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[babyfarm]

Hi all - I've been lurking a little and thought I'd finally introduce myself - I'm a mama to nine kiddo's (15 to 3), married to dh for 16 years and we're expecting another sweet son this summer.  We co-sleep, babywear, CD, BF.  We've had a rough couple of years financially, gone through some major life changes and have decided that our best option, maybe even our only option, is to move off-grid.  This is something we've talked about for the last couple of years, though I wonder if we'd have ever been brave enough to really do it without being forced?  Anyway, we just purchased our property - 4 unrestricted acres.  I'm super excited and super scared, all at the same time.  We've been making lifestyle changes for the last few years, like hang drying clothes, heating with wood, we got chickens, learned to can, scratch cooking - just trying to build skills and be more self suffcient.  But this whole no running water, power from the grid, bathing/toilet thing - wow - that's going to be a huge change!!  I know we can do it, and I in fact think we will be happier out living like that (someone recently told me I was "two skips away from being a hippy"....lol), and I've read a ton, but if anyone has any tips - I'd love to hear them.  We will be building a small cabin and still need to layout the floor plan (which will be very OPEN, except for a bathroom area we don't really plan on many/any walls).  We're running on a tight budget and a ton of faith:)   Anyway, I look forward to getting to know all of you and learning lots! 

[Caneel]

How very exciting for you! 

We live one foot in a small town, the other foot way out in the middle of the forest (we do have power and running water).  I grew up in a very rural agricultural area where many families were self-sustaining, some off the grid.  

A blog that I am in love with that you might like is Chickens in the Road.  She lives rurally with all sorts of animals.  Her site is full of information.

[babyfarm]

Thanks for the blog -  I'll check it out!

[Sundance_11]

Welcome!

I don't post very frequently, but your post intrigued me.

We've also talked about moving off-grid for quite some time...but just the other day we came to the same conclusion as you:  I don't know if we'll do it unless we have to...and we're considering buying a property that's off-grid...but scared by how much we'll have to change.

So I'm interested in reading any links and info. that people post, as I haven't spent much time about actually living off grid.

~Melanie

[babyfarm]

Hi Melanie - water and power is at the road to our property, so that's our little safety net for if we can't hack it....lol.  But, I really do what to stay off-grid.  Dh works from home, so he does need power for his office stuff.....so, we'll see what happens.  I plan to blog about building our house and all that moving out there entails, but we're not there yet, hopefully in another 6-8 weeks we can get started.....it's killing us to wait!!!!