I've been planning for this since I was seventeen, and we are still in the beginning stages in taking our place offgrid. Each small step builds upon the next.
Thanks to my mom and grandparents, I've been a producer all along, and since I'm into perennial vegetables, fruits and nuts, that will continue to grow, as will my skills.
I've been cooking and canning since I was a kid, have been doing hand crafts for just as long, can knit, crochet and tat, am good at woodworking, and am an artist, writer and musician.
I've also been saving heirloom seeds for years. I don't think we'll have any issues finding something to barter, if it comes to that.
I've also been environmentally conscious for pretty much my whole life, and though I'm not perfect by any means, I keep my footprint as small as I can. We recycle everything we can and create very little actual waste.
Next step is to build a small cabin of reclaimed materials, mostly bottles, and place it well enough that it fits in well with its surroundings, while being comfortable and inviting. We will use it ourselves, and rent it out on occasion, which will give us additional funding for future improvements, such as wells and additional plantings.
We are hoping that this will be the first of perhaps six or eight small cabins, which will enable us to host spiritual and artistic gatherings in the future, while providing capital for our place to become self-sustaining financially as well.