Are you an aspiring off the grid homesteader/rancher too? But you’re not sure where to begin? This handy guide has a little bit of everything to start you up!
-Laws and Regulations-
Did you know that, more than likely, collecting rainwater in your state is NOT illegal? Many places do not even require a permit, such as Kentucky, so long as you don’t hold more than 10,000 gallons at a time. To see the laws on your state, scroll down the the bottom of this link’s page.
If you’re wanting to live in a small dwelling, know that there are a lot of restrictions that state and local governments have imposed, regarding the minimum legal size. There are loopholes though, that are completely legal. Here is the list of that.
-Starting your Homestead-
My dad was an electrician, but the thought of working with electricity or setting up solar panels TERRIFIES me. This guide really eased my mind though, and it’s so useful. Check it out here.
Feel like you’re just spinning your wheels with no results? Now you can at least have some results (look, crap puns are kind of my thing, sorry). Here is how to make a bicycle generator.
Well, a Well, Well, what do we have here? It’s a guide to help you determine the placement of your well.
Digging a Well
Back in the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder, there weren’t fancy well drilling machines. People had to dig wells by hand, which means, the water isn’t as far down as you may think. If you live on flat ground, without excessive rocks, here is how you can dig a well using PVC & a garden hose.
DIY Wind Turbine
Electricity is nice to have! Luckily for us all though, we don’t need to be “on the grid” to access it. Here is how to build your own wind turbine.
Calculate Needed Land
If you’re serious about going off your he grid, you have to seriously consider how much land your household needs to survive. Here’s the guide to do that. It covers from gardening, to livestock, to pasture, to solar panels.
Build a 12×20 Cabin on a Budget
Your home doesn’t have to be expensive to be a fair size AND built tough! Here is how to do that.
You don’t want to jump into homesteading like a caveman- a stick and a rock as tools will not be pleasant! Here are 45 tools that every off the gridder should have acces to at the minimum.
You have to have a plan of some sort! Here are 28 farm layouts to get you thinking.
-Hands on How-To-
Ever made your own soap? It’s a pretty neat process. Here is how to pull that off on your own.
Although it seems daunting, preserving and tanning hides is an easier task than what you’re thinking. Here is the guide for how to do that, my husband and I tested this method, but with salt, and it was a success.
I don’t have children, but Jaclyn Bree, a momma expert, does- and she cloth diapers. Here’s her all inclusive guide to cloth diapering.
If you live in a non rocky area, your sheep and goats will definitely need their hooves trimmed. It’s easier than you think, even I could do without an issue. Here is how to do that.
No Scale Hog Weight
If you’re anything like me, you’re terrible at guessing an animal’s weight. If you’re curious about the size of your hog, here is how to tell its weight, without a scale, using a simple formula.
Are pigs a good idea?
Not have any hogs yet, but you’re wanting to get some? Here’s a good resource to help you work through if pigs are a good fit for you, how to set up for them, and how to care for them.
Don’t Spill the Milk
Here are some tips and tricks from professionals, that will prevent you from getting kicked when milking your dairy cow.
Is your chick a dude? Haha, don’t hate me. Here is a neat guide to help you determine your young chicken’s gender.
Build a Henhouse
“Let’s build a chicken coop” sounds like a great idea- until you realize you have no idea what you’re doing or even how you want to design your coop. Fear not! This is what you need.
Beekeep with a Mason Jar
Beekeeping doesn’t have to be expensive! Here’s how to use a jar as a hive.
How to Raise Beef Cattle
How to Raise Meat Rabbits
How to Raise Hogs for Meat
How to Raise Sheep for Wool
This guide also shows you how to raise sheep with 4-H showing as an end result.
Gardening with limited homestead space? Here is how to grow 100 lbs of potatoes in 4 square feet. Amazing right? Check out this link to see how that’s possible.
This list shows you the veggies that will last for months after harvest, which means they’re ideal for the homesteader who relies heavily on gardening.
Mason Jars are good for more than canning & Pinterest projects! Here is how you can test your soil with the aid of a mason jar.
-Run your own ‘Pioneer Woman’ Kitchen-
Keep eggs fresh
Anyone who has ever had more than a dozen hens will agree- sometimes eggs go to waste. They’re so sporadic, some days they all lay eggs, and other days you’ll have nothing. Freezing your eggs is a great way to ride out this ridiculous roller coaster. And yes, I’ve tried this myself and you cannot tell the difference in the taste. See how, here.
Dutch Oven Cooking
Small kitchen? Not enough solar power to operate an oven? No big deal! Here’s how to use your Dutch oven (cast iron) like a conventional oven. I love the pumpkin crisps that specifically call for the use of a Dutch oven. Using one is easy, and really fun.
Reuse Coffee Grounds
Homesteading means living a lot like your great grandparents did, which means conserving and reusing what you have as much as possible. Here are fifteen ways you can reuse coffee grounds.
Refrigerators can be a burden on your off the grid solar system, so here is how to survive without one.
Sick of handing your hard money over to Walmart for overpriced groceries? Here are 20 different options you have so that you never have to go back again.
Go Totally OTG
Some people are so fed up with the government, Big Brother watching, and social media’s nosiness in general. Here is the complete, terrifying, guide on how to completely disappear from the grid, and never be found.
Just because you’re “off the grid” doesn’t mean that you don’t need (or want!) cash! Here’s how you can do that.
How to Safely Cut a Tree
Logging is the second most dangerous job in America! Obviously, you need to take great precautions when cutting a tree down as an inexperienced logger. Here’s how.