Resources

Search 1594 reviewed sites on all aspects of self reliance
  
or browse by category:
 

Blogroll

Off-Grid.net

Off-grid brings you news, knowledge, discussion, and classifieds from the off-grid world. What seems like a tiny niche is growing in popularity as people seek a life outside of the city. Off-gridders must find ways to produce their own energy, food, water, shelter, and other necessities. Connect with people who live off the beaten path or begin the search for your own property on this site.

Build It Solar

Dedicated to do-it-yourself renewable energy projects, Build It Solar provides hundreds of ideas and plans for any kind of home energy endeavor. New to renewable energy? Start with the "Half Plan" that uses a variety of energy saving projects to cut your energy usage in half. New to solar? Look for the do-it-yourself site survey to understand your property's solar potential. Not limited to solar, Build It Solar also includes tons of projects for wind power and biofuels.

Earth2Tech

Energy self reliance is a big topic for environmental, political, and individual reasons. Earth2Tech posts news about technological developments that can affect us on personal and societal levels. Stay on top of the news about electric cars, the smart grid, the bloom box fuel cell, solar power applications, and LED lightbulbs.

Wisebread

Wisebread is well-known for its advice on real personal finance. It's a community of bloggers who write about frugal living, lifehacks, careers, and other financial wisdom. Being smart with your money isn't supposed to inhibit you: rather, Wisebread's advice helps people worry less about money, allowing you to focus on the really important things in life. They also feature an active forum where you can ask questions and interact with other people who are trying to live within their means.

Instructables

Do you want to know how to build a vertical garden? How about your own solar panel array? Maybe you're looking for ways to reuse a linen closet full of old pillowcases. Instructables is a community based site that allows anyone to post a how-to project complete with photos and instructions. The result: a lifetime's supply of projects that can help you save money, recycle, or simply satisfy your appetite for making stuff.

Survival Spot

Disasters are a reality that shouldn't be ignored. That's the reason Survival Spot was created - to share information about a variety of survival and preparedness topics. Topics cover many aspects of survival, including gardening, food storage, health, and self defense. Also read about getting by in the wilderness and reviews of essential gadgets and gear. Like any other type of self reliance, preparedness is something to get into gradually and this blog can give you ideas on where to start.

Self-Reliance-Exchange

Written by a group of self reliant people, Self Reliance Exchange is quickly building an enormous database that covers a huge range of categories on self reliant practices and philosophies. Anyone interested in self reliance will find something useful to take away from this blog - recipes from scratch, emergency preparedness, and personal finance are great categories to start looking into here.

Simple Self Reliance

This writer explores the concept of self reliance and how self reliance fits in this modern society. How far can you realistically go down the path of self reliance? How can you stay on track with your priorities? He also writes on the grandaddy of self reliance, Henry David Thoreau. We can't wait to see how this blog unfolds!

American Preppers Network

For information and news from the world of emergency preparation, American Preppers Network is a great resource. Learn about food storage, what to expect during a natural disaster, and about other survival techniques. You can also connect with other preppers in your region and all over the world in the forum and through the numerous links to other prepping blogs on the web.

Construction

Thinking about building your own off grid cabin?

While building an entire house is an enormous do it yourself project, more people than you might think are gathering their tools and know-how to build an entire house.

What's the reason? Many of today's houses don't make an efficient use of resources. They let in the cool air during winter and the hot air during summer. There aren't enough windows. They don't take advantage of passive heating/cooling principles that can save money and reduce your dependence on utilities. That, and the fact that people are fed up with the cookie-cutter cracker box house.

Maybe this sounds like you. Well, here are some resources that can inspire you to look further into one day building your own home to your own liking. In addition, there are websites with construction ideas and tips to improve the home and building auxiliary structures.

Classifications

 

Latest Additions

Ecohouse in Brazil - Inhabitant
Outside of Rio de Janeiro architect Alexandra Lichtenberg is producing environmentally friendly houses for cheap. The architect is incorporating passive cooling, green roofs, and neutral ventilation.
Walden Pond Goes Solar - Backwoods Home
Solar expert Jeffrey Yago answers the question: how can I run a small cabin on solar power? This first article in a three-part series suggests evaluating your electricity use and alternatives to energy-hogging appliances like washing machines. While this advice focuses on a running a cabin on solar as a summer getaway, it's also a way to live a simple, off-grid life year round.
Do it Yourself: Asbestos Awareness for DIY Remodelers
Everyone knows that asbestos can be dangerous in certain circumstances. This article teaches the reader about the dangers of asbestos and the proper handling of it.
The Telegraph: Jeff Howell's DIY advice: concrete floors
Interested in buying a new house or revamping your old one? Be careful to avoid the common problem of concrete floors with Victorian houses which can cause problems for the structural integrity of your house.
DIY Slip Proof Garage Floor - Popular Mechanics
If you live in the place where water freezes in Winter you might want to learn how to slip proof your garage. The solution is simple add a pound of sand to your paint and then paint your garage floor with it. This creates more friction on the floor of your garage.
Illinois News-Gazette: Sustainable, Energy-Smart Home Is Rocket Science
Urbana, IL: Ty Newell and his son, both mechanical engineers, designed a four-bedroom "Equinox House" with a grid-tied solar panel array that nets zero over one year. The design also includes a water collection system, some passive heating/cooling principles, and an LED lighting system.
Toolbase
A great reference site for all things home improvement. Lists construction methods, how to guides, and tips for more efficient building.
Backwoods Home Magazine: Stairs: The Next Level
If you're ready to reach the next level in your carpentry skills then you need to build a staircase, literally. Learn what factors into creating the perfect set of stairs and how you can learn to design and master the art of stair-building.
Simple Solar Homesteading
In today's housing market, who doesn't want to be able to build an eco-friendly cabin for less than two thousand dollars? Purchase this guide to make a certain part of your home eco conscious or use the whole plan to design your own self-sufficient cabin.
Extreme How-To: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
For privacy, to enclose a yard, or to replace an old fence - this video shows how to build a sturdy shadowbox-style fence. (While special power tools are used, they aren't necessary to build a fence like this.)
Hartford Courant: Man Builds Net-Zero Energy House Featuring 100-ft. Wind Turbine
In Connecticut, entrepreneur Bernard Zahren rebuilt his home on Avon Moutain to be 100% self-sustained. The house is 48% windows. A combination of solar and wind energy power the home and show that a net-zero house can be just as comfortable as a "McMansion."
Earth2Tech: 10 Green Social Networks You Should Know
Looking for more information on sustainability? This article provides ten helpful and informative social networking websites that are worth your attention!
House Energy Homepage
House Energy is an excellent resource for introductory information for residential energy saving topics. It specializes in defining all the new and different appliances, methods, as well as renovation and home construction.
GreenTech: Solar Homes Go for High-Tech and Practicality
This year's Solar Decathlon featured student designed houses ranging from $700,000 to $80,000. "The big idea is that living green is not a compromise. You can have all the amenities of a modern house--you don't need to give up you high-definition TV," said Richard Navarro, an electrical engineering student at Santa Clara University.
Homepower Magazine
This is an online magazine publishing information about solar, wind, and water energy. It includes how-to advice for people who want to design and build their own projects. (Free membership required to view most articles.)
 
  • Follow PathAcross on Twitter Become a Pathacross fan on Facebook
  • Bookmark and Share