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.

 

[lenaitch]

By the sounds of things, the first step would be to see what you can and cannot do since it seems we can never completely escape the government; only in degrees and depending on your jurisdiction. Ontario has a lot of 'unorganized municipalities'; basically geographic townships with no local government. I understand it is now required to build to Code and have it inspected by the provincial government, as well as needing a septic permit from the local health unit.

 

[OldSolduer]

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 ?

Don't be Ted Kascinski....the Unabomber lived off the grid.

 

[Remius]

By the sounds of things, the first step would be to see what you can and cannot do since it seems we can never completely escape the government; only in degrees and depending on your jurisdiction. Ontario has a lot of 'unorganized municipalities'; basically geographic townships with no local government. I understand it is now required to build to Code and have it inspected by the provincial government, as well as needing a septic permit from the local health unit.

Ours was a land owner association. No municipality so rules were fairly loose. We had three structures by the time my parents sold. The cabin, the shed and bunkhouse. Built on blocks so no foundations. Simple. No plumbing, no electricity.

One thing though that can hit you is the insurance especially if using wood burning as the primary source of heat. Expensive.

 

[lenaitch]

Ours was a land owner association. No municipality so rules were fairly loose. We had three structures by the time my parents sold. The cabin, the shed and bunkhouse. Built on blocks so no foundations. Simple. No plumbing, no electricity.

One thing though that can hit you is the insurance especially if using wood burning as the primary source of heat. Expensive.

I'm actually surprised that a homestead/off grid property could get insurance, period, and suspect many homesteaders wouldn't even try.

Insurance companies are so risk-averse now. When we moved to our Victorian farmhouse, it had an operable , WETT inspected wood cookstove and our insurance company at the time (don't recall) plain said 'no'. We had to go to a farmer's mutual-type company. I have heard some won't write a building with a modern fireplace or woodstove. Heck, the number of companies that will write policies for motorcycles is getting short.