What It’s Like to Grocery Shop for Our Off-Grid Cabin
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One of the biggest things I had to figure out when moving off-grid in the middle of nowhere was how and where I was going to grocery shop. Part of me is almost thankful for those few months I to get ready to move because I had a lot of figuring out to do!
Here’s how it works right now. This will change someday when we are able to grow more of our own food again but right now we are taking it one day at a time.
if you missed my other posts on the off-grid cabin you can find them here:
I’m going to break this post down into several parts to make it easier to read and because there are several factors involved in this!
Where Am I Storing Food Off Grid?
Our cabin is equipped with two ways to store cold food.
One is an apartment size refrigerator that runs off of solar power. It’s quite small but I’m thankful for it! We mostly use this for dairy products, leftovers, and currently it’s our only freezer. We hope to add a small chest freezer in the future but don’t currently have enough solar to power it.
I use the freezer to store all our meat for the entire month and this seems to work fine. I’ve restructured our meals so that meats are only for suppertime and the rest of the day is non-meat sources of protein (like eggs, beans, etc.). This change has also allowed us to stay very frugal with our meals.
Our other way to store groceries is in the root cellar. We couldn’t believe our luck when we found an intact root cellar on our new property. The entryway had caved in, but the actual cellar part was in good condition. We’ve rebuilt the entryway with scrap wood from part of the house we had to tear off and are currently making it usable again. We plan on using the root cellar to store home-canned foods and cases of fresh produce.
One of the first projects we tackled inside the cabin was to build a small pantry. It’s nothing like the big one I used to have but I’m grateful for it! It holds all of our shelf-stable food. Since I was unable to can my own last year, this is where I store the canned goods that I’ve bought from the store. Yes, I have a lot of canned goods right now from the store because I didn’t do any canning this year. For everything, there is a season!
Where Do I Shop for Groceries?
My biggest resource for groceries is still Azure Standard. I was able to find a drop location within an hour of our home and I order food from them once a month.
I had to learn all new grocery stores being in a new state and area, and so far, my favorite places to shop are actually in the neighboring state of Montana. Within a 3 hour drive I can go to Costco, Winco, Albertsons, Target, Walmart, a bakery outlet, and probably other places I haven’t discovered yet. I’ve been doing this big shop once a month so far since we moved but it seems to be working well.
Here’s what I’ve been getting at each of the places:
- Azure – Anything that I really want to buy organic (like dairy products), some produce, and cases of things I can’t get at Costco like green chilis and canned beans.
- Costco – My main grocery source. I will get cases of about anything here! I’ve also been getting my meat here for now. I hope to be able to buy in bulk locally when we can get a freezer again.
- Winco – This is a new one for me but I like their prices on produce.
- Albertsons – I honestly haven’t been here yet but it’s an option!
- Target – I use Target for odds and ends and things that aren’t food related like clothes for the kids.
- Shamrock Warehouse – We used to get bulk foods from here when we owned our bulk foods business, and I was so happy we have one “nearby.” They have some uncured meats, fair prices on dairy, and good prices on bulk produce. (See the pic below for my most recent buys.)
- Walmart – When my husband goes to town to get supplies or lumber for the house I can put in a Walmart order. I’ve been using this to add in fresh produce since we really need it more than once a month especially right now while I’m pregnant. I don’t love Walmart produce because it doesn’t last so I only use this to get things I know we will eat fast.
- Bakery Outlet – I’ve been baking almost everything from scratch, BUT when we go to town, I get bread for the next week to give myself a little break. The outlet has great prices, so I feel like it’s a well-deserved treat (for my own workload!) once in a while.
How Often Am I Shopping?
Right now, I’m shopping once a month. Anything more than that wears me out.
The only exception is when my husband goes to town for supplies and I put in a small Walmart order for a little more fresh produce.
Also, my Azure order is due during a different time of the month than my grocery shopping so I have to get that in a separate trip. My pickup location is only about an hour away each way so it’s not too bad.
Why the Meal Plan is the Most Important Thing
Before we ever moved, I had a full months meal plan that I created. This was incredibly important because if I didn’t have a meal plan I would have no idea what to buy at the store. And when you only shop once a month, you need to know what to buy!
I have a really detailed way that I do this meal plan, and I’m happy to outline that in its own post so this one doesn’t get too long if you’d like me to. Let me know!
