How the work gets done

Every guide on this site is researched and edited by Mike, the person who runs it. This page explains what that process is, what it is not, and how to call out a mistake.

Where the facts come from

In order of preference: government and standards sources (EPA, USDA, CDC, DOE, NREL, FEMA, NFPA summaries, state environmental agencies, state statutes and county codes), university extension publications, manufacturer manuals and specification sheets, and then long-term owner reports from forums and owner groups. Marketing pages are treated as claims to check, not sources. Where a guide leans on a specific rule (a code clearance, a health guideline, a physical constant), the rule is named in the text and the source appears in the "Sources and further reading" list at the end of the article.

Rules the writing follows

• No invented experience. I am doing this research while planning my own move off-grid. Guides are researched, not memoirs. When I have personally used or tested something, the article says so; when I have not, it does not pretend otherwise.
• No unsupported "most people" claims. If I cannot point to data or a source, the writing says "a common problem reported by owners" rather than "most owners".
• Checked links. Outbound sources are verified to exist when the article is published. If you find a dead one, it is a bug; tell me.
• Safety topics get the strictest treatment. Electrical, drinking water, sanitation, heating, and fire-safety articles stick closest to primary sources, and they say plainly when a job belongs to a licensed professional or the local inspector.
• Numbers trace to the calculators. Sizing guidance in articles uses the same assumptions as the site's calculators, and each calculator page states its formula and assumptions.

How drafting works

I use modern research and writing tools, including AI, the same way I use a spreadsheet: to do the assembly work. The topics, the standards the writing must meet, the source rules above, the review, and the corrections are mine. What I care about is whether the finished guide is accurate, specific, and useful; every article carries a dated "About this guide" block and a sources list so you can judge that for yourself.

Local knowledge beats my desk

The off-grid laws pages carry a "verified by a local" system: residents, owners, builders, and officials can confirm a county page or correct it, I review every submission, and approved corrections are published with credit. Rules change and counties differ from their own websites; people who live there are the best check I have.

Corrections

If something here is wrong, tell me. Corrections get fixed in the article itself, the "last reviewed" date updates, and material fixes are noted. I would rather be corrected than be wrong, and this site is built on that trade.