Kevin Barry Maguire - How to Get Off the Grid and Survive: Off Grid Living for Preppers and Survivalists: A Beginners Homestead Guide

Copyright 2018 by Kevin Barry Maguire - All rights reserved.

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Congratulations on downloading How to Get Off the Grid and Survive and thank you for doing so.

After writing three stories in the Aftermath of Disaster series, I decided to change gears into non-fiction in this genre. I will return to Aftermath soon, however. I wrote a few outlines for upcoming books so there will be more.

I hope you enjoy the book!

In this chapter, I will discuss the distance your property should be from a city, the size youll need, and a little about the soil.

Youre going to need some property, and it should be far from city life. There isnt much point to going off-grid if youre going to cozy up to civilization. Furthermore, the farther away from urban areas you settle, the less you need to worry about crime.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, from 1993 to 1998, the violent crime rate in urban areas was about 74% higher than the rural rate and 37% higher than the suburban rate. Vehicle theft was similarly higher in urban vs. rural areas (number not given.)

In 2011, the FBI reported violent crime in metropolitan areas was 410.3 per 100,000 people. In suburban areas, it dropped to 382.1 and in rural areas, a minuscule 186.1 per 100,000 people.

For less worry, get as far away as youre able. For some, thats out in the sticks. For others, you may have family you need to check in onolder parents, for instance. You need to take everything into consideration. The best way to avoid problems is to be far away from the people who cause them. As a bonus, the more secluded and harder to reach, the cheaper the land will be.

Make sure you know the zoning laws of the area youre looking at. Not all counties are friendly to off-grid seekers. Dont waste your money on a plot of land you cant live on.

You will want an access road to the property, however. Make sure there is a legal way to access your property. You dont want land that is surrounded by other landowners and no roads leading to your property. You can have the prettiest landscape and view in the county, a beautiful river flowing through, and the richest soil known to man. But if you need a helicopter to reach it, its not at all practical.

Youll want to find property with room to build your home (unless it came with one) and other structures. If youre raising chickens, a chicken coop is a must. Other buildings to consider are a tool shed, barn, outhouse, well, water storage, etc. Youll also need to allocate a large portion of land to farming. You will grow most of your food, so make sure the ground is fertile.

Water is your most vital need, you can only live a few days without it. You can go without food for several weeks, although, its not recommended. When looking for property, ask if there is a well dug already, it will save you money. If there is not a well and you like the property, call in a professional to make sure the property has water, and a well can be dug. If possible, build your home over the well to remove the need to run outside for water.

If you have the time to shop around, a clean running stream, creek, or river on your property is almost a necessity. Youll have a well for your drinking water and to water your plants. The well should be at least 100 feet from the outhouse. Also, make sure the outhouse is downstream from where you take water, bathe, etc.

With the stream, youll have a secondary source of water and maybe even some fish! Who doesnt like a fresh trout occasionally?

If you have survival skills, you can do away with the countryside and look for a beautiful piece of land covered in forest. You can still plant a small garden, but most of your food will come from hunting and gathering. Before choosing that option, youll want to become familiar with your state hunting regulations. As before, try for property that has clean water running through it.

The forest offers more seclusion and safety but reduces the amount and type of food you can grow. Unless you have a clearing, youll need food that does well in the shade. If you plan on building your own cabin, youll be making a clearing to get the wood for your cabin. You can either dig up the stumps or grow around them. You might find the countryside offers better scenery, however.

Figure 1 Homestead with buildings

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The photo gives an idea of how much land youll need. You may not need all those buildings, or you may need more. One acre may be a little tight, whereas 5 acres will be quite roomy. If you dont know how big an acre is, imagine a football field and you have about an acre. Its not a perfect fit, but its close enough to imagine the size. From the back of the end zone to the back of the other end zone, a football field is 1.32 acres.

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The minimum structures youll want on your property are the home, outhouse, and well. Look into a composting toilet for this need. Youll want a shed and water storage. If your supply runs dry or gets contaminated, the storage will be a lifesaver. If youre going to keep farm animals, youll need a barn and a chicken coop if youre raising chickens.

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Then you need to think about your crops. What will you grow? How much will it take to last a year? Do you have farm animals? They need to eat too, and youve got to plant their food. A horse or two will come in real handy to plow those fields. Horse and cow manure will also make good fertilizer.

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Some other structures to think about include a smokehouse, work shed, and a nice place to tan hides and dry meat for pemmican. Its your property, and youll have lots of time on your hands. Make sure you have enough room to keep yourself busy!