Off Grid Homesteading

[Halifax Tar]

After what seems like years of searching I think the missus and I finally found our large acreage to set up our off grid camp/homestead/run away.

Lots of space to hunt and fish and live off what the land provides. And no neighbors.

Would love a repository for group info on this... and I'd love people who have experience with solar and wells.

Anyone else have any experience ?

 

[Remius]

After what seems like years of searching I think the missus and I finally found our large acreage to set up our off grid camp/homestead/run away.

Lots of space to hunt and fish and live off what the land provides. And no neighbors.

Would love a repository for group info on this... and I'd love people who have experience with solar and wells.

Anyone else have any experience ?

Only adjacent experience.

For about 40 years or so my father had an off the grid property in Lanark county. 5 acres with water access to a swampy lake that was excellent for duck hunting and right next to 10k acres of crown land. Plenty of deer.

Used it year round. And my parents would spend weeks there at a time. Especially in winter we would tap about 100 trees or so for maple syrup.

No power, no running water. On a pump well. Used a combo of solar for minor things like kitchen lights, outdoor lighting and keeping a charge on the Argo battery (btw, get one, they are amazing and way better than ATVs in the bush).

Wood heating. And an unlimited supply of hardwood for fuel.

Just one thing. As my parents aged it was getting harder and harder to keep up with the work it takes to maintain and live that way.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Make sure you check bylaws/building code in whatever area you want to move into. Many don’t allow off grid homes to be built anymore (i.e. won’t give permits). The Amish in my area will buy a home which is wired and just shut off the power.

Even living in the middle of nowhere you will often end up with people way to concerned about what you get up to.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea, one day I intend to do the same, but you need to check with your area for their regulations. For example around where I am in the organized townships most have bylaws against people living in trailers on their own property.

 

[foresterab]

At least locally here to get a development permit they are quite strict on the access and zoning. Too many folks built structures on goat trails that don't allow for fire engines to respond to fires and/or school busses can't access. So things like road approaches and access road construction they are quite strict on.

In terms of the structures themselves I am allowed some accessory buildings and up to one cabin per property for recreational use (size limited). They make no distinction between temporary structures and permanent in part due to folks trying to pull the "temporary" card too often.

Rules on wells and power vary widely....some allow green field sewage, some don't. Some allow wells but others may have restrictions. Power again varies widely...folks have one parcel with power on it but because it's not a primary residence they are not allowed to set up solar panels (which would sell back to grid) but if it was the house there would be no issues.

Recommendation would be start with a small shed for storage and spend at least the first year trying to figure out the site. What goes where? Where's the drainage? best views or walks? before rushing into building.

Lastly I'd look into some of the woodlot options...by building on raw land it may trigger residential taxes or recreational taxes. A woodlot - the definition of which varies by province and requirements - may allow for the majority of the land to be taxed as agricultural rates. Each province generally has it's own program so I'm not up to speed on them all.

 

[Halifax Tar]

At least locally here to get a development permit they are quite strict on the access and zoning. Too many folks built structures on goat trails that don't allow for fire engines to respond to fires and/or school busses can't access. So things like road approaches and access road construction they are quite strict on.

In terms of the structures themselves I am allowed some accessory buildings and up to one cabin per property for recreational use (size limited). They make no distinction between temporary structures and permanent in part due to folks trying to pull the "temporary" card too often.

Rules on wells and power vary widely....some allow green field sewage, some don't. Some allow wells but others may have restrictions. Power again varies widely...folks have one parcel with power on it but because it's not a primary residence they are not allowed to set up solar panels (which would sell back to grid) but if it was the house there would be no issues.

Recommendation would be start with a small shed for storage and spend at least the first year trying to figure out the site. What goes where? Where's the drainage? best views or walks? before rushing into building.

Lastly I'd look into some of the woodlot options...by building on raw land it may trigger residential taxes or recreational taxes. A woodlot - the definition of which varies by province and requirements - may allow for the majority of the land to be taxed as agricultural rates. Each province generally has it's own program so I'm not up to speed on them all.

I appreciate this. Been deep digging to this now! Thank you.