The original homesteaders, the pioneers who went West, were following the American dream as it was understood in the 19th century — they wanted a house, and land, and a farm, of their own. Those who become homesteaders today aren’t necessarily aspirational in the same way; instead, they’re looking to escape mainstream America. They want to do so for many reasons: privacy, radicalism, a philosophical belief in self-sufficiency.
But “going off the grid” is a daunting proposal, especially for those with families. Non-homesteaders rely on others for virtually everything; not just our haircuts, but our electricity and our eggs. It’s hard enough to figure out the right amount of groceries to buy for a week. Figuring out how many crops to plant to feed a family of four is exponentially more daunting. There are plenty of resources to help – message boards, how-tos. And here’s one more, aesthetically pleasing resource from solar panel discount company One Block Off the Grid: a useful chart illustrating the typical land requirements for a family of four seeking nutritional and electronic self-sufficiency.
According to the company’s research, a family of four that eats meat, dairy and eggs would need around two acres of land to feed themselves for a year. Ready to try it yourself, but short on land? A 2.9-acre plot of land in South-Central Alaska is available from the State for as little as $2400, payable by MasterCard or Visa.
Here’s the chart.
[Via HuffingtonPost.com]
I’m moving to Alaska. That settles it. Off the grid us the best way to live. No strings, no unwanted opinions. Perfect.
And in 2 years you are divorced and moving back to the lower 48. Broke, and Nothing to show for it.
That sounds like a fairly reasonable estimate. Thanks.
5 acres to me sounds like enough to do everything I need. Gardens and living space, space for storage buildings and seems to be small enough to easily protect the land. I have had 80 acres before and the cost of security would be astonishing. So 5 acres now to me seems much easier to defend if you don't have the luxery of living in the middle of nowhere.
I"m not dealing with that cold, ice, snow, etc, for 7+ months of the year. They can keep that. I'd consider living in British Columbia for most of the year, then in Mexico, away from the border, tho, for the winter. I see no reason at all to make myself deal with either heat or cold, when a simple change in location fixes such problems.
If you grow indoors in a secured concrete dome (underground entrance and no 1st floor openings) using aquaponics, our calculations reduce that 2 acres to less than 1/2 as a homestead and and if you go up in height as well, to far less. So thinking outside the box and you will find even an urban homesite could do it. And a concrete or earth dome gives far better security and top can be fixed safety glass for growing. We know this because we did it for a client and the size is only 6,000 sq feet on the ground plus two stories up with aquaponics gardening on top and water harvesting, gray water recycle, 100% solar and wind, with well indoors for protection using 12V pump. It can be done.
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a casting associate with a Los Angeles-based television production company that develops television series for a variety of cable networks.
Our company is in the beginning stages of development for a new reality series that will center on the day-to-day life of a unique community, family or couple living off the grid. We are now casting for a community, family or couple that resides anywhere in the United States and lives off the grid. Are you an outgoing community, family or couple comprised of interesting characters who are living without electricity or basic housing needs and have dynamic personalities? Although on-camera experience is not required, all family members must have big personalities, be comfortable speaking on camera, and able to legally work in the U.S.
Please see the attached press release for your review and consideration. We are respectfully requesting that you share and forward this information to any individuals, families, businesses, clubs, groups or organizations that may be interested in being considered for the project. To be considered, please email us photographs of your community, family or significant other. Please tell us, in detail, your story of why you would make for compelling television, what city and state you live in, the description/function/role of each person and include contact information (name, number, email) via: [email protected].
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best wishes,
Matt Labinski
Casting Associate
Right Matt, just like the Prepper shows on tv where the caustic nararater demeans and degrades the “big personality” prepper and spins the show to prove to the vast majority of viewers that in fact the prepper is a silly person with a vivid imagination. Oh and seriously just sayin…why would an individual who is a true survivalist living off the grid desire to let you or the feds into their life style intentionally? The entire point is to get away from and survive without media/gov’t interaction. If you are looking for a circus try Chicago…there was 40 shootings there over Memorial Weekend. What an insipid and perfunctory request on a survival blog. Anyone serious about survival won’t let you exploit them or their families on tv. Disgusting.
I agree with you. We are keeping our all our stuff hidden. If you go on TV with it you run the sure risk that one- you will be recognized and two several may make a note that even though they are not stocking up they know where they can get it.. Looters are going to become a real reality when things get bad. Don't set yourself up as a target by broadcasting your resources.
This doesn't take into account container/square foot gardening, which would reduce a great deal of space needed.
Otherwise, it's pretty good.