Off-Grid Living

In my job here at Tractor Tools Direct I talk to people throughout North America, including Alaska and Hawaii. I thoroughly enjoy engaging these folks in conversation to learn about their homesteads and to get a glance into their reasons for purchasing our equipment. With virtually every person I speak to the theme is the same; they wish to gain more independence. The terms “Off The Grid” and being prepared seem to pop up occasionally. That may be only independence from having to have someone bale their hay for them, but with virtually all, the conversation leads to the fact that they are producing some amount of the food they are consuming or selling to supplement their household income. These folks are producing livestock, fruit and vegetables, hay, or other agricultural products for their own consumption and to sell. 

How “Off the Grid” can we really be? 

Most view a totally self-sustainable lifestyle as a fantasy. However, there are an estimated 75,000 people in North America who have given up modern living and are living with no input from the outside world. The Amish population, whose lifestyle takes virtually nothing from the outside world, is estimated at 400,000 in the US and approximately 6,000 in Canada. Like most of you who are reading this, I’m not ready to permanently give up electricity or my car, but I am constantly searching for ways to be less dependent on the systems of our society and be somewhat prepared in the event of a pandemic or natural disaster. Take for instance the havoc left behind in the southeastern United States by hurricane Helene. We’re not likely to see their faces on the news, but there are some people in those areas for whom this was less of a disaster and more of a major inconvenience because they were prepared. 

There is a fast-growing number of us who are in the “radical center” of off-grid living. For some that means being as independent as possible. For me it means having a large garden growing and preserving as much of the food that my family and I consume as possible. For some it will mean having livestock and a large garden. For others this radical center means producing some of the food you consume and buying as much as possible from local producers. For others it may be that you attend your local farmers market to purchase a few items knowing that you are supporting local small farmers. Wherever you fall in that radical center, I applaud you for doing all that you are doing. 

There is no doubt about the trend. Our country is becoming more urbanized. Rural America is de-populating, meaning fewer people are living in rural areas, have rural ties, or any understanding of agriculture and self-dependence. But if people from metropolitan America truly want more local food sources, there is a tremendous opportunity to build a relationship of mutual respect and transparent, educated engagement with local food producers. This should include our support for farmers’ markets and local farms. As a consumer, by seeking out locally produced food, you can build a relationship with the person who is producing your food. You will have a much more thorough knowledge and transparent understanding of what goes into your food. 

When you have a transparent relationship with the people producing your food you can have discussions about the quality of your food–discussions about pesticides, herbicides, food additives fed to the livestock, drugs administered to the livestock. When you have these discussions, I’ll bet you will find that pesticides are applied only as needed, few if any herbicides are used, and few if any antibiotics are used on their livestock – not blanket applied as a preventative measure as commercial growers do. Locally produced food has no chemicals applied to keep it fresh during transportation and storage. As well, this food has been handled by only the person who is producing it. This greatly reduces the chance of any kind of contamination. 

Our mutual love for agriculture, healthy food and stewarding the earth, what might that look like? 

Ultimately, off-grid living doesn’t have to mean complete isolation. By fostering connections within your community, you can enjoy the benefits of self-sufficiency while maintaining a supportive social network. The coronavirus pandemic of a few years ago proved the frailty of our food supply chain and the importance of self-sufficiency and having a relationship with local producers. Those local producers weren’t likely to have a supply of toilet paper stashed away, but the insanity going on around us didn’t stop their crops or livestock from growing. There will be other pandemics and other global disruptions of the food system in the future – of this, there is no doubt. I believe social interaction and friendly relationships with the people who produce my food are very important. I want to know where my food comes from. 

Accept the Duality: Recognize that you can be both independent and connected. 

The key is to find a balance that allows you to thrive in both realms. Living completely off the grid is an appealing concept for many seeking a simpler, more self-sufficient lifestyle. However, achieving that radical center between independence and connection to mainstream society can be a challenge. Those who are experiencing the greatest satisfaction of this lifestyle are likely connected with others who share a similar passion. Making it somewhat of a community to share knowledge, experience and resources. 

Fortunately, for most of us, part of living in the radical center of the off-grid lifestyle includes some form of internet usage and social media access. Use this to your advantage; it gives you access to a wide array of information that is advantageous when starting and maintaining this lifestyle. Using social media to network is one of the most invaluable tools you will have to get started. You can easily connect with groups in your region and beyond as well as stay in contact with support organizations. 

No matter the area you live in, I assure you there are others who are either living in that radical center of off-the-grid life or are longing to. Collaborating with those people can provide a valuable source of shared resources. A strong network can provide support during challenging times. This support may range from simply using a group of people as a sounding board for your ideas or as important, bartering for help during busy times in exchange for the goods you produce or grow. 

Balance your radical center of off-grid living with the rest of life; don’t go it alone. 

It seems that some are hesitant to pay a slightly higher price for goods because they can buy cheaper at the local big box store. This is true but it is important to support local producers. Not only are you getting all the advantages I’ve already mentioned but you are contributing to a much smaller carbon footprint for not only yourself but your community. Buying locally produced food eliminates virtually all of the environmental impact of transporting and storing the commercially produced food products. It also eliminates all the single use plastics and packaging products that go directly to the landfill. 

By selling goods you produce and buying goods which are produced locally, those dollars are staying in your local communities–allowing local farmers to sell their products at a retail price rather than having to accept much lower warehouse auction prices. This increased profit for the farmers allows them to grow their business, which leads to the need for more staff, which creates more jobs in your local community. 

If your goal of off-grid living is to supplement your household income by producing and selling goods and services, these same principles apply to you. Choosing to purchase locally grown food and encouraging those around you to do the same is an important way to support your local economy, contribute to your community, improve your health, and do your part to protect the environment. By making even small purchases from your local shops and producers, your money and support will go a long way toward strengthening your community. 

According to World Food Program USA, by 2050 there will be 10 billion people on earth. This increased population will bring with it a need for 60% to 70% more commercial food production as compared to current farm production. This article stated that this increase will be a major hurdle. For myself, this is great motivation to continue my trek in the radical center to be more independent and to support those around me who are doing the same. 

If you have enjoyed reading this and would like to see articles on other subjects, let me know. Write to me and let me know what subject you would like to read about in the future. johnw@tractortoolsdirect.com