As with learning any new skill, learning the survivalist lifestyle, no matter to what degree you practice it, has a learning curve.

Here are some foundation builders you should consider and some mistakes you should avoid.

• Mistake #1: Not using solar power.
• Mistake #2: Not enriching soil with organic material.
• Mistake #3: Not taking advantage of elevated water sources.
• Mistake #4: Not setting up a proper waste disposal system.
• Mistake #5: Not bringing a gun.
• Mistake #6: Not understanding local zoning laws.
• Mistake #7: Not investing in production animals (bees, chickens, etc.).
• Mistake #8: Not having basic gardening knowledge.
• Mistake #9: Not being physically and mentally prepared.
• Mistake #10: Not having fun.

Going Off the Grid – How to Get Started

Going off the grid requires a high degree of self-sufficiency. I have many friends who’ve left behind the trappings of everyday life (materialism, mortgage payments, etc.). But it definitely wasn’t easy. They had to learn a lot, as well as become tougher mentally. When someone moves off the grid for the first time, there will be a quite a bit of culture shock. Think about it- your lifestyle will be completely labor-dependent. If you become lazy, you could die. As I mentioned in a previous article, there are nine things you need to go off the grid. They include:
• Land
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Waste Disposal
• Security
• Medical
• Power
• Communication

Practice Self-Sufficiency Beforehand

If you’re a newbie, I highly recommend practicing self-sufficiency before going off the grid. By this, I mean you should do things where you currently live that will teach you how to be self-sufficient. Here are some examples:

Plant a Garden

I’m not just talking about a garden with one or two types of vegetables. I’m talking about building a garden with a variety of vegetables. See if you can manage this where you currently live. If you can’t do it where you are now, how can you expect to do it going off the grid? In short, you won’t be able to. Even if you live in an urban environment, you can still plant a garden.

Become a Repairman

When things break in your home, don’t hire someone else to fix them. Try fixing them yourself. Remember, part of being self-sustainable is being able to fix your own stuff. This includes vehicles, appliances, clothing, and tools (among other things). When going off the grid, you won’t be able to call someone if your solar charger breaks. You’ll need to figure things out on your own.

Learn About Food Preservation

Are you familiar with food preservation techniques like canning, dehydrating, or freezing? If not, start learning about them. These will be huge in your quest for going off the grid. You can preserve foods relatively inexpensively, especially with today’s modern-day techniques. Food preservation techniques are beyond the scope of this article.

Practice Frugality

I know I’m being a little philosophical here, but remember that going off the grid is about minimizing your “baggage” (both mental and physical). No matter where you are right now, learn to appreciate what you already have. Resist the urge to buy things you don’t need. Self-sustainability requires that you develop discipline like you’ve never had before. While hard in the beginning, I promise that you’ll become a better person because of it.

Learning New Skills – The Key to Self-Sustainability

The more you know, the more you’ll thrive. I’m sure that anyone who’s been off the grid for any significant amount of time would agree. Learning new skills, even just the basics, can go a long way towards making your experience off the grid a pleasant one. Here’s a list of some of the things you need to learn before going off the grid:

• Advanced food preservation techniques
• Butchering and field dressing livestock
• Collecting water (hand pumps, rain barrels, etc.)
• Filtering and purifying water in large volumes
• Woodworking
• Clothing/knitting patterns
• Alternative medicine and basic first aid
• Basic surgery
• Vehicle, tool, and equipment repair
• Beekeeping

Acquiring Fresh Water

The human body can go weeks without food, but only days without water. If you don’t get your water situation handled when going off the grid, your experience will be far from pleasant. Rather than tap into a municipal water source (or drill a well), consider taking a more “primal approach”. My favorite option is collecting rainwater and storing it in tanks. Once setup, this system is mostly automated. I also like it because it’s inexpensive. Plus, with just a little filtration, rain water can be turned into fresh and healthy drinking water.

Electricity

Would you think I’m crazy if I told you that the entire power grid is incredibly inefficient? Well, it is. This complex network of electrical components requires constant maintenance and monitoring. Not to mention, if one line is lost, it could mean power outages for thousands of other people. Imagine if everyone had their own way of generating electricity- this would be a non-existent problem! As I mentioned earlier in the article, the best ways to acquire energy are with solar chargers, wind turbines, or water-powered generators.

The survivalist way of life is mostly common sense – be prepared should bad stuff happen.

Learning it, however, like any new challenge, requires new skills and avoiding mistakes most of us have made – sometimes repeatedly.

To learn more on what you need to know if you are just getting started preparing for a survival scenario, check out Truth Survival.