but it is so worth it. And no, we don't have one of those massive solar systems. We have enough to power the fridge, computers, and some lights.

[@tb8909]

What a wonderful discussion! We are empty nesters (have been for many years…yes…we are senior citizens!) and are looking for ways to build more, as you put it, “ resiliency” into our lives. Your perspective on “grid(s)” was very educational and makes a great deal of sense. So very thankful I just “happened” to find your channel. Thank you for sharing your lives with us.

[@tb8909]

I agree! I just recently started following their channel and have found it not only fascinating, but so informative and practical.

[@nancyj721]

We too are "seniors" and empty nesters...but we want to be self reliant/sufficient. We are suburban homesteaders for now and look forward to learning from this great couple. They are full of knowledge and we are blessed they are willing to share with all of us.

[@trnqwl]

Has it it occurred to anyone that the choice to go off grid may not be within our power to control? In a perfect world we could slowly transition, as this family is doing but I would argue that at this point in time it may not be an option to gradually transition.

[@enaid54]

For the cast iron question, I take a little lard( store bought) and wipe it on the pan before I cook every time! It takes care of black stain. This only happens to cast iron that I fry in! I use the same pan for corn bread and don't cook anything else in it! That keeps the pan shiny, slick and makes the bread slide out easily!

[@mariaallevato6121]

I just love you guys! I live in an HOA neighborhood where I can't have chickens, a greenhouse, or even a shed, and I have no desire to go "off grid". But until I find a better property in our town, I've expanded my garden and we make kombucha, sourdough and some cheese. Baby steps to eating healthier and developing just a bit of resiliency. My friends call me a homesteader! Lol!

[@Ang.0910]

Get out of that hoa now while interest rates are low!

[@wandaarnt234]

Cheers from Pennsylvania 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏

[@nancy5721]

Excellent program today! I felt very encouraged over the small steps my hubby and me have taken now in our 50s and 60s. We live in a dumpy, old trailer but all the essentials work on one and a half acres in Tennessee. We moved from Florida and everybody thought we were nuts to go. But, we OWN our dump and our land and are moving forward very slowly. It looks so foolish to most other people the choices that we've made. I am so thankful because we just got three chickens several days ago! I had been praying and longing for chickens for 3 years now and we thought it would never happen. God is so good always! Many blessings to your family!

[@GOTTshua]

Nothing wrong with a paid-off trailer on the land you steward in your lifetime. Jesus bless you.

[@wandaarnt234]

Blessings cheers from Pennsylvania 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏

[@loriosborne5569]

Way to go!! Hang in there!!

[@nancy5721]

@@loriosborne5569 thanks!

[@andrewgoldman1710]

How do you feed the chickens? Do you grow their food?

[@cmhighway6215]

Finally people that tell the reality-based truth of living a homestead life. It's real work. Not controlled be the social norm. Thanks folks.

[@marybetholson5485]

Excellent points on what "off grid" really means. 👏

[@satanhunter6092]

It still amazes me how many people that think there is nobody left who was raised in the DEEP rural areas where running water and electricity doesn't exist. I only entered this modern tech world within the last 12 years. Still haven't gotten used to this whole living on the grid with big tech. It's only hard to live without tech if you grew up with it.

[@victorialg1270]

Please do a series of all the homesteading grids and moving off of them. What did you choose first and why?

[@KDJ4Jesus]

Excellent idea! I agree that would be another wonderful series.

[@brooklinndalton829]

You’re touching my soapbox here, Community Resiliency over Self-Sufficiency. There’s no way to actually be self-sufficient in this life. We all must rely on the Creator and hopefully some other people we can trust. I’m all about individuals and families being as self- sufficient and resourceful stewards as possible, but somewhere they’ll see the end of their abilities and find themselves in need (which is actually healthy in itself).

[@dianehall5345]

Great talk about about living off grid! Like you, we are taking advantage of electricity while it is affordable and convenient. We build our 988 sq. ft. cottage to take advantage of the sun's path. It is a well insulated house with two wood stoves, a kitchen wood stove and a large air tight in the basement. We also have propane back up. The main farm has gravity feed water, but we can install a deep well hand pump if necessary. We can also utilize solar or a wind generator. Everything was planned in advance to be done in steps. We are all in our 70s and want to make life as easy as possible, including being independent from the grid if it comes to that point.

[@rhealamb8606]

What do you mean by deep well hand pump? We have a deep well and didn’t think there was a possibility of having a hand pump. Thank you for any information you could share.

[@livingintoday06]

This has been a very insightful conversation. I really appreciate and aspire to your families level of sophistication in sustainability. Thank you for such thought provoking content this morning.

[@pobo6113]

Thank you for this video. I am a homesteader on a small piece of land. I get flack all the time because I do not have solar. I have 400 sq. ft. home. It would cost way more to go solar then to stay with electric power. I collect rain water and I do not have a septic. That alone has saved me over $20,000 install fees and $500 yearly fees. This has put me in a steep learning curve because I knew nothing about these systems. I researched for 2 years to get ready for this, but you don’t know what you don’t know until something stops working. I am now prepared for outages and have had to rely on stored food for a long term. Your point of being self reliant is an excellent point because I have no one but myself to rely on. So thank you for this video. Hopefully this will help others to achieve their goal. 👍🏻

[@lauramonahan9343]

This was an excellent vlog. I asked myself, if one is using a petroleum/propane powered generator, is one really off the power grid? In my opinion, we're not off the power grid unless we're generating one's own power through a renewable source such as wind, solar, water, biofuel, or geothermal. And even then, as you pointed out, you still need parts.

