Comments on: Survivalists and Living “Off the Grid” http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/ Our Journey to a Debt-Free Life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:23:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alissa http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-523468 Alissa Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:56:46 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-523468 Hi there! I've been reading lots on your blog today, and getting more and more inspired. :) It's funny how being on a journey to becoming debt-free makes you realize that you could be free in so many other ways as well... that it is possible to live with almost no income. Going "off-grid" has become a recent dream of ours as well. Once our credit card debt is gone (within the next year!), we're going to re-direct some of that money towards building up a homestead, and becoming more self-sufficient. I believe that Peak Oil is a reality that will be upon us fairly soon, and while it is tempting to attack our mortgage with gusto after our credit card debts are paid, I think it would be more prudent to balance that with preparing for a self-sufficient future. I look forward to coming back and seeing how you're doing! Alissa Hi there!
I’ve been reading lots on your blog today, and getting more and more inspired. :) It’s funny how being on a journey to becoming debt-free makes you realize that you could be free in so many other ways as well… that it is possible to live with almost no income. Going “off-grid” has become a recent dream of ours as well. Once our credit card debt is gone (within the next year!), we’re going to re-direct some of that money towards building up a homestead, and becoming more self-sufficient. I believe that Peak Oil is a reality that will be upon us fairly soon, and while it is tempting to attack our mortgage with gusto after our credit card debts are paid, I think it would be more prudent to balance that with preparing for a self-sufficient future. I look forward to coming back and seeing how you’re doing!

Alissa

]]> By: mv http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-479134 mv Fri, 30 May 2008 17:58:02 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-479134 Living 'off the grid' usually means you're not attached to the electrical company for your electricity. I suppose you could take it to mean completely off municipal services (electricity, water, sewage, etc), and cable tv and internet. So how to get internet access 'off the grid'? Perhaps via satellite internet, which is very expensive. Living ‘off the grid’ usually means you’re not attached to the electrical company for your electricity. I suppose you could take it to mean completely off municipal services (electricity, water, sewage, etc), and cable tv and internet. So how to get internet access ‘off the grid’? Perhaps via satellite internet, which is very expensive.

]]> By: danielle http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-479103 danielle Fri, 30 May 2008 13:50:22 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-479103 I have been thinking of this as well. I rent, but there is a small patch of land that I am sure they would let me plant something on. (A bunch of my neighbors do it). Right now, I have a small olive tree in a pot that I got at a Greek festival. It's growing slowly but surely, and I can't wait to see if I get olives. We have been trying to formulate what would constitute a good emergency kit. The Mormon church has good ideas and tips on emergency food stashes. A really nice sleeping bag can weather all the elements. Think of all you *need* that is power-dependent and get battery operated versions. Stock up on multi-vitamins for the whole family. I would even consider getting a mongolian yurt. You could really make it work if you put some thought into it. I have been thinking of this as well. I rent, but there is a small patch of land that I am sure they would let me plant something on. (A bunch of my neighbors do it).
Right now, I have a small olive tree in a pot that I got at a Greek festival. It’s growing slowly but surely, and I can’t wait to see if I get olives.
We have been trying to formulate what would constitute a good emergency kit. The Mormon church has good ideas and tips on emergency food stashes. A really nice sleeping bag can weather all the elements. Think of all you *need* that is power-dependent and get battery operated versions. Stock up on multi-vitamins for the whole family. I would even consider getting a mongolian yurt. You could really make it work if you put some thought into it.

