What Does ‘Off Grid’ Really Mean?

The term “Off Grid” gets tossed around a lot in the homesteading, prepping, and survival communities but the actual definition of it can be a topic that sparks a heated debate.

It seems that no one really agrees on the exact definition of “Off Grid” or “Off the Grid,” as evidenced by a quick Google Search.

• Dictionary.com definition: not involving or requiring the use of mainstream sources of energy. They further define “Off the Grid” as: not requiring utilities such as electricity, water, etc.
• UrbanDictionary.com definition: Term used to describe a state of being off of the internet, no Facebook, Twitter, Skype, AIM, Gmail chat, Myspace etc. The only exception being e-mail and phone calls (only school/work related).
• UrbanDictionary.com also defined “Off the Grid” as: Unrecorded, untraceable through normal means.
• Wikipedia.com has “Off Grid” defined as: The term off-grid refers to not being connected to a grid, mainly used in terms of not being connected to the main or national electrical grid. 

See? Not even the websites out there agree with the dictionary and it also seems to depend about what context you are speaking in. For millenials, off grid would be more like the Urban Dictionary definition because they have never known life to be anything other than as connected as it is today. For the older generations, it tends to lean more toward the Dictionary.com and Wiki definitions.

I have seen comments made by people online regarding being off grid with accusations that you aren’t really ‘off-grid’ if you are still on the internet, or have electricity, or running water. If you cook with propane, you aren’t ‘off grid.’ Others define it as being off municipal services. I found the whole thing interesting and went to the people of Facebook and fellow bloggers to see what they had to say.

From the Facebook Page:

• Off Grid, in my mind, would be one who is not tied to any public utility, and able to sustain ones self solely on what one produces, grows, raises, harvests, hunts, etc.
• I think off grid is a spectrum. Some people are able to source some resources but not yet others. I do believe that for some the goal is completely off grid, but for others it is piecemeal… like maybe just off grid of grocery/retail.
• Untraceable by any means…meaning you do not have connection to any of the grids (electric water cable phone etc) but you also do not have a “job” or dr….a lot of people use the term loosely, I don’t have electric service so i’m off grid , no you are only in small part off grid….if you are off grid how are you posting to FB (KWIM) if one wants to claim to be off grid they either have to specify which grid they are off of or get off all grids.
• I think of off grid, in a technical sense, as disconnected from public utilities. Living the “off grid lifestyle” strikes me as further removing oneself from dependency on society.
• My gf is completely OFF THE GRID. Her family bought a piece of land 15 yrs ago…raise their own animals for good, have a well, use no hydro, gas, or water from social agencies, have no phone …completely self sustaining. We communicate thru letters.

From Fellow Bloggers:

Kelly from SimpleLifeMom.com defines Off Grid:

“Off Grid means being off the grid – No pipes no lines. Unfortunately, it is hard to also mean no post address. There’s always a list somewhere with your name on it.”

Tessa, the Homestead Lady has a longer definition:

When I use the term “off grid”, I’m thinking of the goal my family has to eventually cut connection with all of the utility companies.  Which will mean we’re producing our own electricity and pumping our own water.  Our new homestead will have propane and is not technically “on grid” but it requires that a propane truck come out and fill it every year.  Our goal is self sufficiency so, eventually, the propane tank will be phased out, too, because we can’t produce our own propane on our homestead.

Off Grid, in my mind, would be one who is not tied to any public utility, and able to sustain ones self solely on what one produces, grows, raises, harvests, hunts, etc.

I tend to lean more toward Joseph’s definition, too. Being off grid does not mean that you do without modern conveniences. Honestly, I have yet to meet anyone living this lifestyle (other than maybe the Amish) who poo-poos electricity or running water. Instead, they do not rely on any local, state, or federal government for those needs by producing/procuring it themselves or doing without. To call a person who uses a rain catch system that is plumbed into their home “not really living off grid” has not had to live off rain water before.

NO ONE can truly create everything they need on their own. Not in this modern, very global day and age. (Yes, I am sure there are exceptions to the rule so if you find it, good on you.) Generally speaking though, there aren’t many people who could live a lifestyle that is wholly, 100% self-reliant. Even the homesteaders and pioneers had to go to the trading post a couple times a year to get the things they could not produce on their own. The tribal peoples across the world were ‘self reliant’ and produced what they needed but it was not from just one or even a handful of people. It was a larger group where everyone had their roles and specialities that made it possible for these people to not need anyone else.

It is my opinion that there is no one ‘end all, be all’ definition of ‘off grid.’ I think it is tailored to each person and their situation much like the act of ‘homesteading’ is. Homesteading does not mean what it used to. Gone are the days of the pioneer to stake out a chunk of land to develop and live on. That does not mean people who grow their own food, raise and butcher their own meat, fish, and hunt aren’t homesteaders. Just because they buy a frozen pizza now and then does not automatically retract their claim to being one, nor does it negate their claim to being off grid.

How do YOU define “Off Grid”? Give us a comment below. There is no wrong answer!