41 Off The Grid Hacks | Homesteading Tips

Are You *Off The Grid*? Then you’ll love these off the grid hacks that will make living under the radar much better.

41 Off The Grid Hacks To Make Life Easier

Let’s face it…we live in a world full of commodities. So many that we’ve grown very accustomed to a certain lifestyle and it’s difficult when that gets thrown out of whack – especially when you live off the grid. Homesteading brings life back to the basics a bit, but it’s a learning process, to say the least. You learn to get clever with what you have, and sometimes when you learn a new trick you find out later that it’s actually quite an old trick. So why am I telling you all of this? I wanted to share with you all a couple of tricks I’ve learned throughout my homesteading years living off the grid. And so, without further ado, here are some of the off the grid hacks that are useful.

 

1. Use DIY Natural Cleaning Products

Our home staples like lemon juice, bicarbonate soda, white vinegar, salt, hydrogen peroxide, olive oil and Castille soap work for almost everything. Use it to remove stains, eliminate odors, scrub your sink and countertops. The natural cleaning solutions are endless.

 

2. Give Your Goat A Pedicure

Not really a full on pedicure but it pays to know how to trim your goats’ hooves. This is basic animal care and therefore it is essential to your livestock.

 

3. Use Mason Jars For Beekeeping

If you think beekeeping in a small homestead is impossible and expensive, think again! Grow bees from your backyard with this amazing off the grid hack, DIY mason jar beekeeping and even perfect for a suburban backyard.

 

4. Build Your Own Chicken Coop

Building your own chicken coop will let you make use of your budget but ensures your chickens are having a safe and comfy living. Here’re 15 awesome chicken coop designs to choose from.

 

5. Remove Skunks In 3 Simple Steps

The skunks are cute and harmless but they’re darn stinky. Luckily, these 3 simple steps on how to deter them are absolutely doable and effective. The best method I have in my homestead.

 

6. Use Apple Cider To Boost Immunity

Use apple cider as a tonic, to fight off winter cold and flu, or mix it with your livestock’s food or water to boost their immunity. Read all the amazing health benefits of apple cider here and be amazed at what it can do.

 

7. Grow Potatoes Vertically If You Don’t Have Enough Space

Having doubts of growing potatoes because of small space? Grow potatoes vertically! This is an efficient alternative to growing potatoes which tried and tested in my homestead.

 

8. Freeze Eggs To Keep Them From Rotting

I have a generous flock of chicken in my homestead and of course, I don’t pay their generosity through wasting their eggs. I have the mastered the method of freezing eggs. Yes, you can freeze eggs too! Try it and enjoy fresh eggs every day.

 

9. Use A Dutch Oven To Bake Without An Oven

No oven? No problem. Dutch ovens are a great alternative to baking your goodies. Dutch oven does not need an open fire. You can use wood or charcoal briquets to keep your fire low and regulated. Experience and taste the difference outdoor cooking any time of the day.

Speaking of no oven, you’re going to love The Biolite…Fueled by twigs…Generates enough power to cook a meal while charging your phone at the same time.

 

10. Use Rocks To Make A Knife In A Survival Situation

A knife is an essential tool when it comes to survival. Use rocks to make a knife in a survival situation, unfortunately, you just can’t use any piece of rock.

 

11. Test Your Soil The Pioneer Way

Without the use of any special tools, test your soil and find out what necessary components to add to it to ensure a bountiful harvest.

 

12. Get Free Containers To Start Your Seedlings

There’s nothing better than free containers to start your seedlings. This could mean a lot for having a successful garden. However, starting seedlings can be done with just about anything.

 

This may sound simple, but to become a successful gardener you need to have the right gardening tools. ???? pic.twitter.com/gjt3jwGH3z

— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) January 12, 2017

 

13. Calculate The Weight Of The Pig

No need to drag your pig-headed porker to the nearest scale to weigh it. Learn how to calculate it’s weight instead and avoid the hassle of dragging your pig.

 

14. Milk Cows Benefit From Udder Balm

Homemade udder salve is not only simple to make, but it is also ultra-nourishing, and so natural that you could eat it.

 

15. How To Prevent Milk Cow From Kicking You In The Face

There are many ways to prevent your milk cow from kicking you in the face and the very first trick is to calm yourself down. Then the rest follows.

 

16. Use Duct Tape To Kill Squash Bug

Get rid of squash bug without the ruining the leaves of your plants. Who would have known that a duct tape is a perfect solution for squash bug problem?

 

17. Freeze Root Vegetables So They Don’t Get Wasted

There are many ways to preserve your excess root vegetable but freezing them is seems to be the quickest way to do it. Don’t waste any of your excess root vegetables ever again.

 

18. Use Black Plastic Sheeting To Warm Up The Soil For Planting

Ready for planting but your soil is too cold? One rigid winter should never stop a good homesteader for planting early for spring, use black plastic sheeting to warm up the soil for planting.

 

19. Use Water Gallons To Make DIY Watering Cans

There’s no need to buy those expensive watering cans. If you’ve got empty water gallons upcycle it into DIY watering cans.

 

20. Whiskey Barrels Make Awesome Container Plants

Want to start your own container garden? You’re in the right place. Check out our Homesteading Handbook: How to Grow All The Food You Need In Your Backyard.

