# Self Sustenance: Homesteading and Off-Grid Living - webcentive

Source: https://www.webcentive.com/selfsustenance/selfsustenance.html  
Format: Markdown version of the HTML page (same content, lookups and page chrome left out).

Self-reliance for homesteads, small farms and off-grid homes: emergency preparedness, growing and preserving food, water, power, small livestock and building skills. Start with a Ready.gov plan and kit (at least a gallon of water per person per day for several days) and your state's Cooperative Extension office. Can food only with tested recipes from the National Center for Home Food Preservation or the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning; low-acid foods like vegetables, meats and beans must be pressure-canned to prevent botulism. Test private well water at least once a year, and check your state and local rules before collecting rainwater. Get off-grid solar and battery systems designed and installed by a licensed electrician or NABCEP-certified pro, and be wary of door-to-door solar offers. Backyard poultry can carry Salmonella, so wash your hands after handling birds.  

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Links last checked Oct 18, 2026.  

- **Prepare first: emergency plans and kits (start here)**
- [fema.gov](https://www.fema.gov/) - FEMA: disaster help and flood maps
- [ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/) - Ready.gov: make an emergency plan
- [ready.gov (kit)](https://www.ready.gov/kit) - Ready.gov: build a supply kit
- [ready.gov (power outages)](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages) - Ready.gov: power outages and generator safety
- [ready.gov (water)](https://www.ready.gov/water) - Ready.gov: store and treat emergency water
- [redcross.org](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html) - American Red Cross: how to prepare for emergencies
- **Grow your own food: USDA and extension**
- [attra.ncat.org](https://attra.ncat.org/) - ATTRA (NCAT): free sustainable agriculture guides
- [extension.org](https://extension.org/find-cooperative-extension-in-your-state/) - Find Cooperative Extension in your state: free local gardening, livestock and food-safety help
- [growveg.com](https://www.growveg.com/) - GrowVeg: vegetable garden planner (on the old page)
- [nifa.usda.gov](https://www.nifa.usda.gov/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory) - USDA NIFA: land-grant university (extension) directory
- [nrcs.usda.gov](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-high-tunnel-initiative) - USDA NRCS High Tunnel Initiative: cost-share for season-extending hoop houses
- [planthardiness.ars.usda.gov](https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/) - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- [sare.org](https://www.sare.org/) - SARE: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
- [usda.gov](https://www.usda.gov/) - U.S. Department of Agriculture
- **Canning and food storage safety**
- [amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=canning+supplies&tag=webcentive) - Amazon: canning supplies
- [ballmasonjars.com](https://www.ballmasonjars.com/) - Ball: canning jars and recipes
- [cdc.gov](https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention/home-canned-foods.html) - CDC: home-canned foods and botulism
- [dehydrate2store.com](https://dehydrate2store.com/) - Dehydrate2Store: food dehydrating (on the old page)
- [nchfp.uga.edu](https://nchfp.uga.edu/) - National Center for Home Food Preservation: tested canning, freezing and drying recipes
- [nchfp.uga.edu (USDA guide)](https://nchfp.uga.edu/resources/category/usda-guide) - USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning
- **Water: wells, rainwater and conservation**
- [arcsa.org](https://www.arcsa.org/) - ARCSA: American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
- [cdc.gov (well testing)](https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/safety/guidelines-for-testing-well-water.html) - CDC: guidelines for testing well water
- [epa.gov](https://www.epa.gov/privatewells) - EPA: private drinking water wells
- [epa.gov (rain barrels)](https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-barrels) - EPA Soak Up the Rain: rain barrels
- [epa.gov (WaterSense)](https://www.epa.gov/watersense) - EPA WaterSense: save water at home
- [rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu](https://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/) - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: rainwater harvesting
- **Off-grid and solar power**
- [consumer.ftc.gov](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/solar-power-your-home) - FTC: solar power for your home (avoid solar scams)
- [dsireusa.org](https://dsireusa.org/) - DSIRE: state solar and efficiency incentives
- [energy.gov](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/off-grid-or-stand-alone-renewable-energy-systems) - U.S. Department of Energy: off-grid or stand-alone renewable energy systems
- [energy.gov (consumer guide)](https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-08/ES-ConsumerGuide-Residential-Renewable-Energy.pdf) - DOE Energy Saver: consumer guide to residential renewable energy (PDF)
- [energy.gov (solar)](https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar) - DOE: Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar
- [homepower.com](https://www.homepower.com/) - Home Power magazine: downloadable off-grid archive (on the old page)
- [nabcep.org](https://www.nabcep.org/) - NABCEP: find a certified solar installer
- **Chickens and small livestock**
- [7springsfarm.com](https://www.7springsfarm.com/) - Seven Springs Farm Supply: organic farm and garden supplies (on the old page)
- [backyardchickens.com](https://www.backyardchickens.com/) - BackYard Chickens: forums and coop guides (on the old page)
- [cdc.gov (backyard poultry)](https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html) - CDC: backyard poultry and Salmonella safety
- [strombergschickens.com](https://www.strombergschickens.com/) - Stromberg's: chicks and poultry supplies (on the old page)
- **Homesteading know-how, skills and community (commercial and blogs)**
- [akzeigers.com](https://www.akzeigers.com/) - The Zeiger Family Homestead (Alaska) (on the old page)
- [homesteading.com](https://homesteading.com/) - Homesteading.com: off-grid living guides
- [ilsr.org](https://ilsr.org/) - Institute for Local Self-Reliance (on the old page)
- [journeytoforever.org](https://www.journeytoforever.org/) - Journey to Forever: small farms, biofuels and self-reliance (on the old page)
- [makezine.com](https://makezine.com/) - Make: DIY projects (on the old page)
- [motherearthnews.com](https://www.motherearthnews.com/) - Mother Earth News: homesteading since 1970 (on the old page)
- [onagocag.com](https://www.onagocag.com/) - Onagocag: primitive technology books and tools (on the old page)
- [permies.com](https://permies.com/) - Permies: permaculture and homesteading forums
- [pigeonmountaintrading.com](https://pigeonmountaintrading.com/) - Pigeon Mountain Trading: primitive skills supplies (on the old page)
- [primitiveways.com](https://www.primitiveways.com/) - Primitive Ways: traditional skills (on the old page)
- [self-sufficient-life.com](https://www.self-sufficient-life.com/) - Self Sufficient Life (on the old page)
- [sufficientself.com](https://www.sufficientself.com/) - SufficientSelf: sustainable lifestyle (on the old page)
- [thesurvivalpodcast.com](https://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/) - The Survival Podcast: modern homesteading (on the old page)
- [thingiverse.com](https://www.thingiverse.com/) - Thingiverse: free 3D-printable parts and tools (on the old page)
- [treehugger.com](https://www.treehugger.com/) - Treehugger: sustainability (on the old page)
- [underthechokotree.com](https://www.underthechokotree.com/) - Under the Choko Tree: living sustainably in the suburbs (on the old page)
- [wildwoodsurvival.com](https://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/) - Wildwood Survival: wilderness skills (on the old page)
- **Self-reliant building**
- [earthshelteredtechnology.com](https://earthshelteredtechnology.com/) - Earth Sheltered Technology: earth-sheltered homes (earthshelteredtech.com on the old page)
- [newenglandbarn.com](https://www.newenglandbarn.com/) - The New England Barn Company: timber frame barns (on the old page)

Number of links: 56  
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