Had enough of the 'system'? Even on this crowded island you can find low-impact ways to unplug your life. Start with these simple steps:
Find your own land
This should be southfacing, with its own water source – ideally fast-running for hydropower. If there are trees, your fuel is sorted. A few acres of mixed woodland and arable is ideal, but too expensive for most. Better to join forces with others and buy at least 60 acres together, then divide informally. (Don’t use woodlands. co.uk to find your plot, as this charity insists you sign a clause promising not to live there.) Advertise on off-grid.net for your new land-buddies.
Negotiate planning permission
You can buy a field or some woodland and move a camper van, static caravan or a yurt on site right away. If you want to build, consider a straw-bale or insulated wood cabin from as little as £15,000 (see greenbuildingforum. co.uk). Whichever way you go there will be planning hassles. Britain is very tightly controlled – get planning advice from pressure group The Land Is Ours; you may find yourself arguing that the shed on your land is “the office”.
Find water...
Land with a well, spring or stream is more expensive and quite hard to come by. But catching rainwater is fine if you do it efficiently. You need a roof – even if it’s just the roof of your car. You could “free” a set of 500-gallon containers from an orange-juice factory, or buy 2,000-gallon containers (about £1,000 each). You’ll need a waterless toilet, too; there are many designs to choose from and all work well if you treat them right. Read the Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins.
... And power
A wood-burning stove, some solar panels and a battery are all you need for warmth, light and food preparation. Your location will dictate the best choice – consider wind or hydro if conditions suit. Use your car as a back-up (and a stereo).
Then go quiet
If you own a car, see a doctor or send children to school, you’re in the surveillance system. The horse-drawn movement live in horse-drawn wagons and have no ID of any kind. They homeschool their kids and self-doctor. It can be done – see off-grid. net for more.
This article was taken from the October issue of Wired UK magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content bysubscribing online
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