The short version is that once a month, I sit down for an entire day and work on a meal plan for every breakfast, lunch, and supper we are going to have. Then, I go over the recipes and make a list of exactly how many items we need to accomplish the meal plan (e.g., how many eggs for the entire month). I use that list to make a detailed shopping list to take to the store. I’d be totally lost without it!
Once we get home from shopping, I know that I have all I need for the full month and know exactly what I’m going to make. Even though the process of meal planning and grocery shopping takes a while, it’s a relief to know I’m ready to go!
What Does a Day of Shopping Look Like?
7 am – We are out the door and on the road. I’ve packed snacks the night before. I don’t pack lunch. We get that out as a special treat and to give me a break. In the car, we listen to audiobooks to keep the kids busy on the 3 1/2 hour drive. They are so used to being on the road that they don’t seem to mind!
10:30 am – We start shopping. If I’ve put in a Target order, I can pick that up first and then head to the bakery, which is close by and Shamrock. Then it’s on to Winco to see what produce I can get before heading to Costco last.
2 pm – Finally finished. We load everything that we’ve bought in the two large coolers that we have to keep it cold and from sliding around when we get back to the mountain. More snacks in the car and the audiobook goes back on for the drive home.
5:30 pm – Back home. I buy a pre-made meal at Costco for supper as another treat because there is no way that I’m baking a meal from scratch when I get home, and I don’t have the electricity to use a slow cooker (although that would be nice at some point!). I toss the meal in the oven while we all help to get the groceries unpacked.
And then it’s an early bedtime because that’s a long day! But I don’t have to do it again for another month. I use the treats and meals out as a way to help incentivize the kids to help and be on their best behavior, as well as to give myself grace. It’s an arrangement I’m happy with for now. 🙂
And right now, that’s how we grocery shop for our off-grid life! I’m looking forward to the day when we grow more of our own food again but until that day comes, this is what works for us.
I’ll be back again next week with another new off-grid life post. If you have any topic ideas for future posts, let me know!
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.
Wow, you are dedicated off grid! Proud of you. If I were younger I would.
Yes I would be interested in learning how you meal plan for the entire month!! Thanks for all your helpful advice!!! Lisa
Love reading all the solutions you all come up with! I live in a small town but with a city (Salem OR) within about 15-16 miles and plenty of ag and farm stores around so we’re really blessed around here. Enjoy your winter — blessings! ❤️
why aren’t you canning meats?buy in bulk,then can.that’s what we did when we lived off grid.he would hunt deer,squirrel etc. and i would butcher and can.
We will eventually but everything takes time. We aren’t ready or set up to be able to hunt or process meats until next year.
I just love hearing about how you and your family do things. This is a really interesting article! Thank you for sharing and also for the photos. God bless you guys!
Future (but not too future) topic suggestion is how you will handle large predators and do you have an emergency radio of some type? You’ve picked a lovely spot but you’re also very practical about things that might make it less than ideal. Having never been in your situation I can offer no advice but I would pitch in to buy you some bear spray.
Signed, Janice, the worrier
Great idea for a post! Yes, we have worked quite a bit on the large and dangerous predator preparedness as it is an issue here.
I too am interested in how you meal plan for a month. Love all your posts. Congratulations on your expanding family.
It is great to hear how you are doing. I admire your monthly meal-planning. I may try that someday. It is great that you have a root-cellar. I am sure it will be a wild animal draw if not fenced in. It is good to give yourself grace in the pace that this starts up, especially being pregnant. That plan for not baking all the time is a very good one, right now. So is buying canned goods for the pantry. You have time to add systems in the future. Energy for baby in womb is needed too. Take care!
Hi Merissa:
As a mother of 4 the main suggestion I have is really listen to your body. You have a lot going on with trying to get the cabin ready, your work and of course caring for and home schooling your 3 older children. Because you have 3 older children and then have a gap and then will have a new baby it will be challenging especially when you are getting up at night to feed the little one. I’m sure it has been a while since your did that. Be prepared to continue with the short cuts i.e. some extra store bought meals for a bit to give yourself a much needed break. I admire your tenacity to pursue the off grid life. All the best and if you feel you need that extra nap, take it. (((HUGS)))
Congrats on your pregnancy, that’s exciting! I also love how you shared the fact that you buy lunch out and a pre-made meal from the store. Giving yourself grace is needed and probably something I need to do more of.