If you’re anything like me, you probably want to grow a food garden because it’s enjoyable. You love digging in the earth. You love watching seeds come to life and turn into something delicious. But gardening isn’t typically a free venture. It’s so easy to go to the garden center and spend a small fortune... Read More The post 30+ Ways to Start a Vegetable Garden for Cheap or Free appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

Planning is something I am usually known for. I’ve been known to go into overdrive planning everything from building our house to taking epic international trips on a budget. But gardening? For some reason, I haven’t applied myself quite as vigorously to that task as people usually assume I would.  After all, I live in... Read More The post 12 Essentials for Planning Your Perfect Homestead Garden appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

16.5 acres and a whole lotta chutzpah. That is what we started with when we began this off-grid homesteading journey back in 2015. It took us over two years to build it by hand. We’ve been living in it for five and counting, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We’ve... Read More The post 9 Things to Know About Off-Grid Homesteading appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

If you’re a homesteader wanting to build your own house, you can’t just choose any old house plans. It can be really tempting to browse Pinterest and find plans that seem functional or have a farmhouse vibe (ask me how I know). But most “normal” home plans don’t truly accommodate the needs of homesteaders. If... Read More The post How to Find the Perfect Homestead House Plans appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

Water conservation is important these days. Whether you live in drought-stricken parts of the American west, have a cistern, or just need to save money on your monthly water bill, saving water is top of mind. According to the US Geological Survey, the average household’s INDOOR water usage is between 80-100 gallons per person per... Read More The post How to Save Water: 15 Easy Tips for Saving Massive Amounts of Water at Home appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

If you’re looking for the best water filter for your family, there is a dizzying slew of options. From inexpensive units like Brita and Pur, to countertop gravity models like the Berkey, to reverse osmosis systems for your whole home, it’s hard to tell what’s best. And if you’re anything like us, you want to... Read More The post 2022 Berkey Filter Review: Our Experiences Using a Big Berkey Off the Grid appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

Is it possible to provide 100% of your home’s power needs with solar panels? The short answer is YES. Solar power is a viable option to provide all of your electrical needs if: Your home is too far from an electrical grid connection. You are seeking energy independence and self-sufficiency. You want to live more... Read More The post Off The Grid Solar Power: How Much Do You Need? appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

How well does solar power work in the winter? Can solar panels even make power in the cold winter months?  The short answer is YES, solar power can work quite well in the cold, dark winter months! But there are many misconceptions about how well solar power can work in the wintertime. The long answer... Read More The post Does Solar Power Work in the Winter: 7 FAQs to Bust Solar Myths appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

2021 Berkey Holiday Sale UPDATE! So here’s the scoop for the holidays this year. I just spent several hours “personal shopping” and analyzing these deals for you because not everything is always a good deal and I’m never going to sell you on something you don’t need. If you haven’t seen my original review of... Read More The post 2021 UPDATED Berkey Filters Black Friday Sales appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more

If you’ve been considering getting a Berkey Water Filter for your family, you may find yourself confused by the options. After all, they all look the same, but the sizes vary dramatically. What size Berkey Water Filter do you need, exactly? And how can you figure it out? Our family has been using a Big... Read More The post What Size Berkey Water Filter Do You Need? appeared first on Accidental Hippies ..read more