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Welcome to Life Unplugged, your guide to living off grid with alternative energy
on the modern homestead. It is not necessary to give up all modern conveniences
to reduce your carbon footprint when you utilize alternative energy and green building
techniques. Passive solar design coupled with straw bale, cob, cordwood, or earthbag
construction can yield an efficient, comfortable, and green built structure for
your homestead. Solar panels and wind turbines are tried and true forms of alternative
energy, but new technologies such as geothermal, micro hydro, and bio-diesel offer
additional flexibility to power your off grid homestead. Explore our collection
of articles covering new and old technologies that are sure to be of use in your
modern homesteading adventure. |
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Building with Earthbags
Earth is one of the oldest and most plentiful building materials known to man.
Why purchase a material and pay to have it transported when suitable earth s
almost always close at hand. Earthbag construction is a green building option
that has been utilized by for thousands of years. |
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Generate Electricity with a Wind Turbine
Wind energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the United States. Clean
and relatively inexpensive wind turbines harness the energy in wind and are an
attractive option for those looking for an alternative way to power their
homestead.
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Getting Started with Beekeeping
Getting started with beekeeping is a great way to explore alternative livestock
if you are starting on the road to self-sufficiency. Bees are easy to get
started and the results of your efforts can be very rewarding.
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Benefits of Solar Water Heaters
Utilizing solar energy to meet your water heating needs is one of the most
economical ways to implement alternative energy on your homestead. Solar water
heaters are can function in nearly any climate and are a great solution for
people living off grid. |
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Homesteading is hard work whether you are collecting eggs from the chickens,
feeding the livestock, or tending the garden. Growing organic produce
can be an adjustment for those used to using chemical pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizer but I wouldn’t say that organic gardening is more difficult. Composting
your kitchen scraps, livestock manure, leaves, and lawn clippings takes time but
not labor to produce free nutrient rich compost for your homestead’s garden. Mulching
with your compost fertilizes the soil and aids in water retention which reduces
labor requirements and conserves water. Who knows what hormones are injected into
the animals that provide our eggs, beef, chicken, and pork. Save money and enjoy
fresh nutritious meat and eggs by raising your own livestock and poultry on your
homestead. Learn more about raising livestock and organic gardening on Life Unplugged,
your source for all things on the environmentally responsible modern homestead. |
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Hybrid vs Heirloom Garden Seeds
Planting a garden from seeds is the most economical way to start growing
vegetables and herbs, and it has the added advantage of providing you with many
more options than if you use nursery plants. For homesteaders, the question is
usually not whether to plant from seed, but which kind of garden seeds to use. |
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Gathering Wild Mushrooms
Mushroom hunting is a time-honored tradition in many rural areas, and it's not
just about getting a little free food. Many wild mushrooms are considered
delicacies, and difficult or impossible to find in stores. For example, morel
and chanterelle mushrooms have amazingly complex flavors and can be used in a
huge variety of dishes. If you've only tried the bland white mushrooms sold in
grocery stores, you're missing out! |
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Learn How to Brew Mead from Honey
 If you
would like to add an alcoholic beverage to the list of items you produce on your
sustainable homestead, consider brewing mead. Mead is a great beverage for the
beginning brewer because it requires little specialized equipment and it only
needs three commonly available ingredients; water, honey, and yeast. |
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Our Favorite Homesteading Blogs
Can't learn enough about self sufficient living? Check out this collection of
our favorite blogs and follow the adventures of homesteaders across the country
and around the world.
Check out the 'Carpe Diem Acreage' Blog that was recently added to our blog
collection! |
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The Practical Vegetable Garden
Gardening can be an expensive proposition, and a surprising number of people
spend more money than they save by growing their own food. This isn't
necessarily a bad thing; after all, homegrown fruits and vegetables taste better
and are more nutritious than their supermarket counterparts. But if your goal is
saving money, or if you don't have the time to devote to growing all of your
family's produce, it makes sense to garden with practicality in mind. |
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Historical and Modern Homesteading
Homesteading, or living off the land, will never be seen as a particularly
modern lifestyle. However, it is interesting to note that homesteading -- as
it's thought of today -- is a relatively new practice that has greatly evolved
over the past several decades. |
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How to Build a Wood-Fired Cob Oven
 A growing number of people are realizing the fun
and functionality of building cob ovens. Wood-fired cob ovens can be built to
whatever size best suits the user. Some restaurants have earthen ovens
that are six feet across! No matter the size of the oven you wish to build, the
techniques used are very similar. |
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Learn How To Make Homemade Sausage
Enjoy your own homemade sausage. Making sausage is an art form and you will
get better with practice, but almost everyone who tries is surprised how easy it
is to start, and how little equipment it requires. Try making your own homemade
sausage today! |
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Benefits of an Earth Sheltered Home
Some people assume that an earth
berm home is dark, cave-like, and buried in the ground, but it is in fact quite
the opposite. Instead of the builder placing the home under the ground, he or
she brings the earth up, so to speak, to cover the outside walls of the
dwelling. Earth berm homes (and earth sheltered homes) have many benefits to
both the homeowner and the planet. |
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