Contrary to what many think, it actually costs a lot to live off-grid. There are a lot of initial expenses.
Even after you are setup, there are lots of ongoing expenses like property taxes, repairs and supplies.
Unless you happen to have a huge amount of money saved up, you’ll need a way to make money while living off-grid.
Luckily, there are actually a lot of different options for making an income when living off-grid.
Below are some ideas. Also, see our post on the Off-Grid Living and this Off-Grid Equipment and Supplies list.
Sell Things You Grow, Raise or Find
Once your property is producing a surplus, you can sell extra to make an income. These are common things you can sell to make extra income.
- Produce from garden
- Fruit from orchard
- Home-canned or pickled goods
- Dairy products
- Meat, sausage and jerky
- Eggs
- Hatchlings
- Breeding animals for sale
- Feathers
- Firewood
- Seedlings
- Compost
- Manure/rabbit poop/natural fertilizers
- Wool
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Natural medicines (teas, tinctures, essential oils, etc.)
- Foraged mushrooms and plants
- Baked goods
- Tanned hides or furs
- Worm farming
- Breeding dogs
- Mulch
Crafts
There are a lot of crafts you can do on your off-grid property and then sell online or locally to make income.
- Furniture
- Small greenhouses
- Animal cages
- Ceramics
- Knitted items
- Quilts
- Soap
- Natural cosmetics
- Woodworking (wood toys, walking sticks, birdhouses…)
Tourism and Income on Your Land
- Hiking tours
- Fishing and hunting
- ATV rentals
- Horseback riding
- Cabin rental
- Turn part of the land into a campground
- Event hosting
- Farming/permaculture classes
- Educational workshops (woodworking, composting, straw bale building…)
- Yoga retreats
- Shooting range
- Renting out pastureland
Trades and Services for the Local Community
If your off-grid home is somewhere near a town or city, there are many ways to make money locally. Just bear in mind that you may need to drive long distances to do these jobs, which means more time and money spent on gas.
- Sewing
- Carpentry
- Blacksmithing
- Plumbing
- Landscaping
- Renting out
- Mechanic
- Equipment repair
- Dog training
- Construction (homes, outbuildings, etc.)
- Clearing snow
- Yardwork
- Drone photography
- Tombstone carving
- Fence building
- Building rock walls
- Firearm training
- Bulldozing
- Backhoe rental
- Other equipment rental
- Tree trimming
- Pest control
- Animal/livestock breeding
- Pollination (with your bees)
Online Jobs
There are literally hundreds of different online jobs you can do while living off-grid. Even some jobs which were traditionally done in person (such as healthcare or interior design) have now moved online. Below are a few of the many possibilities.
- Programming
- Teaching
- Tutoring
- Secretary/virtual assistant
- Therapist/psychologist
- Notary public (in some states)
- Graphic designer
- Accountant
- Consulting
- Customer support
- Proofreading
- Data entry
- Grant writer
- Marketing (SEO, social media, content, etc.)
- Your previous job, just done remotely
What other ways can you make income living off-grid? Let us know in the comments section below.