[@AC-hy1xd]

Thank you for this video! This was grounding. The goals can get so overwhelming when we try to become self sufficient. I love your comments on resiliency and the different ways we become “off-grid”. I now realize how much more off grid my family has already become. I am encouraged.

[@thelittlelearningfarm622]

With the food security, do you grow your own grains? We have been learning about the process for different grains and trying to figure out which ones are worth us diving into based on the harvest and the effort that goes into growing, threshing and the final harvest. If so, could you all please do some videos on your processes?

[@BlinkROC]

I believe they buy their grain locally in bulk.

[@hillockfarm8404]

2 Options : 1. buy in bulk and grind what you need per 2 weeks or so. 2. adjust your diet to eating without grains. Mix of both is more practical.

[@thelittlelearningfarm622]

@@hillockfarm8404 thank you. We buy in bulk from Azure but we are thinking about skills that may be needed when that is no longer a possibility. Thank you for your insight.

[@FineFeatheredHomestead]

Some cover crops in winter can be grains. It's just another way to use the natural cycle.

[@tinnerste2507]

I bought a 350 year old house that was never connected to the power grid, but had sewer and a telephone line and we'll water. After one and a half years I got solar power, but it was not so crazy, probably because the house was built before power. The windows are placed so they get the low winter light but not summer sun and a handpump for the well, a cold underground cellar that works like a fridge. I think starting from scratch without power is rough. Once I had power I could use the telephone line for internet and so on, now I have a tiny clothes wash machine etc. We use forklift batteries because they can be locally refurbished and purchased but the rest of the system is from China. We need a generator every few days in winter too. Fuel is not cheap, firewood is also a lot of time or money. It's basically trading a full time job for full time homemaking plus full time property management. My garden is very slowly coming along too, cause I live in a somewhat marginal climate, as I suppose most small parcel lands would be.

[@DC-rd2rv]

I'd like more info on the placement of windows please! We are adding on and this is something I want to do, but not sure how to find out best places to put them.

[@tinnerste2507]

@@DC-rd2rv I put them over the plants like an A frame, with the windows on the north and south sides so they are open East and west. If you get a cold snap after they start growing you can block the open sides. I don't water them at all and the ground seems moist enough without my help. I get mine from eBay classifieds and occasionally from the side of the road set out for trash. I put them on in early November or before the first frost and take them off in early June, or untill the nights are warm. I coat them in boiled flaxseed oil once a year to keep the wood frames from rotting and stack the windows in a shed for summer.

[@tinnerste2507]

@@DC-rd2rv oh sorry, wrong reply! The windows are small and near the roof with an overhang of about six inches. Cause the sun is lower in winter, the sun only shines into the house Oct to march, when the sun is higher, it hits the middle of the wall below the windows.

[@MorePranaGardens]

While I'm working on the food system our household has been pushed into backing up electricity because we live in Texas. The state is simultaneously attempting to assure us that the grid has been repaired (but presenting no evidence to back up the claim) while encouraging us to prepare emergency kits in case we have another extended winter outage. It's alarming. Going solar was an eventual goal that got quickly accelerated. Yikes.

[@TrixieScalf05]

As a fellow Texan, if you go solar you must add batteries to your system or it won’t help you if the grid goes down. We have solar panels, but if our grid had gone down it wouldn’t have mattered. That is OUR next step. And of course there is the issue of “What if the sun doesn’t shine, or the wind doesn’t blow?” (If you have windmills.). What hurt some areas so much was an OVER dependence on wind and solar. Solar got iced over, sun didn’t shine, and the windmill blades froze in place. The point is diversity of energy sources is a good thing. Hope you are doing well in your spot in the Lone Star State!

[@MorePranaGardens]

@@TrixieScalf05 We started with batteries. Our panels aren't even tied in yet but we can go three or four days with no power (no water heater or central air) from the battery backup alone. The solar panels and wind turbines froze because they weren't prepped for winter. The primary problem was that gas froze and couldn't be moved because many of the plants failed to put themselves on the emergency list and they got shut down in the first round of rolling blackouts. Once they were down it all came undone.

[@BrazosEyrie]

@@MorePranaGardens It takes more planning in TX -- those ice storms you get are nasty! Where i live we have mostly snow, which is easier to manage. Also, higher heat means your panels are not as efficient -- so allow for more panels in hot locations like TX. I'd put more money in more panels and backup systems than to mess with wind. You just don't get the financial return most of the year with wind.

[@PeterLawton]

I don't see it as alarming to encourage preparing emergency kits in addition to repairing the grid. That seems like the smart thing to do, and taking some responsibility for self and family. Redundancy is a good thing. I lived in Texas for 12 years and love that mindset -- it's far from a nanny state, on purpose.

[@MorePranaGardens]

@@PeterLawton No, that part isn't alarming. The instability of the grid is.

[@homesanctuaryliving]

🌱This is one of the best pantry chats. I love to watch Homestead Rescue but I wouldn’t want to live like that. 💙 you descriptions of a homesteader. One step at a time and building that infrastructure gradually. 🌱