The Good Life - 10 Tips For Living Off The Grid

• If it all gets too much, you can float out to a quiet spot somewhere and moor your boat for a less intrusive night.
• This is a strong option for those who want to live in both city and countryside.

Harness Sustainable Energy

If you want to truly live off the grid, then you’re probably going to need a dependable source of sustainable energy.

• Probably the best and most common method of doing this is to install solar panels.
• These are a relatively inexpensive and reliable way to power a home, and best of all, they can be installed on canal boats as well.

Pro tip: Solar power is the future, so start investing now.

Build a Support Network

It pays to have support, and nowhere is this more true than when you’re living off the grid. Having friends who are tackling the same lifestyle that you are means you can share tips, prop each other up when you’re down, and have friends to invite over when your out-of-the-way home is finally complete.

• It’s always a good idea to have friends around you, after all.

Create Your Own Water Supply

If you’re not taking water from nature, are you really living off-grid? Many would say no. There are plenty of ways to build your own water supply.

• You could build tanks that collect rainwater, for example, or you could dig a well (provided you have the correct permissions, of course).

Having a water supply makes you even less reliant on the grid.

Consider Composting Toilets

This is probably one of the less appealing aspects of living off-grid, but it’s worth installing a composting toilet instead of a conventional toilet.

• We’re all a little icky when it comes to bodily waste, but it can be great for fertilizing crops, and it’s eco-friendly to boot.

You’re not going to enjoy this stage, but trust us when we say it’ll definitely be worth it.

Ditch the Car

Unfortunately, despite being incredibly convenient, cars are a surefire way to need civilization around you. After all, how else are you going to get fuel? They’re also not particularly eco-friendly.

• It’s time to ditch that car and pick up a pedal bike instead.
• Bicycles are probably the most eco-friendly mode of transport on the planet, so they’re the perfect fit for your new off-the-grid lifestyle.

Grow Your Own Food

Just like having your own water source, growing your own food is a great indicator of a successful off-the-grid life.

• Doing so is easier than you might think; there are plenty of easy-to-grow fruits and vegetables that are great in a wide variety of dishes and won’t take up too much of your time to maintain.
• Once you’re experienced, you can graduate to slightly more taxing growth challenges.

Enjoy the Journey

What are you doing this for if not to enjoy yourself? You swore your off-the-grid lifestyle would bring you joy and happiness.

• Although it is of course not always going to be sunshine and rainbows, it’s not worth doing it if you’re just as miserable as you were living in the city.
• Stay positive, stay focused, and above all, make sure you’re enjoying yourself in your new life.

Embrace Technology Wisely

You don’t need to live entirely technology-free to be an off-the-grid survivalist. It’s entirely possible to maintain your smartphone and still live out in the great outdoors.

• In fact, apps like [AllTrails](https://www.alltrails.com) make this an enticing prospect; if you do get lost, you can easily contact the authorities and they’ll help you.

Don’t feel bad if you’re not ready to ditch the smartphone.