A Brit who chose to live “off-grid” with his family of six has shared that they made the unconventional move to escape the “messed-up mainstream system”.
Billy Morris, his wife, and their four children have made a home in a 300sqft static caravan tucked away in the South West England countryside, where they’ve established what they call a “regenerative, community-owned” farm.
The dad recently took to TikTok, where he’s gathered a following of 195,000, to provide a peek into their alternative way of life. “Last year we bought 13-and-a-half acres of bare agricultural land,” he began.
“And with another family and a team that joined along the way, we’ve transformed it into an off-grid regenerative, community-owned farm with a private water supply, several food producing enterprises, solar systems and an incredible community space.”
He also noted that his children are home-schooled, allowing them to “self-direct” their education while enjoying life on the farm within the community. “We’re now nearly self-sufficient for food and energy, achieving our goal of creating independence from the messed-up mainstream system,” he added.
“Last, but not least, we have a wonderful co-owner community that can support the project in exchange for exclusive benefits and privileges.”
Billy then went on to display their livestock and crops, including a variety of vegetables they grow and harvest for their own use.
“We did all of this in just 12 months,” he proudly declared, inspiring others to imagine a different route away from conventional society to embrace a life of liberty. One TikTok admirer praised the initiative, saying: “Absolutely love this. Good for you all, wish I could do the same for my family.”
Another voiced support, saying: “This is the seed we all need to be planting in our minds. I wish you well on your endeavours.” While a third fan said: “Would learn a lot more than you would in a school… you’re changing the world.”
For those drawn to pioneering an off-grid existence akin to Billy’s, a specialised website provides essential advice on several key factors to consider before embarking on such a quest. Live Off Grid underlines that transitioning off-grid entails careful planning and adherence to various legal requirements, including land ownership laws, local planning permissions, building regulations, and environmental protections.
“Without this adherence, your off grid dreams can quickly become legal nightmares, and your fantasy of a new life away from the hustle and bustle could be kiboshed very quickly,” the site cautions, subsequently outlining pivotal considerations:
- Fines: A fine can be imposed by the local authorities if you are seen to have violated land use regulations and building codes.
- Eviction: If you are seen to be living unlawfully in an area, you may be evicted by the landowners or a legal injunction can be placed requiring total compliance with all relevant laws.
- Criminal Charges: Legal proceedings may result in criminal charges being placed, potentially even resulting in imprisonment.
- Mandatory Removal: Placing an inappropriate structure on land could lead to its mandatory removal or modification.
- Impact on Future Ownership: Repercussions can be put in place to prevent or make future land ownership more difficult as a result of your past infractions
- Issues For Future Projects: You may find it much more difficult to obtain permits, licences, permissions, etc. for future projects.
- Damage to Relationships: Non-compliance with regulations (and expectations held by your neighbours) could lead to irreparable damage to your relationship with the local community.