Going Off the Grid: The How-To-Book of Simple Living and Happiness

I am looking to buy land, build a house and retire in a rural area - somewhere in the Northwest like Montana. I have bought several books so I can hear different perspectives and make sure I cover all my bases before making the plunge. I am also hoping to reduce the chance of mistake or at least minimize mistakes - and costs related to those mistakes. This is my second book to read so far. I liked that the author covered most of my points of interest (off grid power, water wells, security, and communications - like cell phone and internet). The author also covered quite a bit of other things that were not on the forefront of my interests, but equally as important - such as dealing with general contractors and financing. One thing that I thought was great about the book was that the author provided examples of price ranges. Yes...we could all get everything we want if cost was not a factor. But it is good to understand what things may cost so we can determine affordability. For example, knowing how much power is generated from solar makes you start to realize that you may have to pick and choose what appliances and gadgets you will be able to run if you need to stay within a certain price range. Otherwise, you will do without until the sun comes back out!! Haha All in all, it was a very good book, provided some great information, introduced some good resources, and gave a very good perspective of his research and experiences. I would recommend this book to anyone starting their journey to explore living off grid. UPDATE: Now that I have read another book, I would say this one was even better than I originally posted - if that could happen. Definitely stand by my positive review. Also, what differentiated this book from the other was this one actually provided different options with a little background on them. The other one only discussed what that family was doing and the author kept repeating that the reader should do research. I will probably be re-reading this book after I read my other books.

The author is definitely someone I would enjoy having a beer with. He gives wonderful insight into the great aspects of The Simple Life while not letting you think it is an easy process. He tells his story wonderfully and keeps it real the whole time. Great starter if you are thinking of this lifestyle.

I thoroughly enjoyed this easy, quick read to living off the grid. I am very new to this world, and it touched on many aspects I had not given adequate / any thought about. Understandably, its very American based and being in Cape Town, South Africa, some aspects were irrelevant or off the mark. If you're brand new to this world - it's a great introduction.

I'm just dipping my toe into the idea of living off the grid. I'm glad I chose this book, and I plan to read it again and mark it up this time. The author's explanations of the serious considerations; his problems and solutions, was clearly stated, without ego. I think he provides a realistic view of what this major life choice is all about. Plus, he gives ample examples of the problems he faced and exactly how he solved them. I enjoyed the read, and will probably read more of his books.

This is a great place to start for considering some off grid situations. While this information does not apply to all persons looking to transition to off-grid living, the author is well aware of this and makes it clear that this is based in his experiences and beliefs. I found some of the author’s considerations to be useful, some of these things I have not thought about. None of the information is very in depth, but that’s what makes this a good place to start considering your options. I enjoy that author shared a wealth of resources at the end of the book. You can make what you want of the information contained in those resources. The only issue I had is the tone of the book at times. (The author is really fond of doing this!) Just a personal annoyance, doesn’t change the content of the information provided.

If you are looking at going off grid, READ THIS BOOK FIRST! Gary Collins’s book definitely helps navigate through some major would be pitfalls of going off the grid. Of course there are other books to read depending on what you’re plans are, but “GOING OFF GRID” is the back bone book to help you build a solid foundation in planning your off grid home. Gary explains his own personal journey of searching and developing his own off grid paradise with good old down to earth explanations. I felt as if I were having a conversation with the book. By the time I was done, I had more ideas than questions.

This is a good resource to start an off-grid home project. Mr. Collins used his own personal experiences sharing his insights and mistakes (so that the reader doesn’t have to make them). This book breaks down the off-grid process in a realistic manner. An off-grid home is not a small project. It can take 1-5... years to complete. Having cash on hand and being seriously committed is one of the best methods to being successful. Also, doing meticulous research and being patient will also ensure that expectations are met. Usually, the goal of an off-grid lifestyle is the self-reliance and independence. However, these can also be acquired in other ways without the challenges of a complete off-grid home. I recommend reading this book and learning to rid your life of excess and to find ways on how to simplify your life. These days everyone has to do everything and are busy all the time. By simply freeing your schedule, learning simple skills such as cooking, healthy-living, and by reassessing your finances peace may come. Focusing on how to live as simply as comfortable is the forefront to the off-grid lifestyle. Reassess your lifestyle and practice off-gridding before going off-grid. It could save you on a project that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Gives you another perspective and gets you thinking about things before you start a homestead. Liked the energy part, as there are as it of options on the market.

Good basic information.

This is a nice intro to the idea of off grid living. It touches on the basic requirements you will need depending on how off you want to go. The author draws on his own personal experience with his on going project and the pitfalls he encountered. This however is not an in depth technical manual and more like an instructual memoir