The dream is to find a property where you can live out your self sufficient dreams. It takes a special spot to satisfy your ideals and also to be practical. It isn't enough to look the part of the fantasy of not needing to plug into the grid and live life on your own terms. You need it to provide some of the more practical matters too.
Not only that, but some places are going to be harder to live off grid so you need to have a certain list of criteria to guide you so you know if the spot you have your eyes on is actually going to allow you to live the way that you want.
Living off grid is never easy. And, it isn't easy living you're after or you wouldn't be looking at living off grid. However, some factors can make your life unnecessarily difficult and take the joy out of your independence.
In this article, I will go over exactly how you should approach finding the right area for your off grid experience.
Be near vital services
There are a lot of places in the world where you can seem to be far away from the modern world and in total isolation. Yet, still be close to some type of urban area where there are services that you will need.
For instance, you need to be near health care centers and even a dentist even if you want to go live in the woods. If you are truly in the middle of nowhere then that area may not be a good fit. This is especially true if you have children you are taking care of.
Now, as an example, here is a dentist office that is less than 3 miles from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. This means you can be out in seemingly the middle of nowhere and still have easy access to dental services.
Remember that living off grid doesn't have to mean 100% self sufficiency. In fact it shouldn't in the sense that you can't be expected to take care of your healthcare needs and will need access to medical services.
Natural resources
Being off grid, it is essential to have the resources at hand to make sure that you can live comfortably. Many people are not willing to really rough it and expect some conveniences and comforts. To get the amount of electricity you need you'll have to work with whatever nature gives you so make sure to take that into account and also how much electricity demand you need.
For example, if the area you plan to live is not particularly sunny, then only using solar is likely not going to cut it when you have high energy needs. This means you'll have to have an alternative like a windy spot for turbines or some running water for water turbines.
Likewise, you'll have to be near a water source if you plan to not have to rely on city water. This should be on your land or a spot where you have legal access. You can't draw off of a water supply without permission even if it is on public land.
Workable land
A place in the middle of the woods may be your dream location, but will it really allow you to live off the land? If you can't plant a garden then you will still be relying heavily on buying your food to live off of. Being independent means securing your caloric needs from the surroundings as much as possible. Obviously, making runs into town to get some of the ingredients you need is fine, but most of your food needs to come from your land.
Make sure that the land has enough sunlight to grow vegetables and that the land is fertile or can be fixed with natural loam and other rich additions. And, keep in mind what the growing zone is so you can make sure to plant the things you are able to actually grow well in your area.
Keep climate in mind
Both a hot and a cold, snowy climate are going to present a lot of challenges and much of your resources are going to go towards dealing with them. If it is cold in your area, then plan for it to be even colder when you are away from a town as there is less heat trapped in those rural areas.
And heat can be unbearable if you don't have some ways to naturally cool down your home. It is very important to look for an area that is going to allow you to build in a climate friendly way that allows you to be comfortable in all seasons.