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Welcome to Life Unplugged, your guide to living off grid with alternative energy on the modern homestead. It is not necessary to give up all modern conveniences to reduce your carbon footprint when you utilize alternative energy and green building techniques. Passive solar design coupled with straw bale, cob, cordwood, or earthbag construction can yield an efficient, comfortable, and green built structure for your homestead. Solar panels and wind turbines are tried and true forms of alternative energy, but new technologies such as geothermal, micro hydro, and bio-diesel offer additional flexibility to power your off grid homestead. Explore our collection of articles covering new and old technologies that are sure to be of use in your modern homesteading adventure.
Generate Electricity with a Wind Turbine
roof mounted wind turbine Wind energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the United States. Clean and relatively inexpensive wind turbines harness the energy in wind and are an attractive option for those looking for an alternative way to power their homestead.
Volunteers building an earthbag house Building with Earthbags
Earth is one of the oldest and most plentiful building materials known to man.  Why purchase a material and pay to have it transported when suitable earth s almost always close at hand. Earthbag construction is a green building option that has been utilized by for thousands of years. 
how to wash clothes by hand Washing Clothes by Hand
There are quite a few tools available to make washing clothes by hand a little easier, but the only things you absolutely must have are plenty of water, a large container, some kind of soap or detergent, and a clothes line or drying rack.
Inexpensive Owner-Built Cob Homes
Owner built cob cottage with living roofEarth is one of the oldest and most plentiful building materials known to man.  Why purchase a different material and pay to have it transported when suitable earth is almost always close at hand. Combine clay soil, straw, sand, and water to build efficient sustainable housing from cob.
Homesteading is hard work whether you are collecting eggs from the chickens, feeding the livestock, or tending the garden. Growing organic produce can be an adjustment for those used to using chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer but I wouldn’t say that organic gardening is more difficult. Composting your kitchen scraps, livestock manure, leaves, and lawn clippings takes time but not labor to produce free nutrient rich compost for your homestead’s garden. Mulching with your compost fertilizes the soil and aids in water retention which reduces labor requirements and conserves water. Who knows what hormones are injected into the animals that provide our eggs, beef, chicken, and pork. Save money and enjoy fresh nutritious meat and eggs by raising your own livestock and poultry on your homestead. Learn more about raising livestock and organic gardening on Life Unplugged, your source for all things on the environmentally responsible modern homestead.
Hybrid vs Heirloom Garden Seeds
hybrid vs heirloom seeds Planting a garden from seeds is the most economical way to start growing vegetables and herbs, and it has the added advantage of providing you with many more options than if you use nursery plants. For homesteaders, the question is usually not whether to plant from seed, but which kind of garden seeds to use.
Getting Started with Beekeeping
honeybee on flower Getting started with beekeeping is a great way to explore alternative livestock if you are starting on the road to self-sufficiency. Bees are easy to get started and the results of your efforts can be very rewarding.
Our Favorite Homesteading Blogs
Can't learn enough about self sufficient living? Check out this collection of our favorite blogs and follow the adventures of homesteaders across the country and around the world.  This is a new feature so check for updates often!
Bio-Diesel as an Alternative Fuel
making bio-diesel Bio-Diesel is a subject that is gaining popularity with backyard enthusiasts and corporate processors. Best of all, it can be made from multiple components and bio-diesel processing is very scalable; make a single gallon or a hundred based on your need and facilities.
Historical and Modern Homesteading
homestead tractor Homesteading, or living off the land, will never be seen as a particularly modern lifestyle. However, it is interesting to note that homesteading -- as it's thought of today -- is a relatively new practice that has greatly evolved over the past several decades.
Make Hard Apple Cider Make Hard Apple Cider
Making hard apple cider at home is a fun and easy way to tap into a lost piece of Americana. Before wine and beer became the drinks of choice, most Americans drank hard apple cider due to its ease of production and the ready availability of apples.
solar water heater Benefits of Solar Water Heaters
Utilizing solar energy to meet your water heating needs is one of the most economical ways to implement alternative energy on your homestead. Solar water heaters are can function in nearly any climate and are a great solution for people living off grid.
Benefits of an Earth Sheltered Home
earth berm home Some people assume that an earth berm home is dark, cave-like, and buried in the ground, but it is in fact quite the opposite. Instead of the builder placing the home under the ground, he or she brings the earth up, so to speak, to cover the outside walls of the dwelling. Earth berm homes (and earth sheltered homes) have many benefits to both the homeowner and the planet.
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