Many don’t tend to think through what it takes to run a homestead.  There are some who only want to escape the utility bills while others want a true life of self sufficiency.

Yet, with both of these scenarios you’ll need to have various items on hand to make it work.  This is by no means an exhaustive list of those items, but some you should consider if you are going towards an off grid lifestyle:

1. Wood Stove – this will not only let you cook meals, but it can also be incredibly effective in helping to keep the living areas of your home warm.  Definitely a must have for any off-grid lifestyle

2. Manual Type Washer Machine – keeping clothes clean can be one of the toughest chores off-grid.  Using a foot powered washing machine or a 5 gallon bucket with a plunger type setup can help with this.  (See this video for an example: https://youtu.be/riqYz2WEfRQ)

3.  Smoker – Meat is by far the hardest to preserve off-grid.  So having a smoker is key to preserving meat that you can use for later.  Jerky is an alternative, but it’s harder to use in future cooking.

4.  Chainsaw – You’ll need wood for heating your home.   This helps make that process easier.

5. Off-Grid Electrical – wind and solar are popular options, but can have varying effects depending on the weather.  If you’re by a running stream, then hydro may be more dependable.  However, having all three is the best option.

6.  Root Cellar – You’ll need a place to keep your food stored for the long term.  This option works best for most off-grid lifestyles.

7.  Wood Carrying and Storage – You’ll need a way to carry the wood you cut.  A wood caddy helps you with this while avoiding tons of scrapes and bruises.  Also a wood cort will be good for your wood storage.

8. Multimeter – necessary for troubleshooting issues with your off-grid power system.

9.  Regular tools – It goes without saying that you should have access to wrenches, screwdrivers, and regular saws.  All these will come in handy at some point.

While these items above are completely necessary for a homestead or off-grid lifestyle, they are in no way a complete list. 

Truth be told, you sometimes won’t figure it out until you actually get into it and need a specific item.

If you’re getting into the off-grid lifestyle, there are plenty of forums where you can ask questions to help you prepare.  One you may want to consider pursuing is here: https://offthegridforum.com/index.php