 

21. Read This Self Sufficiency Guide

This guide is from our friends at ammo.com. It includes everything to how to chose where to live off-grid, What to buy, what to make, what clothes to wear, and more.

 

22. Use Duct Tape To Open Jars Easily

If your jars have been sitting in your cabinet for very long there’s a chance the lids might not open as easily as expected. Use a piece of duct tape to twist that lid right off.

 

23. Use Crayons As Emergency Survival Candles

In a bit you can light these up as an emergency light source! A crayon will burn for 30 minutes, that’s a perfect hint how many crayons should keep in handy.

 

24. In An Emergency Situation, Set Broken Bones Using Duct Tape And Toilet Paper

Setting bones using duct tape and toilet paper, may save your life but please only do this as a last-case scenario. Seek medical attention immediately if you are in any kind of danger.

 

25. Stave Off Frost Bite With Baby Oil

Baby oil has plenty of uses aside from your baby bottoms. It can also do wonders for your skin under extreme weather conditions. Lather it on and keep the frost at bay.

 

26. Carry All Your Water Gallons In One Trip With A Sturdy Stick

Alternatively, you can place the jugs on each end and practice your deadlifts to keep in shape. This will save you some time, but make sure to carry only what you can and don’t over do it.

 

27. Remove Ticks Easily With This DIY Tick Lasso

To remove a tick, just loop the lasso around the tick, where it’s attached, close to the skin. Then pull the ends of the string tight and firmly pull the tick out.

 

28. Use An Old Bike To Make A Crossbow

If you have an old bike just hanging around your garage, time to give it a new lease of life as a crossbow. You never know when you might need this, seriously.

 

29. Use Mason Jars As Liquid Measuring Cups

Mason jars are more commonly used for storage, canning, and sprouting. But they also make great liquid measuring cups, too. Many mason jars even have the sides marked for your convenience.

Check out my favorite canning kit ideas.

 

30. Coffee Grounds Have Endless Possible Uses

So don’t throw them out yet. Find out how you can use coffee grounds for your off the grid lifestyle and be amazed of what you will discover.

 

31. Utilize Youtube

Have you met Doug & Stacy? My favorite Off The Gridders. They’re on the grid enough to share their experience with you. Their homestead is 100% self-sufficient, and their channel is brimming with great tips for your own journey.

 

Read up on the benefits of using a wood burning stove today and you just might get one for your homestead! ???? https://t.co/OM7rnmBqpZ

— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) January 17, 2017

 

32. Save Money By Cutting The Kids’ Hair Yourself

This is a fun skill to have! Every off gridder will love and enjoy cutting a kids’ hair. Imagine the savings you get when you start doing this.

 

33. Use Big Soda Bottles To Store Dry Goods Like Beans and Rice

Soda bottles are made of thick material and provide air-tight seal for your food. Add an oxygen assimilator to every bottle to ensure a much longer shelf-life.

 

34. Replace AA Batteries With AAA Batteries

Don’t have AA batteries when SHTF hits, but has only AAA batteries. Well, you can replace AA with AAA batteries through balling up aluminum foil and cover it into the space inside a battery compartment. AAA and AA batteries has an output of 1.5 volts. They only differ in amperage and in a gadget like a flashlight or weather radio, this isn’t a thing you need to be concern of.

Or check out my favorite product that gives you battery power for life! Buy it here.

35. DIY Survival Lantern

An empty soda or beer can be joined with candles make an excellent lantern in a survival situation. Don’t trash your soda or beer can again. They are very helpful!

 

36. Use A Tarp And A Pile Of Lightweight Branches For A Makeshift Raft

Need to navigate a lake or river without drowning, freezing, or eaten by alligators? Spread a tarp and stack lightweight branches in the middle, then cover the endings and fasten the whole raft with string or paracord.

 

37. Improvised Spear Head Or Arrow

Use your old circuit board to create a super easy yet an effective makeshift spearhead or arrow. Something to pair with your makeshift bow.

 

38. Crisco Can Improvised Candle

Create an improvised candle out of a Crisco can by simply adding a wick and voila – a candle that can last longer than your typical wax candle.

 

39. Snack Chips Make Great Fire Starter

Yes. In addition to being highly addictive and delicious, Doritos and other snack chips are highly flammable. If you are outdoors and got some snack ships, don’t savor it down to the last chip because you’ll never know when you’ll need a fire.

 

40. Instant Rain Jacket Out From Garbage Bag

Cut a few holes in your garbage bag to make a jiffy rain jacket. Well, you won’t win a fashion award with this, but at least it can keep you dry and warm.

 

41. Eyeglasses As Tinder

Use your eyeglasses to direct sunlight into an intense ray of light that will easily kindle fuel to create a fire. An off the grid hack even people who are not into living outdoors can use.

 

Still got time for more off the grid hacks? Check out this video from Blake Weber:

That’s all for now! Living off the grid is like living in a dream. Enjoying all the comforts while not being dependent on the supply of power company. Fully enjoying your skills and what nature has to offer and there’s no limit to that. What one can one ask for? Happy Homesteading!

Did I miss any Off The Grid Hacks? Let me know in the comments.

Can’t get of enough of life hacks? Check out Home Depot Hacks and Homesteading Tips & Tricks and be amazed at how much you can save!

 

Featured Image Via The Modern School Of Life