Our family jokes about the zombie apocalypse quite often.
Perhaps Chrissy should stop watching Zombieland so much. However, we actually talk about what we would do if a natural disaster happened. If you had to survive through a natural disaster, how well would you hold up without modern conveniences? I think most people wouldn’t fare so well. Even in Maine, once word of a snowstorm hits, people are running to the store for milk and bread, as if they couldn’t sustain themselves for a day or two.
Our homesteading practices would help reduce the impact that certain disasters might present. We have a wood stove for heating and cooking purposes. The family works together to preserve our own produce for food storage. Our chickens lay eggs throughout the year.
How much further would it take to live off the grid?
These thoughts make me ponder if living totally off the grid, without reliance on any outside sources, could be possible. Imagine growing, storing, and preparing your own food. It would be a lot healthier than depending on the grocery store. Could you utilize a renewable energy source? It would be a huge amount of work-but would it be a fair trade to not run the typical “rat race” most Americans are running?
For the next few days, I’m in Montreal, Canada.
So far, it looks a lot like a larger version of Portland, Maine, with taller buildings. I’ve been eating poutine and crepes. You would never think that a short distance away, people are living “off the grid”. As I Google search “live off the grid” in my hotel room, numerous articles pop up regarding how to live off the grid in Canada, why it isn’t possible for most Canadian citizens, and how to choose an alternate energy source if you’re really serious.
There are critics, but we may be forced to partially live off the grid anyway.
Many people are skeptical about the concept. Adam Ozimek, a Forbes contributor, argues that those that choose to live off the grid are hypocrites. He states that most benefited from society and have the economic means to now make a lifestyle change. He might be right. However, if society doesn’t find a way to make our population sustainable, we might have to live without the “necessities” as our resources are being depleted. Ed Essex, a contributor to Mother Earth News, talks about how living off the grid could achieve a happy medium.
What are your thoughts? Could you live off the grid?
Do you think this method of living could help combat climate change? Or is it just a pipe dream? I’d love to see what you think; please post below.
