10 Of The Worst Mistakes To Avoid When Going Off GridBy Mac Slavo There are lots of things that youll have to learn the hard way in order to go off grid. The path is not easy, but thats no reason not to get started, and move forward on your ultimate plan to live more independently. This off-grid couple, at Fouch-o-matic Off Grid, had to relearn some of the basics to figure out how to live an alternative lifestyle without losing their minds, or facing impossible, labor-intensive tasks. Here are a few tips from those whove learned by trial, error and experience. 1) Solar power is worth it 2) Plants wont grow without (good) soil, and you best be adding some organic material to your soil in order to enrich it. 3) Water runs downhill a source of water that is already elevated can feed pressured water to your dwelling gravity can work in your favor. 4) Carrying water is grueling and demoralizing work figure out plumbing any way you can. 5) Batteries run out, and LED lights can save a lot of energy when you need it the most; your usage will have to adapt to the available capacity. 6) Bears, etc. are attracted to trash and food waste. Plans must include strategies to keep away dangerous animals that could attack your family or pets. 7) Splitting firewood requires lots of tedious work. 8) The couples yurt was very well-insulated in the cold winter, but was very hot during summer, and needed additional ventilation. 9) Temporary is longer than you think so plan accordingly, and allow for the possibility of dealing for much longer than you anticipated or hoped. 10) You can do things you didnt know you could do. Not only did these homesteaders find that they had to humble themselves to frequently learning new things, but they discovered that many of the things they needed to learn are strikingly simple. So simple, its like they should have thought of it already. But you dont know what you dont know! So try, and persist until youve made it and your dream of dropping out of the modern world for a better life can succeed. Image Credit Also Read selfnews Posts Special FREE Survival Report You can read more from Mac Slavo at his site SHTFplan.com Also look into a land patent so you can never lose it to eminent domain or a lawsuit. Then keep your mouth shut about where it is. [no interviews to the media] so they will leave you alone. I have had a land patent in place for several years. The county government has ignored its protections on several occasions so you absolutely must know what the patent does, how to explain it to blinky-eyed government drones and stand firmthey absolutely count on you caving in to their intransigence. Care to elaborate so we can be aware what idiocy is coming next? I would like to go off grid in a year or so. For the last few years I have been accumulating all kinds of material for the move, but living in the East (Ohio) and not wanting to move out West for several reasons. An income being a big reason and family another. I dont know how hard its going to be with all the restrictions local governments put in the way? Im sure others living in the East have done it, I just need to find out how they did it? I am debt free (been so for 15-years) and want to stay that way. Im self employed as a handyman / apartment / home repair man. I want to cut down to part time in the next few years as Im getting older. And a paid-for, off-grid home will play well into that. Going under the radar is probably a way but I need to research it more. Ive been existing off grid for 5 years. I see the first mistake they made going off grid is covering up the bottom edge of the solar panel with wood (see photo) LOL. This can really really decrease the output of the module. 