The Ready Life

Overwhelmed as you embark on your off-grid adventure?

Join us as we open up about the realities of homestead overwhelm and share our personal journey through the disarray that visits you whenever you feel overwhelmed.

As fellow homesteaders, we understand the challenges that come with striving for self-sufficiency. And in this episode, we share 7 tips that help us deal with the root causes of our own overwhelm, so you can make progress in your homesteading journey--without the pandemonium.

Show Notes:
https://www.thereadylife.com/11

In this episode, we share a huge tip from our off-grid journey.

Off-grid solar power can be a great investment in the long run, but it does require an up-front investment. If that’s something you are not able to swing right now, this week’s episode is for you.

It’s all about taking small, budget-friendly steps to get you off the grid. Whether you're currently on the grid and looking to transition gradually or setting up off-grid from scratch, we've got you covered.

Plus, we answer a follower’s question about choosing the right refrigerator for their off-grid solar setup. Tune in now and start your path to off-grid living!

Show Notes, Important Links, & Transcript:
https://www.thereadylife.com/2023/07/off-grid-one-step-at-a-time-how-we-cut-costs-boost-freedom/

Free Resource

PDF - What You Can Do NOW To Start Going Off The Grid:
https://www.thereadylife.com/2023/07/off-grid-one-step-at-a-time-how-we-cut-costs-boost-freedom/⁠

What happens to your water well when the power goes off? No more water!

In part 2 of this series on independent water systems, we show you how to turn your conventional water well into an independent water system, so you aren't dependent on the power company for the ability to have water.

See Episode 8 for part 1 of this series:
www.thereadylife.com/8

Show Notes, Important Links, and Transcript:
www.thereadylife.com/9

More info about independent water systems here:
www.SusPrep.com

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:29 - The Problem With Water Wells
04:42 - The Ideal Water System
06:54 - The 3 Items You Need To Know About Your Well
18:45 - First Step To Making Your Well Independent (Hand Pump)
28:20 - The Next Step - Modern Options For Making Your Pressurized Well Water System Independent
36:18 - Final Checklist
38:34 - Questions and Sharing

What would life look like at your home without water?

Water is one of the most essential resources your homestead needs, but it’s often taken for granted or overlooked. Many folks think they are all set since they have a well. But all it takes is a disruption of power for any reason and they find out how independent their water system is.

This episode is part 1 in a short series on water, and we’ll be looking at how to utilize some of the less common water sources that could potentially be even better than the old standby–wells.

Show Notes, Important Links, & Transcript:
https://www.thereadylife.com/2023/07/how-to-build-independent-water-systems-with-springs-and-creeks/

In this episode:

Also, lots of info on independent water systems on our blog:
https://www.susprep.com/category/off-grid-water/

Happy Independence Day! Join us on a special episode as we delve into the incredible legacy of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, and his pivotal role in shaping America's liberty & independence. Find the parallels between his pursuit of freedom and the modern-day quest for independence in homesteading--breaking free from 'the system' to secure essential needs like water, food, heat, and power.

Special thanks to Roger Williams historians John McNiff and Stan Lemons for previously sharing their remarkable knowledge and making this episode come alive!

Show notes for episode #7:
https://www.thereadylife.com/7

How to make your homestead more independent:
https://www.SusPrep.com

We’ve tried almost every rural internet option so you don’t have to. This episode distills almost 20 years of remote off-grid internet experience, so you can pick the best option for your needs.

In this episode:

Show notes, important links, and more:
https://www.thereadylife.com/2023/06/wired-in-the-wilderness-the-best-internet-solutions-for-off-grid-living/

Explore how to reclaim the food independence that our great-grandparents had (and our parents forfeited).

We believe this food planning method is the absolute simplest way to figure out how much of each ingredient you will need. It works for any time period (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc). You’ll also learn how to gradually ramp up your food storage where it doesn’t break your budget. And as an added bonus, you’ll see how to use your food planning to inform your gardening, so you only plant what you need.

In this episode:

Show Notes (with transcript and important links--such as the spreadsheet tool):
https://www.thereadylife.com/2023/06/how-to-plan-a-years-worth-of-food-on-a-budget-without-waste/

A realistic view of how much an off grid solar power system really costs. Plus, the top 3 ways to save money when setting up an off grid solar system.

In this episode:

Show notes, important links, transcript, and more:

00:00 – Intro
06:28 – Sample System
07:13 – A Very Small System
10:35 – A Small to Medium System
15:29 – A Medium to Large System
17:48 – What Was Not Included
19:43 – Putting This Into Perspective
20:43 – Top 3 Ways To Save Money With Off Grid Solar Power
20:59 – #1 – Becoming Energy Efficient
24:14 – #2 – Federal Solar Tax Credit
27:19 – #3 – Proper System Design
30:57 – Bonus: Buy In Volume (especially solar panels)
32:17 – Question of the Week: Claim solar tax credit if no tax liability?

Is off grid solar power an expensive trending fad? Or is it a solid solution to a serious problem we face?

In this episode:

Show notes, important links, and transcript here:

After living off the grid for almost 25 years, and teaching folks how to set up solar power for 15+ years, I've discovered some compelling reasons why average folks like you and me should seriously consider making our homes energy independent with off-grid solar power.

In this episode, Lisa and I (Nick) will walk you through the rationale and make the case for ditching the grid and taking control of your power. And since an off-grid solar power system is not for everyone, we'll also look at some of the reasons that solar power may not be a good fit for you.

Come with an open mind so you can weigh the facts and make an informed decision that is right for you and yours. You might be surprised!

00:00 - Intro

Some of the most common questions we receive are regarding location - how far out is far enough, or too far? How to figure out what area to pick for your homestead?

These questions and more are covered in this episode. We'll share our thoughts on finding the right balance between remote and secluded, and our process for finding what works for your family since everyone is different.

Show notes, links, and resources here: https://www.thereadylife.com/2023/05/s1-e2-remote-vs-secluded-how-far-out-is-far-enough/

00:00 - Intro

00:43 - Remote vs Secluded

06:45 - Steps to find the right area

10:09 - Resources

12:38 - Make a list that includes:

Essentials

Important

Nice to Have

24:24 - In-person visit

25:10 - Renting a Useful Strategy

30:47 - Question of the week: "How many acres do you have and how far are you from town?"

Please send your questions to [email protected]