Utilities

A great method for managing sewage is to convert it into compost. If done correctly, your compost will destroy any pathogens and make it safe to use to feed your plants. I personally would only use it for trees and non-food plants, but that’s a personal choice. It is safe for even vegetables.

Another ancient method used to cook food for thousands of years. Building your own earthen oven allows you to cook your food and bake bread. The only requirement is a consistant wood source to heat the oven. Spain is responsible, in large part, for spreading this idea around the planet.

This is such an awesome idea. Rocket mass heaters use substantially less wood than a typical fireplace. It’s common for them to have seats built into them. Because of the mass, they radiat the heat for hours, giving off a comforting warth to heat your house.

Cooking food using the sun is a free resource that could help you reduce your expenses. You can buy commercial solar ovens or even build them yourself using cheap and readily available materials. One of the biggest downsides of solar ovens is they don’t brown foods very well. The upside is you’re not paying for fuel. See if solar ovens could help you by reading this article.

It is very possible to catch enough rain to supply all your water needs. Even in the desert. For every inch of rain, a 50′ x 100′ tarp can capture 3,117 gallons of water. Run that water into a cistern and you are now building up a sustainable water source. There’s a variety of methods to catch rain. Learn more about this concept in this article.

The best way to power a house off-grid is to begin with understanding your specific conditions. If you live in the desert, the sun would be the first place to find power. If you live next to a fast moving year-around creek or river, a hydro power solution would be my first option. If you live at the base of a mountain with heavy tree canopy and it’s very windy, than a wind turbine is likely a good solution. Learn more from this article and make the right choice the first time!