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Off-the-grid communities: 5 places carving a sustainable path
Learn about several communities around the United States where people live independent of any utility connections in sustainable, self-sufficient villages.
Thu, Jul 28 2011 at 4:02 PM
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A shot of the lodge at Breitenbush, a community set on 154 acres near Detroit, Oregon. (Photo: MrLunch/Flickr)
Phones are wireless. Laptop computers are wireless. Why can’t an entire neighborhood be wireless? No power lines, no telephone lines, no sewer lines?
While not everyone wants to embrace the challenges that come with living independent of any utility connections, a number of communities across the globe are experimenting with living off the grid as part of being a sustainable, self-sufficient village.
An April 2006 article in USA Today stated that according to Richard Perez, publisher of Home Power magazine, about 180,000 American households were living off the grid.
British journalist and documentary filmmaker Nick Rosen interviewed some of them for his book, "Off the Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America." People living off-grid range from environmentalists looking to lessen their impact on the planet to survivalists striving for self-sufficiency is advance of the collapse of civilization.
Some off-the-grid communities are little more than subdivisions beyond the reach of any power company, where homeowners fend for themselves. Some off-the-grid communities take the intentional community approach, a gathering of like-minded residents living in a cooperative manner (and if you think that sounds like a commune, well, you’d be right).
Here’s a look at some of them:
Three Rivers Recreation Area
More than 500 homes are scattered across 4,000 acres about an hour drive from Bend, Ore. None of them is connected to the power grid. The homes in this subdivision — a mix of multimillion dollar homes and shacks — use solar panels, wind turbines and back-up generators to provide electricity. Some have wells, others have water hauled in by a service. The development of mostly vacation homes — there are fewer than 100 permanent residents — started in the 1960s.
Greater World Community
This 634-acres development near Taos, N.M., claims to be the world's first Earthship subdivision — an Earthship being a passive solar house made of natural materials such as adobe and recycled tires, cans and other materials. The homes here are on large lots of two acres or more. A two-bedroom, one-bath Earthship with solar hot water system and six solar photovoltaic panels is on the market for $295,000. Residents of the Greater World have access to 347 acres of community land, open green space with hiking, biking and parks.
Breitenbush
Breitenbush is an intentional community set on 154 acres near Detroit, Ore., that operates the Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center. About 60 people live here permanently. An onsite hydropower plant supplies electricity for the complex of 100 buildings. Geothermal wells provide heat.
Earthaven
The 35 buildings in this community of about 60 people living and working in Black Mountain, N.C., are powered by solar panels and hydropower generated by a micro-hydro system in Rosy Branch Creek. Residents catch water off of roofs for use in irrigation. The community is 320 acres of homes and farms with plans to become a village of at least 150 people on 56 home sites.
Emerald Earth
This intentional community on 189 acres Mendocino County near Boonville, Calif., was founded in 1989. The dozen or so people living here share a common house with a main kitchen, eating and meeting areas and shower. There is also a bathhouse/greenhouse with a sauna, showers and garden greenhouse. There are four small cabins heated by passive solar and wood stoves. Solar panels and a gas generator provide electricity. Use of composting outhouses means there is no need for a septic system.
Know more about off-the-grid communities? Leave us a note in the comments below.
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im 54 years old and grew up off the grid, living the simple life, trying to start an off-grid self-sufficient simple living community, looking for interested people to join me. if you are interested drop me a line ogre_beast@yahoo.com
VERY VERY interested in joining one of these communities or anyones closer to Ohio as well. I can grow many crops and raise many animals. And have cotton seeds to make yarn for clothes.
Super interested in joining a community im 26 years old hard working an love learning new things!. rossjarvis@sympatico.ca
We are 39 and 40 and have slaved in the work world our whole lives without ever getting ahead. We are extremely interested in information on starting a new life off the grid and without big brothers watchful eye.
We have very little money to get started but both have unique skills and can hunt fish and farm. Any information would be very welcome.
JMKIFFER@GMAIL.COM
seeking community to join... musician , sovereign law expertise...... gardener, cannabis oil healing... organic gourmet cook, activist, filmmmaker - https://www.youtube.com/user/earthicastar?feature=mhee
...... earthican_world@yahoo.com
I am a 23 year old young man lookin for an intentional community I have basic survival skills meaning I can fish and grow produce I also have basic skills in carpentry and I am seriously interested in living off the land I am tired of being considered a piece of property for I am a living human being born free of this world I would like to know of an intentional community independent and free of government reign please contact me at jeremiah993@yahoo.com
I have always been interested in living off the grid,moreso now than ever.I'm in my early 50's and have a 30 yr.old Down Syndrome son that I have full responsiblitly for.I'm ready to move ahead and live out the rest of my life in a community of like minded people.
Live Simple, I also am in my early 50's and have full responsibility of caring for my mentally disabled sister. I am looking to start a community of like minded people in SW Wi. Lets chat email me at offgridlife4me@hotmail.com
I have aspired to independence from the control grid for my entire life. Today I am afraid that for your literal survival, we are all going to have to face just that!
Just trying to connect with others to inspire my path. I live in Az and would wish to remain here. I spent 20yrs away in Ia and feel all the Earth is home but Az is home base. Anyone know of anyone here living this way??
i would love to find a community freedom living in az is there one out their
I am glad to see that so many people are doing similar to what my boyfriend and I are planning on doing all over the country! Like a lot of people that have posted, we are tired of working to pay the utilities and rent and are buying a piece of land and plan to live on it full time off grid within the next two or three years!
Just moved to Utah county, Utah from Hawaii and looking for people living self sustainably here. It is done common on the big island of Hawaii and wondered how people fared here.
i am in mid 50's very good shape. i hunt, fish, and raise food. i'm tired of the rat race. i am a business owner but it's gettin harder and harder to satisfy all the agencies. i am in n.e. louisiana and am ready to sell out and drop out. i have access to land or i can relocate. am lookin for likeminded person. let me know if interested.
Hello,
My name is Adam. I am 23 years old and am very interested in helping with your dream. I am healthy and strong and a great survivalist. I am an expert horticulturist, and know i can be a great hand. Would love to here more from you about this. I am currently living in Salem Or. as a full time studio photographer, and want a more natural life for me and my 2 year old pup.
thank you,
Adam C. S.
sovereign woman interested and looking for same
Dear Adventurous One,
I feel your pain .... has anyone responded and do you have any information you can pass on about "living off the grid" I'd love to hear from you... Thanks Karma
karmajade38@gmail.com
im45... like minded like you... have the same mind set...,, dont want to be part of this new world, that is being esbashished...... i live in north dakota.. have for a year..... rather be near woods, lakes, rivers... rather be survivaling on my own..... i am a tradesman... i can do anything...... im very easy going..... very friendlly...... hard working..... lets see if we could connect?
where r u now?i'm on the border of ny n pa.
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