The 15 Things You Must Know
to Survive the Fall of America
“Must Do” #10: Getting Off the Grid
More ways to be self-sufficient and thus self-reliant.to Survive the Fall of America
“Must Do” #10: Getting Off the Grid
While on assignment in Hawaii back in the 1980s, I had the pleasure of Sea Trekking between the islands. At about the halfway point on our journey we pulled into a small bay on the North shore of Molokai. After a 20 minute hike up the mountainside surrounding the bay we came upon a remote homestead.
Time has passed and while I forgot the name of the couple whose homestead this was, the memory of what they had accomplished remains front and center. They had created what I viewed as Nirvana, an entirely self-sufficient, self-dependent existence on a piece of paradise.
Here’s how they did it. First, they started with a dream. That dream led them to years of pouring over county maps, looking for the perfect piece of property. After many false starts they struck gold. The owner of this idyllic spot on the island of Molokai listened to their vision and ended up deeding them the property for $1. That turned out to be the easy part.
Next, they endeavored to provide shelter for themselves. To say the location they had chosen was remote doesn’t convey how isolated they were. There are only two ways to access their plot of land. By sea, which is only possible for six months during the year due to the high wave action in the fall and winter months. By land, which required a two day hike from the nearest road.
Over the next four years they endeavored to build their dream home. Hauling lumber, cement, plumbing, wiring by boat and over land. From the mountain tops, two miles distant, they ran water pipes from a natural spring. Part of their genius was using this water source to provide additional water (they had set up a water catchment system to collect rain water for bathing and drinking) for irrigation of their garden and to run a series of propellers to generate electricity. Of course, being in Hawaii, they used solar power to heat their water and provide backup power for their battery system. They also had a generator in case all else failed.
Time has passed and while I forgot the name of the couple whose homestead this was, the memory of what they had accomplished remains front and center. They had created what I viewed as Nirvana, an entirely self-sufficient, self-dependent existence on a piece of paradise.
Here’s how they did it. First, they started with a dream. That dream led them to years of pouring over county maps, looking for the perfect piece of property. After many false starts they struck gold. The owner of this idyllic spot on the island of Molokai listened to their vision and ended up deeding them the property for $1. That turned out to be the easy part.
Next, they endeavored to provide shelter for themselves. To say the location they had chosen was remote doesn’t convey how isolated they were. There are only two ways to access their plot of land. By sea, which is only possible for six months during the year due to the high wave action in the fall and winter months. By land, which required a two day hike from the nearest road.
Over the next four years they endeavored to build their dream home. Hauling lumber, cement, plumbing, wiring by boat and over land. From the mountain tops, two miles distant, they ran water pipes from a natural spring. Part of their genius was using this water source to provide additional water (they had set up a water catchment system to collect rain water for bathing and drinking) for irrigation of their garden and to run a series of propellers to generate electricity. Of course, being in Hawaii, they used solar power to heat their water and provide backup power for their battery system. They also had a generator in case all else failed.
The bay which they overlooked was an abundant source of food. The hillsides surrounding their home were populated by deer and wild pigs. Combined with their garden of vegetables, food was in year round supply. They had also made arrangements with a few regularly passing ships who plied the seas around their homestead to bring in occasional supplies like reading materials, toilet paper, gasoline (for the generator) and clothing. This was the status of their place when I visited. By now, I imagine they’ve installed wind generators and figured some way to connect to the internet. They are nothing if not resourceful.
To me, this husband and wife team define getting off the grid. Back in the mid 80s, when I visited them, the concept was not widely thought of, and certainly not the topic of conversation it is these days. But what they illustrate more than what the end result of getting off the grid can be, is the careful planning, hard work and commitment required to truly get off the grid and be self sufficient.
To me, this husband and wife team define getting off the grid. Back in the mid 80s, when I visited them, the concept was not widely thought of, and certainly not the topic of conversation it is these days. But what they illustrate more than what the end result of getting off the grid can be, is the careful planning, hard work and commitment required to truly get off the grid and be self sufficient.
It’s not for everyone, you have to be ready to say “If I never see another person in my life, I’ll be ok.” A lot of us can’t do that. Or at least not without losing our sanity. Quite frankly, most of us couldn’t do the back-breaking work required to achieve this dream.
But for those of you to whom such an existence resonates, you can save a lot of time, energy and false starts by picking up a copy of the hit underground documentary, “The Fall of America and the Western World.” This film talks at length about many topics including our current financial state, how we got here and why it’s likely to stay this way. It also offers extensive actionable tips about how to protect yourself from the coming Greater Depression. But for our purposes in today’s newsletter, the film also offers great advice and concrete ideas on how to get off the grid. How to provide your own power. How to create your own garden. How to provide your own heating and air conditioning, naturally. And while a homestead overlooking a bay on the island of Molokai may not be possible for you, getting off the grid can be done practically anywhere. So start dreaming, and then get to work .
Regards,
Jimmie Rivers
But for those of you to whom such an existence resonates, you can save a lot of time, energy and false starts by picking up a copy of the hit underground documentary, “The Fall of America and the Western World.” This film talks at length about many topics including our current financial state, how we got here and why it’s likely to stay this way. It also offers extensive actionable tips about how to protect yourself from the coming Greater Depression. But for our purposes in today’s newsletter, the film also offers great advice and concrete ideas on how to get off the grid. How to provide your own power. How to create your own garden. How to provide your own heating and air conditioning, naturally. And while a homestead overlooking a bay on the island of Molokai may not be possible for you, getting off the grid can be done practically anywhere. So start dreaming, and then get to work .
Regards,
Jimmie Rivers
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