]]> By: JT http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-479025 JT Fri, 30 May 2008 06:23:57 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-479025 We have a VERY small home (hence couldn't get enough solar panels on the roof to fully cover our needs), so haven't room for indoor gardening. If I were building from scratch would definitely have a greenhouse attached to the house. There are some great articles on the internet about using that kind of space to not only grow veggies, but to also provide heat, etc. for the home during the winter. It's a great topic and if you are blessed with being able to build, I'd definitely look into all the online material available about "green design". Some of it is very economical, practical, and easy to incorporate when building. Even as simple as deciding on the orientation (North, South, East, West) of the house. When we got the panels, it was guesstimated there would be a 10 year period for recouping our investment. I'm sure the rising energy prices are cutting that time frame way down ;-) I think you're right that costs are going down, I would only be worried about a lag between increased demand and increased production. It's possible to have internet "off the grid" but I'm not sure about the details. I don't know if it is by using cell towers, satellite or what. I wish! Sigh! We have a VERY small home (hence couldn’t get enough solar panels on the roof to fully cover our needs), so haven’t room for indoor gardening. If I were building from scratch would definitely have a greenhouse attached to the house. There are some great articles on the internet about using that kind of space to not only grow veggies, but to also provide heat, etc. for the home during the winter. It’s a great topic and if you are blessed with being able to build, I’d definitely look into all the online material available about “green design”. Some of it is very economical, practical, and easy to incorporate when building. Even as simple as deciding on the orientation (North, South, East, West) of the house.
When we got the panels, it was guesstimated there would be a 10 year period for recouping our investment. I’m sure the rising energy prices are cutting that time frame way down ;-)
I think you’re right that costs are going down, I would only be worried about a lag between increased demand and increased production.
It’s possible to have internet “off the grid” but I’m not sure about the details. I don’t know if it is by using cell towers, satellite or what.
I wish! Sigh!

]]> By: Tricia http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-479006 Tricia Fri, 30 May 2008 04:12:31 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-479006 Lucian's Mommy - my husband reminded me that we couldn't live off the grid because then we wouldn't have internet. Or, is internet excluded? I couldn't live without the internet right now. JT - have you ever tried indoor gardening? I have to admit, those Aerogardens look pretty interesting. Where we live, we have a very short growing season so if we end up designing and building our own home, we'd like a greenhouse room. I'm still reading up on them, though. That is pretty awesome about the solar panels. I read somewhere that the cost to install them is going way down as the technology is improving. That is very encouraging. Lucian’s Mommy – my husband reminded me that we couldn’t live off the grid because then we wouldn’t have internet. Or, is internet excluded? I couldn’t live without the internet right now.

JT – have you ever tried indoor gardening? I have to admit, those Aerogardens look pretty interesting. Where we live, we have a very short growing season so if we end up designing and building our own home, we’d like a greenhouse room. I’m still reading up on them, though.

That is pretty awesome about the solar panels. I read somewhere that the cost to install them is going way down as the technology is improving. That is very encouraging.

]]> By: JT http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-479004 JT Fri, 30 May 2008 03:55:34 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-479004 We live in the city, with a big, shaded lot, so growing our own food seems out of the question (many failed attempts!). BUT we have focused on moving towards energy independence. We've reduced our usage through a variety of strategies, and have solar panels (roof gets sun) which generate most of our electrical needs; I am looking into a windmill or turbine for the remainder of what we use. Ideal would be to generate enough electricity to not only power everything in our home, but also charge an electric car and scooter. We'd then literally be "off the grid"! Part of the plan is to also install a solar water heater. We, too, need to beat down some debt before any further installations, but we have out eyes on the prize! Thanks for the post. We live in the city, with a big, shaded lot, so growing our own food seems out of the question (many failed attempts!). BUT we have focused on moving towards energy independence. We’ve reduced our usage through a variety of strategies, and have solar panels (roof gets sun) which generate most of our electrical needs; I am looking into a windmill or turbine for the remainder of what we use. Ideal would be to generate enough electricity to not only power everything in our home, but also charge an electric car and scooter. We’d then literally be “off the grid”! Part of the plan is to also install a solar water heater.
We, too, need to beat down some debt before any further installations, but we have out eyes on the prize!
Thanks for the post.

]]> By: Lucian's Mommy http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-478996 Lucian's Mommy Fri, 30 May 2008 02:11:41 +0000 http://www.bloggingawaydebt.com/2008/05/survivalists-and-living-off-the-grid/#comment-478996 Me and my fiance have been talking about this. At the moment we don't own our land, but we do have tomatoes and some herbs growing in flower pots. We would really like to one day grow our own foods mostly to save money as you said. I can't imagine life "off of the grid". We are currently trying to rid ourselves of our 48000 dollar debt by debt snowballing. And on one income it is proving to be pretty tough, but I stay motivated by reading blogs like yours. Keep it up for us little guys! Me and my fiance have been talking about this. At the moment we don’t own our land, but we do have tomatoes and some herbs growing in flower pots. We would really like to one day grow our own foods mostly to save money as you said. I can’t imagine life “off of the grid”. We are currently trying to rid ourselves of our 48000 dollar debt by debt snowballing. And on one income it is proving to be pretty tough, but I stay motivated by reading blogs like yours. Keep it up for us little guys!

]]>