Living off the grid has always intrigued me, a blend of freedom and self-reliance that seemed almost utopian. A year and a half ago, I took the plunge, moving into my custom-built, 400 sqft tiny home on a cliff overlooking a river valley. The journey has been filled with challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons, shaping not just my lifestyle but my perspective on life itself.
The Setup: A Blend of Rustic and Modern
My tiny home, built on a 45 ft trailer, sits amidst undulating terrain and dense forests. It’s heated by a propane-powered furnace and a quaint yet efficient wood stove. With no conventional water supply, I rely on 1000-liter IBC tanks, filled by pumping water from the river below. This is no easy feat, involving a gas-powered pump and a steep 200 ft climb.
Electricity is courtesy of the sun. Ten 310-watt solar panels feed into a charge controller, powering the two 48V Lithium phosphate batteries – the heart of my home. A 6000-watt inverter brings life to the house, and Starlink keeps me connected to the world. For Back-up, we have a generator which also charges our batteries.
Challenges: Mud, Water, and Wood
Mud
There were significant logistical considerations when buying and moving our house to the property. We purchased the home in Sudbury and needed to transport it to La Peche, QC. The transport driver, an eccentric yet professional gentleman accompanied by his dog named ‘Psycho’, skillfully backed the house down a trail just before a sharp and steep turn into off-road terrain, the antithesis of flat. As we watched, our house sink and become buried in mud, I picked up my spade shovel, and joined in digging out the house and truck. This was the start of multiple hours digging and redistributing gravel. Eventually, feeling somewhat confident, the driver pulled forward, then slammed the gas in reverse. I watched in disbelief as my house plowed through the earth, shoveling up dirt and roots. Out of control and bottoming out the trailer on a bump, the driver abruptly halted just short of the cliff’s edge. The house has remained in that exact spot since.
Water
Our first winter presented a major challenge with water, as we had no anti-freezing methods in place for our water system. We endured the entire winter showering at the gym and washing dishes using water from 5-gallon jugs. We have since applied these lessons learned and are currently living a very successful off-grid winter.
Wood
A unique aspect of the house is our exceptionally small wood stove. It’s tiny but surprisingly sufficient to heat the house. When ordering wood from a local farmer, it arrives in 16-18 inch cuts. I then have to further split these logs and cut them into 8-inch pieces to fit in our stove. Needless to say, this has turned us into a mini milling operation.
The Rewards: Serenity and Self-Sufficiency
Despite these challenges, the rewards have been profound. This experience has brought me freedom – freedom from the constant influx of monthly bills. The only bills we pay are for Starlink and our mobile plan. For everything else, we buy what we need, when we need it, and are careful about how much we use. For example, $120 of propane lasts about six months for hot showers and cooking. Four cords of wood heat our home for the winter, rather than the typical 6-8 for a regular home. We own everything and no longer pay rent or a mortgage.
Lessons and Aspirations
Every off-grid experience is unique, demanding patience and creativity. My IT and cybersecurity career finds a strange but inspiring parallel in this rustic life. I dream of integrating IoT and electronics, building sensors to monitor my off-grid setup. Researching and improving is a continuous process, and maybe, one day, I’ll build a permanent off-grid home here.
What I have Learned
Living off the grid isn’t just about being in nature. It’s about adapting, learning, and overcoming. It’s about finding freedom in simplicity and challenges. For anyone considering this path, remember, patience and creativity aren’t just useful; they’re essential.
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