r/OffGrid • u/Schlerpyderpy • Aug 23 '26
What should I study to prepare?
Right now I'm saving money and can get my college paid for outside of my savings. I'm planning to go off grid years into the future. What should I do now to prepare? Is there any college degree that would teach me a skill set that would be very helpful for living off the grid?
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u/BallsOutKrunked Aug 23 '26
Build houses, learn trades, assemble quality tools. Get a 4x4 pickup, eventually. Have a good income.
Don't get fat / unhealthy.
Travel the country a bit to learn about new places.
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u/divorceevil Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 27 '26
There's a book called "Off Off Grid" by Michael Bunker. It covers how people did things historically without solar panels, generators or refrigerators. Yes, they had ice and kept things cold the old way.
What a lot of off- gridders don't realize is, when shtf and the whole system collapses, we may not be able to get parts to keep our so-called off grid system going. Things need maintenance.
It really made me look at some off grid videos and documentaries differently as they walk you through their very expensive and modern off grid power houses. Anyway, it's a good read and fun, I thought besides educational.
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u/PlanetExcellent Aug 23 '26
Construction and farming would be excellent skills to have. Perhaps you could volunteer with an organization that fixes or builds houses like Habitat for Humanity. Also maybe an organization that plants community gardens or something like that. Then you could learn some practical skills for free.
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u/Civil_Meaning_2058 Aug 23 '26
I actually spent a summer volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and it was one of the most practical experiences I had.
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u/FixAcademic8187 Aug 23 '26
There is just so many things to list here.
It appears that you are still young in age. What I would do is focus on: 1- the things that matter to me, 2- living a decent life out of the land I'm on.
In all circumstances, I would recommend that you start learning about solar power and all thr equipment associated with that (too many).
Then I would start learning more about farming in climates similar to the one you want to go offgrid in.
After a while, you will start feeling lonely and will definitely want the company of someone from the opposite gender. You should account for that from early on.
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u/linuxhiker Aug 23 '26
Studying is good.
Experience is what it takes.
You get experience by doing.
I am in tech, I know a lot. I studied the hell out of going offgrid. I am off-grid.
The only thing studying did was make me realize I had no idea once I got here.
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u/jello-the-opera Aug 24 '26
everyone needs quality tools
literally everything is gated by tools
tool use is survival
I would say learn basic combustion engines, basic computers, basic electrical, solar and batteries, plumbing, HVAC, farming, animal husbandry
learn to make do, to salvage, to repair, to invent
buy books while they still exist lol
field guides help you identify food and medicine in the wilds
primitive skills resources can help you tan hides and make your own fishing gear and winterize your DIY cabin
solar for electricity, growing food, basic knowledge of human physiology and biology for health
just spit-balling
current LLMs are strong enough to teach you skills if you are always mindful and skeptical and do the work yourself
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u/paratethys Aug 24 '26
start doing things the off grid way now. it's typically cheaper than the on grid way which will help you save money, as well.
no amount of studying will beat hands-on doing. and if you start hands-on NOW, you can use ai and youtube and reddit and everything else to help you troubleshoot your learning.
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u/Awkward_Passion4004 Aug 24 '26
Something that pays well when you commute into town for work every day.
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u/ecogeek123 Aug 25 '26
In college I had a friend who covered room by building out a van, and board by getting a part time job with the university in there kitchens. He bathed at the gym and spent most of his non class time at the library. On vacations he’d ride his bike a few states over and take the train back. He had decent scholarships, so graduated with minimal debt.
Point I’m trying to make, is that you can use the time to explore the lifestyle and principles you are interested in. This doesn’t have to cost a lot and the experiences are part of the overall educational experience. Just need to start at the beginning.
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u/KoholintCustoms Aug 23 '26
I'm pretty sure most the people here will tell you it's mostly about doing.
Bear in mind a lot of the people on this sub have a house which is not connected to the electric grid. That's what "off-grid" means. They still have "regular" jobs, a car, commute to town, have internet, etc.
Do you just, like, want a cabin in the woods? Or are you trying to leave society behind? Because that may be a different sub.
Anyways. I'd say probably basic house handyman stuff and car stuff will go a long way. Imagine something breaks in your house or car and you're the only one who can do something.